Elon Semester Centre Abroad Program
Elon University in Florence
Florence, Italy
About the Location
Florence is known for being the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, making it an epicenter for art and architecture. Florence is the capital city of the region of Tuscany and is bustling with commerce and culture. Situated on the national railway lines, it is extremely accessible to cities all over Europe.
Academics
Below are the courses offered for the Elon in Florence Semester Study abroad program. All courses listed below are offered every academic semester (unless otherwise indicated and as long as minimum enrollment is met.) All students are required take either 4 or 8 credits of Italian Language.
Please note: Although it is indicated in parentheses how these courses have counted for credits toward graduation in the past, please consult with your advisor to see how they will count toward your particular degree program and to double check prerequisites.
ARH 310 IS/ELR: Art History in Florence - 4 credits
(credit for Expression as Fine Arts or Advanced Studies if outside your major; credit for Italian Studies minor*)
This course begins with the rebirth of the major arts of architecture, sculpture, and painting in the late Middle Ages in Florence, Pisa, and Siena, and then focuses primarily on the art of Florence in the early Renaissance, concluding with a consideration of the High Renaissance both in Florence and Rome, and the beginnings of Mannerism. The majority of the course is taught in the museums and monuments of Florence to exploit fully the possibility of onsite study. There are required field trips to Pisa, Siena, Arezzo, and Rome. In all phases of the course, the art will be related to the historical and cultural context in which it developed and of which it is a reflection. Among the artists covered are: Cimabue, Duccio, Giotto, Simone Martini, Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Masaccio, Donatello, Ghiberti, Brunelleschi, Alberti Paolo Uccello, Andrea del Castagno, Fra Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Verrocchio, Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Andrea del Sarto, and Pontormo. Course requirements include written midterm and final examinations and a term paper.
ENG 368 IS/ELR: Modern Italian Literature - 4 credits (offered starting fall 2010)
(credit for Expression as Literature or Advanced Studies if outside your major)
This course will introduce students to Italian literature of the twentieth century using the theory of the avant-garde as a critical jumping-off point from which to study the movements within and the various resistances to Italian literary tradition that marked this turbulent period. To accentuate the stylistic and formal qualities of avant-garde literature, students will have the chance to choose between two different texts representing some of the movements that we will examine. I hope that this will enhance our in-class discussions and provide us with the opportunity to have a deeper understanding of the greater complexities of literary movements as a whole.
GST Seminar - GST 380 IS/ELR - 4 credits
(credit for upper level GST; credit for Italian Studies minor* - subject to approval of the coordinator each semester). The topic of the seminar changes each semester with the faculty member in residence.
Spring 2011 - Jim Brown (History): Nationalism, Regionalism and Cuisine in Italy
Italy unified the collection of states on the Italian peninsula into a single country within its current boundaries only in 1871. A member of the first Italian parliament said, “We have created Italy, now we must create Italians.” Since then there has been a tension as the various regions have sought and still seek to preserve their unique local identity within a national culture. This course will examine the struggle to maintain regional characteristics through the vehicle of local cuisine. We’ll cover theories of nationalism and regionalism, the national and regional histories of Italy, the science of food and agriculture, the use of cuisine to assert and maintain regional identity, and the unique cuisines of each region.
- Fall 2011 - Jeff Pugh (Religion): GST Seminar topic: TBA
- Spring 2012 - Anne Bolin (Anthropology/Sociology): GST Seminar topic: TBA
HST 380 IS/ELR: History of Contemporary Italy - Italy from the “Big War” to the Crisis of the 1st Republic – 4 credits
(credit for Civilization or Advanced Studies if outside your major; credit for Italian Studies minor*)
This course tracks Italian history from WWI to the Crisis of the First Republic. The topics covered in the course include: The “Big War” and its aftermath, The Rise of the Fascism, The Age of the totalitarian regimes, The fascist Era, The Second World War, Italy in the Second post war Era, The economic boom, Collapse of the Old Regime.
