This course employs the same language teaching methodology used in ITAS 101. Students will advance their language proficiency and their knowledge of contemporary Italian society through daily practice, both in the classroom and on their own. In addition, they will watch and discuss an Italian film, and read some short stories in Italian. Oral presentations are also incorporated in the curriculum.

This course is for students who have taken ITAS 103 or both ITAS 101 and ITAS 102. The course covers the same material as ITAS 201 and ITAS 202, and employs an online platform that provides free access to all course materials (videos, films, readings, grammar charts, as well as self-corrected exercises and tests). The aim of the course is to improve and strengthen the skills acquired in Elementary Italian through the study of various themes in contemporary Italian society. This is an intensive course developed especially for students with a strong interest in Italian Studies. No textbook necessary: all materials are available and downloadable online.

This course examines the films of a number of major Italian women directors across three artistic generations:  Lina Wertmüller and Liliana Cavani from the 1960s to the 1980s; Francesca Archibugi, Cristina and Francesca Comencini from the 1990s to the 2010s; and Alina Marazzi, Alice Rohrwacher and Laura Bisturi, from the 2010s through 2025.  The course will explore how women directors give form to their directorial signatures in film, focusing on their films' formal features and narrative themes in the light of their socio-historical context.

In 1348, as the plague ravaged Florence, ten young people fled to the countryside and told one hundred stories. Boccaccio's Decameron, dedicated to women who suffer in love, became one of Western literature's most influential works, and includes tales so explicit that the first uncensored English translation did not appear until 1972. We will immerse ourselves in Boccaccio's medieval world through 14 celebrated stories, then trace the Decameron’s influence through works by Chaucer, Marguerite de Navarre, Verga, Pirandello, Chekhov, Buzzati, Lahiri, and Atwood. Students will develop their skills as slow and careful readers, and—most importantly—become storytellers themselves. In two special sessions, students will share prepared stories: original creations, borrowed tales, or imaginative hybrids.

This intensive three-week course is a rigorous linguistic and a valuable full-immersion cultural experience in Italy. Like ITAS 202 on campus, the course consists of a fast-paced grammar review with practice of all language skills through readings of literary texts and newspaper articles, oral discussions, presentations on Italian current events, and compositions on cultural topics examined in class. The course includes a rich program of guest speakers, both Italian university professors and artists, and attendance at film screenings and theatre performances.

This course employs the latest language teaching methodology to provide students with an interactive learning experience. Students will be introduced to the basics of the Italian language, as well as to contemporary Italy and its culture. In class, students will practice the four skills - speaking, listening, reading and writing - through a variety of activities. 

This innovative course is designed for complete beginners seeking rapid progress in language proficiency and the opportunity to fulfill their language requirement within one year. Equivalent to ITAS 101 and 102, this course prepares students for ITAS 201 or ITAS 203 (combined 201 and 202). ITAS 103 employs cutting-edge teaching tools to create an interactive learning experience. Methods include in-class conversation, role-playing activities, and blended learning supported by the latest technology. Through daily practice and reinforcement of all language skills, students will achieve intermediate-level proficiency in Italian and gain a foundational understanding of modern Italian society in a single semester. No textbook is required; students will have free access to an online platform offering comprehensive course materials, including videos, readings, grammar charts, self-corrected exercises, and tests.

This seminar is a collective close-reading of Dante Alighieri's Inferno, the first canticle of the Divine Comedy, along with extended selections from Purgatorio and Paradiso. We will examine the poem's historical context, its intricate narrative structure, and its enduring influence. We will treat Dante’s poem as a gateway into the medieval world. Secondary reading will include near-contemporary chroniclers, theologians and poets as well as classic Greek and Roman authors such as Aristotle, Virgil and Ovid. No historical or religious background knowledge is required, only attention to detail and a willingness to be surprised. Sample discussion questions we will tackle with Dante: How can I distinguish between love and lust? How do I navigate a hyper-polarized society? What is justice? Is there value in suffering? How far should political prosecution go? How can I stand up to authority in a world where dissent is dangerous? Why are there spots on the moon?

This seminar is a collective close-reading of Dante Alighieri's Inferno, the first canticle of the Divine Comedy, along with extended selections from Purgatorio and Paradiso. We will examine the poem's historical context, its intricate narrative structure, and its enduring influence. We will treat Dante’s poem as a gateway into the medieval world. Secondary reading will include near-contemporary chroniclers, theologians and poets as well as classic Greek and Roman authors such as Aristotle, Virgil and Ovid. No historical or religious background knowledge is required, only attention to detail and a willingness to be surprised. Sample discussion questions we will tackle with Dante: How can I distinguish between love and lust? How do I navigate a hyper-polarized society? What is justice? Is there value in suffering? How far should political prosecution go? How can I stand up to authority in a world where dissent is dangerous? Why are there spots on the moon?