Italian  (ITJ1)

The Italian Studies programme at UCD offers those with a curiosity about different mindsets the opportunity to develop their critical and linguistic skills through engaging with a distinctive cultural universe.

Students with or without previous knowledge of Italian will learn how to negotiate the culturally diverse forms and contents of the Italian tradition, which has a distinctive multilingual character. The importance accorded to research-led teaching within the subject reflects this diversity, offering historical, sociological, literary and linguistic viewpoints through a variety of modules.

This variety of cultural experiences, alongside the impact of the Italian tradition on other cultures, fosters an appreciation of alternative perspectives as a key prerequisite for cultural and intercultural dialogue, and allows students and graduates with their nuanced understanding of cultural difference to play an important societal role in issues arising from internationalization and globalization. This adds a distinctive quality to those fundamental language skills that are, and will continue to be, in great demand in our society and in the workplace.

The Italian programme is delivered through a mixture of lectures and small group teaching in tutorials and language classes, which allows students to develop critical thinking, enables collaboration and peer learning, and stimulates autonomous learning. Furthermore the mixture of assessment forms (varied language exercises, essays, presentations, written and oral communication, aural and audiovisual comprehension) encourages the development of crucial transferable skills.

1 - Demonstrate a strong awareness of linguistic structures.
2 - Demonstrate an ability to interpret texts produced during different historical periods, covering a longer time-span than in most other European cultures.
3 - Critically engage with the literature, history and culture of Italy from the Middle Ages up to the present day, on the basis of solid historical awareness.
4 - Apply fundamental skills in research methods and the sourcing of information in a competent, critical, and effective way from the earliest stages.
5 - Communicate effectively and appropriately, both orally and in writing, in Italian and in English.
6 - Develop core skills in critical reading and textual analysis.
7 - Engage with literary texts and cultural expressions in their social and historical context.
8 - Demonstrate an ability to understand the motivations and the cultural background of ideologies and outlooks that differ from our own and from each other.
9 - Demonstrate the distinctive historical understanding provided by the study of Italian by means of informed contributions to broader debates related to cultural diversity.
10 - Make an articulate and informed contribution to debates on matters of both national and international significance.
11 - Demonstrate the crucial need for linguistic and skills and cultural awareness in an open and innovative society.

We recommend that after second year, you complete an Erasmus year at an Italian university to achieve the level of proficiency required by employers and for graduate studies. We have links with Bologna, Cagliari, Macerata, Milan, Rome, Pisa, Trento and Urbino. Upon completion of your fourth year, you will then be awarded a BA Arts International. Places may be limited and preference will be given to those with higher results.

The communication skills, critical awareness, cultural sensitivity and intellectual flexibility fostered through studying Italian open up a wide range of careers, including: • Multinational organisations such as the EU, UN and NGOs • Multinational Companies • The Diplomatic Service • Communications and Marketing • Hospitality and Entertainment • Teaching • Publishing • Journalism • Translation and Interpreting.

Studying Italian opens the door to graduate studies in UCD or other international universities. Our graduate courses include the MA in Modern Languages, MA in Applied Languages, MA in Applied Linguistics and MLitt in Italian. We also offer supervision for doctoral research in a range of specialised areas.

UCD School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics
p. +353 1 76 8302
e. slcl@ucd.ie

Stage 2

Students MUST pass ALL Level 2 core modules. In addition, students must pass three level 2 option modules. Students must pass Level 2 language modules before proceeding to Level 3 language modules.

Stage 3

In order to receive a BA degree with Italian, students must have passed ITAL30070 (Italian Language IIIa) and ITAL30080 (Italian Language IIIb).

Stage 4

In order to receive a BA degree with Italian, students must have passed ITAL30070 (Italian Language IIIa) and ITAL30080 (Italian Language IIIb).

See the UCD Assessment website for further details

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Module Weighting Info