Italian Studies

Student are expected to take courses that provide a thorough understanding of Italian literature, cinema, history, and culture. To this end, they will take a minimum of 9 hours (usually three courses) per semester during their first three year of coursework. If a student enters the program and already holds an M.A. in Italian or in a related area, then they may be eligible to take less coursework; that determination will be made in consultation with the Graduate Advisor. In a given semester, students typically take two courses taught in Italian Studies (course with and ITL designation) and a third course in a relevant field outside the department.

Coursework may include one three-hour upper division course approved by the Graduate Advisor. Students must take at least eighteen hours of graduate coursework offered in Italian Studies, and six to nine graduate-level hours in a supporting subject or subject in another program, department, or college. Italian Studies graduate students must also take CL 385 (Theories of Literary Criticism) or another graduate course on critical/literary theory approved by the Graduate Advisor.

With the help of the Graduate Advisor, each student is expected to design and individual course of study and define a primary subject and supporting subject(s) of study. At least nine hours of coursework must be in a supporting subject.

In the fall semester of year four, at the latest, students who entered with a B.A. are expected to register for a 3-credit comprehensive exam prep course (ITL 395 or the equivalent) to begin preparing for the Comprehensive Examination. Students who entered with an M.A. in Italian or a related area will be expected to register for a 3-credit comprehensive exam preparation course (ITL 395 or the equivalent) in the spring semester of year three, at the latest. After completing all required coursework and before entering candidacy, students enroll in ITL 395 or an equivalent.

Language Competency Requirements: Before completion of the second year, students must also demonstrate reading competence in one foreign language other than Italian by earning a grade of at least ‘B’ in a reading course approved by the Graduate Advisor, in a second-year college language course, or on an examination approved by the Graduate Advisor.

Students entering the program with an M.A. are admitted directly into the Ph.D. program. Students entering with a B.A. who are completing their first two years of graduate coursework in Italian Studies here and who wish to continue toward the Ph.D. will demonstrate their competency to continue toward the Ph.D. through coursework, research, and TA performance. Students must submit a request (in writing) to the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee, GSC, to be considered for admission and to continue into the doctoral program. In evaluating such requests, the Committee will take into account the student’s progress, defined in part by coursework (papers, examinations, classroom performance), course grades, and work as a TA or research assistant. The request must include one scholarly paper (ideally 15-20 pages), in Italian or English, from a completed course and a brief statement (2-3 pages) discussing the applicant’s experience in the Italian Studies graduate program and plans for completing the doctoral degree. The Committee will also take into consideration input from faculty members in the student’s core and supporting area, as well as input provided by the student’s own performance report. The applicant must submit the request to the GSC Chair (by a date determined in consultation with the Graduate Advisor) – typically by the first Monday following spring break of year two in the program. The entire GSC will then have an opportunity to consider the materials, and the student will be notified of the decision within one month of requesting admission.

When the student has fulfilled all Ph.D. coursework and the foreign language requirement, they will begin working on their comprehensive examination. Typically, this will begin, at the latest, in the spring semester of year 4 for those who entered with a B.A. or in the spring semester of year 3 for those who entered with an M.A.

Each Ph.D. candidate forms an examining committee chaired by the Italian Studies professor most likely to direct the student's dissertation research. The student, in consultation with this chair, seeks three other professors to serve on the examining committee. At least two of the four committee members must be Italian Studies faculty in the department of French and Italian, and at least one member must be from another department or program. The candidate must obtain the signatures of the chair and the other three committee members by the beginning of the spring semester of year 4 (year 3 for students entering with an M.A.)—by February 1 at the latest.

