The Department of Italian and French Studies at St. Jerome's University contributes to the intellectual formation of students through instruction provided in our first-rate undergraduate Major, Minor, and Option academic plans that lead to specializations in literature, language, and culture. Showcasing "distinguished" teaching and original research and scholarship that promote a type of comparative discourse conducive to a greater awareness of and sensitivity toward other cultures, and a Roman Catholic spirit that informs both our classroom and our vision of the world, our instructors seek to inspire students to develop fully their communicative and intellectual skills in these two of the four major languages and cultures of our Canadian multicultural landscape. The acquisition of Italian and French is enhanced in some courses by state of the art technology and on-line environment. Further fundamental skills both in language and in literary and cultural studies can be refined through our international exchange programs in Italy, France, and Quebec. Furthermore, our Three-Year Major plan in Italian Studies provides a full array of courses, for the most part taught in English. These offer students a thorough and unhindered access to a culture and a literature, which are in many respects the foundation of western letters and thought. Our Plans prepare students for lifelong learning in a friendly social setting privileging active participation in cultural clubs, conferences, discussion groups, as well as in other settings that further nurture intellectual activities, thus making university life a memorable experience.
Chair: Gabriel Niccoli
