Italian Studies Minor

MLG 306 Italian Culture and Civilization

An examination of contemporary Italy and its political, economic and social development. Italian cultural life and institutions in Italy will also be considered. This course may not be used to satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirements. Prerequisite(s): EGL 102

ITA 122 Italian II (Elementary)

A continuation of Italian 121 emphasizing the gradual development of the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing with stress on communicative competence and cultural awareness. Prerequisite(s): ITA 121

ART 202 Survey of Art History: Early Renaissance to the Present

A survey of the history of the visual arts from the Early Renaissance to the Present. Works of art are studied both as monuments of intrinsic aesthetic value and as expressions of the needs, ideals, and aspirations of the societies in which they were created. Note: Students cannot get credit for ART 202 and ART 202W; ART 202W can be used to fulfill the writing intensive requirement. Prerequisite(s): EGL 101

ART 242 Italian Renaissance Art

This course is designed to introduce students to Ancient through Baroque art found in Italy. Students will be required to meet on campus prior to departing for Europe to study the great masterpieces of the Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods of art found in their original contexts throughout Italy. Works of Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Illuminated Manuscripts and other applied arts will be studied as they relate to the periods in which they were created. Prerequisite(s): EGL 101

GEO 231 Europe and Its Peoples

This course is an exploration of the rich diversity of cultures and societies of contemporary Europe, as well as an introduction to the continent's geography and how its unique physical attributes shaped world history. Critical readings of recent ethnography will be used to examine themes such as ethnicity and migration, rural life and traditionalism, and family and kinship. Students will also be familiarized with the growth of cities, demographic changes, the development of a leisure culture, and attitudes towards work in Europe. Furthermore, we will examine the interaction between Europeans and their physical environment, interrogate the role of language on national identity among European peoples, and trace the evolution of religion from paganism to "Post-Christianity." We will also study the development of political culture on the continent and historical and contemporary projects to create a united Europe from the Pax Romana to the European Union. NOTE: Students cannot earn credit for GEO 231 and GEO 231*D GEO 231*D can be used to fulfill the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice requirement.

HIS 217 From Constantine to Columbus: Western Civilization in the Middle Ages

This course will examine the development of the major cultural, social, and political movements and institutions of Western Civilization in the period before Columbus. Through both lecture and discussion formats, students will examine the preservation of Greek and Roman learning; Christian civilization and its relation with Islamic culture; the rise of cities, international trade and national capitalism; European learning and the emergence of the university; the rise of the nation-state and the origins of secularism. By the end of the course, students will be able to identify the roots and explain the development of cultural, social, and political institutions that are unique to the Western world.

HOR 275 Italian Gardens: Art and Nature

This course is held in conjunction with Florence University of the Arts during a three week summer semester in Italy. Participants have the opportunity to study and experience the rich history of Italian gardens, particularly those created during the Renaissance and Baroque ages, in and around Florence. Students become garden detectives and peel away the layers of garden additions, deletions, and restorations in order to understand and experience landscapes as they were first conceived and constructed in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries. The contemporary layout, artifacts, and plants within each garden are compared with historic accounts and illustrations depicting the original layout. The patrons, architects, and artists who created and contributed to each garden and the design theories they employed will be discussed "in situ" and through museum visitation.

ITA 223 Italian III (Intermediate)

A continuation of ITA 122 for students who have had 3 or 4 years of high school Italian. This intermediate course further emphasizes the development of the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing with stress on communicative competence and cultural awareness. A literary and cultural reader will be introduced. Prerequisite(s): ITA 122

ITA 224 Italian IV (Intermediate)

For those students who have taken ITA 223 or four or more years of high school Italian. This course emphasizes structural review, intensified practice in oral expression with increased emphasis on reading and writing skills. Continued attention will be given to contemporary Italian culture. Selections from Italian authors will be read. Prerequisite(s): ITA 223

ITA 301 Italian V (Advanced)

An advanced conversation/composition course with intensive practice in oral and written Italian. Prepared discussions and writing assignments on selected cultural, historical and literary topics. Prerequisite(s): ITA 224

ITA 302 Italian VI (Advanced)

A continuation of Italian V Advance with intensive practice in oral and written Italian. Prepared discussions and writing assignments on selected cultural, historical and literary topics. Prerequisite(s): ITA 301

MLG 201 Italian Food, Culture, and History

This course analyzes the history of Italian food and its connections to historic events and cultural changes that took place in the most representative Italian cities and regions from the Middle Ages through the present. The Italian cities and historical periods analyzed are selected to provide a broad historical and social perspective that aim to be both a history of Italian food and a history of Italy through its food. Prerequisite(s): EGL 102

MLG 301 Italian Cinema (In English)

