The Department of French, Francophone and Italian Studies offers a comprehensive undergraduate program in French language, literature, and culture, as well as Francophone literature and culture from around the world. In addition to first and second year courses in basics of grammar and conversation, advanced undergraduate courses in composition, literature, and culture are offered every semester. We offer a summer study abroad option in Paris, and a full semester study abroad program in Angers. Our summer and semester-long study abroad programs in Paris and Angers offer a wide variety of levels to students at all stages of linguistic competence. The major prepares students for a variety of careers in teaching or in graduate studies, as well as in fields such as interpreting, international business, art, art history, and travel. We encourage applicants from traditional and non-traditional backgrounds to investigate French as a major or as a minor field.
Department of French, Francophone, and Italian Studies
Why study French and/or Italian?
Speakers of French and Italian span five continents. French is spoken by over 220 million people. Italian is spoken by over 65 million people. By 2050, it is estimated that there will be over 750 million French speakers, 80% of whom will live in Africa, becoming the world’s most spoken language. French and Italian are the international languages of cooking, fashion, theater, the visual arts, dance and architecture. Thousands of US companies do business with Italy and the Francophone world. In an increasingly mobile and interconnected planet, the study of language, literature and culture has never been more crucial for our students’ success. It provides students with a competitive edge in an increasingly internationalized workplace; for example, four out of five new jobs in the US are created as a result of foreign trade. Above all, learning a second language enables a greater understanding of other cultures while enhancing your own.
Undergraduate French
Undergraduate Italian
The Department of French, Francophone and Italian Studies offers a comprehensive undergraduate program in Italian language, literature, and culture, leading to the BA in French with the Italian Option or the Minor in Italian. Italian offers courses in basic grammar, composition and conversation, literature and culture. Our summer study abroad program in Florence offers a wide variety of levels to students at all stages of linguistic competence. The major prepares students for a variety of careers in teaching or in graduate studies, as well as in fields such as interpreting, international business, art, art history, architecture, and travel. We encourage applicants from traditional and non-traditional backgrounds to enrich their time at KU through the study of Italian.
Graduate French
The Department of French, Francophone and Italian Studies offers M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in French and Francophone language, literature, and culture. Graduate study is supported through teaching assistantships offered to qualified candidates, who receive thorough training in language instruction. Excellent facilities, strong library holdings, and a faculty dedicated to both teaching and research assure students of a challenging and professional graduate preparation.
Undergraduate Programs
Course work in the Department of French, Francophone and Italian Studies gives undergraduates a valuable and useful linguistic tool; offers cultural training for students specializing in other fields; trains majors in the literature, culture, and civilization of France and Italy; and prepares prospective language teachers. The department welcomes qualified students from all disciplines, regardless of major.
Placement
In general, placement depends on the overall proficiency of the student and on what was accomplished in previous French or Italian courses. A student entering KU with no previous French should enroll in FREN 110. A student entering KU with no previous Italian should enroll in ITAL 107, ITAL 110, or ITAL 111.
Students with past course work/experience in French should take the online French placement examination offered through the Ermal Garinger Academic Resource Center at KU. Once the student has the placement score, he or she should contact the French language coordinator in the Department of French, Francophone and Italian Studies to determine which French course is appropriate for his or her level. A student who has four years of high school French and wants to continue the study of French beyond the language requirement generally enrolls in FREN 301 or FREN 326, depending on the placement examination results. Students who feel they are sufficiently prepared to test out of the language requirement may contact the department office to arrange to take a French proficiency test.
Any student with past course work or experience in Italian should contact the Italian program director in the Department of French, Francophone and Italian Studies to determine which Italian course is appropriate for his or her level.
Retroactive Credit
Students with no prior college or university French or Italian course credit are eligible for retroactive credit according to this formula:
- 3 hours of retroactive credit are awarded to a student with 2 or 3 years of high school French or Italian who enrolls initially at KU in a third-semester French or Italian course (FREN 230 or FREN 231 or ITAL 230) and receives a grade of C– or higher.
- 6 hours of retroactive credit are awarded to a student with 3 or 4 years of high school French or Italian who enrolls initially at KU in a fourth-semester French or Italian course (FREN 240 or FREN 241 or ITAL 240) and receives a grade of C– or higher.
- 9 hours of retroactive credit are awarded to a student with 4 years of high school French or Italian who enrolls initially at KU in a French or Italian course with a fourth-semester course as a prerequisite and receives a grade of C– or higher.
