Please note:

To view the Spring 2024 Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2024/spring.html.

Italian Studies Minor

Admission Requirements

A minimum GPA of 2.0, calculated on all Simon Fraser University courses that are applied to a minor, is required for successful completion of the program. 

Curriculum Requirements

Students will have to complete 12 lower division units and a minimum of 15 upper division units to obtain the minor in Italian studies.

Lower Division (12 units)

The following required courses are taken in sequence:

ITAL 100 - Introductory Italian I (3)

Introduction to Italian for students with no previous background in the language. Introduces basic oral and written skills, and cultural competence. (A1 level of CEFR). Students with previous Italian training should contact the department for assessment and placement.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Vlad Vintila
May 6 – Jun 17, 2024: Mon, Wed, Fri, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
ITAL 110 - Introductory Italian II (3)

Follows ITAL 100. Continues introduction to Italian for students who have developed the necessary foundations from ITAL 100. Students will acquire elementary conversational skills and basic reading ability, along with cultural competence. (A2 level of CEFR). Prerequisite: ITAL 100 or equivalent. Students with credit for ITAL 101 may not take this course for further credit.

ITAL 200 - Intermediate Italian I (3)

Follows ITAL 110. In addition to the consolidation of the four skills developed in ITAL 110 (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), and an expanded cultural component, the course includes selected readings from Italian authors (B1.1 level of CEFR). Prerequisite: ITAL 110 (or ITAL 101) or equivalent.

ITAL 210 - Intermediate Italian II (3)

Follows ITAL 200. The oral and written competences learned in ITAL 200 are expanded through grammar review, oral practice, cultural studies, and selected readings from Italian authors and multimedia activities. (B1 level of CEFR completed). Prerequisite: ITAL 200 or equivalent. Students with credit for ITAL 201 may not take this course for further credit.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Vlad Vintila
May 6 – Jun 17, 2024: Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby

Upper Division (15 units)

Two required courses:

ITAL 300 - Advanced Italian: Language and Culture (3)

Will continue the work of the 200-level courses with emphasis on the cultural aspects of Italian life. How does one live in Italy today? What are the cultural differences between the various regions? Fluency in language use, both oral and written, will be enhanced. Prerequisite: ITAL 201 or permission of Instructor.

ITAL 400 - Topics in Italian Literature: Contemporary Prose, Poetry and Theatre (4)

The complexity of modern Italy and its language are explored through the lens of contemporary literature. Prerequisite: ITAL 300 or permission from the instructor.

And two of the following courses:

ENGL 377 - Field School I (4) *

Studies in the history, art, and letters of the field school country as they inform the study of literature in English. Course may be organized by theme, critical approach, historical period, or individual author, and will be supplemented with related field trips. Field school courses may be repeated for credit if held in a different location. Prerequisite: 36 units, including two 100-division English courses, and two 200-division English courses; or permission of the field school director. Corequisite: ENGL 378. Students who participated in the English Department Field School in Italy prior to Fall 2009 may not take this course for further credit.

ENGL 378 - Field School II (4) *

Studies in the history, art, and letters of the field school country as they inform the study of literature in English. Course may be organized by theme, critical approach, historical period, or individual author, and will be supplemented with related field trips. Field school courses may be repeated for credit if held in a different location. Prerequisite: 36 units, including two 100-division English courses, and two 200-division English courses; or permission of the field school director. Corequisite: ENGL 377. Students who participated in the English Department Field School in Italy prior to Fall 2008 may not take this course for further credit.

HIST 402 - Renaissance Italy (4)

An exploration of the history and historiography of the Renaissance Italy. Emphasis will be given to politics, religion, culture and the economy, and to a balanced study of the Italian peninsula, including Florence, Venice, Rome, Naples, the countryside and smaller urban centres. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history and one of HIST 220, 223, HUM 219, 305, 311, 312W or permission of the department.

HUM 311 - Italian Renaissance Humanism (4)

A study of the major writings, cultural milieu, and influence of the humanist movement of the Italian Renaissance. Prerequisite: 45 units. Breadth-Humanities.

HUM 312W - Renaissance Studies (4) **

A detailed interdisciplinary analysis of a selected topic, issue, or personality from the Italian and/or Northern Renaissance. Prerequisite: 45 units. Students with credit for HUM 312 may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

HUM 333W - Italian Films, Italian Humanities (4) ^

Explores the representation of modern Italian history through the medium of film. HUM 333W may be repeated for credit only when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units. Students with credit for HIST 433W or HUM 433W, under the same topic may not take this course for further credit. Writing.

HUM 345 - Problems in Modern Italian History (4)

Examines topics in Italian history and culture through film, literature, primary sources, and/or art. Content may vary from offering to offering. HUM 345 may be repeated for credit only when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units. Students with credit for HIST 445 or HUM 445, under the same topic may not take this course for further credit.

Note: Some of the above courses have specific prerequisites and it is the student's responsibility to ensure that all prerequisites are met for upper division courses listed in the program. 

* When the location is Italy

** When the topic, issue, or personality is from the Italian Renaissance

^ With special permission from the history department

Course Exemptions

Exemption from 100 division Italian language courses may be granted up to a maximum of six units on evidence of language proficiency. Students who hope to gain course exemption must consult with the program coordinator. Students will be required to complete the equivalent number of exempted units from the following list of courses:

HUM 101W - Introduction to Global Humanities (3)

An introduction to issues and concepts central to the study of the humanities around the world. Through exposure to primary materials drawn from different periods, disciplines, and regions, students will become acquainted with a range of topics and ideas relating to the study of human values and human experience. Students with credit for HUM 101 may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D900 Niall Mackenzie
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Surrey
D901 Niall Mackenzie
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Mon, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Surrey
D902 Niall Mackenzie
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Mon, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Surrey
D903 May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Mon, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Surrey
HUM 161 - Latin I (3)

An introduction to the Latin language.

HUM 162 - Latin II (3)

The continuation of Latin I. Prerequisite: HUM 161 or permission of the instructor.

WL 100 - What is World Literature? (3)

Explores how texts travel beyond their cultures of origin, influence other cultural contexts and ideas, and become works of world literature. Introduces the concepts of cross-cultural literary criticism and translation. Breadth-Humanities.

WL 104W - Modern World Literatures (3)

Introduces ways of comparing modern world literatures across time and space. May explore topics such as revolution, technology, or existentialism. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Sessional
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Mon, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D101 Sessional
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Mon, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D102 Sessional
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Mon, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby

Transfer Credits

Approved transfer credits for Italian courses completed at another post-secondary institution (subject to university transfer credit regulations) may be obtained up to a maximum of six units. 

Grade Requirements

In addition to the normal university degree requirements, students must obtain a minimum 2.00 ITAL cumulative grade point average (CGPA) (calculated on all ITAL courses completed at SFU), and a minimum 2.00 ITAL CUDGPA (calculated on all upper division ITAL courses completed at SFU).

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Degree Requirements

For all bachelor of arts (BA) programs, students complete 120 units, which includes

  • at least 60 units that must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • at least 45 upper division units, of which at least 30 upper division units must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • at least 60 units (including 21 upper division units) in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses
  • satisfaction of the writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements
  • an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division overall CGPA of at least 2.0, and program CGPA and upper division program CGPA of at least 2.0 on the course work used to satisfy the minimum program requirements. FASS departments may define additional GPA requirements for their respective programs.

For students in other faculties, please check your faculty's overall degree requirements: https://www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/faculties-research.html

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit

Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each)

Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more)
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth

Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division:

Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc
Two courses (total six units or more) Humanities: B-Hum
Two courses (total six units or more) Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements).

Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.