Italian Courses

Description: This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the Italian language, completing the fundamental aspects of grammar in one term.

Component(s): Lecture

• This course covers the same material as ITAL 201 and ITAL 202. Students who have received credit for ITAL 201 or ITAL 202 or ITAL 210 or ITAL 211 or ITAL 253 or ITAL 254 may not take this course for credit.

Description: This course provides an introduction to the basic elements of Italian for the student with no knowledge of the language.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for ITAL 200 or ITAL 210 or ITAL 211 or ITAL 253 or ITAL 254 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 201 with a grade of C or higher.

Description: The objective is to complete the study of fundamental aspects of Italian grammar.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for ITAL 200 or ITAL 210 or ITAL 211 or ITAL 253 or ITAL 254 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

Permission of the Department is required.

Description: This course provides an introduction to the basic elements of the Italian language and is designed for heritage speakers of Italian and/or students with some previous passive knowledge or exposure to the language, who wish to strengthen their linguistic knowledge of and skills in Italian. Emphasis is placed on grammar, reading and writing, vocabulary development, and exposure to the language and culture of Italian communities. Both oral and written expression are emphasized.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for ITAL 200 or ITAL 201 or ITAL 202 or ITAL 253 or ITAL 254, or for this topic under an ITAL 298 number, may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 210. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.

Description: This course is a continuation of ITAL 210 designed for heritage speakers of Italian and/or students with some previous passive knowledge or exposure to the language, who wish to strengthen their linguistic knowledge of and skills in Italian. Emphasis is placed on grammar, reading and writing, vocabulary development, and exposure to the language and culture of Italian communities. Both oral and written expression are emphasized.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for ITAL 200 or ITAL 201 or ITAL 202 or ITAL 253 or ITAL 254, or for this topic under an ITAL 298 number, may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 200 or ITAL 202 or ITAL 211 with a grade of C or higher.

Description: This course provides a review of Italian grammar in one term and deals with additional details not covered in the introductory course. Practice is provided through readings, discussions, and composition.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for ITAL 241 or ITAL 242 or ITAL 253 or ITAL 254 may not take this course for credit. This course covers the same material as ITAL 241 and ITAL 242.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 200 or ITAL 202 or ITAL 211 with a grade of C or higher.

Description: This course provides a review of Italian grammar and deals with additional details not covered in the introductory courses. Practice is provided through short readings, discussions, and composition.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for ITAL 240 or ITAL 253 or ITAL 254 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 241 with a grade of C or higher.

Description: This course is a continuation of ITAL 241. It completes the review of the grammar and provides additional details not covered in the introductory courses. Practice is provided through short readings, discussions, and composition.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for ITAL 240 or ITAL 253 or ITAL 254 may not take this course for credit.

Description: Specific topics for this course, and relevant prerequisites, are stated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule.

Description: Specific topics for this course, and relevant prerequisites, are stated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 240 or ITAL 242 or ITAL 254 or equivalent with a grade of C or higher.

Description: This course provides students with a thorough grounding in the essentials of Italian grammar, while revising and improving morpho‑syntactic structures and syntax, as well as developing reading comprehension techniques, commentary writing skills, acquiring competence in essay writing and developing oral and aural skills. Aspects of Italian history, culture, and contemporary life are also introduced through readings, listening materials, videos and films and through the use of online technologies.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 301 or equivalent.

Description: This course continues to provide students with a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of Italian grammar. The course also focuses on using effective stylistic resources and formal conventions in writing, especially for essays and related texts. Aspects of Italian history, culture, and contemporary life are introduced through readings, listening materials, videos and films and through the use of online technologies.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 240 or ITAL 242 or equivalent with a grade of C or higher.

Description: This course offers a survey of the major rhetorical devices and methodological tools for the critical reading of literary and other texts, and for the production of academic essays in Italian. The course covers basic notions of narratology and rhetoric, as well as discourse analysis and critical thinking. Activities include close reading of texts and practical work in research and documentation, as well as the presentation of well‑organized, analytical prose.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for this topic under an ITAL 398 number may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 240 or ITAL 242 or equivalent with a grade of C or higher.

