Italian American Studies
ITALIAN AMERICAN STUDIES MINOR at Loyola University Chicago
Are you looking to learn more about this nation’s fifth largest ethnic group and the many dynamic connections between Italy and the United States that continue to shape our contemporary society? If so, the Italian American Studies Minor is for you. The curriculum draws upon course offerings in different fields, including experiential learning and study abroad opportunities. Students will learn about the political, cultural, and historical conditions the led to the mass migration from Italy, with an emphasis on the Chicagoland area. While focusing on the Italian experience, the program also aims to provide students with a framework for understating other American groups with similar histories, and for addressing questions related to assimilation, identity, gender, race, class and religion that continue to inform contemporary discourse on immigration.
Many of the courses that count towards the minor also fulfill the university’s CORE curriculum requirements, and others count for History, Criminal Justice, Music, Anthropology, Sociology, and more.
The Italian American Studies Minor is one of only a handful of such programs in the United States. It resulted from a 5-year long fund-raising campaign the proceeds of which were matched by Loyola University Chicago, eventually resulting in the Paul and Ann Rubino Endowed Professorship and the establishment of the minor.
Come learn about the history, culture and literature of Italian Americans, and the unique impact they have had on the city of Chicago and the world.
If you have additional questions about the program, please contact Dr. Carla A. Simonini, csimonini@luc.edu.
Required Courses
1) Italian American Studies
ITAS 101, Introduction to Italian American Studies (3 credits)
2) Italian American Experience
Choose 3 courses (9 credit hours)
- HIST 300D Italian Americans through Popular Culture
- HIST 379A, Italian Americans in World War II
- HIST 379B, History of Italians in Chicago
- ITAS 299, Explorations of the Italian Immigrant Experience
- LITR 291, Italian and Italian American Women Writers
3) Issues and Methodologies
Choose 1 course (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 216, Cultures of Migration
- ANTH 315, Identities: Race, Ethnicity, and Nationalism
- HIST 300D Anti-Immigrant Politics in the United States
- MUSC 256, Jazz Music History
- PLSC 391, Chicago Politics
- SOCL 122, Race and Ethnic Relations
4) Cultural Heritage
Choose 1 course (3 credit hours)
- HIST 324, Italy 19th and 20th Century
- HIST 335, The Second World War
- ITAL 290, The Italians - ITAL 390, Culture & Civilization
- LITR 161, Introduction to Italian Culture
- LITR 264, Italian Film Genre
- LITR 267, Italian Film History
- LITR 268, Italy: Cultural History
- LITR 268R, Italian Culture: Food & Wine
- PHIL 288R, Culture & Civilization in Rome
- ROST 300, Italy: Culture & Contexts
- ROST 382, Human Rights: View from Rome
- ROST 390, Special Topics in Rome Studies
- SOCL 267, Italy Today
ITALIAN AMERICAN STUDIES MINOR at Loyola University Chicago
Are you looking to learn more about this nation’s fifth largest ethnic group and the many dynamic connections between Italy and the United States that continue to shape our contemporary society? If so, the Italian American Studies Minor is for you. The curriculum draws upon course offerings in different fields, including experiential learning and study abroad opportunities. Students will learn about the political, cultural, and historical conditions the led to the mass migration from Italy, with an emphasis on the Chicagoland area. While focusing on the Italian experience, the program also aims to provide students with a framework for understating other American groups with similar histories, and for addressing questions related to assimilation, identity, gender, race, class and religion that continue to inform contemporary discourse on immigration.
Many of the courses that count towards the minor also fulfill the university’s CORE curriculum requirements, and others count for History, Criminal Justice, Music, Anthropology, Sociology, and more.
The Italian American Studies Minor is one of only a handful of such programs in the United States. It resulted from a 5-year long fund-raising campaign the proceeds of which were matched by Loyola University Chicago, eventually resulting in the Paul and Ann Rubino Endowed Professorship and the establishment of the minor.
Come learn about the history, culture and literature of Italian Americans, and the unique impact they have had on the city of Chicago and the world.
If you have additional questions about the program, please contact Dr. Carla A. Simonini, csimonini@luc.edu.
Required Courses
1) Italian American Studies
ITAS 101, Introduction to Italian American Studies (3 credits)
2) Italian American Experience
Choose 3 courses (9 credit hours)
- HIST 300D Italian Americans through Popular Culture
- HIST 379A, Italian Americans in World War II
- HIST 379B, History of Italians in Chicago
- ITAS 299, Explorations of the Italian Immigrant Experience
- LITR 291, Italian and Italian American Women Writers
3) Issues and Methodologies
Choose 1 course (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 216, Cultures of Migration
- ANTH 315, Identities: Race, Ethnicity, and Nationalism
- HIST 300D Anti-Immigrant Politics in the United States
- MUSC 256, Jazz Music History
- PLSC 391, Chicago Politics
- SOCL 122, Race and Ethnic Relations
4) Cultural Heritage
Choose 1 course (3 credit hours)
- HIST 324, Italy 19th and 20th Century
- HIST 335, The Second World War
- ITAL 290, The Italians - ITAL 390, Culture & Civilization
- LITR 161, Introduction to Italian Culture
- LITR 264, Italian Film Genre
- LITR 267, Italian Film History
- LITR 268, Italy: Cultural History
- LITR 268R, Italian Culture: Food & Wine
- PHIL 288R, Culture & Civilization in Rome
- ROST 300, Italy: Culture & Contexts
- ROST 382, Human Rights: View from Rome
- ROST 390, Special Topics in Rome Studies
- SOCL 267, Italy Today