For students looking for an intensive international experience without the hassle and expense of a full semester abroad, a six-week summer program in Italy offers an ideal alternative.
Focusing on the themes of nature, culture, and sustainability, this program provides a unique opportunity to explore Italy's rich landscapes and traditions while earning six academic credits that can be used toward liberal studies, general studies, honors, or fieldwork experiences.
Gioia WoodsProfessor and chair of the Department of Comparative Cultural Studies, has led the program since 2013. She said the class takes a comprehensive historical look at how Italians have approached important sustainability issues over time.
“We take a historical look at the Etruscans, the ancient Romans, the medieval Italians and how Italy became a unified nation,” Woods said. “We examine how they addressed challenges to their culture and traditions, including food habits and agriculture, national identity, changing political values and, of course, developments in the arts. Our big question is, how did they overcome these challenges and enable Italian culture to endure now and in the future?”
The course begins with reading assignments that students complete before traveling to Italy. The group then meets in Rome, where they begin their field study along the Tiber. They delve into Rome's ecological and mythical origins before traveling to Florence, where they examine the physical environment along the Arno River.
The group then travels to Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about the size of Flagstaff, where they spend the majority of their time.
“Siena is still surrounded by medieval walls and is a good example of sustainability,” Woods said. “Some locals have been growing gardens for hundreds of years – the same gardens, the same community, the same families. We meet with farmers, artisanal producers and people committed to sustainability efforts in the community.”
Woods said students spend time at outdoor markets and visit several museums in the city to see how cultural sustainability is handled. You can also hike the Via Francigena, a popular pilgrimage route in the late Middle Ages that wound from Paris to Rome and is now primarily used for ecotourism.
“It’s all experiential learning,” Woods said. “After completing the online assignments in the first week of classes, we have all the background information and preparation to understand Italian history and culture, as well as the pillars of environmental and cultural sustainability. Students will be graded based on their fieldwork reflections. They will compile their observations and theoretical materials in their required journals.”
Program dates are set for May 22 to June 27 and class sizes range from 10 to 12 students. The registration price includes tuition fees, international health insurance, accommodation, several group meals, all transport options in Italy as well as entry to museums, monuments and excursions.
“It’s a life-changing experience,” Woods said. “Many people imagine Italy as a postcard-perfect place, and it has very famous foods and aesthetic traditions, but it has overcome many challenges over the course of 2,000 years. On this trip together we study the culture, politics, environment, society, power and history to truly understand the peninsula and its resilience and gifts to the world.”
Students interested in enrolling NAU in Italy: The “Nature, Culture and Sustainability” course can be attended at the NAU Education Abroad Office. The registration deadline is February 16th.
Do you want to study abroad but aren't sure how long you can stay for a program? Explore the various options, including week-long programs, offered through Center for International Education.
Mariana Lasa | NAU communication
(928) 523-5050 | mariana.laas@nau.edu