Romance Languages Major, B.A.–Italian

UNC–Chapel Hill has a rich tradition of Italian studies, including courses that develop linguistic proficiency and many others dedicated to studies of literature, film, food, environmental humanities, politics, history, philosophy, and theater. Many students study abroad and increasingly seek opportunities for research and internship projects with an Italian focus.

This concentration is a popular choice for those interested in global studies or careers in journalism, diplomacy, international business or education, or for those seeking a well-rounded education in preparation for medical or law school. Many students who graduate from this program will also pursue graduate school in this or a related field.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will acquire competence in the practice and analysis of Romance languages together with a critical knowledge of the written, oral, and visual traditions of their origin and diaspora. Our faculty promotes interdisciplinary connections and incorporates the study of literature, culture, theory, and history across the curriculum. Through coursework that emphasizes language acquisition, rhetoric, composition, and written and oral expression, our majors receive sustained personalized training in critical thinking and close reading. Upon completion of the program in Romance languages, students should be able to:

Participate in conversations on concrete, social, academic, and professional topics
Speak in detail about experiences and events in a variety of time frames and moods
Represent points of view in discussions, both oral and written
Deliver well-organized presentations on concrete, academic and professional topics
Write on a wide variety of general interest, professional, and academic topics
Follow narrative, informational, and descriptive speech on concrete, academic and professional topics
Understand and discuss texts representing a variety of topics and genres

Requirements

In addition to the program requirements, students must

earn a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000
complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
take at least half of their major core requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for major or specific courses.

For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.

A prerequisite for entering the program is knowledge of the Italian language, demonstrated by successfully completing ITAL 204 or ITAL 402 or the equivalent.

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Core Requirements
ITAL 300	Communicating in Italian: Media, Culture, and Society	3
Seven additional ITAL courses excluding ITAL 101, ITAL 102, ITAL 203, ITAL 204, ITAL 401, ITAL 402 and ITAL 692H. ¹		21
Total Hours		24

¹: Courses taught in English may involve some extra writing in Italian, appropriate to the student's level of Italian at the time of the course and to be worked out with the individual instructor.

With the approval of the undergraduate advisor in Italian, three of the seven elective courses may be substituted with courses in such allied fields as art history, classics, history, geography, music, political science, global studies, or any field in which the course(s) include(s) discussion of any aspect of Italian history, politics or culture.

Sample Plan of Study

Sample plans can be used as a guide to identify the courses required to complete the major and other requirements needed for degree completion within the expected eight semesters. The actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Students should meet with their academic advisor to create a degree plan that is specific and unique to their interests. The sample plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UNC–Chapel Hill in the fall term. Some courses may not be offered every term.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year		Hours
First-Year Foundation Courses
IDST 101	College Thriving	1
ENGL 105 or ENGL 105I	English Composition and Rhetoric or English Composition and Rhetoric (Interdisciplinary)	3
First-Year Seminar or First-Year Launch		3
Triple-I and Data Literacy		4
Major Courses
ITAL 101	Elementary Italian I	3
ITAL 102	Elementary Italian II	3
Hours		17
Sophomore Year
ITAL 203	Intermediate Italian I	3
ITAL 204	Intermediate Italian II	3
Hours		6
Junior Year
ITAL 300	Communicating in Italian: Media, Culture, and Society	3
ITAL ---	Italian elective course #1	3
ITAL ---	Italian elective course #2	3
ITAL ---	Italian elective course #3	3
Hours		12
Senior Year
ITAL ---	Italian elective course #4	3
ITAL ---	Italian elective course #5	3
ITAL ---	Italian elective course #6	3
ITAL ---	Italian elective course #7	3
Hours		12
Total Hours		47

Special Opportunities in Romance Studies

Undergraduate Research

The Department of Romance Studies offers a gateway for research in the humanities, including the various fields that make up Romance studies. Research activities include the honors thesis, summer research fellowships, or engaging in mentoring projects with professors which lead to opportunities to present papers at conferences or for publication in the University's undergraduate research journal.

Annual Research Opportunities:

Honors

The departmental honors program is open to any qualified major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher and 3.5 or higher in their major courses. Eligible honors candidates will formulate a topic and select an appropriate faculty member to supervise the writing of an honors thesis. Specific coursework for the major with honors consists of enrollment in the honors thesis courses in the language of the major emphasis.

