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Italian

Why study Italian?

Italy holds a dear place in the American imagination. Who could imagine dinner without pizza and spaghetti? World literature courses always include Dante’s Divine Comedy. Films such as the Godfather and TV series such as the Sopranos have influenced what Americans think about Italy. Opera fans swoon over the passionate love stories in La Traviata and Aida, and art lovers long to admire Michelangelo’s masterpieces at least once in their lifetime.

Italian not only, is a beautiful and incredibly melodic language. Italian is spoken in a country with an exceptionally rich culture and history. Wherever you go in Italy, you will find astonishing ancient, medieval, Renaissance and modern art of all kind.

About the WLC Major: Italian Emphasis

A major in World Languages and Cultures: Italian includes 21-22 credits in the Italian emphasis, combined with 9 core credits, 6 perspective elective credits, and a 3-credit practicum for a total of 39-40 credits. This comparative approach allows students to gain a depth of knowledge in their chosen emphasis, while also exploring a breadth of topics in global cultural studies.

WLC Major: Italian Emphasis Curriculum Degree Requirements

Total credits required for degree: 39-40 credits

WLC Core Courses
Complete all of the following (9 credits)

WLC 2010: Introduction to Literature and Culture (3 credits)

CLCS 3610: Thinking about the World Comparatively (3 credits)

CLCS 4610: What Matters (3 credits)

Comparative Perspectives Electives
Complete 6 credits of the following

Comparative electives are designed to provide students with wide global perspectives and thus cannot come from the languages/regions used in their emphasis.

CL CV4550: Ancient Myth and Religion (taught in English)

CLCS 3720: Empathy, Medicine, and the Human Condition (taught in English)

CLCS 3900: African Cinema (taught in English)

CLCS 4900: Special Topics (taught in English)

HINDI 4630: Bollywood - Seeing India through Indo-Pakistani Film

HINDI 4610: Indo-Pakistan Literature and Media

JAPAN 4570: Multicultural Japan (taught in English)

JAPAN/KOREA 4580: Japanese Empire to Korean Wave: Popular Culture in Motion (taught in English)

PERS 4325: Hyphenated Lives: Muslim-Americans in the U.S. (taught in English)

PTGSE 4710: Luso-Brazilian Cinema (taught in English)

RUSS 3580: Russia and Asia (taught in English)

ANTH 3110: Women Cross Culturally

ANTH 3134: Language, Thought and Culture: Anthropology of the Human Mind

COMM 3770: Cross Cultural Documentary

COMM 5620: International Communication

ENGL 3600: Introduction to Critical Theory

ENGL 3780: Global/Transnational Literature

ENGL 5775: Holocaust Literature

ETHNC 5350: Diaspora, Transnationalism & US Community

FILM 3110: History of Film until 1952

FILM 3120: History of Film from 1952

FILM 3270: The Foreign Eye: Exilic, Diasporic, and Border Cinema

LING 3470: Language and Culture

LING 3600: Cross Cultural Communication

MUSC 3600: World Music 

PHIL 3640: World Religions

SOC 3741: Migrants & Communities 

THEA 4701: Gender on the Global Stage

WRTG 4010: Writing across Borders

WRTG 4050: Writing & Cultural Rhetorics  

Required Courses
Complete all of the following (16 credits)

ITAL 2020*: Intermediate Italian II (4 credits)

ITAL 3040**: Extensive Reading and Composition (3 credits) orITAL 3060***: Advanced Grammar Review (3 credits)

ITAL 4550: Topics in Italian Culture (3 credits)

ITAL 3700: Italian Cinema (taught in English; 3 credits)

ITAL 3800: History of the Italian Language (taught in English; 3 credits)

*Students who are placed above ITAL 2020 can substitute with additional ITAL elective

**For students who complete ITAL 2020

***For students with 1.5 years experience in an Italian-speaking environment

WLC Electives
Complete 6 credits of the following

CL CV 4550: Ancient Myth and Religion

HIST 4010: The Roman Republic

HIST 4020: The Roman Empire

HIST 4040: Christianity in the Ancient World

PHIL 3100: Survey of Ancient Greek Philosophy

ENG 5700: Medieval Literature

HIST 4050: Christianity in the Medieval World

PHIL 3110: Survey of Medieval Philosophy

PHIL 3120: Survey of Early Modern Philosophy

THEA 3740: History of Musical Theater

ANTH 3126: Mediterranean Cultures

ANTH 3127: Peoples of Europe

ENG 3780: Global/Transnational Literature

ENGL 5775: Holocaust Literature

HIST 3200: Nineteenth Century Europe

HIST 3210: The Age of Total War

HIST 3220: Post-War Europe

HIST 4110: God and Money

HIST 4120: Christianity in the Modern World

ITAL 2600: Italian Conversation (1 credit)