Courses for Nonmajors
All courses are open to nonmajors who meet requirements. Candidates for the B.S. degree in education who want to major or minor in French should consult the School of Education and Human Sciences. Special concentrations in French and Italian are also available through business and journalism.
Graduate Program in French
The Department of French, Francophone and Italian Studies offers a comprehensive graduate program (M.A. and Ph.D.) in French and Francophone language, literature, and culture. Our faculty is dynamic, professionally active, and committed to excellence in scholarship and teaching. The major emphasis of teaching and research is French and Francophone literature. The department also offers courses in literary theory, cultural studies, and film. The department offers a balanced emphasis on all periods from medieval through twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Our students represent a diverse group, and we encourage equally applicants from traditional and nontraditional backgrounds. Excellent facilities, strong library holdings, and a faculty dedicated to both teaching and research assure students of a challenging and professional graduate preparation. Please visit the Graduate Program page of the department website for additional information.
Departmental Funding
The department does its best to provide funding in the form of Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) appointments to all incoming graduate students. GTA appointments are awarded for the academic year and .50 full-time equivalent (FTE) appointments come with:
- a competitive academic year (9 month) salary
- a 100% tuition waiver for all courses at KU
- payment of up to 3 hours of student fees
- optional University-subsidized group health insurance
The appointments are guaranteed based on performance for up to 3 years for M.A. students, 5 years for Ph.D. students and 6 years for students who receive both an M.A. and a Ph.D. at The University of Kansas. GTAs receive thorough training in language instruction, close mentoring, and the opportunity to teach French at a variety of levels, forming a strong base of teaching experience upon entering the job market. Additional information about teaching for the department is available on the Graduate Funding page of our departmental website.
Additional Funding
Other funding opportunities for graduate students include the Office of Study Abroad’s Springer award; the department’s Cornell, Mahieu, and Magerus fellowships; awards for research abroad; and French university exchanges.
Visit the Graduate Studies website for additional information about funding opportunities for graduate students at KU.
Financial Aid and Scholarships administers grants, loans, and need-based financial aid.
Graduate Non-Degree Seeking Status
Students who are interested in enrolling in graduate-level coursework in the Department of French, Francophone and Italian Studies without formal admission to a graduate program at KU are encouraged to apply for graduate non-degree seeking student status. See the department’s webpage for further details.
Courses
FREN 104. Elementary French, Overseas. 1-5 Credits.
Basic language instruction in French for beginners participating in study abroad programs in France or a French-speaking country. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
FREN 107. Elementary French I for the Professional Schools. 3 Credits.
Essentials of French grammar; practice in speaking, reading, and writing French. Introduction to French business culture. Three hours of class per week. This course does not satisfy the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences foreign language requirement.
Introduction to the basics of French language and Francophone cultures. A balanced approach that focuses on all skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing and intercultural competence. Conducted in French; no previous French required. Not open to native speakers of French or those scoring over 300 on the KU French language placement test.
FREN 111. Introduction to French I. 3 Credits.
Introduction to French for special purposes; no previous French required. Provides basic familiarity with the French language, focusing on speaking, listening, reading and the essentials of French grammar. Introduction to the culture of the French-speaking world. Three class hours per week; may be delivered by videoconference or face-to-face. Does not satisfy any KU language requirement. Prerequisite: Instructor permission required.
FREN 112. Introduction to French II. 3 Credits.
Continuation of FREN 111. Further development of basic familiarity with the French language, focusing on speaking, listening, reading and the essentials of French grammar. Continued exploration of the culture of the French-speaking world. Three class hours per week; may be delivered by videoconference or face-to-face. Does not satisfy any KU language requirement. Prerequisite: FREN 111 or permission of instructor.
Continuation of FREN 110. Further development of the basics of French language and Francophone cultures. A balanced approach that focuses on all skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing and intercultural competence. Conducted in French. Not open to native speakers of French or those scoring over 350 on the KU French language placement test. Prerequisite: FREN 110 or or placement by examination.
FREN 130. Critical Issues in Contemporary France. 3 Credits.
France is a society in transition. Profoundly altered by two World Wars and the aftermath of a colonial past, French culture has been propelled, in the last century, into the complexities of a modern, globalized world. While we have faced many similar challenges in United States to those confronted by our French counterparts, this course will help us think through the often drastically different outcomes of our respective approaches to such questions as immigration, national identity, education, and the perennial struggle between state and individual rights. This course is offered completely in English. It does not satisfy any requirements of the French major or minor.