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
FREN 691H & FREN 692H	Honors Thesis in French and Honors Thesis in French	6
ITAL 691H & ITAL 692H	Honors Thesis and Honors Thesis in Italian	6
PORT 691H & PORT 692H	Honors Thesis and Honors Thesis in Portuguese	6
SPAN 691H & SPAN 692H	Honors Thesis and Honors Thesis in Spanish	6

691H is taken in the fall semester of the senior year and 692H is taken in the spring semester. FREN 390, ITAL 398, PORT 398, SPAN 397 and SPAN 398 may be substituted for the 691H research course if the subject of the seminar is central to the research project chosen. In the 692H course, the thesis will be completed and the student will participate in an oral defense with the thesis director and two additional readers, to be agreed upon by the student and director. The thesis director, in consultation with the readers, will recommend that the student who has defended the thesis graduate with honors, highest honors, or with course credit. FREN 390, FREN 691H, ITAL 398, ITAL 691H, PORT 398, SPAN 397 and SPAN 398 may count toward the eight courses for the major, but FREN 692H, ITAL 692H, PORT 692H, and SPAN 692H may not. Students who intend to graduate in December should adjust the scheduling of these courses in order to allow for completion of the honors project in December. Students meeting the required grade point averages should contact the undergraduate advisor for their language. For detailed information on the B.A. with honors, visit the department's website.

Collaborative Online International Learning

The department works in partnership with the COIL program and offers select courses that involve shared learning between students in a course at UNC–Chapel Hill and peer students at a global partner university. Faculty members at both institutions design collaborative activities for their students, such as completing small group projects, engaging in dialogue drawing on their different societal or disciplinary perspectives, or exchanging scholarly or creative work.

Out-of-Class Language Experience

The department offers credit-bearing internship opportunities through ROML 293 and service-learning opportunities through ROML 194. Both courses satisfy the High-Impact General Education requirement (in the IDEAs in Action curriculum) and the experiential education (EE) General Education requirement (in the Making Connections curriculum). While ROML 293 is a standalone course, ROML 194 is always connected to a specific course.

Each semester the department offers a film series where all students are invited to attend screenings of films in French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. All films have subtitles. It is a great opportunity to meet people in different courses and language sections that share an interest in film.

Students also find opportunities to speak Spanish and meet native Spanish speakers in an informal weekly tertulia (gathering). Additional activities involving Spanish include attending lectures, receptions, and films organized by the department and student organizations such as CHispA (Carolina Hispanic Association); and serving the community through a variety of volunteer opportunities.

Students studying French are encouraged to become members of the French club, les Francophiles, and participate in the weekly conversation hour and other French Club activities. Departmental lectures and film series are also offered.

Students interested in Italian language and culture may attend film series, guest lectures, and a series of other extracurricular events including games and conversation hours. They may also wish to join the undergraduate Italian Club.

Students who wish to practice Portuguese can meet weekly for the bate-papo (chat). Students of Portuguese also engage in editorial work and publish in the student journal Revistinha.

Study Abroad

The Study Abroad Office sponsors many year-long, semester-long, and summer programs appropriate for students of the Romance languages and has special arrangements with the Department of Romance Studies for the UNC in Montpellier, UNC in Seville, and Florence programs. Students from UNC–Chapel Hill and from other institutions may earn up to 30 semester hours of undergraduate credit in these programs, which are open to qualified undergraduates regardless of academic major. While, in general, students may satisfy up to 50 percent of major or minor coursework abroad, courses that are taught by Romance studies faculty may count differently. For example, students completing the Spanish minor for the professions in health and business may complete all or most of the minor in faculty-led programs abroad.

Students who participate in Study Abroad during the semester have the opportunity to work as course correspondents for a course in Romance studies. Course correspondents report back to the class they serve throughout the semester via online tools and may receive one hour of credit for their informative work.

General inquiries concerning any of these programs should be addressed to the Study Abroad Office, CB# 3130, FedEx Global Education Center, (919) 962-7002.

Undergraduate Awards

French

Students have the opportunity to be inducted into Pi Delta Phi, the national French honor society. Those with outstanding records in French are recommended as candidates for the Jacques Hardré Award, which is given to the best graduating senior in French; it includes a cash award.

Italian

Students are nominated for membership in Gamma Kappa Alpha, the Italian honor society, by undergraduate instructors. The society recognizes “outstanding scholastic performance in the fields of Italian language and literature” and encourages students “to acquire a greater interest in, and a deeper understanding of, Italian culture.” The Kimberly Kyser Award for Excellence in Italian is awarded to the most outstanding student in Italian and includes a cash prize.

Portuguese

Each year the department awards the Camões Prize to the outstanding student in Portuguese during that year. The prize carries a monetary award made possible by a donation from the Gulbenkian Foundation.

Spanish

Students have the opportunity to be inducted into Sigma Delta Pi, the national Spanish honor society. Those with outstanding performance in the Hispanic literatures and cultures or the Hispanic linguistics majors are eligible for several prizes including the Chancellor’s Award, given to the top graduating senior, the Stoudemire Awards, and the Larry D. King Fellowship.