Program in Italian Studies

 

Description:

The graduate certificate in Italian Studies provides an opportunity for students to complement doctoral studies in their home department with coordinated multidisciplinary training in the Program in Italian Studies, and take part in an intellectually stimulating interdisciplinary community.  Students entering the program may come from any department in the Humanities and Social Sciences in which interdisciplinary training in Italian history, culture, and language is desirable, including the departments of Art and Archaeology, Architecture (normally applicable to PhD students) Comparative Literature, Classics, History, History of Science, Music, Religion, and Politics and programs such as Judaic Studies, Medieval Studies, Renaissance Studies, and Women and Gender.

 

Course of Study: 

The course of study is determined by students’ home department advisors in consultation with the director of the Program in Italian Studies.  Certificate requirements include (a) Italian language proficiency sufficient to conduct original research using Italian as a research tool; (b) must take at least two seminars designated as appropriate for Italian Studies [see website for details] (c) regular participation in the  Italian Studies Workshops and Seminar Series (usually offered several times a semester) (d) at least one academic term or summer of research (non-language study) in Italy. 

 

Students are recommended to seek entrance to the program during their first year of study to allow adequate time to plan an appropriate course of study.  Second-year and post-generals students may be admitted, depending upon their background, experience, and area of concentration.  All students interested in the program should contact the director of the Program in Italian Studies for further information.  

 

Students are expected to demonstrate competence in speaking, writing, and reading Italian for admission.  A recommendation may be made at that time for further language study as may be necessary, given the student’s proposed plan of study and research.  Fellowship funds are available to support additional language studies in Italy during the summer.  Students may also be advised to participate in advanced undergraduate courses in Italian to strengthen their language skills. 

 

The general exam will be taken in the home department, in consultation with the Director of the Program in Italian Studies.  Full doctoral candidacy in the program will be conferred only when the student has passed generals and demonstrated further competence in one or more areas relevant to Italian studies, either through a section of their general exam, a seminar paper, or presentation in the Italian Studies Symposium or at a professional conference.  

 

Normally the dissertation should center on a topic of significance in Italian language and culture.  The dissertation proposal must be approved by the home department and the Italian Studies Committee, according to the timetable and requirements of the home department.  The principal advisor is a faculty member from in the home department, with at least one reader from the Italian Studies Committee.  An Italian Studies certificate may also be awarded to students whose dissertations, though outside Italian Studies, show exceptional knowledge and expertise in Italian Studies, as demonstrated in seminars, conference papers, or publications.   

 

Students are normally supported by regular graduate fellowships from their home department, with occasional additional funding available from Italian Studies to fund intensive or remedial language preparation and summer research in Italian archives and libraries.  In addition, graduate students with sufficient language skills may have the opportunity to precept language courses in the Department of French and Italian (as available) during their regular period of enrollment, and teaching may also provide additional financial support in years six and seven for DCE students. Students holding outside, non-Princeton fellowships should consult with the Program and the Graduate School about the impacts of accepting additional funds from the Program.