A&S Majors and Minors | Undergraduate Bulletin

Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

MAJOR AND MINOR DESCRIPTIONS BY DEPARTMENT

FRENCH AND ITALIAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE

A major in French and/or Italian gives students at the University of Pittsburgh the opportunity to study a second language in detail and to acquire an education in a literary and cultural tradition central to the humanities. Studying French and/or Italian language and literature prepares students for graduate study in law and international affairs; advanced work in the humanities; and careers in business, governmental service, and teaching. The University is committed to international study, and students are encouraged to take advantage of the numerous opportunities to study abroad. Students can also combine a major in French and/or Italian with a second major in a field such as political science, history, biology, or economics. Students who choose to study the grammar, linguistics, rhetoric, literature, and film of Italy and/or the Francophone world will acquire an invaluable technical resource and an in-depth knowledge of a diverse and foundational intellectual tradition. Students may also minor in French and/or Italian. For more information on the Department of French and Italian Languages and Literatures, see our Web site at www.frenchanditalian.pitt.edu.

General Requirements for both French and Italian Majors

The following requirements apply to both French and Italian majors:

Students are required to maintain at least a 2.00 GPA in major courses.
Students may choose courses from three areas: language, literature, and civilization.
Reading competency in at least one other language is recommended for students interested in graduate school.
To earn departmental honors, students must major in French or Italian, demonstrate superior performance in departmental courses, and be enrolled in 1000-level French/Italian courses preferably no later than the first term of the junior year. Selection of honors candidates takes place only in the second term of the junior year. During the senior year, two appropriate sequential courses are chosen in consultation with the major advisor, and a research paper must be completed. The paper must be defended before a faculty committee. Honors will be determined by the quality of the paper and the defense, as well as the cumulative grades in all departmental courses counting toward the major.

French Major Requirements

Majors in French must have completed two years of college work or the equivalent before beginning core courses. The French major consists of at least 31 credits above the intermediate level. Elementary and intermediate French language courses (FR 0001 through FR 0004) do not count toward the major. Required credits follow.

FR 0020 Introduction to Civilization
FR 0021 Approaches to French Literature
FR 0027 The French Atlantic
FR 0055 French Conversation
FR 0056 Written French 1
FR 0058 Advanced French Conversation

Majors are expected to take one credit of FR 0058 Advanced French Conversation, but they may take two additional credits of the course as a nonmajor elective.

In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met by French majors:

Once the basic requirements are met, students will, in consultation with their advisor, design a program that corresponds to their needs, but they must take an additional 15 credits at the 1000 level. Twelve credits must be in courses taught in French.
French majors may take one course above 0004, in addition to 0058, on an S/NC option.
Although study abroad is not a requirement for the major in French, students are strongly encouraged to consider participating in a study-abroad program in a French-speaking country during their undergraduate career.
Students must complete at least one W course within the major.

The Dietrich School requires 12 credits in a related area to be chosen in consultation with the program advisor. This requirement can also be met by completing an official minor in another area.

Italian Major Requirements

Majors in Italian, after one year of college instruction in the language, may enroll in ITAL 0003 Intermediate Italian 1 for credit toward the major. The major consists of at least 33 credits above elementary Italian. ITAL 0001 and 0002 Elementary Italian 1 and 2, which do not count toward the major and must include the following courses:

ITAL 0003 Intermediate Italian 1
ITAL 0004 Intermediate Italian 2
ITAL 0055 Italian Conversation and Culture
ITAL 0080 Italian Cultural Heritage 1*

ITAL 0081 Italian Cultural Heritage 2*

Five 1000-level elective courses at least three of which must be taught in Italian. No more than two of these courses may be taught in English.

* Because ITAL 0080 and ITAL 0081 have no prerequisites and are taught in English, the department recommends that students interested in an Italian major take those courses as early in their studies as possible.

In addition to those basic course requirements, the following criteria apply to Italian majors:

Two courses in the 1080 or 1050 series (courses taught in English) may be counted toward the major if the student completes a specified part of the work in Italian.
A minimum GPA of 2.0 in departmental courses is required for graduation.
Majors may not take any courses on the S/NC basis.
A 12-credit related area may be chosen from humanities and social sciences including a second language, linguistics, history, English, history of art and architecture, communication, music, and political science, or another subject as arranged with the major advisor.
Students must complete at least one W course within the major. ITAL 0060, ITAL 0061 and ITAL 1041 fulfill this requirement.

Italian Studies Major Requirements

The Italian Studies Major promotes the cross-discipline exploration of a variety of areas relating to Italian and Italian American culture: language, literature, theater, cinema, art and architecture, music, history, social and immigration history, politics and political theory, history and philosophy of science, classical studies, and religious studies. The major consists of at least 33 credits above elementary Italian (ITAL 0001 and ITAL 0002 Elementary Italian 1 and 2, which do not count toward the major) and must include the following courses.

ITAL 0003 Intermediate Italian 1
ITAL 0004 Intermediate Italian 2
ITAL 0055 Italian Conversation and Culture

One of the following courses

ITAL 0080 Italian Cultural Heritage 1
ITAL 0081 Italian Cultural Heritage 2

One of the following courses

ITAL 0060 Literary Italian 1
ITAL 0061 Literary Italian 2
ITAL 1041 Italian Theatrical Workshop

Six additional courses, at least two of which must be 1000-level Italian courses offered by the Department of French and Italian, whether the language of instruction is in Italian or English. The remaining courses may be chosen from an approved list.

Requirements for French and Italian Minors

The French and Italian department offers four tracks within its minor offerings: French language and literature, French studies, Italian language and literature, and Italian studies. Each minor also offers requirement options.

French

Students can complete the minor in French with five courses chosen from the following list. Only one of the courses may be taught in English. Students whose programs will include two or more courses taught in English should declare the French Studies minor.

15 credits:

FR 0003 Intermediate French 1
FR 0004 Intermediate French 2
FR 0006 Special Topics in Conversation and Culture
FR 0020 France in the 21st Century
FR 0021 Approaches to French Literature
FR 0027 The French Atlantic
FR 0055 French Conversation
FR 0056 Written French 1
FR 0057 Written French 2
One of the following
- FR 0080 Modern French Novel
- FR 0085 French Film 1930-1960
FR 0081 French Theatre
Four French electives on literary, cultural, or linguistic topics taught in French (FR 1000 through FR 1079)
FR 1084 Politics in Modern French Literature
FR 1085 Women's Voices in French Literature
FR 1088 Special Topics
FR 1089 Francophone Africana Literature

French Studies

Students can complete the minor in French Studies with five courses chosen from the following list.

15 credits:

FR 0003 Intermediate French 1
FR 0004 Intermediate French 2
FR 0006 Special Topics in Conversation and Culture
FR 0020 France in the 21st Century
FR 0021 Approaches to French Literature
FR 0027 The French Atlantic
FR 0055 French Conversation
FR 0056 Written French 1
FR 0057 Written French 2
Three electives on literary and cultural topics taught in English or French (FR 0080 through FR 0089)
Four electives on literary and cultural topics taught in English or French (FR 1000-1096)

Italian Language and Literature

Any combination of five courses from the following list.

ITAL 0001 Elementary Italian 1
ITAL 0002 Elementary Italian 2
ITAL 0003 Intermediate Italian 1
ITAL 0004 Intermediate Italian 2
One of the following
- ITAL 0060 Literary Italian 1
- ITAL 0061 Literary Italian 2
- ITAL 1041 Italian Theatrical Workshop
ITAL 1059 Special Topics in 20th Century Italian Literature
ITAL 1060 Special Topics
ITAL 1061 Dante 1
ITAL 1062 Dante 2
ITAL 1064 Novel
ITAL 1065 Lyric Poetry
ITAL 1066 Epic Poetry
ITAL 1067 Italian Theater
ITAL 1068 Italian Novella
ITAL 1069 Literature into Film

Italian Studies Minor