Italian studies is a vibrant program that develops linguistic competence in the four skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing. At the same time it expands knowledge of important areas of Italian culture: literature, film and theatre, history and society.
The major in Italian studies requires a period of study in Italy, in the Arts semester in Prato (variations may be approved in special circumstances).
Italian studies has three entry points, preparing students from beginners to the most advanced levels. Each proficiency level sequence has a cultural component as well as a language component. To ensure that students are placed in the most appropriate level according to their individual profile and the best outcome they can expect to achieve, all students, except beginners, are required to undertake placement testing prior to the start of their first semester of language study.
The units on offer at the Prato centre include beginners units (accessible to all Monash students worldwide), Italian Proficient 2, and a series of electives.
Right of school to determine entry level and approve accelerated enrolment
The Italian studies program convenor retains the right to determine the proper proficiency level for any particular student. Students are not permitted to accelerate their enrolment without first consulting the program convenor, nor can they elect to take classes that are below their proficiency level. Students wishing to enrol in a language unit higher than introductory need to complete a language entry level testlanguage entry level test (http://artsonline.monash.edu.au/llcl/language-entry-level/) to determine the language level they should be enrolled in.
Overseas study
All students are required to undertake 12 to 18 points of study at the Monash Prato Centre in Italy or at a partner university in Italy as part of their undergraduate studies (exemption can be made under exceptional circumstances). For a list of units, please refer to the Arts semester in Prato. Grants are available to second and third-year level students who intend to study in Italy. Honours students will be strongly encouraged to study for one semester in an Italian university (preferably at the University of Florence or at the University of Bologna as part of their honours degree.
Availability
Italian studies is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a minor and a major, and in A0501 Diploma of Languages at Caulfield and Clayton as a major.
Outcomes
In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major will be able to:
- analyse the structure and understand the context of authentic, formal and complex language
- have a sophisticated and detailed awareness of a range of important themes in Italian culture and literature, including familiarity with the historical context from a selection of genres
- use mostly discipline-specific language and appropriate genre to demonstrate knowledge and understanding within a field from a scholarly perspective and for a specified audience.
Major requirements (48 points)
No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited to the majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) and at least 18 points must be at level 3. Six language units (36 points) must be completed.
Entry point 1 - Introductory
For students with little or no knowledge of Italian.
Students complete:
- Two level 1 gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points) from one of the following pairs of units:
- ATS1221 Italian introductory 1 and ATS1222 Italian introductory 2
- ATS1229 Intensive introductory Italian 1 (in country) and ATS1230 Intensive introductory Italian 2 (in country)*
- Two level 2 cornerstone unitscornerstone units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS3058 New writing in Italy
- ATS3237Not offered in 2019 Italy on film or ATS2214/ATS3214 Italy on film (in country)
- ATS3240 The fiction of Italy
- ATS3241Not offered in 2019 Italian theatre from Goldoni to Fo
- ATS3898Not offered in 2019 The Italian city: Historical and literary perspectives
- ATS3939 Crime in Italian popular culture
- Two language units (12 points):
- One unit (6 points) from the remaining capstone or the elective list below, ensuring that 12 to 18 points of study within the major is taken at the Monash Prato Centre or a partner university in Italy
Entry point 2 - Intermediate
For students who have done some Italian during their secondary school or have spent some time in Italy, but have not completed VCE Italian.
Students complete:
- Two level 2 cornerstone unitscornerstone units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS3058 New writing in Italy
- ATS3237Not offered in 2019 Italy on film or ATS2214/ATS3214 Italy on film (in country)
- ATS3240 The fiction of Italy
- ATS3241Not offered in 2019 Italian theatre from Goldoni to Fo
- ATS3898Not offered in 2019 The Italian city: Historical and literary perspectives
- ATS3939 Crime in Italian popular culture
- Four language units (24 points):
- One unit (6 points) from the remaining capstone units or the elective list below, ensuring that 12 to 18 points of study within the major is taken at the Monash Prato Centre or a partner university in Italy
Entry point 3 - Proficient
For students who have successfully completed VCE Italian or who can demonstrate equivalent knowledge commensurate with ATS2224 (Italian intermediate 2).
Students complete:
- Two level 2 cornerstone unitscornerstone units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- Two language units (12 points):
- One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS3058 New writing in Italy
- ATS3237Not offered in 2019 Italy on film
- ATS3240 The fiction of Italy
- ATS3241Not offered in 2019 Italian theatre from Goldoni to Fo
- ATS3898Not offered in 2019 The Italian city: Historical and literary perspectives
- ATS3939 Crime in Italian popular culture
- The equivalent of (12 points) in Prato or a partner university in Italy from the list below:
- ATS2214/ATS3214 Italy on film (in country)
- ATS2898Not offered in 2019/ATS3898Not offered in 2019 The Italian city: Historical and literary perspectives
- ATS3130 International internship (12 points)
- ATS3939 Crime in Italian popular culture
- ATS3935 Internship (6 points)
- Exchange units with Bologna, Florence or another approved Italian university as appropriate
- Any remaining 6 point unit from the remaining capstone or a third-year unit from the electives below
Minor requirements (24 points)
No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited towards the minorminor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html).
Students complete:
- Three units (18 points) from the Italian language sequence under the major, following the entry point guidelines and taken in order.
- One unit (6 points) taken from the language major including language, cornerstone, capstone or elective units.
Elective list
Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.
- ATS3058 New writing in Italy
- ATS3083 Translating across cultures
- ATS3237Not offered in 2019 Italy on film
- ATS3240 The fiction of Italy
- ATS3241Not offered in 2019 Italian theatre from Goldoni to Fo
- ATS3935 Professional practice
- Study overseas
International study tours
- ATS2214/ATS3214 Italy on film (in country)
- ATS2229 Intensive introductory Italian 1 (in country)
- ATS2230 Intensive introductory Italian 2 (in country)
- ATS2898Not offered in 2019/ATS3898Not offered in 2019 The Italian city: Historical and literary perspectives
- ATS3939 Crime in Italian popular culture
Intending honours
Students intending to enter honours in this area of study must have completed a major in the discipline, with a minimum of 24 points of study at level 3 to be eligible
Diplomas
- A0501 Diploma of Languages
Bachelors
Single degrees
Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the following single degrees:*
- A2000 Bachelor of Arts
- A2001 Bachelor of Global Studies - as part of the requirements for the Cultural competence specialisation
Students in other single bachelor's degrees may be eligible to complete the minor or major by using 24 or 48 points of their free electives.
Double degrees
Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts component in the following double degrees:*
- A2004 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music
- A2005 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Art
- B2006 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Global Studies
- B2019 Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Arts
- B2020 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts
- B2038 Bachelor of International Business and Bachelor of Arts
- B2039 Bachelor of Marketing and Bachelor of Arts
- B2046 Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts
- C2002 Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Arts
- D3002 Bachelor of Education (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- E3002 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- L3003 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- L3009 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Global Studies
- S2003 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Global Studies
- S2006 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts
