Italian Studies BA
Program Purpose
The undergraduate Italian Studies Secondary major is a liberal arts program designed to help students appreciate Italian language, literature, history, and culture. The key feature of this major is the possibility of substituting op to four (4) upper-division literature or culture classes normally taught in Italian for a maximum of four upper-division courses from other university departments which have a significant amount of Italian based themes taught in English and can qualify for a meaningful substitution. Substituted courses are approved by the Italian section head on a case-by-case basis. This major differs from the traditional emphasis on language and literature in that it allows students to address a broader aspect of Italian culture. It aims to sharpen skills in critical thinking, written expression, and oral proficiency in Italian. Through this appreciation, students learn to engage in and understand more deeply the thought, heritage, and ideals of Italy, of its rich cultural heritage, and of its people. They learn to use literature to interpret complex symbolic systems and to gain insights into the aesthetic experience, so as to broaden their understanding of culturally specific, as well as universal, issues and values.
The ItalianStudies BA is designed to serve students who plan to enter the learned professions or pursue other career paths that require perceptive reading, orderly and clear thinking, intellectual maturity, effective writing, and oral communication. In light of the scriptural recommendation to gain "knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:79) and to "study and learn, and become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues, and people" (Doctrine and Covenants 90:15), the Italian BA program is also designed to establish habits of broad spiritual thought that will provide a source of life-long personal enjoyment and enrichment, and of service to the extended community. While pursuing the program's goals, students are encouraged to gain experience through Italian-language immersion programs, such as study abroad and internships in Italy, the on-campus BYU Italian House, the Italian Writing Lab, and other significant mentored research.
Italian undergraduate courses follow BYU AIMS goals and guidelines.
Courses numbered Italian 100 through 299 are designated to prepare students to advance to upper-level Italian classes. Courses numbered 300 through 399 are panoramic in nature, while at the same time offering students a rigorous curriculum in both language and literature, and culture training. Courses numbered 400 through 499 are upper-level culminating courses, any one of which counts as a senior capstone course. They demand detailed focus on the topics studied and a linguistic appreciation and sophistication that go beyond a mere formative plan.
The BYU undergraduate Italian program accommodates students with no previous experience with Italy, its culture and language, as well as those who have received previous instruction at other institutions and/or who have otherwise had prior exposure to the language and culture.
Learning Outcomes
Language Ability
Successful students will demonstrate proficiency in speaking and writing Italian at the Intermediate High level, as defined by the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines and ratings.
Students will analyze the literature, language, and culture of Italy drawing upon their ability to locate and consult relevant primary, critical, and theoretical sources.
Based on their chosen interdisciplinary curriculum, successful students will demonstrate the ability to articulate and defend in speech and writing, clear, critical, and orderly thought on Italian literary and cultural topics. Students are encouraged to apply these skills to deepen their spiritual understanding and commitment.
Evidence of Learning
Direct Measures
1. Traditional course-level assessment tools including oral and written examinations, research papers, essays, oral in-class student presentations, in-class group peer work, class discussions, quizzes, midterm exams, final exams, etc. Outcome grades are a summative evaluation of student performance and are based on objective and explicit goals published on each syllabus. [Outcomes 1, 2, 3].
2. An entry and an exit standardized test given to all students in Italian 321, to evaluate the mid-curricular value-added progress. [Outcome 1].
3. Common exams or common exam sections used in several multiple-section courses (Italian 101, 102, 321, 340) in order to normalize and track core competencies. [Outcome 1]
4. An OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) administered to all majors by a faculty member in Italian who is trained by the ACTFL in this procedure. Majors will rate at an advanced-low or higher on the ACTFL scale. [Outcome 1]
5. Each Italian 400-level class requires at least one culminating research paper written in Italian. Students are evaluated on their performance and understanding of Italian culture, language and analytical organization by the faculty member teaching the class. [Outcomes 1, 2, 3].
6. Major GPA [Outcomes 1, 2, 3]
7. Standardized tests at the end of first, second, and third years. [Outcome 1]
8. Honors thesis, when applicable. [Outcomes 2, 3].
9. For study-abroad/foreign-internship students: a standardized final exam in IAS 201 R (preparation course) and a standardized study-abroad/internship exit assessment test at the end of the foreign stay. Also, a final exam for Italian 420 and/or Italian 421 for students who take these classes in Italy [Outcomes 2, 3].
Indirect Measures
1. End of program exit survey, an interview with the Chair, Language Section Head, or assigned full-time professor.
2. Internships and foreign-language housing. A survey for students on study abroad in which they report (a) degree of language growth (b) degree of increase in "small c" cultural awareness (c) degree of increase in "big C" cultural sophistication.
3. Personal interviews between each student and his/her Italian faculty member in each enrolled class, each semester, for reciprocal feedback and evaluation (to include questions on self-evaluation of language skills, level of understanding and ability to participate in classes in Italian, the effect of culture and literature on students' lives, life-long learning strategies, post-graduation goals, etc.).
4. Participation in extra-curricular activities (Italian Club, International Cinema, soccer games, gastronomic encounters, lyrical opera nights, library literacy use, Italian Writing Lab visits, etc).
5. Alumni tracking surveys.
6. Standardized student evaluations, to include feedback for faculty on how many hours students spend weekly on homework, active class learning.
7. GE across-the-curriculum knowledge, as it applies to Italian classes.
8. The Chair (or Italian Section Head) verifies patterns of grade distribution by semester, by course, and by faculty member.
Curriculum
ITALIAN UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
[Course # (Hrs)-Course Description]
101 (4) First-Year Italian, Part 1
102 (4) First-Year Italian, Part 2
201 (4) Intermediate Italian, Part 1
202 (4) Intermediate Italian, Part 2 (GE Foreign Language Option for non-RMs)
211R (2) Second-Year Conversation
311R (2) Third-Year Conversation
317 (3) French & Italian Cinema (GE "Arts")
321 (3) Third-Year Italian Grammar
322 (3) Italian Composition
326 (3) Italian Phonetics and Pronunciation
340 (3) Introduction to Italian Literature (GE Foreign Language Option for RMs)
411 (2) Fourth-Year Conversation
420 (3) Italian Civilization from the Beginning to 1600 (GE "Arts" or "Letters")
421 (3) Italian Civilization from 1600 to Modern Era (GE "Arts" or "Letters")
441 (3) Italian Literature of the Late Middle Ages and Renaissance
422 (3) Italian Literature of the Baroque & Enlightenment Periods
443 (3) Italian Literature of the Romantic Period
444 (3) Italian Literature of the Twentieth Century
460 (3) Dante%u2019s Divine Comedy (GE "Arts" or "Letters")
490R (1-3) Individual Study in Italian
491 (0) Senior Oral Proficiency Evaluation (ACTFL rating)
495R (3) Senior Seminar
499R (1-6) Honors Thesis
Communication skills (listening, reading, writing, and speaking): Italian 101, 102, 201, 211R, 311R, 400, 321, 322, 326.
Analytical skills, appreciation of Italian literature and culture, interpretation of complex symbolic systems: Italian 202, 217, 340, all 400-level courses.
MAJOR: 30 hrs MINOR: 18 hrs
12-HOUR CORE FOR MAJOR OR MINOR: Italian 321, 322, 326, 340, 491 (optional for minors)
plus: MAJOR: six 400-level courses, up to four 400-level courses from related departments may be counted upon department approval / MINOR: two 400-level courses
Minor required for Italian Major: Option 1: a minor defined by another department (after consultation with an advisor in Italian) Option 2: 15 hrs of course work in different but related fields (after consultation with advisor in Italian)
Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement
All full-time instructors of Italian interview each student in their class at least once each semester. Students have often remarked that these interviews are beneficial for them, as they enjoy the advising and the exchange of ideas that occur.
The full-time faculty members of the Italian section of the department meet on a regular basis to discuss the curriculum. All full-time faculty members agree on the content of all syllabi and on the texts to use in each course. Faculty members use each other's syllabi on a regular basis so as to guarantee continuity and stability to the program, and thus ensure that all students have the same propaedeutic base for the successive courses.
This pedagogical continuity in Italian curriculum is based on regular yearly reviews of syllabi, choice of textbooks, revision of curriculum, organization of extracurricular activities (Italian club, Italian movies, lectures), overall program coordination of methodology and content.
Student feedback and input is essential to our student-learning improvement plan. We will continue to collect and evaluate student feedback in the following ways: entry- and exit-level surveys, alumni surveys, student evaluations, mentoring programs, formal or informal contact groups, evaluations of the assessment committee, and exit interviews by the department chair or other designated faculty member.
Italian Implementation Section of College of Humanities Assessment Summary
College Assessment Summary
Full program information, including detailed descriptions of measures of student learning and current data generated by those measures is available on the College of Humanities assessment summary