UNIVERSITY CATALOG: 2024-2025

Program: Languages and Cultures, B.A.

Italian Option

Program Description

The Languages and Cultures major prepares students for an increasingly globalized and interdependent world that rewards knowledge of languages and cultural literacy. The major provides students with advanced proficiency in language skills and cultural competency that will enable them to expand career opportunities and enhance their personal lives in an international and intercultural environment. In addition to studies in a primary target language, students take courses in comparative study of cultures and literatures to gain insight into the interrelation of language, culture and human nature. The two required seminars in cultural theories and methodologies constitute the capstone experience for intercultural studies. Students also are encouraged to study abroad, take a secondary target language and select from a rich array of courses offered in other departments that deal with interactions among peoples, cultures and regions.

Program Requirements

A. Cultural Studies Component Requirements (18 units)

1. Lower Division Required Course (3 units)

FLIT 234 Virtual Study Abroad (3)

2. Lower Division Elective (3 units)

Select one course from the following:

FLIT 230 Life in Modern France (3)
FLIT 245 Introduction to German Literature (3)
FLIT 250 Traditional Culture of Japan (3)
FLIT 260 Life and Thought in Modern Spain (3)
FLIT 261 Life in Modern Latin America (3)
FLIT 295A Masterpieces of European Literature I (3)
FLIT 295B Masterpieces of European Literature II (3)

3. Upper Division Required Courses (6 units)

FLIT 391 Cultural Theories and Methodologies (3)
FLIT 491 Capstone Seminar (3)

4. Upper Division Electives (6 units)

Select two courses from two different cultures, each different from the courses selected for the lower division electives:

ARMN 310 Armenian Culture (3)
ARMN 360 Changing Roles of Armenian Women (3)
FLIT 320 Business Culture in Asia (3)
FLIT 321 Business Culture in Europe (3)
FLIT 322 Business Culture in Latin America (3)
FLIT 330 Italian Civilization from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance (3)
FLIT 331 Literary Masterpieces of Italian Humanism and Renaissance Literature (3)
FLIT 340 Life in Modern Germany (3)
FLIT 341 20th Century European Literature (3)
FLIT 370 Modern Japanese Culture (3)
FLIT 371 Modern Italian Culture (3)
FLIT 380 Cultural Development of Modern Russia and Eastern Europe (3)
FLIT 381 Aspects of the Italian-American Experience in Cinema, Literature, Philosophy and Music (3)
FLIT 383 Hispanic Civilization and Culture: Middle Ages to Golden Age (3)
FLIT 384 Modern Hispanic Culture Peninsular (3)
FLIT 402 Japanese Literature (3)
FLIT 455 Women Writers of Asia (3)

B. Language Option Component Requirements (24 units)

Languages and Cultures majors are strongly encouraged to study abroad, take a secondary target language and select courses and a minor within their regional or thematic focus.

1. Lower Division (9 units)

Select three courses from the following:

ITAL 201 Intermediate Italian I (3)
ITAL 202 Intermediate Italian II (3)
ITAL 204 Intermediate Italian Grammar and Composition (3)
ITAL 290 Intermediate Reading and Conversation (3)

2. Upper Division (15 units)

Select five courses from the following:

FLIT 330 Italian Civilization from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance (3)
FLIT 331 Literary Masterpieces of Italian Humanism and Renaissance Literature (3)
FLIT 371 Modern Italian Culture (3)
FLIT 381 Aspects of the Italian-American Experience in Cinema, Literature, Philosophy, and Music (3)
ITAL 300 Advanced Conversational Italian (3)
ITAL 305 Structure of the Italian Language (3)
ITAL 306 Translation and Style (3)
ITAL 315 Masterpieces of Italian Literature (3)
ITAL 335 Italian Literature of the Middle Ages (3)
ITAL 360 Italian Literature of the 19th Century (3)

C. General Education (48 units)

Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog, including 3 units of coursework meeting the Ethnic Studies (ES) graduation requirement.

6 units are satisfied by the following courses in the major: FLIT 234 satisfies E Lifelong Learning and fulfills the Information Competence requirement; and ITAL 201 and satisfies 3 units of F Comparative Cultural Studies.

If taken, FLIT 250 satisfies C1 Arts; FLIT 331 or FLIT 381 satisfies upper division C2 Humanities; ARMN 310, ARMN 360, FLIT 370 and/or FLIT 371 satisfies upper division F Comparative Cultural Studies.

Total Units in the Major/Option: 42

General Education Units: 39

Additional Units: 39

Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120

Contact

Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures
Chair: Adrián Pérez-Boluda
Sierra Tower (ST) 405
(818) 677-3467

Program Learning Outcomes

Students receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Languages and Cultures will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate fluency in listening, speaking, reading and writing in the target language.
  2. Demonstrate ability to reason and present sound arguments in both oral and written discourse.
  3. Demonstrate critical thinking in the analysis of traditions, cultures and civilizations.
  4. Understand the nature of language, its function, structure and interactional (social) purposes.
  5. Analyze and clearly articulate interpretations of literary texts.