TCU Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

Italian {Courses}

ITAL 10153 - First Semester College Italian

A beginning course in Italian intended for students with no previous knowledge of the language, or insufficient knowledge to qualify for placement into a more advanced course. The four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing are taught at the elementary level, with an emphasis on oral proficiency in everyday situations encountered in Italy or any other Italian-speaking region (e.g., southern Switzerland). No prerequisite.

ITAL 10163 - Second Semester College Italian

Prerequisite: ITAL 10153 or permission. Continuation of 10153.

ITAL 20053 - Third Semester College Italian

Prerequisite: ITAL 10163 or appropriate score on a college-level placement test, or permission. Continuation of ITAL 10163. Further develops the skills of listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Includes language laboratory assignments.

ITAL 20063 - Fourth Semester College Italian

Prerequisite: ITAL 20053 or permission. Combines a "targeted" review of grammatical topics with work in reading and writing that goes beyond the level of third semester. Class discussions in Italian. In addition, there will be substantial assignments involving audio and video material.

ITAL 20123 - Italian Culture from Unification to the Present
By taking a detailed look at the social and historical backdrop to major moments and events in the modern history of Italy, this course will examine Italian culture through a historical filter, from the period of Unification to today. We will look at historical and cultural readings; literature; films; newspaper articles; high and low art; and political manifestos; as well as secondary readings that interpret and/or criticize these primary texts. The course seeks to enhance students' reading, analytical, and writing skills. The language of instruction is English and all readings will be in English. Films are in Italian with English subtitles. This course fulfills the HUM and HT core curriculum requirements.

ITAL 20990 - International Residential Study

This course represents credit earned through a semester study abroad experience with an institution or program with which Texas Christian University has an official agreement to accept credit. The site and specific content will be identified on the official transcript. Courses appearing on a student's official transcript have been included in the student's grade point average.

ITAL 30053 - Intermediate Conversation and Composition

Prerequisites: ITAL 20063 or permission. Continuing development of the language skills acquired in ITAL 10153-10163 and 20053-20063. This course focuses on the review and expansion of grammar topics, with an emphasis on oral presentation and practice in conversational Italian at an intermediate level. Students build their vocabulary through authentic readings. Assignments will include compositions and presentations.

ITAL 30063 - Italian Culture as Reflected in Italian Cinema

Prerequisites: ITAL 20063 or instructor's permission. This course is a study of Italian culture as reflected in Italian cinema. The course, conducted in Italian, has as a primary goal the improvement of students' knowledge of both contemporary and historical Italy. Spoken and written Italian skills are developed through authentic readings, class discussions and individual presentations. Italian cinema from the 1940's to the present will be covered, emphasizing major directors, such as Visconti, De Sica, Fellini, Tornatore, and Benigni. Topics to be addressed include: the unification of Italy, the North-South divide, fascism, the realities of "La Dolce Vita" or sweet life, regional identify, racism, gender relations, the mafia and immigration.

ITAL 30083 - La Novella Italiana: Topics in the Italian Short Story
Prerequisites: ITAL 30053. This course examines the genre of the novella, the Italian short story. In this course, we will explore the development of the genre within a specific time period (for example: Medieval-Renaissance, Baroque-early 19th Century, or mid-19th Century-present) and socio-cultural backdrop of the Italian literary scene of that period. This course fulfills the (WEM) writing emphasis core requirement, as well as the (LT) literary traditions core requirement; thus, requirements include several short papers and a longer research paper in the field of Italian literature. This course counts toward the minor in Italian. This course is taught entirely in Italian.

ITAL 30176 - TCU Study Abroad in Italy
A summer course conducted by TCU in Italy. The course offers students the opportunity to improve linguistic and cultural proficiency by interacting directly with culture and native speakers. Students will study topics related to the region in which the program is held.

ITAL 30970 - Independent Study in Italian

Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Independent work in specially designed projects not covered by regular course offerings. (1-6 semester hours, 3 hours maximum per semester.)

ITAL 30980 - Independent Study in Italian

Prerequisites: ITAL 20063 or permission. This course offers the opportunity for a student to pursue independent studies in Italian culture, language or literature. Topic and credit hours to be arranged by supervising faculty member and student.

ITAL 30990 - International Residential Study

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