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Course Listings
Academics

Curriculum Overview
Track One
Track Two
Continuers
Direct Enrollment at the University of Catania
Credit and Transcripts
Advisory Board

Curriculum Overview
The program's curriculum is designed for intermediate and advanced Italian learners who aim to greatly improve language skills while furthering their understanding of Italian culture. Students are divided into two tracks--track one for students with 2 or 3 terms of previous language study, and track two for students with 4 or more terms of previous language study.

Students take intensive language that is "front-loaded" in the first few weeks of the term. Then, they take the History and Culture of Sicily. This course follows the history of Sicily from the Greek colonization to day and includes a traveling seminar. Finally, students take a unique language practicum course like Theater Performance or Gastronomy and Folklore which takes them out of the classroom and challenges them to use their Italian language skills in real life situations.

Advanced students also take an elective in Italian.

Track One (2 or 3 terms of previous Italian language study)

Fall and Spring – 15 weeks

Weeks 1 to 3:
  • Intensive Italian Language (20 hours/week)
Weeks 4 to 15:
  • Italian Language (continued at a less intensive pace)
  • Language Practicum (Theater Performance or Gastronomy and Folklore)
  • History and Culture of Sicily, taught in English
Total contact hours and recommended credits:
  • Italian Language: 135 contact hours & 9 recommended credits
  • Language Practicum: 55 contact hours & 3 recommended credits
  • History and Culture of Sicily: 45 contact hours & 3 recommended credits
Summer – 8 weeks

Weeks 1 to 2:
  • Intensive Italian Language (10 hours/week)
  • Language Practicum (Theater Performance or Gastronomy and Folklore)
Weeks 3 to 8:
  • Italian Language (continued at a less intensive pace)
  • Language Practicum (continued)
  • History and Culture of Sicily, taught in English
Total contact hours and recommended credits:
  • Italian Language: 45 contact hours & 3 recommended credits
  • Language Practicum: 50 contact hours & 3 recommended credits
  • History and Culture of Sicily: 45 contact hours & 3 recommended credits
Click here for more information about courses and all course syllabi.

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 Track Two (at least 4 terms of previous Italian language study)

Fall and Spring – 15 weeks

Weeks 1 to 3:
  • Intensive Italian Language (20 hours/week)
Weeks 4 to 15:
  • Italian Language (continued at a less intensive pace)
  • Language Practicum (Theater Performance or Creative Writing)
  • History and Culture of Sicily, taught in Italian
  • Elective in Italian (Sicilian Modern and Contemporary Literature or Sicily through the Lens of Italian Cinema
  • Eligible students may also choose to direct enroll in a class at the University of Catania in place of their Italian language practicum and/or CET elective.
Total contact hours and recommended credits:
  • Italian Language: 90 contact hours & 6 recommended credits
  • Language Practicum: 55 contact hours & 3 recommended credits
  • History and Culture of Sicily: 45 contact hours & 3 recommended credits
  • Elective in Italian: 45 contact hours & 3 recommended credits
Summer – 8 weeks

Weeks 1 to 2:
  • Intensive Italian Language (10 hours/week)
  • Language Practicum (Theater Performance or Creative Writing)
Weeks 3 to 8:
  • Italian Language (continued at a less intensive pace)
  • Language Practicum (continued)
  • History and Culture of Sicily, taught in Italian
Total contact hours and recommended credits:
  • Italian Language: 45 contact hours & 3 recommended credits
  • Language Practicum: 50 contact hours & 3 recommended credits
  • History and Culture of Sicily: 45 contact hours & 3 recommended credits
Click here for more information about courses and all course syllabi.
 
 Continuers
CET welcomes students to extend their time at CET Sicily.  In fact, after one semester with CET, students are typically ready, with CET's assistance, to direct enroll in more than one course at the University of Catania. Continuers take Italian language through their second semester, and can substitute other CET courses for direct-enroll courses. For details, please contact CET.

Direct Enrollment at the University of Catania
Students with four or more semesters of Italian may direct enroll in courses at the University of Catania in the fall or spring term. Students can take a direct-enroll course in place of their CET elective and/or the language practicum. 

Unlike enrolling in an Italian university directly (on your own), CET helps students navigate this typically complicated experience and offers assistance at every step. For example, CET works with the University of Catania to allow CET students to take their finals early in order to adhere to CET's semester schedule.

As one might expect, direct-enroll courses are taught in a traditional Italian format and in Italian language geared towards native Italian speakers. So, many CET students find the direct-enroll courses difficult. Because of this, we highly recommend that students take one direct-enroll course in place of both the CET elective and language practicum. But, we also understand that this option may not be possible for students with home institutions requiring a minimum of 15 credits while abroad. CET works closely with every student who chooses to direct enroll and may offer these students a tutor to help them navigate this new and exciting experience.

Many different courses are offered at the University of Catania.  However, CET works with the University to preselect courses that might be of interest to CET students, and that are taught by experienced professors excited to welcome an American student in their classroom.  The University of Catania does not confirm course schedules until the start of the term.  So, some courses may not be available to CET students if their class times conflict with the CET course schedule.  For more information on specific course offerings available to CET students, please contact CET.  Courses include:
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Credit and Transcripts
Upon written request, CET and the University of Catania issue official transcripts listing each course taken and the number of hours attended. While CET recommends credit for each of its courses, actual credit for the program must be requested from the student's home institution and is granted at the institution's discretion. CET students generally receive a full semester's worth of credit for their semester abroad. Click here for more information about CET's transcripts and credit recommendation system.

Advisory Board
The Italy Programs Advisory Board plays a significant role in helping us develop our programs in Siena and Sicily. The Board offers expertise in curriculum design and the maintenance of high academic standards. Current Advisory Board members, all of whom are experts in their respective fields, are listed below.

Susan S. Badder
Art Museum Education Consultant 

Christopher Kleinhenz, University of Madison, Wisconsin
Professor of Italian Literature

Arielle Saiber, Bowdoin College
Associate Professor of Italian Literature

Daniel P. Solomon, Vanderbilt University
Senior Lecturer, Classical Studies

Adrienne Ward, University of Virginia
Associate Professor of Italian

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Last modified 08/10/2010
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