Modern Languages and Literatures – Italian

College of Liberal & Creative Arts

Dean: Dr. Ifeoma Kiddoe Nwankwo

Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

Humanities Building, Room 475
Phone: (415) 338-1421
Website: mll.sfsu.edu/italian-program

Chair: Charles Egan
Program Coordinator: Olivia Albiero
Undergraduate Advisor: Olivia Albiero
Graduate Advisor: Olivia Albiero

Program Scope

The Italian program offers courses in the basic skills of reading, writing, speaking, and understanding Italian; a broad and comprehensive background in literature, culture, civilization, and Italian studies as well as preparation for a specialized career. Many students study Italian to become language teachers. Others, studying music, art, film, archaeology, international relations, history, business, and comparative literature, as well as students planning to become translators and interpreters, have discovered the usefulness of Italian. Some take Italian purely for cultural enrichment. The study of Italian is particularly rewarding for those of Italian heritage. It also opens the doors to the CSU International Program Center in Florence, to various Italian art and professional academies, and to Italian universities where students can pursue studies in any field.

Associate Professor

Olivia Albiero (2016), Associate Professor in Modern Languages and Literatures. Ph.D. University of Washington.

Major

Minor

Explanation of Course Descriptions, Symbols, and Terms

ITAL 101 First Semester Italian (Units: 4)

Understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Italian and Italian culture; language as a communicative medium and carrier of culture.

Course Attributes:

  • C2: Humanities
  • Global Perspectives

ITAL 102 Second Semester Italian (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: ITAL 101 or equivalent.

Continuation of ITAL 101.

Course Attributes:

  • C2: Humanities
  • Global Perspectives

ITAL 103 Third Semester Italian (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: ITAL 102 or equivalent.

Reinforcement of language structure; literary styles and techniques in Italian.

Course Attributes:

  • C2: Humanities
  • Global Perspectives

ITAL 206 Italian Conversation (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: ITAL 102 or equivalent. May be taken concurrently with ITAL 103 or ITAL 104.

Development of listening and speaking skills through vocabulary exercises, conversation, and oral reports based on aspects of contemporary Italian culture.

Course Attributes:

  • C2: Humanities
  • Global Perspectives
  • Social Justice

ITAL 250 Food for Thought: The Importance of Food in Italian Culture (Units: 3)

Focus on the significance of food in Italian society and culture and its representations in literature, art, and film. Exploration of how Italian food relates to questions of history, politics, economy, identity, and movement. Taught in English. All materials are available in English.

Course Attributes:

  • C2: Humanities
  • Global Perspectives

ITAL 401 Italian Culture and Civilization (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: ITAL 104 or equivalent.

Background for literature.

ITAL 500 Topics in Italian Literature and Culture (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: GE Area E or permission of the instructor.

Topics centered on Italian literary and cultural works, which are read, watched, and discussed in English. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary. [Taught in English]

Topics:

  1. Italian Journeys: Writing Travels in Lit & Culture
  2. New Voices in Italian Literature
  3. Crime in Italian Literature & Film

ITAL 581 Divina Commedia (Units: 3)

Prerequisite for ITAL 881: Italian MA students or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ITAL 581: Upper-division standing; ITAL 510 and ITAL 511 or equivalents; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.

Analysis of selected cantos integrated with relevant information on medieval literature, poetics, scholasticism, classical tradition, and socio-political structure of Dante's world.
(ITAL 881/ITAL 581 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)

ITAL 600 Italian Literature on Film in English (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: GE Area E.

Analysis of four literary texts representative of differing aspects of Italian culture from the 1990s to the present and the filmic versions of them.

ITAL 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: ITAL 104 or equivalent.

Intensive concentration upon special topics in Italian. Written projects requiring critical analysis, and interpretation of linguistic or literary problems. Material adapted to individual needs and interests. May be repeated for a total of 9 units.

ITAL 881 Divina Commedia (Units: 3)

Prerequisite for ITAL 881: Italian MA students or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites for ITAL 581: Upper-division standing; ITAL 510 and ITAL 511 or equivalents; GPA of 3.0 or higher; or permission of the instructor.

Analysis of selected cantos integrated with relevant information on medieval literature, poetics, scholasticism, classical tradition, and socio-political structure of Dante's world.
(ITAL 881/ITAL 581 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)

ITAL 896EXM Culminating Experience Examination (Units: 0-3)

Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor, committee chair, and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration.

Enrollment in 896EXAM required for students whose culminating experience consists of an examination only. Not for students enrolled in a culminating experience course numbered 892, 893, 894, 895, 898, or 998, (or in some cases, courses numbered 890 - see program's graduate advisor for further information). (CR/NC, RP)

ITAL 899 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisites: Italian Graduate students; permission of the graduate major adviser and supervising faculty member; or permission of the instructor.

Study is planned, developed, and completed under the direction of a member of the department faculty. Open only to graduate students who have demonstrated the ability to do independent work. Enrollment by petition. May be repeated for a total of 6 units.