ITAL 3010: Interning Abroad (learning abroad)

ITAL 3020: Intermediate Conversation & Reading (learning abroad)

ITAL 3330: Extensive Reading & Discussion (learning abroad)

ITAL 3600: Intermediate Conversation (1 credit)

ITAL 3903: Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum (CLAC; 1 credit)

ITAL 3940: Community Engaged Learning

ITAL 4880: Directed Reading

ITAL 4900: Special Topics

POLS 3410: European Politics

POLS 5420: European Union

WLC Practicum Experience
Complete the following (3 credits)

WLC Signature Practicum Experience (3 credits)

  WLC MAJOR - ITALIAN EMPHASIS Worksheet     WLC PracticuM OPTIONS


Students with advanced language skills (e.g., native speakers, heritage speakers, students who have lived for an extended period abroad) should not enroll in first, second, and some third-year courses. If you do not know what your language level is or if you think your situation justifies petitioning for an exception, contact the WLC advisors before enrolling in classes. For pedagogical reasons, the department reserves the right to remove advanced speakers who have not successfully petitioned from classes not appropriate for their language level.

About the Italian Minor

For assistance with requirements for the completion of the Italian Minor, please visit the Undergraduate Advising page.

Required Courses

15 Total Credits

Required Courses

Complete all of the following

Complete at least one of the following

ITAL3040 Extensive Reading and Composition (3)
ITAL3060 Advanced Grammar Review (3)

Complete the following

ITAL3800 Italian Literature in Translation (3)

Elective Courses

Complete all of the following

Complete the following 

ITAL3700 Italian Cinema (3)
ITAL4550 Topics in Italian Culture (3)

Earned at least 3 credits from the following

ITAL3330 Extensive Reading and Discussion (3)
ITAL3940 Community Engaged Learning (3)
ITAL4900 Special Topics (1 - 4)
ARTH3200 Renaissance Europe (3)
ARTH3210 Italian Renaissance Art (3)
ARTH3250 Baroque Art in Europe (3)
HIST4010 Roman Republic (3)
HIST4020 Roman Empire (3)
HIST4040 Christianity in the Ancient World (3)
HIST4050 Christianity in the Medieval World (3)
FILM2500 Introduction to Film Production (4)

Minimum Degree Hours

15 Total Credits

  • All courses must be passed with a C or better.
  • At least 6 credits of minor requirements must be taken in residence at the University of Utah.

ITALIAN MINOR REQUIREMENTS


Students with advanced language skills (e.g., native speakers, heritage speakers, students who have lived for an extended period abroad) should not enroll in first, second, and some third-year courses. If you do not know what your language level is or if you think your situation justifies petitioning for an exception, contact the WLC advisors before enrolling in classes. For pedagogical reasons, the department reserves the right to remove advanced speakers who have not successfully petitioned from classes not appropriate for their language level.

Courses

View courses for the WLC: Italian Emphasis Major.

Click here to view courses

Learning Abroad

Learning abroad is the opportunity to live, study and intern abroad while completing your degree here at the University of Utah. Learning Abroad helps connect you to over 500+ program options in over 50 countries, many of which are great for improving your proficiency in another language. Learn more about Learning Abroad by visiting learningabroad.utah.edu and completing Learning Abroad 101

To get started, see below for program options for Italian. 

For questions, email Learning Abroad at learningabroad@utah.edu, call them at 801-581-5849, or visit in person at Union 159.

Watch Our Learning Abroad Video


Faculty-Led Programs

U of U faculty lead students on short-term programs centered on specific coursework, which is commonly integrated into your major or minor requirements. When participating on a faculty-led program you have the benefit of taking U of U courses abroad that combine in-country experiential learning with classwork. 


Affiliate Programs

The U partners with external organizations (Affiliates) to expand where you can go and what you can study on a learning abroad program. Affiliates offer programs at study centers, local institutions, or a combination of both in the host country. Programs are commonly structured around a particular theme or topic, such as "Language, Culture, and Society". Program options can also include internships, service learning & community engagement opportunities.

Salt Lake Italian Club

The Italian Club of Salt Lake (ICSL) was established to promote Italian culture in the Salt Lake community through education and social activities. Our social events serve as an excellent opportunity to meet individuals of similar backgrounds, interests and a love for Italy! Plus, students of the language will be able to put into practice the vocabulary and concepts learned in the classroom.

Visit Italian Club of Salt Lake's Website 

Faculty

Your faculty members in French Studies are passionate researchers and teachers. Check out some of our published work: SUNY Press and Mise en scène culinaire: Le repas de fête de Gervaise dans L'Assommoir.

Having five full-time faculty members in the French Studies Program means individualized attention is provided for each French student.

Career-Line Faculty


Associate Instructor

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Last Updated: 7/21/23