A comprehensive, interdisciplinary survey of the treatment of the Other in Western culture, predominantly the USA, UK, France, and Australia, that may include vampires, zombies, fairy tales, villains and anti-heroes, the macabre, alien encounters, dystopias and utopias, and deviancy, with particular attention to literature, film and TV, and thought. Taught in English. Does not fulfill any requirement in the French major or minor.
A limited-enrollment, seminar course for first-time freshmen, addressing current issues in French. Course is designed to meet the critical thinking learning outcome of the KU Core. First-Year Seminar topics are coordinated and approved by the Office of Academic Programs and Experiential Learning. Prerequisite: Open to Freshmen only (less than 30 hours).
Readings and discussions of representative great masterpieces of French and/or francophone literature from the medieval Arthurian romances and chansons de geste to the present, with particular emphasis on the question of the interrelations of form and content. Includes such authors as Rabelais, Montaigne, Racine, Moliere, Voltaire, Balzac, Flaubert, Baudelaire, Proust, Gide, Camus, and Beckett. Conducted in English.
Honors version of FREN 205. Readings and discussions of representative great masterpieces of French and/or francophone literature from the medieval Arthurian romances and chansons de geste to the present, with particular emphasis on the question of the interrelations of form and content. Includes such authors as Rabelais, Montaigne, Racine, Moliere, Voltaire, Balzac, Flaubert, Baudelaire, Proust, Gide, Camus, and Beckett. Conducted in English. Prerequisite: Open only to students in the University Honors Program or by instructor permission.
First intermediate-level French language and Francophone cultures course that reviews and builds upon concepts introduced in elementary-level courses. An integrated, content-based approach, with the aim of strengthening skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and intercultural competence. Conducted in French. Not open to native speakers of French or those scoring over 400 on the KU French language placement test. Prerequisite: FREN 120 or placement by examination.
Honors version of FREN 230. First intermediate-level French language and Francophone cultures course that reviews and builds upon concepts introduced in elementary-level courses. An integrated, content-based approach, with the aim of strengthening skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and intercultural competence. Conducted in French. Not open to native speakers of French or those scoring over 400 on the KU French language placement test. Prerequisite: Grade of B or A in FREN 120 or departmental permission.
Intensive intermediate-level course meeting five times a week for six hours credit. Covers the material in FREN 230 and FREN 240 in one semester. (FREN 234, FREN 240, FREN 241--each completes the CLAS foreign language requirement.) Not open to native speakers of French or those scoring over 400 on the KU French language placement test. Prerequisite: FREN 120 or placement by examination.
Continuation of FREN 230; intermediate-level French language and Francophone cultures course that reviews and builds upon concepts introduced in elementary-level courses. An integrated, content-based approach, with the aim of strengthening skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and intercultural competence. Conducted in French. Not open to native speakers of French or those scoring over 500 on the KU French language placement test. Prerequisite: FREN 230 or 231 or placement by examination.
Honors version of FREN 240. Intermediate-level French language and Francophone cultures course that reviews and builds upon concepts introduced in elementary-level courses. An integrated, content-based approach, with the aim of strengthening skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and intercultural competence. Conducted in French. Not open to native speakers of French or those scoring over 500 on the KU French language placement test. Prerequisite: Grade of B or A in FREN 230 or FREN 231 or departmental permission
FREN 285. Headless Men: Conquest and Cultural Exchange Before the Age of Exploration. 3 Credits.
AE42
GLBC
AE42
GLBC
In fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But what happened before Columbus' great journey? And, more to the point, why did he and his contemporaries feel entitled to simply claim whatever land they found? This course proposes to explore the medieval experiences of cultural and racial Otherness in order to better understand the roots of some of the assumptions about difference (interpersonal, intercultural, and international) that continue to play out in American society today. Taught in English. (Same as HIST 285.)
FREN 301. French Written and Oral Communication 1. 3 Credits. FP
FREN 302. French Written and Oral Communication 2. 3 Credits. FP
Designed to further students' proficiency in oral and written expression for work in advanced-level French. Prerequisite: FREN 301, or by departmental permission.
FREN 303. Paris, City of Lights and Legends. 3 Credits.
