Program Requirements
Students who wish to study at the Honours level in two Arts disciplines may apply to combine Joint Honours program components from two Arts disciplines. For a list of available Joint Honours programs, see "Overview of Programs Offered" and "Joint Honours Programs".
Joint Honours students should consult an adviser in each department to discuss their course selection and their interdisciplinary research project (if applicable).
Joint Honours students must maintain a GPA of 3.30 in their program courses and, according to Faculty regulations, a minimum CGPA of 3.00 in general.
Admission to Joint Honours requires departmental approval. Students wishing to register in the program should consult with the Department as early as possible. Students may register for Joint Honours in the first year, instead of the second year, if in the opinion of the departments they are found to be qualified.
Required Courses (6 credits)
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ITAL 355 Dante and the Middle Ages (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : An introduction to the work of Dante Alighieri, a pillar of medieval European literature. The times in which he lived, the institutions and cultural shifts of that era, the influence exercised by Dante's work, as well as how it has been perceived in our time.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
Given in English
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ITAL 470 Joint Honours Thesis (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : Research and completion of the Honours thesis on an approved subject.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall or Winter
Restriction: Compulsory for Honours and Joint Honours students.
Complementary Courses (30 credits)
30 credits, 6 of which must be at the 400 level or above, selected from the four Italian course lists as follows:
0-12 credits from Group A – Basic Language Courses.
12-30 credits from Group B – Courses Taught in Italian.
0-18 credits combined from Group C – Courses Taught in English and Group D – Courses Offered in Other Departments.
Note: Students with advanced standing in the language must replace language courses with courses from groups B, C, and D.
Group A - Basic Language Courses
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ITAL 205D1 Italian for Beginners (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : Grammar, reading, dictation. Intensive practice in speech patterns and written structures. Conversation and composition. Visual material and selected readings will be used in describing the making of contemporary Italy.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall, Winter
3 hours and laboratory
Students must register for both ITAL 205D1 and ITAL 205D2.
No credit will be given for this course unless both ITAL 205D1 and ITAL 205D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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ITAL 205D2 Italian for Beginners (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : See ITAL 205D1 for course description.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
Prerequisite: ITAL 205D1
No credit will be given for this course unless both ITAL 205D1 and ITAL 205D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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ITAL 206 Beginners Italian Intensive (6 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : Designed to cover in one term the same material as ITAL 205D1/ITAL 205D2.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall or Winter
6 hours and 1 hour laboratory
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ITAL 205D1/ITAL 205D2
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ITAL 210D1 Italian for Advanced Beginners (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : Intended for students who have never studied Italian, but who have had some informal exposure to the language. Grammar, reading, conversation and composition. An outline of Italian civilization, oral presentations and discussions.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall, Winter
3 hours and laboratory
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ITAL 205D1/ITAL 205D2 or ITAL 206
Students must register for both ITAL 210D1 and ITAL 210D2.
No credit will be given for this course unless both ITAL 210D1 and ITAL 210D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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ITAL 210D2 Italian for Advanced Beginners (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : See ITAL 210D1 for course description.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
Prerequisite: ITAL 210D1
No credit will be given for this course unless both ITAL 210D1 and ITAL 210D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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ITAL 215D1 Intermediate Italian (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : Direct continuation of ITAL 205D1/ITAL 205D2. Grammar, literary readings, conversation. Grammar exercises and composition. Reading of selected literary works, oral presentations and group discussion.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall, Winter
Students must register for both ITAL 215D1 and ITAL 215D2.
No credit will be given for this course unless both ITAL 215D1 and ITAL 215D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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ITAL 215D2 Intermediate Italian (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : See ITAL 215D1 for course description.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
Prerequisite: ITAL 215D1
No credit will be given for this course unless both ITAL 215D1 and ITAL 215D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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ITAL 216 Intermediate Italian Intensive (6 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : Course designed to cover in one term the same material as ITAL 215D1/ITAL 215D2. Direct continuation of ITAL 206.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall or Winter
6 hours
Prerequisite: ITAL 205D1/ITAL 205D2 or ITAL 206 or permission of the Department
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ITAL 210
Group B - Courses Taught in Italian
* Note: Only one of ITAL 250 or ITAL 255 can count toward the program.
