see NEW Undergraduate Concentration

Undergraduate Programs

1. Undergraduate Concentration in Italian Studies for '07,'08 Graduates

It is quite possible to concentrate in Italian without having studied the language before coming to Brown, although doing so requires and 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).

Courses normally required: IT 60, 102, the five "core" courses - 131, 132, 133, 134, 135 - plus 161. IT 140 may replace one or more courses according to the topic of the seminar. In addition, with the approval of the concentration advisor, one ore more of these courses may be replaced by a graduate course in Italian. One course may be replaced by a course in another Romance literature or comparative literature, and one with a course in history, philosophy, art, or another appropriate field. Credits toward the Italian studies concentration may also be transferred from the Brown Program in Bologna. 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 Admission_Undergraduate@Brown.edu.

2. MCM/Italian Concentration

The Italian Studies Department and the Department of Modern Culture and Media have established a new concentration in Semiotics/Italian, beginning in 1995-96. The Concentration includes 11 courses; requirements are as follows:

The following 6 Courses are to be taken in the Italian Studies Department:

IT-95 (Introduction to Italian Cinema)
IT-100 (Contemporary Culture)
IT-103 (Realism and Utopia in Italian Film)

Any 3 courses of the following:

IT-134 (Literature of the Risorgimento and of United Italy)
IT-135 (Contemporary Literature)
IT-139 (Modern Italian History)
IT-140 (Special Topics in Italian Studies)

The following 5 courses are to be taken in the Modern Culture and Media Department:

Any 3 courses of the following:

MC-10 (Introduction to Media)
MC-15 (Readings in Theory)
MC-23 (Digital Media)
MC-24 (Television)
MC-25 (Visuality and Visual Theories)
MC-26 (Cinematic Coding and Narrativity)
MC-111 (The Theory of the Sign)

At least 1 Course Numbered MC-120

At least 1 Course Numbered MC-150

Students are encouraged to consider study at the University of Bologna through the Brown Program in Bologna, though this is by no means a requirement for fulfillment of the Concentration. Courses taken at the University of Bologna may substitute for Italian Studies and MCM courses (no more than 2 from either department) at the discretion of the Concentration advisors.

ADVISING: The Concentration will be jointly administered by Italian Studies and MCM, and each Concentrator must have a declaration signed by an advisor in each department. Thereafter, advising will be undertaken jointly.

HONORS: Honors will require a thesis and will normally be undertaken by signalling intent during the junior year. No thesis will be required for completion of the concentration, though students will be strongly advised to undertake some capstone project during their senior year.