French & Italian
The department strongly encourages its concentrators and certificate students to spend as much time as they can in any country, including those in Africa, where the language(s) they study is/are widely spoken. There are several ways of doing this within the four-year undergraduate degree: by study abroad for one or two semesters, by summer study abroad, and by obtaining summer work or an internship abroad.
Both semesters are equally good times for going abroad. The main challenge students face is completing their Junior independent work ("JP"); some students prefer to go in the fall because the first JP is shorter and therefore may be more approachable to do while away from the adviser. However, French and Italian universities' fall semesters can seem short to American students because of the way the schedule is distributed (from mid-October through early February, with a recess in December). The spring semester resembles more that of Princeton's and many students elect to go then.
Although the Department of French and Italian does not require students to have taken specific courses before going abroad, it encourages students to consider an advanced language and style course (FRE 307, ITA 307).
Courses taken abroad in approved programs may fulfill departmental requirements up to a limit of two courses per semester. Course credit in French and Italian can also be obtained through approved summer study abroad.
In recent years, French and Italian majors have studied abroad through the following programs:
- IES Abroad in Nantes, France
- Academic Programs Abroad, Paris, France
- Center for University Programs Abroad (CUPA), Paris, France
- CIEE Study Center, Critical Studies Program, Paris, France
- Columbia University, Reid Hall Program in Paris, France
- Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po), Paris, France
- Sweet Briar College Junior Year in France, Paris, France
- Boston University in Padua, Italy
- Brown in Bologna, Italy
- E.C.CO. Program in Bologna through Wesleyan University, Italy
- IES Abroad in Milan, Italy
FIT has a special relationship with the Institut International de Langue IS Aix-en-Provence, which offers intensive four-week language courses in French at various levels. The department has established a similar relationship with the University of Macerata, offering intensive language courses in Italian. The department is able to provide financial support to a small number of students in each of these courses each year.
FIT also maintains ties with the Bryn Mawr College summer programs held in Avignon, in French language, literature, art, and civilization (including social, political, and economic institutions). See the departmental representative if you are interested in one of these programs.