An exploration of the French capital from its origins to present as emblem and icon of the social, literary, cultural, and political development of the French nation and of French ideals. Topics include major figures, events, works, symbols, and myths since the founding of the city to the present. Taught in English.
FREN 315. Le Francais Pratique. 1-6 Credits. FP
Analysis of selected texts from various genres; special emphasis on explication de texte. Prerequisite: FREN 301.
FREN 330. French Language and Civilization I. 3 Credits. FP
A study of French grammar, conversation, and composition, with selected aspects of French civilization. Available to participants in the Summer Language Institutes, and selected Study Abroad programs.
FREN 340. French Language and Civilization II. 3 Credits. FP
A study of French grammar, conversation, and composition, with selected aspects of French civilization. Available to participants in the Summer Language Institutes, and selected Study Abroad Programs.
FREN 350. Applied French Grammar and Composition I. 3 Credits. FP
FREN 352. Business French/Le Français Professionnel. 3 Credits. FP
This course helps students develop a set of linguistic and cultural competencies specific to business in the Francophone world. Students practice oral and written professional communication and complete a variety of specific tasks connected to professional careers in French. Students explore the primary industries in the Francophone world, with a particular focus on marketing, global health, diplomacy, and sustainability. Students prepare a complete job portfolio and participate in job interviews, all in French. Prerequisite: FREN 240 or FREN 241.
FREN 375. Intermediate French Conversation. 3 Credits. FP
FREN 376. Advanced French Conversation. 3 Credits. FP
Three meetings per week. Guided discussions designed to increase fluency, improve pronunciation, and knowledge of French culture and language. Classes have centered around topics such as the French Revolution, the Arts, Renaissance Festivals, and French cinema. Sections limited to twelve students. May be designated a KULAC class at the discretion of the instructor. Prerequisite: FREN 375.
Presents authentic French and non-French medieval literary and cultural content in the context of reflection on its role in modern popular culture. Themes may include Joan of Arc, Arthurian legend, the Chronicles of Narnia, Game of Thrones, and troubadour lyric. Taught in English.
A comprehensive, interdisciplinary survey of French culture that may include topics ranging from the earliest times to the present, with particular attention to literature, the arts, thought, politics, society, food, and customs. Taught in English. Formerly known as FREN 152.
A comprehensive, interdisciplinary and critical survey of the French-speaking cultures outside France in North America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Will include a variety of cultural topics, with particular attention to, and critique of, French colonization, the effects of empire on indigenous cultures, and postcolonial interactions today between France and its former colonies and protectorates. Taught in English. Formerly known as FREN 153.
FREN 410. Survey of French Culture I. 3 Credits. FP
FREN 420. Survey of French Culture II. 3 Credits. FP
FREN 430. La France d'Aujourd'Hui. 3 Credits. FP
FREN 431. French-Speaking World (Outside France). 3 Credits. FP
Cultures of the some 235 million persons in the five world areas whose everyday and/or official language is French: Canada; Caribbean (e.g., Haiti, Guadeloupe, Martinique); Europe (e.g., Belgium, Switzerland); Africa and Indian Ocean (23 former French or Belgian colonies); Pacific (e.g., Tahiti, New Caledonia). Also French-speaking settlers in the United States (Louisiana, South Carolina, New England, Kansas). French presence in Indo-China and the Near East. Prerequisite: FREN 301 and FREN 326. (May be taken concurrently with FREN 301 and/or FREN 326.)
This course introduces students to twentieth-century works in French by sub-Saharan African, North African, and Afro-Caribbean authors. In the course, students will compare how these thinkers articulated varying notions of Africanness, especially in relation to Frenchness, and what it meant for them to be faithful to their African roots. Through discussions of novels, poetry, cinema, and non-fiction writing, students will reflect on how national, regional, and continental identities have been constructed in contexts of colonialism, nation-building, and migration to and from the African continent. Major topics of the course include Négritude, Pan-Africanism, Islam, and women’s liberation. Classes will be conducted in English. Students may read the texts in French or in translation. (Same as AAAS 432.) Prerequisite: ENGL 102 and a 200-level English course.
FREN 435. Introduction to Translation Studies. 3 Credits.
