Minor in Italian

The minor in Italian Studies offers students the opportunity to learn about Italian culture, including film, literature, theater, and history, as well as the social, political, and economic realities of today’s Italy. Students will also gain proficiency in the Italian language, deepen their intercultural awareness, and appreciate the immense beauty of the language and civilization through their studies.

Italian Studies minors are encouraged to spend a term studying in Italy. The minor program offers participation at Boston University’s Centro Studi in Padua, where students can live with an Italian family and pursue coursework in any field at the University of Padua, or take courses at the BU Center. Students may apply for a small stipend from the Conte fund to assist with study in Padua. CAS Italian Studies minors come from many departments and programs, including International Relations, English, History of Arts & Architecture, the School of Hospitality Administration, and College of Communication, among others. Students use their Italian language and cultural skills in many fields, including international law, diversity studies, business, hospitality, and fashion design.

The minor builds on four prerequisite terms of language work (CAS LI 111–212 or equivalent). The language requirement can also be met through a placement test or transfer units: students entering Boston University with some prior study of Italian will join the prerequisite sequence at the appropriate level or proceed directly to the minor, based on placement test results.

Learning Outcomes

• Meet ACTFL goals of intermediate-medium proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension of spoken Italian.
• Basic knowledge of Italian literature, film, and other cultural texts with understanding of historical, generic, or cultural context.
• Capacity to read critically and to interpret the sociocultural context of Italy.
• Ability to evaluate arguments about literary and cultural texts and topics.

Prerequisites

The pre- and corequisite for the completion of the minor is the completion of LI 212 or the equivalent placement test. Italian courses taught in English may be taken before the completion of LI 212.

Requirements

(Unless otherwise indicated, all required courses are 4 unit hours.)

• Six courses numbered CAS LI 283 and above.
• Up to four courses taken at Boston University’s Study Abroad program in Padua may count toward the minor.
• Students may include up to three transfer courses from other colleges, universities, or non-Boston University study abroad programs and must take a minimum of three courses (or a minimum of two, if they have four courses approved for units toward the minor from Boston University’s Centro Studi in Padua) on the Charles River Campus.
• Internships taken through Boston University or other study abroad programs may not be credited toward the minor. A grade of C or higher is required in all courses taken toward the minor.

Placement Test

A placement test is required of all students whose most recent course in Italian was taken in high school or at a college other than Boston University and who wish to continue their study of Italian here. Information regarding online placement exams is available in the Department of Romance Studies or on the departmental website.