POL 350 IS/ELR: European Economies in the Age of Globalization and Integration - 4 credits
(credit for Society or Advanced Studies if outside your major; credit in Political Science/International Studies major/minors)
The course is an introduction to the political economy of major European countries. The first section describes the major features of national economies. In order to do so, it provides a historical overview of Europe’s political and economic developments, focusing on national models after WWII. The second part illustrates the dynamics of the process of European integration, and how it affected the national political and economic models. Two classes directly consider the perspectives and problems of European enlargement. The third section deals more in depth with the effects of globalization on economic policy-making and the economic reforms recently undertaken by European states. The purpose of the course is to introduce students to the basic tools of political-economic analysis and to apply them to the analysis of European political economies. Classes are organized following a diachronic perspective to permit students to get acquainted with key events and phenomena that constitute the background for the analysis of current affairs and problems. The three sections are introduced by classes dealing with the overarching themes: the nature and tools of political economy, the theories of European integration, and the approaches to the study of globalization and its impacts on domestic political and economic systems.
(Required) Italian Language – 4 or 8 credits [placeholder course ITL 170 or ITL 171 IS/ELR]
(Depending on the level of Italian previously taken and the end of course test score – credit for Foreign Language requirement completion; credit for Civilization; credit for a Italian Studies minor*; or elective credit) Italian Language will be taken at the appropriate level and is a requirement of the Elon in Florence Program.
Credit /non-credit private Art Studio and Music instruction are available for additional fees.
*Note: Students can only transfer a maximum of 3 courses toward the Italian Studies minor from their semester in Florence.
Grades count toward an Elon GPA.
Program Dates
Fall semester—middle or late August—December (similar to Elon's calendar)
Spring semester—late January—May (similar to Elon's calendar)
Housing
Students will live in apartments in a quiet section of the city within easy walking distance of classes and the city center.
Eligibility
- A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required.
- Sophomore, junior or senior standing is also required.
- There is a cap of 40 students per semester for this program.
Applications
Students must complete the online Elon University Study Abroad Application by the published deadline. See the Deadline and Events Calendar for the most up-to-date deadline information. Applications are generally accepted one year in advance. Visit the Programs and Applications page for the link to the online applications for fall and spring semester programs.
Orientations
A successful semester abroad is dependent upon adequate preparation. Students will participate in a series of mandatory orientations during the semester prior to studying abroad. These orientations will address issues of academic, cultural, logistical, financial, and personal preparation, as well as health and safety. Failure to attend the required orientations will result in dismissal from the program. Any financial losses incurred by this dismissal, including program fees and international airfare, will be fully the responsibility of the student.
Click here for the semester programs pre-departure orientation schedule.
Once the orientation schedule is set, students will be notified by email of the times, dates and locations.
Cost Information 2010-2011 Academic Year*
Deposit
A $500 deposit is due upon application. This deposit will be credited toward the total program fee.
Pay to Elon (Billed Costs): $17,000
- 1 Semester Elon Tuition - $13,240
- Study Abroad Fee - $3,580
- Mandatory International Health Insurance - $180
Billed costs include: Tuition, room, insurance, Florence museum pass, and on-site orientations, tours and excursions.
Additional Student Costs (Estimates)
- ISIC card - $22
- Passport - $135 (new passport fee - not including fees for photos, postage or expedited service)
- Visa - Free of charge (subject to change)
- Permit to stay - approximately $160 (subject to change)
- Airfare - $600-1,000
- Books - $150-250
- Meals - $1,500-2,500
- Transportation- $400-500
Spending and travel money are dependent upon personal preferences. Design a budget based on your semester expenditures at Elon, and take into account additional travel expenses and exchange rates.
To check exchange rates, visit www.xe.com or www.oanda.com/converter/classic.
*Costs subject to change due to exchange rate fluctuation and cost increases by the host institution.
Scholarships
Need-based and research-based scholarships are available for Elon semester programs through the ICIC. For additional information on scholarships or other funding for study abroad, see the Funding for Study Abroad page.
Additional Information and Links
This program is offered through arrangements with the institute Accademia Europea di Firenze. To visit Accademia Europea di Firenze's website, click here.