This course delves deeply into the theory and practice of French-to-English and English-to- French translation from both analytical and applied perspectives. Students will work to perfect both English and French stylistics while also gaining a theoretical grounding in the growing field of translation studies. Each week, students will work alternately on an English > French translation or a French > English translation while contextualizing practical work within a broad theoretical context of critical, literary, and philosophical readings. This class is bilingual; as we alternate between working languages, our dialogue will alternate from French to English. Prerequisite: FREN 326 or departmental permission.
FREN 440. Studies in French Culture: _____. 3 Credits. FP
Representative topics are: History of Paris, Role of Women in French Literature and Culture, Interrelationships of the Arts, French-speaking African Culture, Culture of French Canada. May be repeated for credit with departmental permission; may also be repeated as part of major in French language and culture. Prerequisite: FREN 301 and FREN 326 if class taught in French.
FREN 441. The Story of French. 3 Credits.
This course provides an overview of the historical development of the French language and an introduction to different varieties of French, as well as some current language-related issues in the French-speaking world. The history of the French language is considered both from an external perspective, by examining important historical events in the language's history, and from an internal perspective, by looking at specific ways the language has changed over time. Variation is examined: how French differs geographically (i.e. dialects and regional varieties in France and in the French-speaking world), socially (i.e. how social groups such as socioeconomic class or sex are reflected in language use), and situationally (i.e. language modification depending on formality, context, etc.). Will include comparisons of spoken versus written French, slang, and le français populaire, as well as current issues, e.g., les néologismes (word creation), les anglicismes (English influence) and feminization of language. Taught in French. Prerequisite: FREN 301.
FREN 443. French Inside Out. 3 Credits.
This course provides an introduction to the structure of modern French and the various subfields of French linguistics. Topics will include major aspects of phonetics/phonology (the sounds/sound system), morphology (word formation), syntax (sentence structure), semantics, pragmatics (language use) and sociolinguistic variation (social, stylistic, geographical), as well as language attitudes and policies in France and other Francophone regions. Students will be introduced to different theoretical approaches to the study of French linguistics and will work on linguistic analyses of first- and second-language data. Taught in French and no prior study of linguistics is necessary to take this course. Prerequisite: FREN 301.
Study of the principal authors, movements, and themes of the period. Prerequisite: FREN 301 and 326.
Study of the principal authors, movements, and themes of the period. Prerequisite: FREN 301 and 326.
FREN 471. Transcending Borders: Migrations, Identities, Voices, Narrative. 3 Credits.
Study the themes of borders, migrations, and search for individual and collective identity and voice which define modern French and French-speaking cultures in continental France and around the globe. Authors, cultural movements and themes of the period, with an emphasis on twentieth- and twenty-first centuries. Introduce the student to the principal elements of the cultural, intellectual and artistic climate of the time, including literature, film, and other cultural documents and artefacts, print and electronic, visual and aural. May be taught in French or English. Prerequisite: FREN 301 and FREN 326.
FREN 480. Studies in French Literature: _____. 3 Credits. FP
Study of the key works in different media in French dealing with the theme and traces the development of science-fiction and fantasy from its beginnings to the present day. Prerequisite: FREN 326.
May be taken more than once, total credit not to exceed fifteen hours. Fields not covered by course work, and/or field of student's special interest. Conferences. Counts as humanities when taken for two or three hours. Prerequisite: Twenty-five hours of French and consent of instructor.
FREN 496. Internship. 1-3 Credits.
Practical experience in the use of French skills in supervised academic, professional, or study-abroad setting. Credit hours are graded according to the written evaluation provided by the supervisor to the director. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: At least one 300-level French course and permission of instructor.
Various topics in French or Francophone literature, language, culture, or film. May be repeated for credit, total credit not to exceed six hours. Six hours of FREN 499 required for B.A. with Honors in French. Before enrolling, the student must obtain the approval of the faculty member who will direct the Honors project.
Studies in an aspect of film, a director or group of directors. Emphasis on French film. Given in French or English.
FREN 550. Capstone Seminar in French and Francophone Language, Literature, and Culture. 3 Credits. FP
AE61
CAP
AE61
CAP
Small discussion groups, each designed to consider a specific, clearly defined topic, using an interdisciplinary approach and requiring the demonstration of a comprehensive knowledge of the fundamentals in the field as appropriate to the topic. Class discussion based on student presentation. A final comprehensive project required. All discussion and coursework will be in French. Prerequisite: Senior majors; special department permission for other students.
FREN 601. French for Reading Knowledge. 3 Credits.
