Santa Clara University

Academic Programs - Italian Studies Program

Modern Languages and Literatures department

The Italian Studies Program

At Santa Clara University

A printable pdf version is available here.
Detailed course descriptions can be found here.

Santa Clara University, California's oldest institution of higher learning and the birthplace of Italian Studies in the western United States, was founded by two Italian Jesuits in 1851 and began offering instruction in Italian that same year.  Now in our second century, our Italian curriculum offers a good balance between language and culture.  The program boasts the Toso Chair of Italian Studies, and various scholarships and prizes are available to students of Italian.  The Casa Italiana, a residence hall, offers students the ideal environment for the mastery of the Italian language and an introduction to the culture of the “cradle of Western civilization.”

MAJOR – minimum of 40 Upper Division Units MINOR – minimum of 19 Upper Division Units
 As part of the 40 units, the following courses must be included:  As part of the 19 units, the following courses must be included:
  • Italian 100 or dept. approved substitution
  • Italian 101 or dept. approved substitution
  • Remaining units taken in upper division coursework taught in Italian
  • 20 Units taken at SCU or taught by SCU Faculty
  • Maintain a grade point average of 2.0 in major
  • Italian 100 or dept. approved substitution
  • Italian 101 or dept. approved substitution
  • Remaining units taken in upper division coursework taught in Italian
  • 10 units taken at SCU or taught by SCU faculty
  • Maintain a grade point average of 2.0 in minor


 

  • Courses in mythology, comparative literature and Renaissance history are recommended while pursuing this major, but not required.

  • A junior year of study in Italy is recommended, but not required.  Santa Clara University also offers a summer program Assisi.

Language Skills

   
Lower Division Upper Division
ITAL 1

Elementary Italian I 

ITAL 100 Advanced Italian I 
ITAL 2 Elementary Italian II ITAL 101  Advanced Italian II 
ITAL 3 Elementary Italian III ITAL 106  Advanced Italian Conversation 
ITAL 15 Italian Conversation and Composition    
ITAL 21 Intermediate Italian I     
ITAL 22 Intermediate Italian II  

Literature

Culture and Civilization

ITAL 120 Survey of Italian Literature I ITAL 62 Survey of Italian Culture & Civilization
ITAL 121 Survey of Italian Literature II ITAL 80 Topics in Italian Culture
ITAL 125 Colloquium: Italian Literature & Culture ITAL 110 Italian Civilization I
ITAL 130 Dante, La Divina Commedia I ITAL 111 Italian Civilization II
ITAL 131 Dante, La Divina Commedia II ITAL 112 Survey of Italian Culture and Civilization
ITAL 140 Duecento, Trecento ITAL 113 Cinema e Cultura
ITAL 150 Quattrocento, Cinquecento (Rinascimento)
ITAL 160 Settecento
ITAL 170 Ottocento, I Promessi Sposi
ITAL 180 Novecento
ITAL 182 20th Century Italian Women Writers

Special Courses

ITAL 183 Women in Italian Cinema: The Impact of Globalization ITAL 198 Directed Study
ITAL 199 Directed Reading