International Studies and Languages Division

Modern Languages: Italian

Currently, the International Studies and Languages Division offers a minor and a major in Italian.

Italian Major

The Italian Studies major prepares students to develop competency in speaking, understanding, reading, and writing the Italian language. In addition, learners achieve a high level of scholarship in literature, theater, cinema and culture of Italy. The division enables undergraduates to do a major or a minor in Italian or a double major in another field to prepare for international careers. Students have access to internships allowing them to use Italian in a professional setting.

To fully immerse oneself in the language and culture of Italy, students are encouraged to participate in Pepperdine's Florence program. For more information about the Florence program, please visit the International Programs Web site.

Juniors and seniors are encouraged to join the the National Collegiate Italian Honorary Society, Gamma Kappa Alpha.

Students may also want to participate in C.I.A.O., the Italian club on the Malibu campus.

Advanced Placement Credit

Students who receive a grade of "3" on the AP exam will receive four units of credit and satisfy ITAL 152. Those who receive a "4" will receive four units of credit and satisfy ITAL 251, thus satisfying the general education requirement in a foreign language. Students with a grade of "5" will receive four units of credit and satisfy ITAL 252. Additional placement may be determined by departmental examination, including an oral interview.

Freshman-Year Program

The Italian major should enroll in the regular freshman program outlined in the Seaver College catalog and should begin the study of Italian. The course level is determined by a placement examination.

Course Requirements

The prerequisite for all 300-level Italian courses is ITAL 252. The prerequisite for all 400-level Italian courses is the successful completion of any 300 level Italian course.

The Italian Studies major is required to take seven upper-division Italian courses (twenty-eight units) including four of the following courses:

 

CourseID	Course Description	Units	Term
ITAL 341	Advanced Italian Grammar, Conversation and Composition (WI)	4	F
ITAL 380	Italian Civilization	4	SP
ITAL 450	Masterpieces of Italian Literature (PS, RM, WI)	4	F
	or
ITAL 451	Contemporary Italian Literature	4	SP
ITAL 452	Italian Theater
ITAL 462	Italian Cinema from Neorealism to the Present (PS, WI)	4	F
	Choose three additional Italian courses in consultation with an advisor	12

Program Learning Outcomes

A student who completes the Italian major should be able to:

• Read, comprehend and evaluate content with a difficulty level from simple conversational text to technical, theoretical and literary passages.
• Compose written documents that express, explain and analyze Italian culture and literature.
• Understand aurally and respond orally to basic conversation, as well as more complex situations.
• Describe and critique in written and verbal form Italian cultural manifestations and social as well as current issues related to belief systems, politics and social justice issues.

Italian Minor

Students majoring in other areas but interested in Italian may receive a minor by taking four upper-division classes in the language.

The Italian minor consists of the following:

CourseID	Course Description	Units	Term
ITAL 252	Second Year Italian II	4	F,SP
Four upper-division courses (16 units)

For a complete listing of all Italian courses, please click here.