Typography, calligraphy, the art of illustration, photography, pagination techniques, the science of representation, computer graphics, and the creation of websites. Students will analyze all of these elements in this program dedicated to new graphic designers. An understanding thereof will give students the ability to tackle any kind of visual communication using a variety of media. Students will be exposed to the “Made in Italy” style, and they will learn from well-known, experienced professionals in a dynamic environment.


Program Components

Module 1: Computer Graphics and Web Design
Credit Hours: 3.0 Contact Hours: 45

An introduction to digital design. Students will learn about the principle software used in digital design projects, as well as touch-up and elaboration techniques in photography, pagination techniques, and the graphics of representation. They will also gain an understanding of the most recent creative web technology.

Module 2: Lettering and Calligraphy
Credit Hours: 3.0 Contact Hours: 45

An exploration of the magical techniques of calligraphy. Students will learn the theory and practice behind the principle varieties of typography through manual design exercises using various instruments particular to calligraphy (special paper, canvas, markers, watercolors, tempera, china and others). They will learn about the creation and digitalization of alphabets with the support of specific programs (Font Lab).

Module 3: Italian style, Digital Illustration
Credit Hours: 3.0 Contact Hours: 45

An introduction to the world of advertising and editorial illustrations. Students will analyze the works of an Italian master, Armando Testa, a pioneer in the world of editorial illustration from the 1950s through the present day. They will perform exercises using various manual techniques and materials, from acrylics to oil to ecoline to pantone. They will practice with digital programs (Illustrator, Painter) in the style and tradition of Italian art.

Module 4: Photomagazine
Credit Hours: 3.0 Contact Hours: 45

The “Made in Italy” photographic style applied to communication, publishing, advertising, and art. Students will analyze images and their insertion into visual spaces, as well as pagination and editorial graphic techniques. They will use unstructured graphics, combining the iconic side with the typographic one, according to the modalities and creative impulses of the most recent digital programs (Illustrator, Photoshop).

The 5th module of the semester program is the language course to be chosen, according to the admission requirement, between Italian 101 or Italian 102.


ITALIAN 101 LANGUAGE COURSE
Beginner/Elementary Level Course program

Objectives

After a 45 hours Italian language course students should be able to express themselves in the present and past tense, ask and answer questions about daily life, follow a simple conversation in common situations (in a train, in a café, in a shop, etc.), describe persons and places.

Methodology

In the direct method, the grammar and texts progress in such a way that the teacher can carry out his or her didactic approach directly in Italian, certain of being understood without the aid of translation. The course proceed through mostly communication activities, with conceptual and functional elements of the language gradually introduced. The themes used in the excerpts and reading are always selected in order to support and reflect the gradual learning of the morphosyntactic forms and structures.

Grammatical points covered

The verb to be (essere), this (questo), definite articles, there is and there are (c’è, ci sono)
The verb to have (avere), plural nouns and adjectives, the indefinite article
Regular present tense
Irregular present tense
Demonstrative pronouns and adjectives, comparative, buono, bello, invariable plurals
Simple prepositions
Present perfect (passato prossimo)
Interrogative, ci, superlatives, adverbs of quantity
Reflexive verbs in the present, progressive form
Conversation activities

Situations:

a) Greetings, introductions and identifying oneself
b) Description of common objects and places
c) Explanation of one’s profession, scholastic status, names of the main professions and trades
d) Dialogues and vocabulary relating to cafés and restaurants
e) Description of people and physical features
f) Dialogues and vocabulary relating to markets
g) Vocabulary relating to clothing
h) Street directions, describing the city
Listening comprehension, dictation, summarizing stories


ITALIAN 102 – LANGUAGE COURSE
ADMISSION REQUIREMENT: ITALIAN 101
Intermediate Level Course program

Objectives

After a 45 hours Italian language course students should be capable of using the main grammatical structures, the future tense, the imperfect tense, reflexive and passive forms. The students should be more accurate in the construction of sentences, able to use direct and indirect object pronouns, relative pronouns, impersonal forms … They are therefore able to conduct a conversation on common topics from everyday life (food, travel, sports, etc.) as well as confront more general topics, such as comparing the situation of employment, of education, of study, etc., in Italy with that of their own country.

Methodology

In the direct method, the grammar and texts progress in such a way that the teacher can carry out his or her didactic approach directly in Italian, certain of being understood without the aid of translation. The course proceed through mostly communication activities, with conceptual and functional elements of the language gradually introduced. The themes used in the excerpts and reading are always selected in order to support and reflect the gradual learning of the morphosyntactic forms and structures.

Grammatical points covered

Imperatives, irregular plurals
Simple future tense
Reflexive constructions
Relative pronouns with who (chi)
Imperfect indicative tense
Impersonal si, forms of courtesy, comparatives
Passive constructions
Partitive pronoun ne
Prepositions
Conversation activities

Situations:

a) Arrival in Italy
b) Hobbies and sports
c) Describing everyday activities
d) Trades and professions
e) Trips, vacations, visits
f) Italian cooking
g) Education in Italy
h) Shopping

Excerpts from newspapers and magazines, listening compehension, summarizing stories,dictation.