The goal of the Comprehensive Exam is to assess the breadth and depth of the student’s competency in Italian Studies, and to assist in the conception and initial research stages of a likely dissertation project. To this end, the exam covers three major areas. The first two areas focus primarily on Italian literary studies, with one area covering major literary and critical works for the period 1200-1750 and the second area covering major literary, cinematic and critical works for the period 1750 to the present. The Italian Studies faculty will provided the student with reading lists for these two areas in advance. For the third area of the exam, the candidate—in consultation with the committee chair—identifies a special topic related to the anticipated dissertation project. "Topic" here is broadly defined, and may refer to various areas essential to the student's research, including (but not limited to) a particular area of critical theory or philosophy; a historical or socio-political event or issue; a specific genre, discipline, or cultural medium. It is probable, though not necessary, that this third area of the exam corresponds in a significant way to supporting courses taken outside the department. It is the student's responsibility to consult with relevant faculty to form the reading list for this third area of the exam and to obtain the committee chair's approval by March 15 of year 4 (year 3 for students entering with an M.A.).

The candidate continues to prepare for the exam over the summer; the committee chair, in consultation with the student and the other committee members, sets an exam period for the end of the summer or the beginning of the fall semester of year 5 (year 4 for students entering with an M.A.). By September 15 at the latest, the student is given six questions (two per area) in the form of a take-home exam: the student provides written responses (1000-1500 words per response) to three questions, one for each area of the exam. Within 72 hours of receiving the questions, the student submits the responses to the committee chair (hardcopy and electronically), who then distributes them to the rest of the committee. The committee meets with the student 1-2 weeks later (October 1 at the latest) for the oral portion of the exam. During this oral exam, expected to last two hours, committee members may ask questions based not only on the candidate's written responses but also on the unselected questions and on any part of the reading lists. The candidate is also expected to discuss how the reading lists and written responses (for area 3 in particular) relate to likely dissertation research.

Students who do not successfully pass the Comprehensive Examination may retake it (in whole or in part, at the discretion of the examining committee) at the end of the fall semester of year 5 (year 4 for students entering with an M.A.).  Only one retake is allowed.

After passing the Comprehensive Exam, the student, working with the dissertation advisor, will write a dissertation prospectus of a length agreed upon with the dissertation committee (generally from 15-25 pages). The prospectus should be a carefully argued written presentation of the basis for the student’s dissertation research. It should explain the significance of the project in relation to work in the field, justify the research methodology or approach, and set forth the sources to be examined and the critical questions to be addressed. This should be followed by brief summaries of each chapter. The prospectus should demonstrate the student’s ability to undertake research on a topic within the context of current scholarship and critical methodologies, and give evidence of the student’s breadth of knowledge and potential for future success as a scholar.

The dissertation prospectus must be presented in written form and orally defended to the student’s dissertation committee. This is typically done by the end of the semester following successful completion of the Comprehensive Exam. Once the prospectus is successfully defended, the student will apply to be admitted to doctoral candidacy and begin working on the dissertation.

When the student has fulfilled all Ph.D. coursework and foreign language requirement, has passed the Comprehensive Examination, has defended the prospectus, and has chosen a dissertation director and supervising committee of at least three other faculty members, then he or she will file for candidacy with the Graduate School and begin registering for the dissertation course. The student must fill out the Graduate School’s Doctoral Candidacy Application online to obtain approval of the dissertation committee chair, the Graduate Advisor, the Graduate Studies Committee Chair of the program, and the Graduate Dean.

The purpose of the dissertation is to make a substantial contribution to existing scholarship in the field. Italian Studies students in candidacy are expect to research and write their dissertations over the next one and a half years, thus enabling them to defend their dissertation by the end of their sixth year in the program, at the latest. The Graduate School requires that dissertation be written in English, unless special permission is granted prior to undertaking the project. Progress on the dissertation is regularly monitored. The dissertation must be completed and defended within three years admission to candidacy. If it is not, the Graduate Studies Committee will review the student’s case to determine if an extension will be granted.

The supervisory committee is responsible for approving the dissertation, which the student defends in an oral examination between one and two hours in length. This examination is conducted by the dissertation committee (only one member is allowed to be absent from the defense) and is open to the university community. The defense covers the dissertation, the general field of the dissertation and other parts of the student’s program, as determined by the committee. Forms are available from the Graduate School both to apply for the granting of the Ph.D. and to request the official scheduling of the dissertation defense (called the “Final Oral”). The dissertation committee should be given at least one month to read the dissertation before the Final Oral. The student should work with the Graduate Coordinator to arrange a date, time, and place to conduct the defense.