Study Abroad in Florence: Academics

This program is designed for students who wish to study art history, studio art, Italian language and Italian studies. Courses are also available for students interested in business, economics and sociology. Although a minimum 2.5 GPA is required, previous knowledge of Italian is not. Students are required to enroll in the language orientation program prior to study in Florence (full year students do not repeat orientation or trips spring semester). In addition, students are required to take at least one Italian language course in Florence.

Transcripts and credits for program courses are issued by Richmond, The American International University in London.

Attendance and participation in classes are required. For each course students cannot accumulate more than four absences regardless of the reason. Failure to account for absences will automatically result in an F grade for the course.

Classes meet for three weeks in orientation plus 12 weeks in Florence. Final exams are generally held during the last week. One class hour equals 50 minutes. Classes meet Monday to Friday. All course-related required field trips are held on Fridays.

Credits for each course are equal to American credits based on one credit for a minimum of 25 studio hours or 15 classroom hours plus home study or the equivalent in independent research or tutorials. Students should register for a minimum of nine and a maximum of 13 credits each term in Florence. The three credits received during orientation are extra. A formal exam is given at the end of each semester in all courses.

A calendar of dates for final exams will be posted at the beginning of each semester. Exams will not be rescheduled for any reason.

Grades

Classes entail mid-term and final exams and a paper. In the Richmond system, grades are numerically calculated on a grade point average (GPA) scale. Courses may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.

Excellent work
A, 4.0, A-, 3.7

Above satisfactory work
B+, 3.3 B, 3.0 B-, 2.7

Satisfactory work
C+, 2.3 C, 2.0 C-, 1.7

Below satisfactory work
D+, 1.3 D, 1.0 D-, 0.7

Fail F, 0

Requirements

For each course a midterm, research paper, quizzes or oral reports, and a final test are required.

Student advising

Students meet with the Resident Director during orientation and in Florence before the academic semester begins. The Resident Director provides academic advising and serves as liaison between the students, Richmond and the Florence instructors.

Libraries

The Richmond Study Center has a reading room with a selected library containing texts relevant to research paper topics. Students may also use the extensive collections available to them in Florence. The British Institute Library has more than 60,000 volumes—the largest English language library in continental Europe. Its comfortable reading room overlooks the Arno River. The Italian National Library at the Piazza dei Cavalleggeri also has an extensive collection.