Current Undergraduate Courses

ITA100Y1 - Italian Language for Beginners

An introduction to the main elements of the Italian language. The development of speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills. Introduction to Italian culture and texts.

• When: Year-long course with multiple meeting sections available spanning throughout the week (Mondays to Fridays) with morning, afternoon, and evening offerings.
• Instructor: Taught by a variety of instructors.

ITA197H1-S – The Fine Art of Murder: Reading Detective Fiction

Since its inception in the nineteenth century, detective fiction has been one of the most popular literary genres, proving adept at both entertaining and shining a critical light on social and political problems. This course will explore the many faces of detective fiction addressing questions such as: Why does crime hold such a fascination for modern audiences? What kind of pleasure do we derive from reading stories that often follow established conventions and rules? What do these novels about crime and punishment tell us about broader social and political issues?

• When: S semester – Thursdays, 10am - 12pm
• Instructor: Aletta, A. 

ITA198H1-F - Machiavelli and Machiavellianism

An examination of Machiavelli’s political doctrine in The Prince and the development of his ideas in politics, ethics, and the arts. Special attention will be paid to the enduring relevance of his legacy in the modern world.

• When: F semester – Thursdays, 10am - 12pm 
• Instructor: Scarci, M. 

ITA199H1-F - Italian Fascism and Global Responses: The Dark Side of Italianità

After World War I, Italian society faced a political, economic, and moral crisis that resulted in the rise of fascism. Using diverse sources (media, literary texts, movies, architecture, and design), this course explores various reactions in Italy and abroad to the rise of Mussolini and the totalitarian State. Why did common people, intellectuals, politicians, and business and community leaders around the globe succumb to the seduction of fascism? How did other people denounce fascist violence? After an introduction to Italian fascism, the course will consider global reactions to Italian fascism and diverse responses in Italian communities abroad (e.g. Canada, USA, Argentina).

• When: F semester – Tuesdays, 10am - 12pm
• Instructor: Lanza, A.

JCI199H1-F - Italians in Canada: Histories, Journeys, Struggles, Successes

This course explores the presence of people from the Italian peninsula in what is now known as Canada. The course begins with discussions on Giovanni Caboto’s and other explorers’ journeys to then focus on contemporary Italian-Canadian communities. This course provides students with the critical tools necessary to understand various historical, linguistic, culinary, spiritual, political, and creative elements of Italian-Canadian identity and life. Students of both Italian and non-Italian heritage are most welcome in this course, which is taught in English. Restricted to first-year students. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

• When: F semester – Wednesdays, 10am - 12pm
• Instructor: Frasca, P. 

ITA200H1-F - Major Italian Authors in Translation: from Dante to Tasso

The course will focus on authors from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance who had a defining influence on Western literature, such as Dante, Petrarca, Boccaccio, Machiavelli, Ariosto, and Tasso. This course includes a component designed to enhance students’ research experience. (Given in English)

• When: F semester - Thursdays, 12pm - 2pm
• Instructor: Galli, S. 

ITA210H1-F – "The Most Beautiful Language": Italian between Past, Present and Future Challenges

In his recent book, titled “The most beautiful language” (La più bella del mondo, Turin: Einaudi, 2018), Stefano Jossa eulogizes Italian, arguing that it should be learned by many. However, what do we really know about it? The course will try to answer some crucial questions: How was the Italian language born and developed? What are its main characteristics? How are the many dialects perceived in Italy today? What status do they have vis-à-vis the national language? What about the expansion of English? Are the dialects disappearing or still surviving? How is Italian language facing the new social questions (gender, diversity, etc.)? How are social media changing the way the Italian language is written and spoken?

• When: F semester - Mondays, 12pm-2pm
• Instructor: TBC

ITA250Y1 – Intermediate Italian

Grammar review, readings of Italian authors and oral practice to enhance comprehension and expressive skills.

• When: Year-long course with multiple meeting sections available offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, in the morning and evening.
• Instructor: Laudadio, D. Frasca, P. Galli, S. 

ITA320H1-F  - Dante: Vita Nuova and Divina Commedia (Inferno)

Dante's poetry and great Christian epic of conversion explode with the passions of this world. This course focuses on intertextual and rhetorical strategies used to fashion the author's complex vision of contemporary society within the framework of providential history. This course includes a component designed to enhance students' research experience.

• When: F semester - Mondays, 2pm - 4pm
• Instructor: TBC

ITA332H1-S -  Love in the Renaissance

An exploration of the theme of love in the Renaissance and its development in a variety of literary forms. Analysis of treatises, poetry, short stories and letters with the purpose of examining intertextuality and the practice of imitation, as well as the social and political aspects of love, such as marriage, women's position in society, pornography, homosexuality and other issues. This course includes a component designed to enhance students' research experience. (Given in English)

• When: F semester - Tuesdays, 2pm to 4pm
• Instructor: Scarci, M. 