Special course for candidates for advanced degrees in other departments. Fundamentals of grammar and reading of material of medium difficulty. Intended primarily for graduate students, but open also to seniors planning graduate study. Does not satisfy any part of the undergraduate language requirement. Presupposes no previous study of French. Conducted in English. Prerequisite: Graduate status or instructor permission.
FREN 610. Theme et Version. 3 Credits. FP
Exercises in English-French and French-English translation, designed to enable the student to write with greater clarity and precision in both languages.
FREN 700. Old French. 3 Credits.
Introduction to grammar and structure through the reading of representative works.
FREN 703. Structure of Modern French. 3 Credits.
Linguistic analysis of the phonological, morphological, and syntactic structure of modern French. Description in terms of current theories and models. Application of linguistic analyses to the teaching of French.
FREN 704. Methods in Foreign Language Instruction. 3 Credits.
This course provides an overview of current and historical approaches to foreign language teaching. Past and current trends and methodologies of language instruction are examined in order to acquaint students with various classroom approaches. Research findings in second language acquisition are explored and their implications discussed so as to show how these findings lead to more effective classroom practices.
FREN 705. Colloquium in Methods of Teaching French Language. 1-3 Credits.
Discussion of theoretical teaching concepts and their application in the development of pedagogical materials and assessments for the French language classroom. Does not count toward completion of the 30-hour minimum for the M.A. or Ph.D. Prerequisite: FREN 704 and department permission.
FREN 720. Introduction to Graduate Studies in French. 3 Credits.
This course is an introduction to the skills required of students doing graduate degrees in French; areas covered include 1) introduction to literary theory and criticism, 2) bibliography and research methods, including database management software, 3) preparation and presentations of a research/conference paper, 4) technology training, including web design, on-line portfolio, and digital humanities, and 5) professional ethics and awareness of the academic market and alternative careers.
FREN 732. Francophone Studies. 3 Credits.
Selected movements , themes, genres, topics in the cultures and/or literatures of the French-speaking world outside France. May be repeated for credit.
FREN 795. Investigation and Conference. 1-3 Credits.
Readings and research projects in French language, literature, and culture for students at the MA level. Directed work to fulfill needs not met by available courses. One-three hours credit in any semester. Maximum credit for M.A.: Three hours. By special departmental permission only.
FREN 799. Masters Seminar. 1 Credits.
To meet Masters degree requirement for continual enrollment. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
FREN 800. Studies in: _____. 3 Credits.
Study of topics not limited to one century. May be repeated for credit.
FREN 848. Studies in Medieval French Literature: _____. 3 Credits.
Various movements, themes, or genres. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: FREN 700.
FREN 858. Studies in Sixteenth Century French Literature: _____. 3 Credits.
Various movements, themes, or genres. May be repeated for credit.
FREN 878. Studies in Eighteenth Century French Literature: _____. 3 Credits.
Various movements, themes, or genres. May be repeated for credit.
FREN 898. Studies in Twentieth Century French Literature: _____. 3 Credits.
Various movements, themes, or genres. May be repeated for credit.
FREN 899. M.A. Thesis. 1-6 Credits.
FREN 900. Seminar in French: _____. 3 Credits.
Topics in literary, linguistic, and cultural research. May be repeated for credit.
FREN 995. Investigation and Conference. 1-3 Credits.
Readings and research projects in French language, literature, and culture for PhD students. Directed work to fulfill needs not met by available courses. One-three hours credit in any semester. Prerequisite: By Special Departmental Permission only.
FREN 999. Ph.D. Dissertation. 1-12 Credits.
Courses
ITAL 101. Studying Abroad: Italy at a Glance. 1 Credits.
Online one-credit course which aims to prepare students for the study abroad experience in Italy. The course is taught in English and has no prerequisites. Students will improve their knowledge of Italy and gain a better understanding of the environment that they will find abroad. The course includes an overview of Italian habits and practices, a cross-cultural analysis of differences between Italy and the U.S., and an introduction to essential Italian vocabulary for daily usage while studying abroad. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ITAL 103. Elementary Italian Language and Civilization. 3 Credits.
A systematic review of the fundamentals of Italian grammar through practice in conversation and writing, with an introduction to Italian culture. Available only to participants in study abroad programs. This course does not satisfy the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences foreign language requirement. No prerequisite.
ITAL 107. Elementary Italian Conversation I. 3 Credits.