Description: The main goal of this course is to improve students’ oral communication in Italian. The course also develops other language skills: listening, reading, and to some extent, writing.

Component(s): Lecture

• This course is offered to non‐native speakers of Italian. Upon consultation with the Department, heritage speakers of Italian may receive permission to take this course for credit.

• Students who have received credit for this topic under an ITAL 398 number may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 240 or ITAL 242 or equivalent with a grade of C or higher.

Description: This course examines Italian and English grammar in a comparative context to provide a sound basis for translation between the two languages. It also aims to develop lexical and semantic knowledge of the Italian language through analysis of textual materials. Students translate short texts from a variety of fields such as literature, business, journalism, politics, and science. Translation is primarily from English to Italian.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for ITAL 256 or ITAL 257, or for this topic under an ITAL 398 number, may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 306 or equivalent.

Description: This course is a continuation of ITAL 306. It deals with advanced problems and techniques of translation from Italian and into Italian.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for ITAL 256 or ITAL 257, or for this topic under an ITAL 398 number, may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 240 or ITAL 242 or ITAL 254 or equivalent with a grade of C or higher.

Description: This course is designed to give intermediate‑advanced level students a solid foundation in business vocabulary, correspondence, and basic business practices, as well as the cultural concepts necessary to enable them to express themselves in the Italian‑speaking business world.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 240 or ITAL 242 or ITAL 254 or equivalent with a grade of C or higher.

Description: This course examines the major authors and trends of Italian literature from its origins to the end of the 16th century.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 240 or ITAL 242 or ITAL 254 or equivalent with a grade of C or higher.

Description: This course examines the major authors and trends of Italian literature from the beginning of the 17th century to the present.

Component(s): Lecture

Description: This course offers students the opportunity to understand contemporary Italian society through the works of filmmakers who examine the cultural, political and working environments of present‑day Italy. The films are grouped thematically, covering politics, media, social changes, organized crime, terrorism, the workplace and the new challenges facing the younger generation of Italians. The language of instruction is English, and no prior knowledge of the Italian language is required. Advanced level students — i.e. students placed at the 300 level or higher in Italian — must hand in all their work in Italian.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for this topic under an ITAL 398 or FMST 398 number may not take this course for credit.

Description: This course provides an overview of the linguistic situation in present‑day Italy, with attention to the structure of the Italian language and its dialects; regional, social, and communicative variations; linguistic minorities in Italy, and linguistic legislation in Italy. The language of instruction is English, and no prior knowledge of the Italian language is required. Advanced level students —i.e. students placed at the 300 level or higher in Italian — must hand in all their work in Italian.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 240 or ITAL 242 with a grade of C or higher.

Description: This course aims at familiarizing students with the crucial moments of Italian history and the major issues characterizing Italian culture. The selected topics/artists/authors offer a unique opportunity to analyze and discuss issues related to the historical, political, and socio‑cultural evolution of Italy from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for ITAL 365 under a different title or for ITAL 366 cannot take this course for credit.

Description: This course focuses on politics, literature, and the arts in Italy from Dante and the Italian Renaissance to the present. The language of instruction is English, and no prior knowledge of the Italian language is required. Advanced‑level students — i.e. students placed at the 300 level or higher in Italian language courses — must submit their work in Italian.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for this topic under an ITAL 298 number may not take this course for credit.

Description: Specific topics for this course, and relevant prerequisites, are stated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule.

Description: Specific topics for this course, and relevant prerequisites, are stated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 301.

Description: This course examines a selection of the works of Dante Alighieri and his contribution to the formation of the Italian language, literature and culture. It offers an introduction to Medieval literature and culture (including its historical, social and political context) by analyzing passages from the Vita Nuova, the Convivio, and the Divina Commedia.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for ITAL 416 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 301 or equivalent.

