Undergraduate Degrees

Graduate Degrees

Courses of Instruction

Taper Hall of Humanities 126
(213) 740-3700
FAX: (213) 746-7297
E-mail: Bert@mizar.usc.edu

Chair: Albert Sonnenfeld, Ph.D.*

Faculty

Marion Frances Chevalier Professorship in French: Albert Sonnenfeld, Ph.D.

Professors: Marie-Florine Bruneau, Ph.D.*; Peggy Kamuf, Ph.D.*; Nancy J. Vickers, Ph.D.*

Associate Professors: Arthur E. Babcock, Ph.D.; Karen Elyse Pinkus, Ph.D.; Margaret F. Rosenthal, Ph.D.*; Peter T. Starr, Ph.D.

Emeritus Professors: Arthur J. Knodel, Ph.D., Chevalier de l'Ordre des Palmes Academiques; Franca Schettino, Ph.D., Chevaliere nell'Ordine Al Merito della Repubblica Italiana

Emerita Associate Professor: Michelle Buchanan, Ph.D.

Associate Faculty with Titles in French and Italian

Mario Saltarelli, Ph.D. (Spanish and Portuguese)

Academic Program Staff

Director, French Language Program: Carol Hofmann, Ph.D.

Director, Italian Language Program: Francesca Italiano, Ph.D.

*Recipient of university-wide or school teaching award.

Undergraduate Programs

The Department of French and Italian offers a departmental major in French and a Bachelor of Arts, Humanities with an emphasis in Italian at the undergraduate level. The study of French or Italian involves the mastery of the language and its literary expressions - fictional, non-fictional, dramatic and poetic, as well as the study of social, cultural and political institutions within the context of intellectual history.

The Department of French and Italian offers courses taught in French and in Italian in interrelated subject areas: literature may be studied chronologically, set against its historical and intellectual background; other courses approach texts generically, emphasizing the development of the various literary forms of expression. There is parallel course work in literary criticism (theoretical and applied), and studies in French and Italian culture and society: gender studies, women writers, current events, cinema.

Additional components of the French program are currents of French philosophical and political thought and mentalities (the hidden patterns of French life seen through contemporary documents, culinary traditions, folklore). Such courses may be broad in coverage or be designed as more sharply focused seminars with topics changing from year to year.

To satisfy diverse student needs the department also offers courses on French and Italian literature and culture with readings and class work in English.

Courses are kept small to allow for maximum interaction between students and professors.

Graduate Programs

The Department of French and Italian offers, under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School, the Ph.D. in French.

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