The Department of Italian Studies has four learning outcome goals: Communication, Analytical Skills, Cultural Awareness, and Connections.
At all levels of teaching in Italian, we constantly evaluate our goals of Communication and Connections through any number of grammar exercises, quizzes, exams, discussions, writing exercises and formal research. Contemporaneously, we develop both the Analytical Skills of students— through examination of Italian language systems (e.g., phonology, morphology, syntax, etc.) and analysis of texts (broadly understood) — and enrich students’ Cultural Awareness of Italian conceptions of time, space, family systems, and values.
In our classes at the 200-level taught in English, we further this mission through our evaluation of three outcome goals: Connections, Analytical Skills, and Cultural Awareness.
For the Italian Studies Major students will:
- Demonstrate at least Advanced-low writing and speaking skills in Italian (as established by ACTFL guidelines). In doing so, they will demonstrate high proficiency in understanding Italian grammatical systems. [Communication]
- Analyze texts (broadly understood), both in Italian and English to grasp cultural, social, artistic, political, historical and economic issues relevant to Italy. [Analytical Skills]
- Explore, verbally and in writing, through an interdisciplinary perspective, Italian cultural scholarship. [Analytical Skills]
- Show knowledge of social, artistic, political, historical, and economic issues related to Italy and the Italian immigrant experience. [Cultural Awareness]
- Use the Italian language in a variety of interdisciplinary contexts to produce a personal, informed and critical understanding of Italian culture experienced through a full-immersion program in Italy for at least a semester. [Connections]
For the Italian Studies Minor students will:
- Demonstrate at least Intermediate-mid speaking skills and Advanced-low writing skills in Italian (as established by ACTFL guidelines). In doing so, they will demonstrate high proficiency in understanding Italian grammatical systems. [Communication]
- Analyze texts (broadly understood), both in Italian and English to grasp cultural, social, artistic, political, historical and economic issues relevant to Italy. [Analytical Skills]
- Explore, verbally and in writing, through an interdisciplinary perspective, Italian cultural scholarship. [Analytical Skills]
- Show knowledge of social, artistic, political, historical, and economic issues related to Italy and the Italian immigrant experience. [Cultural Awareness]
- Use the Italian language in a variety of interdisciplinary contexts to produce a personal, informed and critical understanding of Italian culture experienced through a full-immersion program in Italy for at least a semester. [Connections]