Description: This course examines the origin and evolution of the early Italian novella. Petrarch and Boccaccio are studied as forerunners of humanism; emphasis is placed on Petrarch’s Canzoniere and Boccaccio’s Decameron.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 301 or equivalent.

Description: This course deals with the rise of humanism and analyzes the Renaissance as a historical and cultural concept. References are made to the social, historical, and artistic trends in 15th‑ and early‑16th‑century Italy. Emphasis is on representative works of Alberti, Valla, Leonardo da Vinci, Pico della Mirandola and Machiavelli.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 301 or equivalent.

Description: This course explores the nature and evolution of the chivalresque genre in Italy, mainly within the context of the 15th and 16th centuries, and with special emphasis on Ariosto and Tasso.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 301 or equivalent.

Description: This course examines the concept of Romanticism in Italy and its relation to Risorgimento. Emphasis is on representative works of Foscolo, Manzoni, and Leopardi. References are made to the role of leading political figures of the period.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 301 or equivalent.

Description: This course examines the debate on Neo‑realism and looks at literary and cinematographic expressions. It also deals with the Neo‑avanguardia movement and questions of gender and post‑modernism. Emphasis is on Calvino, Sciascia, Fellini, Antonioni, and Eco. References are also made to the social and political reality of contemporary Italy.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 301 or equivalent.

Description: This course studies the question of gender as a concept and traces its presence within the Italian cultural tradition from the Renaissance to the present. Representative works of figures such as Franco, Marinelli, de Fonseca Pimentel, Deledda, Aleramo, and Maraini are studied.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 301.

Description: This course offers a survey of the contemporary Italian novel, from the end of the 1980s to the present, while introducing the socio‑historical context in which different trends arise and develop. Authors are chosen to provide significant examples of the main trends in Italian fiction writing.

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for this topic under an ITAL 498 number may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 301.

Description: This course examines the social, cultural and linguistic changes from the formation of the Italian vernaculars to the present day. This course also studies the most representative texts illustrating different medieval, Renaissance, and modern theories on the Italian language (Dante, Pietro Bembo, Alessandro Manzoni, and Pier Paolo Pasolini, for example).

Component(s): Lecture

• Students who have received credit for ITAL 461 under a different title or for ITAL 462 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: ITAL 301.

Description: This course examines the ideological and political appropriations of Italian as it developed into a standard and unified language from Dante to the present. It explores what motivated political powers to promote a specific type of language or a specific canon of Italian authors. Through a series of thematically arranged case studies, students are encouraged to reflect on the importance of language to understand social and cultural changes in Italy. Course topics may include language and cultural identity, language and politics, and language and gender.

Component(s): Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

Permission of the Department is required.

Description: This course consists of guided readings in Italian language and/or literature, and is designed to meet the individual needs of advanced students. Assignments include written and oral criticism of the works studied.

Component(s): Tutorial

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

Permission of the Department is required.

Description: This course consists of guided readings in Italian language and/or literature, and is designed to meet the individual needs of advanced students. Assignments include written and oral criticism of the works studied.

Component(s): Tutorial

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

Permission of the Department is required.

Description: This course consists of guided readings in Italian language and/or literature, and is designed to meet the individual needs of advanced students. Assignments include written and oral criticism of the works studied.

Component(s): Tutorial

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

Permission of the Department is required.

Description: This course consists of guided readings in Italian language and/or literature, and is designed to meet the individual needs of advanced students. Assignments include written and oral criticism of the works studied.

Component(s): Tutorial

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

Permission of the Department is required.

Description: This course provides the honours candidate with the opportunity to prepare an extensive research essay, on a topic to be chosen by the candidate with the approval of a supervising member of the faculty of the Italian section.

Component(s): Tutorial

Description: Specific topics for this course, and relevant prerequisites, are stated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule.

Description: Specific topics for this course, and relevant prerequisites, are stated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule.