It is quite possible to concentrate in Italian studies without having studied
the language before coming to Brown, although doing so requires an early start. Accelerated programs should
be discussed with the concentration advisor. Having fulfilled the language requirement, students will be
able to enroll in a variety of advanced courses, reflecting the interdisciplinary scope of Italian studies
at Brown (including literature, history, history of art and culture).
The concentration requires that students demonstrate proficiency in the Italian language by completing up to
Italian 60 (or the equivalent). Italian 60 is the first language course that can count toward the eight required
courses for the concentration. At least four of the eight courses should be taken in Italian.
Concentrators in Italian Studies must also pursue a variety of courses that reflect the interdisciplinary nature
of the program. Of the eight courses required for the concentration, three of the courses must be chosen from
three of the following four distribution areas: Italian literature; Italian History (any chronological period);
History of Italian art and architecture; Italian film or performance. The remaining five courses may be chosen
according to the student’s interests in Italian Studies. Italian Studies 192 (independent study supervised by a
member of the Italian Studies faculty) can fulfill one of the courses required for the concentration. Junior and
senior concentrators may enroll in any graduate level course with the permission of the instructor and such courses
can count toward the requirements for the concentration.
Students interested in film, media, and Italian Studies should consider the joint concentration in Modern Culture
and Media – Italian Studies (MCM-IS). Requirements for MCM-IS are available at the
Italian Studies webpage.
All seniors will give a brief presentation to the department on an academic topic of their choosing in Italian Studies.
Their presentation can be based on their course work in the Brown Program in Bologna (described below) or a seminar at
Brown. Fifteen-minute presentations by seniors will be organized into a panel-format by participating students.
Italian Studies faculty and students will be invited to attend this “senior conference” at the end of the academic year.
Since the senior presentations are based on work in a regular course, they do not constitute a “capstone experience” in
Italian Studies. Concentrators who wish to pursue an independent research, writing, or multimedia project, should apply
for permission to designate one of their courses a capstone course, or they should apply for honors in Italian Studies
(see below for more information).
Concentrators who choose to enroll in the Brown Program in Bologna (described below) should try to fulfill the requirements
according to the following sequence: Prior to departure, the student should complete the level of Italian language study
required (Italian 30) and enroll in one of the three required courses above (i.e. one of the courses in the four distribution
areas – Italian literature; Italian History; history of Italian art and architecture; film or performance). Upon return
from the Brown Program in Bologna, the student should enroll in at least one advanced course offered by the department,
preferably a course taught in Italian. Any student returning from the Bologna program who wishes to take a course taught in
Italian must enroll in a course above the language level of Italian 60. Please see below for additional details on the Bologna
program and the Italian Studies Concentration.
With the permission of the undergraduate concentration advisor, one of the required eight courses may be substituted with a course
from another Romance literature or comparative literature, or with a course in history, philosophy, art, or another appropriate field.
Concentrators are encouraged but not required to participate in the Brown Program in Bologna, preferably
for the entire academic year, although one semester of study in Bologna is also possible. The program allows students to immerse
themselves in Italian language and culture and to enroll in courses with Italian students at the University of Bologna. It is a unique
and transformative undergraduate experience.
Credits toward the Italian Studies concentration may also be transferred from the Brown Program in Bologna. Participants in the Brown
Program in Bologna normally enroll in three courses per semester. For these three courses, students receive four course credits on their
Brown transcript. Those students enrolled for the year-long program in Bologna would thus enroll in six courses total and transfer
eight course credits. Concentrators may count three courses per semester toward the concentration (or six courses total for the year),
although the course content must focus on Italy if the student wishes to count the course toward the concentration requirements. All
concentrators should consult the director of the Bologna Program if they have any questions about which courses may or may not transfer
as credits toward the concentration.
For information about this program in Italy, please contact the department. Applications should be made through the Office of International
Programs, Box 1973, Phone (401) 863-3555.
Requests for Admissions information should be directed to the Admissions Office, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912 or you may request
an application by sending e-mail to Admissions.
Concentrators are encouraged to expand their understanding of Italian language, history, or culture through independent research that will result in a thesis, a translation, or a multimedia project, developed in consultation with the undergraduate concentration advisor and the individual faculty member who will advise the student’s project. The Honors thesis in Italian Students is a two-semester thesis. Students who intend to complete an honors project should enroll for the first semester in Italian Studies 192 (independent study), and have their project approved by their advisor by October 15. During the second semester, honors students enroll in Italian Studies 198 and continue to work with their advisor to complete the project. The results of their research will be presented at the “senior conference,” described above. Italian Studies 198 does not count as one of the eight courses required for the concentration.
Capstone experiences in Italian Studies include the Brown Program in Bologna and the honors thesis. Students may also apply early in the semester for permission to designate one of their courses (100-level or above) a capstone course. In consultation with the professor, students in capstone courses complete an independent research, writing, or multimedia project that is well beyond the required assignment for the course. Italian Studies 192 (independent study) may also be designated a capstone course with the permission of the instructor. Students in capstone courses also present their final projects at the “senior conference,” described above. Applications for designating a course a capstone course are available in the Italian Studies office, 190 Hope Street.
Page last updated in April, 2007.