Italian [Double Degree]

Abstract

In partnership with the Department of Culture e civilità of the University of Verona in Italy, the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Fribourg has set up a double degree programme comprising 120 ECTS credits, to be completed in four semesters: two in Fribourg and two in Verona. This programme is the product of the scientific and pedagogical complementarity and harmony that exist between the Department of Italian at the University of Fribourg and the Department of Culture e civilità at the University of Verona, which have a long history of fruitful collaboration. The master programme in Italian combines the characteristic features of both schools, applying methods of philological research and formalist and stylistic criticism together with insights of literary history. Two areas of study are combined: advanced literary studies, which takes into account both textual research and the historical dimension of literature; and study of the various aspects of Italian culture (art history, musicology, film studies, etc.). Particular emphasis is placed on the texts and themes of mediaeval and Renaissance literature as well as modern and contemporary periods.
The master programme focuses specifically on literature. As such, it offers an in-depth study of to the multitude of cultural aspects that constitute «Italian-ness», with an interdisciplinary approach that emphasises links to history, art history, philosophy and musicology.

  • Show the study programme profile

    Profile of the study programme

    Italian literary and philological studies at the universities of Fribourg and Verona have a long tradition, marked notably by the work of eminent scholars such as Gianfranco Contini, Giuseppe Billanovich and Giovanni Pozzi at Fribourg and Pier Vincenzo Mengaldo and Gilberto Lonardi at Verona. At both universities, these researchers contributed to the creation of two genuine schools of textual analysis which have achieved and continue to achieve extremely original results using methods of philological research and formalist and stylistic criticism.
    The historical dimension covers eight centuries of Italian literature and is taught by several professors. Drawing on key points of their research and recent trends in criticism, the professors examine the period from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance as well as modern and contemporary periods from the 16th to the 21st centuries. Other topics consider the philology of literary texts and the history of language, style and culture.
    The master programme has a dual purpose: its focus is specifically literary, but at the same time it offers an introduction to the multitude of cultural aspects that constitute «Italian-ness» from an interdisciplinary perspective that emphasises links to history, art history, philosophy and musicology.

    Fribourg profile
    The master programme combines the didactic approach characteristic of both the Fribourg and Verona schools. Students are encouraged to develop their ability to work independently and to interact in small groups in research seminars. The primary strength of the programme is its in-depth study of literature, including not only textual research but also the historical dimension (crossing philology and critical interpretation). Particular emphasis is placed on texts and themes of mediaeval and Renaissance literature, and of modern and contemporary literature, especially poetry.
    The study of various aspects of Italian culture constitutes the second key area of the master programme.
    The course is taught in Italian.
    Studies at the University of Verona during the second and third semesters will enable students to develop their own critical capacity with respect to the production, analysis, transmission and definition of the historical and aesthetic qualities of literary and artistic textual forms. One of the principal formative objectives of the double degree programme is to provide a complete theoretical framework for how ancient and modern literary discourse is produced, and thus an understanding of the many aspects related to literary and non-literary textuality.
    This study programme involves writing a master thesis under the direction and supervision of one member of the teaching staff qualified to supervise a thesis from each of the two universities.

    Learning outcomes and career openings
    The double degree programme is designed to meet the expectations of students who wish to pursue rigorous training in scholarly research, combined with prolonged study abroad in accordance with international academic standards, and who are considering a career in research and higher education in particular. The harmonisation of the courses at the universities of Fribourg and Verona in a single programme has given rise to an original and innovative study plan, both for Switzerland and internationally, which is reshaping the teaching of the great masters of literary criticism of the 20th century (G. Contini, G. Billanovich, G. Pozzi, G. Folena, P. V. Mengaldo) into new forms capable of meeting the epistemological challenges of the 21st century.
    The skills acquired at the end of the master programme allow students to conduct personal research, often oriented towards the editing and annotation of ancient and modern texts. To this end, the programme emphasises the close links between literary historiography, critical interpretation and textual philology. The critical skills and advanced analytical tools acquired guarantee the knowledge needed for the advanced study of literary production in the Italian language and for reasoned and original commentary. Moreover, the theoretical perspectives examined throughout the master's course enable students to develop their own critical reflections on approaches to and methods of Italian studies, and thus to position themselves in the contemporary scientific discourse.
    Excellent results in the master's course give students access to doctoral studies. A doctoral school in Italian Studies was set up at the Univeristy of Fribourg in 2013 in collaboration with the universities of Geneva and Lausanne. The Department of Culture e civilità of the University of Verona offers a doctoral programme in Letteratura, Filologia e Scienze dello Spettacolo.
    The holder of a Master of Arts in Languages and Literatures: Italian from the University of Fribourg is qualified to undertake teacher education for baccalaureate schools (DEEM/LDM). Their expertise also qualifies them for leadership roles in the world of culture, written journalism, audiovisual media (radio, TV, Internet), the book industry and publishing sector, archives and libraries, as well as in translation, administration, etc.

Studies organisation

Structure of studies

120 ECTS credits, 4 semesters
(60 ECTS credits must be acquired at the University of Fribourg, 1st and 4th semesters;
60 ECTS credits must be acquired at the University of Verona, 2nd and 3rd semesters).

Curriculum

Admission

Master's degree programmes are built on the knowledge and abilities that were acquired when obtaining a bachelor's degree.

Holders of a bachelor's degree awarded by a Swiss university are admitted to a master's degree programme without any preconditions if they have earned 60 or 90 ECTS credits – depending on the chosen master's degree programme – within the corresponding discipline. However, additional requirements can be required. The same applies to holders of a bachelor's degree awarded by a foreign university, provided that the bachelor's degree is recognised and considered equivalent by the University of Fribourg.

Holders of a bachelor's degree awarded by a Swiss or a foreign university, provided that the bachelor's degree is recognised and considered equivalent by the University of Fribourg, who do not fulfil this condition can be admitted to a master's degree programme with preconditions (which must be successfully completed before starting the master's degree programme) and/or additional requirements (which can be completed during the master's degree programme). The preconditions and/or additional requirements may not exceed 60 ECTS credits in total. The same applies to holders of a bachelor's degree awarded by a Swiss university of applied sciences, according to existing agreements.

The respective conditions of admission for each master's degree programme are reserved.

Key points

Degree conferred

Master of Arts in Languages and Literatures: Italian

Languages of study

Study in Italian

Commencement of studies

Commencement of studies only in the Autumn Semester (September)

Special features for admission

Candidates for the Double Degree programme must enrol for the master's degree in Languages and Literature: Italian (90 ECTS credits) by the deadline indicated by the Office for Admissions and Registration. In addition, they must request admission to the Double Degree programme by addressing their application to the head of that programme at the Department of Italian of the University of Fribourg before 30 September of the first semester of the master's course.
The application must include: a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, the transcripts of the applicant's bachelor's course marks, as well as documentation attesting their knowledge of Italian to B2 level (e.g. a PLIDA certificate from the Società Dante Alighieri; a self-assessment for students who completed their Matura in Italian). Knowledge of Latin is required (Latin studies up to Matura level, or a catch-up programme at the bachelor level worth at least 6 ECTS credits). This is a prerequisite for admission to the programme.

Access to further studies

Ph.D.

Contact

Faculty of Humanities
Department of Italian
Prof. Uberto Motta
uberto.motta@unifr.ch
http://studies.unifr.ch/go/it-italian