Minor in Italian

The Minor in Italian is a smaller and more flexible course of study aiming to introduce students to Italian language, literature, history, and culture from the Middle Ages to the present day. Through a cluster of courses from the Italian Department, as well as from other Humanities and Social Science departments and approved study abroad programs, the Minor in Italian seeks to enhance students’ knowledge of Italy in a globalized world.

The learning goals of the Minor in Italian are therefore: 1) to give students an advanced-level knowledge of the Italian language; and 2) to help students gain a deeper understanding of the literature, culture, and history of Italy. 

Design

The Minor in Italian requires a minimum of 15 points (5 courses). 

The 15 required points (5 courses) do not include the necessary prerequisites, i.e., Intermediate II or a demonstrated equivalent level of knowledge of the Italian language. 

For students who have no prior knowledge of Italian, the required sequence to cover the prerequisite is Elementary Italian I & II (UN1101-UN1102) and Intermediate Italian I & II (UN2101-UN2102), or Intensive Elementary Italian (ITAL UN1121) and Intensive Intermediate Italian (ITAL UN2121), or a combination between a regular sequence and an intensive course. Therefore, for a student who must take all coursework at Columbia (i.e., who does not enter Columbia with advanced placement) the overall number of courses required to pursue an Italian Minor is 9 (31 points, 16 of which count also toward the Language requirement). However, the overall number of courses required to pursue an Italian Major becomes either 7 if the student chooses the Intensive Elementary & Intermediate Italian option (27 points, 12 of which count also toward the Language requirement), or 8 if the student chooses a combination between a regular sequence and an intensive course (29 points, 14 of which count also toward the Language requirement)

However, students with prior knowledge of Italian may be exempted from the prerequisites in one of three ways: a) by presenting a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Italian Exam; b) by presenting a score of 780 or above on the SAT Subject Test in Italian; c) by obtaining a satisfactory score on the department’s placement examination. Therefore, for them the overall number of courses required to pursue an Italian Minor is 5 (15 points).

Italian minors are required to take one of the following course sequences: a) Advanced Italian Language; b) Italian Literature; c) Italian Cultural Studies:

  1. Advanced Italian Language (this sequence should be taken in progressive order)

• Advanced Italian (ITAL UN3335). Advanced reading, writing, speaking with emphasis on authentic cultural materials. Topic and semester themes vary. Taught in Italian.

• Italian Language through Content. Course offerings under this category include courses such as: Italian through Cinema (ITAL UN3337); Italiana. Introduction to Italian Culture, the High, the Low, and the In-between (ITAL UN3338); Learning Italian in Class and Online: A Telecollaboration with Italy (ITAL UN3339); Art Itineraries: Italian through Art (ITAL UN3341); Business Italian and the Made in Italy Excellence: Learning Italian for trade and industry (ITAL UN3342); Advanced Italian: Comparative Stylistics & Translation (ITAL UN3343); Italy: Emigration-Immigration (ITAL UN3232); and Grand Tour in Italy (ITAL UN3645). These are all courses of Advanced Italian Language through a specific subject and with emphasis on cultural content. Taught in Italian.

or

  1. Italian Literature

Introduction to Italian Literature I and II (ITAL UN3333-4) provides an overview of major authors and works in the Italian literary tradition from the Middle Ages to the present. Taught in Italian. (This sequence does not need to be taken in progressive order).

or

  1. Italian Cultural Studies

Italian Cultural Studies I and II (ITAL GU4502-3). An interdisciplinary investigation into Italian culture and society from national unification in 1860 to the present. Taught in English. (This sequence does not need to be taken in progressive order).

In addition to one of the above sequences, students pursuing the Minor in Italian will be asked to select three courses from the department’s 3000- or 4000-level offerings or from other Humanities and Social Science departments with a focus on Italian culture, society and history from the Middle Ages to the present (at least 50% of the material of courses offered outside of the Italian Department should focus on Italian topics). Minors in Italian are required to take at least one of the three elective courses within the Italian Department’s offerings which are not Language Through Content Courses, chosen in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies. 

Students pursuing an Italian Minor should download and use the relevant worksheet.