Spring 2010
Calendar
Arrive in Venice January 31
Mid-semester break March 17 - 21
Program ends /Departure date April 30
N.B.: If you plan to arrive prior to the scheduled move-in date or to depart after the scheduled departure date, you must make special arrangements at additional costs.
Course Descriptions
All courses are 4-credits unless otherwise noted. Students are allowed to take 3-5 courses, two of which must be Italian language (one course if the student has already completed an advanced level).
ITAL 686: UNH-in-Italy Study Abroad
This is an administrative course # that enrolls the student in the UNH-in-Italy program and carries no credit or grade. It satisfies the UNH Group 5 Foreign Culture Gen. Ed. requirement.
Language Courses
ITAL 401/ITAL 402: Elementary Italian (counts as 2 courses, 8 credits)
ITAL 401/402 is for students without previous training in Italian. This course is designed to help students achieve proficiency in basic grammar and conversational Italian and emphasizes aural comprehension, speaking, writing, reading.. The course is conducted in Italian. ITAL 401/402 satisfy UNH foreign language requirement. No prerequisites.
ITAL 503/ITAL 504: Intermediate Italian (counts as 2 courses, 8 credits)
ITAL 503/504 provides a complete review of the fundamentals of grammar and syntax. The course includes selected readings as a general introduction to Italian civilization and culture. The course is conducted in Italian and is Writing Intensive. Prerequisite: ITAL 402 or equivalent.
ITAL 631/ITAL 632: Advanced Italian Conversation & Composition (counts as 2 courses, 4 credits each)
ITAL 631/632 provides a rapid review of basic grammatical structures and in-depth study of more complex linguistic patterns. The course requires frequent written compositions and oral presentations using materials on contemporary culture taken from the various media to promote advanced reading and writing skills. The course emphasizes vocabulary building, phonetics, and oral/aural skills development to attain aural-oral fluency. The course is conducted in Italian and is Writing Intensive. Prerequisite: ITAL 504 or equivalent.
Literature Courses
ITAL 651: Medieval and Renaissance Italian Literature (in Italian)
The aim of the course is to acquaint the student with the principal authors, literary schools and trends. ITAL 651 examines major works of fiction and nonfiction, reflecting ideas and taste during the first three centuries of Italian history. It is a survey of major representative writers and artists (including Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio, Machiavelli, Ariosto, Tasso, Marino), studied against the backdrop of social and cultural history. The course includes a monographic component, which focuses on a single work (e.g., Dante’s Inferno). ITAL 651 is writing intensive and satisfies the UNH Group 8 Gen. Ed.
ITAL 652: Early Modern to Contemporary Italian Literature (in Italian)
The aim of the course is to acquaint the student with the principal authors, literary schools and trends. ITAL 652 examines major works of fiction and nonfiction, reflecting ideas and tastes in post-Renaissance thought and culture in Italy. It is a survey of major representative writers and artists (including Parini, Goldoni, Leopardi, Manzoni, Pirandello, Pavese, Ginzburg, Morante, Calvino), studied against a backdrop of social and cultural history. The course includes a monographic component, which focuses on a particular work or author. ITAL 652 is writing intensive and satisfies the UNH Group 8 Gen. Ed.
Cross-cultural Courses
ITAL 682: Interdisciplinary Field Seminar: Italian History and Culture.
This course offers a hands-on approach to learning about Italian culture, both past and present, through the living laborartory of the city of Ascoli Piceno. Through the centuries, Ascoli Piceno has retained its Roman/medieval urban structure, still easily readable and enriched by the compact appearance of the stone buildings of the Renaissance period. Acting as a microcosm for the entirey of Italian culture, the urban setting provides its own unique map to the history, art, architecture, and culture of Italy. This course prepares students to understand the city in which they they live so that they may achieve full immersion during their abroad experience.
This course counts as a UNH Group 4 Historical Perspectives Gen. Ed. or Group 8 Works of Philosophy, Literature, & Idea Gen. Ed.
Classics Courses
CLAS 510: Building Rome
An introduction to the building and structures for which the Romans remain famous. such as the Pantheon, the Colosseum, and the aqueducts that allowed Rome to become a metropolis. A major focus of the course is the connection between the changes in Roman society and the development of Roman architecture. Particular attention will be paid to the Roman presence in Ascoli Piceno. All readings are in English and no prior knowledge of the ancient world is required. This course satisfies the UNH Group 6 Fine Arts General Education requirement.
Cinema Courses
ITAL 525: Postwar Italian Cinema: from 1945 to the present
This course will explore the most salient periods in the development of Italian cinema from the end of
W.W. II to the present within the historical, social, and political context of Italian society. We will concentrate on the main genres and styles (Neorealism, Comedy Italian style etc.), major directors (among others, Rossellini, De Sica, Fellini, Visconti, Wertmüller, Amelio, Benigni) and discuss issues of race, gender, collective memory, and national identity. The course will be conducted in English.
Other Courses
ITAL 595: Italian Practicum
The Practicum involves teaching English in an Italian school. Students participate as teacher’s aides in an elementary school teaching English for four hours per week. Students prepare the lesson plan with the primary instructor and participate in a teaching workshop. Spaces are limited and registration is limited to students who are enrolled in four other courses. No prerequisites.
ITAL 796: Independent Study
The Independent Study is designed for students with an advanced preparation who are capable of working independently. Students design the curriculum in conjunction with the instructor. Students should make appropriate arrangements prior to registration. Consent of instructor.