ITA345H1-S -  Cinema of the Italian Diasporas

This course will examine how several filmmakers of Italian descent engage with the representation of their diasporic identity. Particular emphasis will be placed on Italian-Canadian and Italian-American cinema, as well as on Italian cineastes working in Argentina, Brazil, and Australia. The course will analyze films that span from silent to contemporary, from the formation of the stereotypical images to the re-appropriation of archetypes on the part of “ethnic” filmmakers. This course includes a component designed to enhance students' research experience. (Given in English)

• When: S semester - Thursdays, 2pm - 4pm
• Instructor: TBC

ITA350Y1-Y – Language Practice

For students who have completed ITA250Y1 / ITA251Y1. Discussion of problems of grammar, style, and composition. Language analysis based on readings of Italian authors. One hour a week of oral practice. This course includes a component designed to enhance students' research experience.

• When: Year-long course offered on Mondays and Wednesdays, 6pm - 9pm
• Instructor: Frascà, P. & other instructors TBC

JCI350H1 – Italian Canadian Culture and Identity

This course examines the contributions of Canadians of Italian descent to arts, culture, identity and heritage in Canada, with attention to the diversity of the community with respect to issues such as language, religion, gender, class, sexuality, etc. A core concept addressed by the course is immigration, whether from the experiences of migrants themselves or later generations.

• When: S semester – Wednesdays, 2pm- 4pm
• Instructor: Frasca, P.

ITA379H1-S - Topics in Italiain Studies: Black Italian Literature

In this course we will explore a series of biographies and selected texts produced by Black Italian writers of African descent starting from the 1990s to now. The authors taken under consideration were either born and raised in Italy or arrived in the country at a specific historical time. Therefore, the course will also provide the students with relevant historical and sociological background on issues of race, identity and citizenship in colonial and postcolonial Italy. Starting with the making of the first colony in Eritrea in 1890, through the invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 and the birth of the Empire of Africa Orientale Italiana in 1936, the novels and essays analyzed in this course will highlight the ties between Italy and Africa and how a lack of reckoning with this colonial past has still consequences today for Italians of African descent.

• When: S semester - Tuesdsays 12pm-2pm
• Instructor: Pesarini, A.

ITA380H1-F - The Prose of the World: The Modern Italian Novel and Realist Tradition

This course examines the development of modern Italian novel by taking as its focus the question of the relationship between narrative and the world. The course analyzes some of the major figures of Nineteenth-Century realist tradition such as Manzoni and Verga, as well as the resurgence of realist narrative in the post-World War II period with authors such as Pavese and Calvino. This course includes a component designed to enhance students' research experience. (Given in English)

• When: S semester - Wednesdays, 12pm - 2pm
• Instructor: Morra, E. 

ITA425H1-S -  Special Topics in Italian Studies

A course on specific topics in Italian Studies, designed for advanced students. This course includes a component designed to enhance students' research experience. (Given in English)

• When: S semester - Wednesdays, 4pm - 6pm
• Instructor: Pesarini, A. 

ITA426H1-S -  Special Topics in Italian Studies

A course on specific topics in Italian Studies, designed for advanced students. This course includes a component designed to enhance students' research experience. (Given in English)

• When: S semester - Tuesdays, 4pm - 6pm
• Instructor: Somigli, L. 

ITA427H1-S -  Special Topics in Italian Linguistics

A course on specific topics in Italian Linguistics, designed for advanced students. This course includes a component designed to enhance students' research experience. (Given in English)

• When: S semester - Mondays, 2pm - 4pm
• Instructor: Pierno, F. 

ITA450H1-S – Advanced Italian

This advanced-level course is designed to provide students with further study of the Italian language and culture with emphasis on varied methods of expression. This course will improve students' oral and written communication skills.

• When: S semester – Wednesdays, 6pm - 9pm
• Instructor: Scarci, M. 

ITA460Y1-Y -  Internship in Italian

Opportunity to apply acquired knowledge in a work placement environment. The placement will take place in local community organizations, Private Business Associations and local media.

ITA489H1-F & ITA489H1-S - Independent Studies

An opportunity to pursue at the 400-level an independent course of study not otherwise available. A written proposal, co-signed by the instructor, must be submitted on the appropriate proposal form for approval by the Department of Italian Studies. Application deadline: April 30 for F courses, November 30 for S courses.

ITA490Y1-Y -  Independent Studies

In exceptional circumstances, students may request to pursue at the 400-level an independent course of study not otherwise available. A written proposal, co-signed by the instructor, must be submitted on the appropriate proposal form for approval by the Department of Italian Studies. Application deadline April 30.

ITA495H1-F & ITA489H1-S -  Directed Research

Based on a professor’s research project currently in progress, this course will enable an undergraduate student to play a useful role in the project while receiving concrete training in research. This course is mandatory for all students enrolled in the specialist’s program.