The graduate faculty in Italian offers three degree programs. The
M.A.T. program is intended primarily for those who are teaching, or
intend to teach, at the secondary school level. The program emphasizes
language, literature, and civilization. The M.A. and Ph.D. programs
deal with all aspects of Italian literature and literary criticism. All
three programs are open to candidates with academic records of
distinction and other evidence of scholarly accomplishment.
Candidates for the M.A.T. must complete satisfactorily 10 term courses
(30 credits) and take an examination based on a reading list. Master of
arts candidates also take 10 term courses (30 credits) and must pass a
comprehensive examination based on a reading list. Six of the 30
credits required for the M.A. may be devoted to a research problem if
the candidate elects to write a thesis.
Doctoral candidates
usually are required to complete 48 credits of course work beyond the
bachelor's degree and do a minimum of 24 credits of research toward the
dissertation. In addition, they must be in residence for one year.
Credit for graduate work taken at other institutions may be accepted in
partial fulfillment of the course requirement, but in no case may the
doctoral candidate do less than a full year of course work at Rutgers.
Doctoral candidates must demonstrate a reading knowledge of German,
Greek, or Latin and reading proficiency in a second Romance language.
The language requirement must be satisfied before the candidate is
admitted to the qualifying examination. This examination is based on a
reading list covering all periods of Italian literature. Once a student
fulfills the course requirements, including the residence requirement,
and passes the qualifying examination, he or she is admitted to
candidacy for the Ph.D. degree and then may proceed with the
preparation of a dissertation.
Reading lists on which the
examinations are based, as well as the Guide for Graduate Students in
Italian, are available at the office of the program director. The
graduate program in Italian participates in the Transliteratures
program.