Representative Italian films, from the post-war and Neorealism to the present, will be viewed, analyzed and discussed. Films are selected to provide a broad historical and social perspective as seen through the artistic vision of individual directors. The course will be conducted in English and all films have English subtitles. Prerequisite(s): EGL 102

MLG 311 Italian American Experiences

"Italian American Experiences" is an introduction to the experiences of people that created a unique and distinctive ethnic culture. The course begins with fundamental Italian heritage and examines the role of immigration and assimilation in a new world as Italian culture combined with the American experience to form the Italian-American culture. Italian-American studies offer students an opportunity to survey development in history, literature, media, art, and sociology. It also provides students with an in-depth exploration of the role ethnicity plays in what it means to be an Italian-American. Prerequisite(s): EGL 102

MLG 318 Italy: From Text to Film

This course will introduce the student to key topics within Italian culture as explored through Italian cinema and literature. Students will analyze narrative devices that tell a story, from the use of various styles of prose in written works to camera angles, editing techniques, and music in film. Through in-class readings of textual and cinematic expressions, including their theoretical background, students will learn to articulate both literary and cinematic criticism. Prerequisite(s): EGL 102

MLG 323 The Holocaust in Italian Culture and Cinema

Through the theoretical and technical analysis of films and literature, students will learn how Italian popular culture represented of the role that Italian citizen and the government had in the implementation of the Holocaust. Prerequisite(s): EGL 102

MLG 324 Italian Horror Films: Sex, Murder and Social Criticism

Italian horror films escape easy classification, but offer a glimpse into the cultural, economic, and political anxieties which inspired their directors. Characterized by carefully crafted soundtracks, non-sensical plots, saturated with color, violence, and nudity, these movies are cultural artifacts that invite profound reflections on issues of gender discrimination, economic inequality, racism and even anti-colonial criticism. During the semester students will acquire and sharpen analytical and critical skills that will allow them to dissect, eviscerate, analyze, and "take a stab" at interpreting Italian, and American societies. As a 300 level class, students are expected to complete weekly assignments which include writing short reflection essays, and reading scholarly articles. Prerequisite(s): EGL 102

POL 265 Comparative Politics

This course examines a broad range of governmental systems utilizing the comparative methods of analysis. In addition to analysis of selected political systems in the developed world (e.g., Great Britain, the United States, and the Russian Federation), students will also explore the governmental structures of at least one country in the developing world (India, Brazil, the People's Republic of China, etc.). Students will also compare plural democracies, monarchies, dictatorships, and neo-authoritarian forms of government, emphasizing policy-making and contemporary problems facing the state in era of globalization, such as the purported victory of neo-liberalism, the threat of terrorism, and the importance of satellite television and the Internet in shaping politics.

POL 273 Italian Politics and Society

This survey course is designed for students who have a lively curiosity about Italy. Employing a historical perspective, students will examine Italy's efforts at "nation-building" from Machiavelli to the present. Students will learn about Italy's unique and extensive contributions to Western Civilization (politics, economics, science, art, culture, societal organization). They will also be introduced to definitions, concepts, distinctions, and theories that are fundamental to the study of political science and, in particular, the subfields of comparative politics and political philosophy.

POL 372 Politics of Europe

This course is a comparative evaluation of European governments and politics, paying particular attention to challenges facing the Continent such as security, trade policy, ethno-nationalism, immigration, and terrorism. Integration of the former Eastern Bloc into Europe since 1989 will figure prominently in the course. Transnational cooperation and integration through organizations such as NATO and the European Union will be considered, alongside Russia-European relations in the wake of the war in Ukraine. Prerequisite(s): Any 200-level or higher HIS, POL, or GEO course.

RAM 303 Research Experience

This hands-on research experience with a faculty mentor is the culminating experience for students enrolled in the Research Aligned Mentorship (RAM) program. Students will be placed in research experiences on the Farmingdale Campus or off-campus in major universities, research laboratories, businesses, industry, government, horticultural gardens, and other settings that fit their academic interests and career goals.

SOC 329 Social Movements

In this course, students will learn to critically analyze processes of change in society while developing an analytical mind and improving their writing skills. Social movements are collective attempts to change the way people live their lives, how governments govern, and how economic systems produce and distribute goods. We live in a social movement society. Though we are not always aware of the level of activism going on around us, the number and different types of organizations working to create some type of social change is larger than ever before. Globalization and communications technologies have broken down barriers to worldwide participation in movements for change. Understanding how the world is influenced by individuals working together for change is of vital importance. This class focuses on theoretical domains in the sociological study of social movements and general social processes rather than on specific movements. Substantive work on specific movements is used to explain issues such as mobilization, tactics, and ideology, among other factors. NOTE: Students cannot earn credit for SOC 329 and SOC 329*D SOC 329*D can be used to fulfill the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice requirement. Prerequisite(s): Any 200 level or higher sociology course