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ITAL 250 Italian Literary Composition (3 credits) *
Overview
Italian (Arts) : Analysis and discussion of selected 19th and 20th century literary texts with a view to improving language and composition skills. Review of major grammatical difficulties.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
3 hours seminar
Prerequisite: ITAL 215D1/ITAL 215D2, ITAL 216, or equivalent
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ITAL 300.
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ITAL 255 Advanced Reading and Composition (6 credits) *
Overview
Italian (Arts) : The understanding of grammatical structures through a variety of exercises; paraphrasing, translating, composition and discussion. Particular emphasis will be placed on syntax through the study of contemporary texts.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: ITAL 215D1/ITAL 215D2, ITAL 216, or equivalent
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ITAL 306.
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ITAL 260 Reading Italian Literature (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : A selection of poetic, narrative and theatrical texts from different historical periods, providing students with advanced tools in textual analysis and close reading of Italian literary texts.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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ITAL 270 Manzoni: Novel and Nationhood (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : An analysis of the historical novel "I promessi sposi", by Alessandro Manzoni: its political, social and intellectual role in the evolution of Italy towards nationhood (Risorgimento).
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
Given in Italian
Prerequisite: ITAL 215D1/ITAL 215D2, ITAL 216, or equivalent
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ITAL 320.
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ITAL 281 Masterpieces of Italian Literature 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : A survey of Italian literature from Renaissance to the 20th century. Interdisciplinary approach.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
Given in Italian
Prerequisite: ITAL 215D1/ITAL 215D2, ITAL 216, or equivalent
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ITAL 326.
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ITAL 290 Commedia Dell'Arte (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : Playhouses, actors, stage techniques, masks and scenarios of the "Commedia dell'Arte".
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
Given in Italian
Prerequisite: ITAL 215D1/ITAL 215D2, ITAL 216, or equivalent
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken 1TAL 330.
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ITAL 295 Italian Cultural Studies (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : A cultural studies approach to contemporary Italian society. Focus on distinctive traits of Italian popular culture through literature, film, television and other media.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
Given in Italian
Prerequisite: ITAL 215D1/D2 or 216 or permission of instructor
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ITAL 328.
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ITAL 307 Topics in Italian Culture (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : Selected topics in Italian culture (topics may vary and may concentrate on one or more of the following areas: geography, history, music, art history, political science, and/or literature).
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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ITAL 310 The Invention of Italian Literature (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : The course presents Italian's major texts and authors over the ages, by critically exploring how the invention of Italian literature impacts the formation of a national identity.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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ITAL 332 Italian Theatrical Traditions (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : An overview of the major works and genres of Italian theatre from the Renaissance to the present, analyzing their reception and influence on Italian society.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite(s): ITAL250 or above, from amongst courses taught in Italian or permission of Department.
The course will be given in Italian.
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ITAL 356 Medieval Discourses on Love (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : Medieval ideas, attitudes and behaviour surrounding love as represented in literature: readings will include excerpts from early Italian love lyrics, Dante's Vita Nuova, Petrarch's Canzoniere, Boccaccio's Decameron.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
Given in Italian
Prerequisite: ITAL 215D1/ITAL 215D2, ITAL 216, or equivalent
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ITAL 360 Contemporary Italian Prose (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : A study of Italian fiction, docu-fiction and non-fiction published since 1990, examined in the context of the debates on post-modernism.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
Given in Italian
Prerequisite: ITAL 210D1/D2, ITAL 215D1/D2, ITAL 216, or permission of instructor
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ITAL 383 Women's Writing since 1880 (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : A study of Italian women writers and their search for literary identity.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
Prerequisite: any 300 level course given in Italian or permission of the Department
Course for the Women's Studies Concentrations
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ITAL 400 Italian Regional Identities (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : The course explores tensions between national and regional narratives in Italy's literature, culture, language, and society.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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ITAL 410 Italian Modernism (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : A study of representative works of major Italian authors from the fin-de-siècle to WWII.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
Given in Italian
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ITAL 560 Topics in 19th and 20th Century Literature (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : Exploration of individual authors, genres, and literary or cultural movements that have marked Italian culture in the 19th and 20th century.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
Given in Italian
Prerequisite for Undergraduate students: permission of the Department
Group C - Courses Taught in English
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ITAL 199 FYS: Italy's Literature in Context (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : The purpose of this seminar is to re-visit, problematically, the commonsense notion that literature "reflects" reality (or society). Classics of twentieth-century Italian writing shall be analyzed as the response of that nation's literary imagination to the contradictions of its turbulent political and social history.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
Given in English
Restriction: Open only to newly admitted students in U0 or U1, who may take only one FYS. Students who register for more than one will be obliged to withdraw from all but one of them.
