Location/Semester:
Florence, Italy
Spring
Host Institution/Contact Information:
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Renee Knutson
Director of Study Abroad
700 Terrace Heights #6
Winona, MN 55987
(507) 457-1447
Fax: (507) 457-6990
studyabroad@smumn.edu
Website of Host Institution:
www.smumn.edu/studyabroad
Program/University Overview:
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota sponsors and oversees the Florence study abroad program. A group of 30-35 students participate each semester. The program is designed to fulfill credits in the liberal arts. A program director from SMU lives onsite. Most faculty are native professors from regional universities. The program includes organized guided tours.
Website of Program/University:
www.smumn.edu/studyabroad
Unique Aspects of Program:
This twelve week program is based in Fiesole, which overlooks central Florence. Accommodations for students are at Hotel Villa Bonelli. Classes are a combination of lectures and guided field trips. Students explore first-hand the historical sites and rich resources of this renowned Italian city. One week of the program is spent in Rome.
Country and/or City Information:
Location
Fiesole is the equivalent of a suburb or a small town located in the hills above Florence about 20 minutes away by bus. Florence has a population of 400,000. Florence and Fiesole are part of the region in Italy known as Tuscany, which is in Central Italy . Bordering Tuscany are the regions of Emilia-Romagna, Marche, Umbria and Lazio. The region of Tuscany covers almost 9,000 square miles and consists of rolling hills, mountains and rugged coastlines along the Mediterranean. Florence is about 2 and ½ hours from Rome and about 3 hours from Milan by train.
Climate
Winter months in Italy are generally cloudy and rainy. Cold temperatures (under 32 degrees) are rare. January - March in Florence will typically be cool, damp, foggy, and rainy, ranging in temperatures from 40 - 50 degrees. Temperatures in April will be warmer (60-65 degrees). In Italy, temperature is measured in Celsius. F=(C*1.8)+32. Ex. 21degree Celsius = 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Time
When Central Standard Time is in effect in the United States, Italy is seven hours ahead. Daylight Savings Time is also observed in Italy.
More Information
Embassy of Italy - www.italyemb.org
Firenze Turismo - www.firenzeturismo.it
Florence By - www.florenceby.com
Italian Tourism- www.italiantourism.com
US Department of State Consular Information Sheet Italy - travel.state.gov
US Embassy Italy - www.usembassy.it/mission/
Admission Requirements:
All students must have at least a 2.0 GPA, preferably a 2.5 GPA, have attained second semester sophomore status and secured positive recommendations from the following: 1) Academic Advisor, 2) one full time faculty member (not in "Major" dept), 3) current Hall Director or Dean of Students.
Courses Offered:
FLOR 250 ITALIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE (Required) - 3 semester credits
This is a beginning level course in the Italian language. Attention is devoted to building up a basic vocabulary and grammar. Instruction is based on listening and comprehension exercises, grammar exercises, repetition and easy conversation.
FLOR 300 ART AND ARCHITECTURE IN FLORENCE (Required) - 3 semester credits
An in depth study is provided of the relationship between the works of the major artists from the 13th century to the 16th century and their contribution to western civilization. Special emphasis will be given to the art and influence of the Florentine masters. Museums in Florence to be visited include: The Bargello, Pitti Palace, Uffizi, and Galleria dell'Accademia.
LCT 375 GLOBAL ISSUES: ITALY (Required) - 3 semester credits
The structure and evolution of political, social, cultural and religious life in Italy will be examined with special focus on Florence and the Tuscany Region. Particular attention will be given to the political and spiritual role played by the Catholic Church. Guided visits to significant towns near Florence are a required part of the course. Possible sites include Arezzo, Assisi, Lucca, Orvieto, San Gimignano, and Siena.
FLOR 310 BUSINESS: ITALY AND THE EUROPEAN UNION - 3 semester credits
This course will focus on the intricacies of the European Union as an economic entity and Italy's place in the Union. The differences between Italy's economic system and the system in the United States will be discussed. By speaking with people who live and work in Italy, many insights will be gained into the Italian way of doing business.
FLOR 320 ITALIAN POLITICS - 3 semester credits
This course is a survey of Italian political life from the rise of fascism to the present. Topics covered will include institutional development since Mussolini, analysis of political parties, Italy, the European Union, and church-state relations.
FLOR 340 HISTORY: CITY OF FLORENCE - 3 semester credits
This course introduces some of the integral pieces of Florentine history through lectures at actual sites where historical events took place. Field trips allow the student to see first-hand the locations and sense a culture that is filled with centuries of history.
FLOR 360 CLASSICS: ITALIAN LITERATURE - 3 semester credits
This course will explore the highlights of Italian Classic Literature, e.g. Dante, his time and his main work, together with Petrarch and G. Boccaccio as the beginners of the Italian written language. Next the Renaissance time will be introduced to bind together history of art and classic literature. A short survey of modern authors will be read to introduce the reality of World War II.
TH 350 CATHOLIC MORAL THEOLOGY - 3 semester credits
As the foundational class in moral theology, this course focuses on the history and method of moral theology in the Catholic tradition. Contemporary issues are addressed as a means of explicating moral method and applying moral reasoning.
Housing:
Students live and study at Hotel Villa Bonelli in Fiesole, just a short bus ride from central Florence. The villa is close to shops, a supermarket, and churches. Rooms are cleaned daily, fresh towels are provided daily, and bed linens are changed weekly. Each room has a TV, a mini-refrigerator, and a wall safe. Continental breakfast is served daily at the Villa and a full dinner is served at a nearby restaurant Monday thru Friday.
Students will have 1 or 2 roommates. Students may indicate a roommate preference, but no guarantees are made. No guests are allowed in rooms. Requests for visitors must be made in advance to the program director.
Visit Hotel Villa Bonelli's website at www.hotelvillabonelli.com
Cost:
If you are a student at one of the US Lasallian universities or colleges, you will remain enrolled at your school and pay tuition and program fees there. Tuition is based on your campus tuition rates and may include an additional surcharge depending on the program. Contact the person on your campus responsible for study abroad.
Scholarship Information: N/A
Academic Calendar:
The tentative Spring 2008 program dates are January 12, 2009 through April 3, 2009.
Application Deadline:
October 6, 2008.
Application Details:
Must complete Lasallian Consortium application. There are no additional applications for this program.
Student Testimonial:
"Studying in Florence was more than I could have expected. I learned more in one semester about the rest of the world and myself. The things I learned in Florence are life lessons that have changed the way I look at life. It is one of those experiences that everyone should take advantage of!"