First part of a two-course sequence (with 108) for students with no previous study of a foreign language and minimal linguistic background as well as for students in professional schools who plan to participate in study abroad programs in Italy. Offers knowledge of essential grammar and basic oral communication skills through practice in grammar, listening comprehension, and conversation. Active participation required. Completion of both ITAL 107 and ITAL 108 is equivalent to ITAL 110 and allows students to enroll in ITAL 120.
ITAL 108. Elementary Italian Conversation II. 3 Credits.
A continuation of ITAL 107, second part of a two-course sequence for students with no previous study of a foreign language and minimal linguistic background as well as for students in professional schools who plan to participate in study abroad programs in Italy. Offers knowledge of essential grammar and basic oral communication skills through practice in grammar, listening comprehension, and conversation. Active participation required. Completion of both ITAL 107 and ITAL 108 is equivalent to ITAL 110 and allows students to enroll in ITAL 120. Prerequisite: ITAL 107 or Italian Coordinator's approval.
ITAL 110. Elementary Italian I. 5 Credits. F1
Introduction to Italian language and culture. Essentials of grammar and practice in speaking, understanding, reading, and writing. Active participation required. Five hours of class per week.
ITAL 111. Accelerated Elementary Italian I. 3 Credits. F1
This accelerated course covers the same content as ITAL 110 in three hours rather than five and prepares students to move on to ITAL 120 or ITAL 121. Students engage in activities and assignments that help them develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Designed for students who have previous experience studying another foreign language or for those who desire to work at a faster pace. Active participation required.
ITAL 120. Elementary Italian II. 5 Credits. F2
Five hours of class. Reading of simple texts; diction; speaking; elementary composition. Prerequisite: ITAL 110.
ITAL 121. Accelerated Elementary Italian II. 3 Credits. F2
This accelerated course covers the same content as ITAL 120 in three hours rather than five and prepares students to move on to ITAL 230. Students engage in activities and assignments that help them develop and reinforce listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Designed for students who completed ITAL 111 or who excelled in ITAL 110. Active participation required.
A limited-enrollment, seminar course for first-time freshmen, addressing current issues in Italian. Course is designed to meet the critical thinking learning outcome of the KU Core. First-Year Seminar topics are coordinated and approved by the Office of Academic Programs and Experiential Learning. Prerequisite: Open to Freshmen only (less than 30 hours).
ITAL 203. Intermediate Italian Language and Civilization. 3 Credits.
A systematic review of Italian grammar through practice in conversation and composition, with an introduction to Italian culture. Available only to participants in study abroad programs. This course does not satisfy the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences foreign language requirement. Prerequisite: ITAL 120.
ITAL 230. Intermediate Italian I. 3 Credits. F3
Review and expansion of grammatical structures introduced in Elementary Italian I and II, with continued practice in speaking, understanding, reading, and writing, coordinated with the study of cultural texts. Active participation required. Prerequisite: ITAL 120 or ITAL 156.
ITAL 240. Intermediate Italian II. 3 Credits. F4
Continuation of ITAL 230. (ITAL 240 completes foreign language requirement.) Review and expansion of grammatical structures introduced in Elementary Italian I and II, with continued practice in speaking, understanding, reading, and writing, coordinated with the study of cultural texts. Active participation required. Prerequisite: ITAL 230.
ITAL 300. Composition and Conversation. 3 Credits. FP
Study of advanced grammatical structures with extensive practice in writing and conversation. Guided discussions on a variety of contemporary Italian literary, journalistic, and cinematic works. Active participation required. Prerequisite: ITAL 240 or permission of instructor.
Readings, textual analysis, and writing on a broad selection of Italian texts from different genres and periods, ranging from the medieval origins to contemporary literary culture. This course develops cultural and critical literacy as well as oral and written proficiency, and is a gateway to upper-division courses in the major and minor. Emphasis on study of Italian literature in its cultural context, history, politics, and society. Prerequisite: ITAL 240 or reading knowledge of Italian.
ITAL 303. Italian Language and Civilization I. 3 Credits. FP
An advanced study of Italian grammar, conversation, composition, with selected aspects of Italian civilization. Available only to participants in the KU summer language institute or semester abroad program in Florence or Rome. Prerequisite: ITAL 240.
ITAL 304. Italian Language and Civilization II. 3 Credits. FP
An advanced study of Italian grammar, conversation, composition, with selected aspects of Italian civilization. Available only to participants in the KU summer language institute or semester abroad program in Florence or Rome. Prerequisite: ITAL 303.