Maximum 25
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ITAL 355 Dante and the Middle Ages (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : An introduction to the work of Dante Alighieri, a pillar of medieval European literature. The times in which he lived, the institutions and cultural shifts of that era, the influence exercised by Dante's work, as well as how it has been perceived in our time.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
Given in English
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ITAL 365 The Italian Renaissance (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : A presentation of the main ideas and literary masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance (13th-17thC), in the context of Italy's social, political, religious and cultural climate. Reading and discussion of selected literary texts and visual material.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
Given in English
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ITAL 375 Cinema and Society in Modern Italy (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : A survey of the most important trends in post-war Italian cinema seen in the context of the rapidly and dramatically evolving society of modern Italy.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
Given in English
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ITAL 464 Machiavelli (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : Machiavelli, the political thinker and man of letters. A portrait of Machiavelli as political strategist, playwright and observer of his times. Reading of The Prince as well as selected plays, letters and other writings.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
Given in English
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ITAL 477 Italian Cinema and Video (3 credits)
Overview
Italian (Arts) : Different Italian film maker or videomaker every year, presenting a selection of his/her significant works. Discussions will include script analysis, interviews, articles and books by the director in focus, in addition to theoretical and critical statements by scholars. Established and new directors will be considered alternately.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
Given in English
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ITAL 377
Group D - Courses Offered in Other Departments
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ARTH 223 Introduction Italian Renaissance Art 1300-1500 (3 credits)
Overview
Art History : Surveys the changing role of the artwork in Renaissance Italy in its social, political, and religious contexts.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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ARTH 325 Visual Culture Renaissance Venice (3 credits)
Overview
Art History : Distinctive visual culture in the context of Venice's singular topography and reputation for licentiousness and toleration.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: one 200-level Art History course recommended, or by permission of the instructor.
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CLAS 302 Roman Literature and Society (3 credits)
Overview
Classics : An exploration of Roman texts written during the Republican and Imperial periods (200 BCE-400 CE) and the study of social contexts in which they were written.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken CLAS 208.
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CLAS 404 Classical Tradition (3 credits)
Overview
Classics : Examines the evolution of Classical Antiquity's social and cultural status from the 17th c. to the present day. Particular consideration is given to the processes of the ongoing professionalization of history and archeology as academic disciplines, the emergence of new political usages of the past, the transformation of cultural practices from the Grand Tour to the modern museum and tourism.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: CLAS 202 or related courses or permission of instructor
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ENGL 447 Crosscurrents/English Literature and European Literature 1 (3 credits)
Overview
English (Arts) : Comparative study of English and European literature. Topic varies by year.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
For the most detailed and up-to-date descriptions of course and seminar offerings please see the Department of English website at www.mcgill.ca/english.
Fall
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HIST 345 History of Italian Renaissance (3 credits)
Overview
History : An introduction to the economy, society, politics and intellectual developments in Italy from approximately 1300 to the early 16th century.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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HIST 380 The Medieval
Mediterranean
(3 credits)
Overview
History : Thematic history of the Mediterranean during the Medieval period, covering elements of Latin, Byzantine and Islamic civilizations and their interactions.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
- HIST 398 Topics in Italian History (3 credits)
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HIST 401 Topics: Medieval Culture and Society (3 credits)
Overview
History : Selected topics in the intellectual and cultural history of the Middle Ages. Emphasis on modern critical approaches to medieval culture, including literature, the supernatural, religious experience.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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MUHL 387 Opera from Mozart to Puccini (3 credits)
Overview
Music History and Literature : Mozart's operas and the seria, buffa, and Singspiel traditions. Ottocento opera, grand opera, and cross-fertilization between France and Italy. German Romantic opera. Wagner. Eastern European opera. Verismo and fin-de-siècle opera in Vienna and Paris. Sociology of opera. Emphasis on critical understanding of music's role in articulating drama.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
