B.A. Italian and Politics

The first year is an introductory year. It is the results of the second, third and final years of study that determine your degree classification. The programme is made up of compulsory modules as well as optional modules, allowing you to tailor your degree to reflect your specific interests. A particular feature is the option of writing a dissertation in your final year. This is highly regarded by employers because it indicates that you can do original research.

For the Politics side of the degree there are two compulsory core modules:

• Introduction to Government
• Introduction to Political Thought

The Italian side of the degree runs two language pathways: Italian A, for students with an A-level or equivalent in Italian, and Italian B, for students beginning Italian. Students take either Italian A or Italian B, plus Modern Italy. A further module can be chosen from among Politics modules or modules from other subjects, such as Philosophy, History or English.

Italian Language Year One B (Beginners)

This is an intensive language course designed to develop excellent intermediate oral, aural and writing skills. What makes learning Italian at Cardiff University different is that you will be taught exclusively through the medium of Italian from your very first lesson, even at beginners’ level. The methodology is so effective that by the end of your first year you should no difficulty surviving in Italy.

Italian Language Year One A (Advanced)

This course builds upon your linguistic skills acquired at A-level, reinforcing your competence in grammar and deepening your stylistic proficiency. The course has written, oral, and aural components, and teaching is largely undertaken by Italian native speakers. Novels, films and comics will be some of the tools you will use to develop your knowledge of the Italian language.

Modern Italy: the Birth of a Nation?

This module traces major historical, socio-political, and cultural developments in Italy from the Napoleonic wars to the present, in part through novels and films.

Two further modules can be chosen from among Politics modules (see below) or modules from other subjects, such as Philosophy, History or English.

• Introduction to European Integration
• Introduction to International Relations
• Introduction to Political Science
• Introduction to Globalisation

In Year 2 you choose three Politics and three Italian modules. Please note that the lists of modules below are indicative only and that modules may vary from year to year.

• British Politics since 1945
• Influencing Public Policy
• Theory and Practice in Comparative Politics
• Politics and Policies of the EU
• Democracy in Crisis?
• International Security - Concepts and Issues
• International Law in a Changing World
• Global Justice
• Justice and Politics: Contemporary Political Theory
• Political Thought from Marx to Nietzsche
• Conducting Political Research
• O'r Groegiaid i Gymru: Athroniaeth Wleidyddol
• Credoau'r Cymry: Athroniaeth ac Athrawiaeth Gymraeg o'r Safbwynt Rhyngwladol
• Italian language – post beginners

OR

• Italian Language – post advanced

• Dante: The Journey and the Mission
• Italian Adaptations from Literature to Film (taught in Italian)
• Memories of Fascism
• History of Art from Middle Ages to the Renaissance
• Innovations in European Literature
• Borders and Identities in Post-war European Cinema
• Introduction to Specialised Translation
• Principles of Translation Theory

The third year is spent abroad in Italy studying at one of our partner universities, working as an English assistant in a school, or working for an Italian organisation. While you are away from Cardiff, you will be assigned to the Year Abroad coordinator, who will keep in touch with you and monitor your progress.

The School has established academic links with universities in Milan, Pavia, Parma, Pisa, Verona, Trento, Venice and Catania. All students going on a Socrates exchange receive an Erasmus grant for each semester they spend in Italy.

As a teaching assistant on a scheme run by the British Council, you could go to a major city or to a small, rural town. This option allows you to earn a salary sufficient to live on, although you only work on a part-time basis. There is also the option of a placement in an Italian organisation or company.

In your Final Year you choose three Politics and three Italian modules, including the option of doing a dissertation.

• Modern Welsh Politics
• Managing a difficult democracy
• Personality and power
• Elections in the UK
• Global Climate Politics
• Parliamentary Studies
• Justice and the Politics of International Law
• Conflict, Security and Development
• EU Security
• The European Mind in the 20th Century
• May 68. Marking Changes in European Politics and Culture
• Politics Dissertation
• International Relations Dissertation
• Cyfiawnder Byd-eang: Dehongli a Gwireddu ein Dyletswyddau i'r Dieithryn Pell
• Cenedlaetholdeb, Crefydd a Chyfiawnder: Hanes Athroniaeth yr 20fed Ganrif yng Nghymru
• Italian Language
• Twentieth-Century Italian Women's Writing
• Italian Cinema: Desire, Fantasy, Trauma (taught in Italian)
• Pier Paolo Pasolini: Culture and Conflict in Post-War Italy
• Italian Dissertation (to be written in Italian)
• Italian Migrations
• Italian for professional purposes
• From East to West: at the Roots of European Culture
• Student Language Ambassador (students have the opportunity to work in a School)
• May 68. Marking changes in European Politics and Culture
• Advanced Translation Practice
• Translation as a Profession
• The Politics of Language and Translation
• Translation Dissertation/Project