ITAL 315. Advanced Composition and Conversation. 3 Credits. FP
Continuation of ITAL 300. Study of advanced grammatical structures with extensive practice in writing and conversation. Guided discussions on a variety of contemporary Italian literary, journalistic, and cinematic works. Active participation required. Prerequisite: ITAL 300 or permission of instructor.
ITAL 330. Cinematic Rome. 3 Credits.
A study of cinematic representations of daily life, diversity, urban landscape, and social and political issues in modern and contemporary Rome as presented in different genres. Taught in English. (Same as FMS 330.)
ITAL 331. Mafia Movies. 3 Credits.
This course investigates representations of the Italian mafia in Italian and American cinema since the 1960s, placing emphasis on conventions of the gangster genre and its evolution. We will examine films in relation to their socio-historical contexts and special attention will be dedicated to Italian films that deglamorize the Italian mafia and champion the anti-mafia struggle. Taught in English. (Same as FMS 331.)
A study of significant moments in Italian film history, including analysis of themes, genres, stylistics, directors, and film culture. May be repeated for credit with departmental permission. (Same as FMS 332.)
ITAL 333. Italian Food Culture. 3 Credits.
An interdisciplinary course on Italian cultural studies with a focus on Italian cuisine, its history and its representation in literature and movies. The history of Italian cuisine, its consumption and production are investigated from multiple disciplinary perspectives with the goal of studying what Roland Barthes called the “polysemia of food” as a feature of modernity. Taught in English.
Survey of Italian culture with study of art and architecture, literary masterpieces in translation, science, culinary arts, and cinema. Taught in English.
A study of particular aspects of and/or periods in Italian culture. May be repeated for credit with departmental permission. Prerequisite: ITAL 240 or permission of instructor.
ITAL 399. Cinematic Rome, Honors. 3 Credits.
A study of cinematic representations of daily life, diversity, urban landscape, and social and political issues in modern and contemporary Rome as presented in different genres. Taught in English. (Same as FMS 399.) Prerequisite: Membership in the University Honors Program or permission of the instructor.
Major works representing various movements, themes, or genres. May be repeated with departmental permission. All work done in English.
A survey of representative short stories of the 19th and 20th Centuries, including Verga, Panzini, Pirandello, Guareschi, Moravia, Calvino, Landolfi, and Bigiaretti. Prerequisite: ITAL 240 or reading knowledge of Italian or permission of instructor.
A survey of 19th and 20th century poets and their works, including Leopardi, Pascoli, d'Annunzio, Govoni, Palazzeschi, Gozzano, Marinetti, Boccioni, Ungaretti, Montale, Quasimodo, and Pasolini. Prerequisite: ITAL 240 or reading knowledge of Italian or permission of instructor.
ITAL 466. 19th and 20th Century Novels. 3 Credits. FP
This course is a survey of representative 19th and 20th century novels including those of Manzoni, Pirandello, Svevo, Deledda, Vittorini, Moravia, Pavese, Pratolini, Buzzati, Ginzburg, and Calvino. Prerequisite: ITAL 240 or reading knowledge of Italian or permission of instructor.
A study of a period, theme, group of authors, or cultural movement. Subject matter will vary; may be taken more than once if subject differs. Prerequisite: ITAL 300 or demonstrated knowledge of Italian.
May be taken more than once, total credit not to exceed nine hours. Various fields of Italian literature. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor, given only to those having demonstrated ease in reading Italian.
Various topics in Italian literature or culture. Minimum of three hours of Italian 499 required for a B.A. with Honors in the Italian option of the French degree. Students must discuss Honors eligibility and their topic with a faculty member before enrolling. Honors paper must be written in Italian.
ITAL 601. Italian for Reading Knowledge. 3 Credits.
Special course for candidates for advanced degrees. Fundamentals of grammar and reading of material of medium difficulty. Open to graduate students and to seniors planning graduate study. Does not satisfy any part of the undergraduate language requirement. Presupposes no previous study of Italian. Conducted in English. Prerequisite: Graduate status or instructor permission.
ITAL 695. Graduate Directed Readings in Italian. 1-3 Credits. FP
May be taken more than once, total credit not to exceed nine hours. Directed readings, conferences with instructor. Prerequisite: ITAL 495 or consent of instructor.