Graduate
MA Italian Language and Literature Examination
The MA Comprehensive Exams are a combination of written examinations (2) and a final project, designed in the aggregate to ensure that the candidates have acquired a thorough overall knowledge of Italian language, culture, and literature; familiarity with a thematic or disciplinary sub-field aligned with FRIT networks; as well as a strong competency in literary and cultural analysis. It is divided into three four-hour tests.
Students prepare for the exams on the basis of the reading lists provided to them by the Italian faculty. In preparation for the first exam, students will prepare twenty (20) texts that make up the “General Knowledge” reading list, making selections from the options given where indicated. Preparation is expected to take place during the summer between the student’s first and second years in the MA program, and the exam will be taken before September 15 of the student’s second year. The student will be notified of any deficiencies in the exam within two weeks of the exam’s completion.
In preparation for the second exam, students will select one of the following field exam topics: Nation/Transnation; Media; or Pedagogy. Each of these field exams corresponds to a reading list of twenty (20) texts that the student will prepare during the course of the Fall semester in advance of the exam (to be taken by January 15 of the student’s final semester of the program). It is also possible for a student to develop a list on a thematic or disciplinary topic of their own choosing, in consultation with the Italian faculty and with approval of the DGS. In all cases, the student will be notified of any deficiencies in the exam within two weeks of the exam’s completion.
The final component of the Comprehensive Exam process is a final project, selected by the student in consultation with the Italian faculty and in alignment with the student’s future plans beyond completion of the MA in Italian. Students may select from (but are not limited to) the following final project options: Presentation on previously executed teaching demo (cluster or module consisting of multiple lessons, planned in consultation with appropriate faculty); Syllabus development; Podcast; Digital Humanities project; Annotated translation; Conference paper (with reflections on expansion); Article of professional article quality and length (30 pp min.). In developing their projects, students must conduct research beyond the scope of any single graduate course, and are encouraged to develop and formulate their topic across the variety of courses and experiences that have made up their MA experience. Students will work closely with the faculty member or members whose field is most relevant to the chosen topic to identify appropriate areas for expansion, additional texts or case studies, and relevant methodologies and/or pedagogical approaches.
Upon review of the written examinations, the Italian faculty conducts individual oral interviews with the candidates to inform them of the results and discuss their final project.
The University has established a statute of limitations of four years for MA candidates.
Although the department adheres to this regulation, it points out that full-time MA candidates holding Teaching Assistantships may normally not expect more than two years of financial support.
MA Reading List
The “General Knowledge” and field lists establishes the minimal requirements in each area for preparation of the MA Comprehensive Exams and may be obtained from the Director of Graduate Studies in Italian.