The graduate faculty in Italian offers three degree programs. The master of arts for teachers (M.A.T.) program is intended primarily for individuals who are teaching, or
intend to teach, at the secondary school level. The program emphasizes
teaching methodology, language, literature, and civilization. The master of arts (M.A.) and doctor of philosophy (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 evidence of scholarly accomplishment.
Candidates for the M.A.T. must complete satisfactorily 10 semester courses
(30 credits) and take an examination based on a reading list. Master of
arts candidates also take 10 semester courses (30 credits) and must pass a
comprehensive examination based on a reading list. Six of the 30
credits required for the completion of the M.A. may be devoted to a research project if
the candidate elects, with the permission of the faculty, to write a thesis.
Doctoral candidates are required to complete 48 credits of coursework
beyond the
bachelor's degree (54 credits for Transliteratures fellowship students,
who are required to take two additional courses in another language
department). They must also take 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 coursework 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 examinations. These examinations are 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 examinations, she or he is admitted to
candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. She or he will then complete the
program by writing and defending a dissertation.
Reading lists upon which the
examinations are based are available at the office of the program director. The
graduate program in Italian participates in the Transliteratures Project.
