A minimum enrollment is required for the course to run.
A thorough introduction to the Italian language for absolute beginners or students with
little previous experience, the course teaches essential vocabulary and grammar and
develops students’ ability to communicate in an authentic linguistic context.
This course is designed for students with some knowledge of Italian. Starts with
a review of basic grammar and vocabulary before progressing to more complex
structures and functions. Conversation is a central part of every class, with
opportunities for all students to practice listening and comprehension of authentic
material as well oral and written production. They will also have a greater awareness of
Italian culture and society.
In this course students develop their ability to communicate effectively and accurately,
making use of expanded vocabulary. Students practice conversation and improve
listening and oral production skills in an authentic Italian context. The course covers
cultural elements of the Italian society and lifestyle. Reading and writing exercises
improve skills in understanding prose and writing letters and messages with
appropriate vocabulary.
This course builds upon the abilities and knowledge acquired in Intermediate Italian I
and develops them to enable students to understand and respond to complex lines of
written and oral arguments.
Students review complex grammar structures and work regularly on reading,
composition, phonetics, syntax, and style assignments. Constant conversation practice
enables them to communicate competently in Italian.
This course prepares students to use advanced grammatical structures and vocabulary
and enables them to interact with the Italian world at a sophisticated level. Students
practice understanding of complex lectures and arguments, in both written and oral
form. They are expected to become fluent and spontaneous in their verbal interaction,
as well as capable of presenting an argument, orally and in writing.
This course surveys the history of Roman civilization from antiquity to present times
with special focus on Rome’s material cultural, artistic and architectural evidences.
The Classical, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, as well as the modern and the
contemporary features of Roman art and civilization will be analyzed also, through
frequent visits to churches, museums and other places of artistic interest.
This course explores the engineering techniques and production systems used in the
construction of the architectural masterpieces of the Roman world: aqueducts, bridges,
domes, roads, amphitheaters, atriums, temples, and other public places. We will
study the sophisticated construction processes, the use of materials and the building
practices that made the completion of such monumental and long-lasting structures
possible. We will survey a broad range of ancient technologies - cranes, concrete, water
supply and more - their practical implications, applications and developments.
The course explores human behavior from the social point of view and in a cross-
cultural perspective, both in theory and in practice. The focus will be on Italy and
the Italians. This course in cross-cultural psychology, through elements of sociology,
ecology, anthropology and biology, gives students the opportunity to discuss the
shaping and deployment of human attitudes, behavior, values, communication
processes and social organization. Specific attention will be devoted to issues such as
the individual vs the social, mental health and cross-cultural communication. Students
will engage in field research, conducting interviews on topics related to their own study
abroad experience while visiting various locations in Rome and Italy. The research as
a practical tool of the course, and the course itself, aim at providing students with the
opportunity to apply methodologies of inquiry focusing at studying how relationships
and behavior in cross-cultural contexts take shape.
The course explores the entire panorama of world religions, from a comparative
perspective and using methodologies from various, related disciplines. Ancient Roman,
Greek, Eastern religious traditions, as well as the three monotheistic religions - Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam – and the polytheistic religious systems - Hinduism, Buddhism,
and Taoism – will be discussed and analysed along with current developments
and the “new-age” religions. Religious, historical, anthropological, sociological and
philosophical approaches will be considered to discuss the evolutions of religions
and central religious issues, such as the problem of evil, free will, the construction of
organized religious institutions, and the shaping of religious identities.
This course develops an understanding of contemporary Italian culture and style, also
touching on the role of religion, politics, as well as the fashion industry. A variety of
approaches from other disciplines, such as social and cultural anthropology as well
as micro-economy will help students to analyze the topics at the core of the course.
Italian society will be analyzed in all of its major components in order to see how a
specific type of Italian style has been emerging in contemporary times. The shaping of
a specifically Italian cultural identity will be examined and discussed.
Visits to major Roman sites are an integral part of the course.