About the Italian Major Concentration in the Bachelor's Degree in World Languages and Literatures and the Minor in Italian Studies
The Italian program at the University of Memphis offers a major concentration in the Bachelor's degree in World Languages and Literatures and a minor in Italian with beginning, intermediate, and advanced courses in Italian language and literature, as well as courses in English on topics such as Italian Cinema, Dante, Business Italian, and Food and Italian Identity. In language courses, the communicative approach is employed, and classroom instruction is complemented by audio-visual media. We regularly view beautiful slides of Italy and we even make Italian films!
The new Minor in Italian Studies was created to answer and better serve the needs of an increasing number of UM students
who are interested in taking some Italian language together with Italian culture courses
taught in English which would complement their major field of study.
Italian culture is a major component of several courses taught in various departments
at the University of Memphis, including the Departments of Art History, History, the
Program in Classics, and the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music. In addition, many faculty-led
Study Abroad courses in Italy from the Department of Architecture, the Fogelman College
of Business and Economics, the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management,
the College of Health Sciences (Nutrition), and the new B.A in Fashion Design offer
study in areas where Italy has been or is a contemporary leader (art, fashion, culinary
arts; interior, graphic, and furniture design; environmental planning and design;
and music). A new Minor in Italian Studies at UM will therefore not only allow UM
students to capitalize on Italian cultural courses taken in other programs and complete
a minor complementary to their major field of study, but it would also prepare them for
many career paths where contemporary Italy is a world leader.
Requirements for the Italian Major Concentration:
24 upper division semester hours (8 courses).
Requirements for the Italian Minor:
A total of 18 semester hours (6 courses): ITAL 1020, 2010, and 2020 (or their equivalents); and 9 upper division semester hours (3 courses) in the Italian program.
Requirements for the new Minor in Italian Studies
A minimum of 18 semester hours, including the Core and Elective Courses.
Core: 9 semester hours of any course under the ITAL (Italian) prefix.
Elective Courses: 9 semester hours from the following options.
Italian can also be one of the concentrations in the B.A. in World Languages.
Requirements for a two-language concentration: 27 upper division semester hours (9 courses) with a minimum of 9 semester hours in each language. Requirements for a three-language concentration: at least 33 upper division semester hours (11 courses) to include at least 12 semester hours in each of two languages plus approved course work in a third language.
To inquire about the Italian program, contact Dr. C. Gaudenzi at cgaudenz@memphis.edu