Program Info
Study Abroad in Florence: Courses
View and print all course descriptions
Please note that for all courses with field trips and on-site visits students must pay a supplement of approximately 50 euros per course upon arrival in Italy.
Maymester Program
Choose one course from the list below. Please note that all courses are taught in English.Maymester Courses Taught in English
ADM 3855 (3) | Painting in Florence I
This course teaches students how to produce the illusion of
volume, space and movement on a two-dimensional surface.
Students explore hands-on approaches to paint application,
color, structure and composition, and experiment with different
ways of applying the paint. They learn to imitate the techniques
of painters such as Caravaggio, Monet, Seurat, Van Gogh and
Picasso. This course includes classroom assignments and
painting out of doors in places such as the Boboli gardens and
the hills around Florence. Classroom assignments are also
related to the city of Florence, and students work with their
own photographic material. The course is designed to provide
a foundation in the subject, and prepares students for the next
course in the sequence. A studio fee is levied for this course.
ADM 4855 (3) | Painting in Florence II
In this course, problems associated with tone and light are
studied, including side lighting, candle lighting, and artificial
lighting. Studio practice is combined with discussion, critique
and demonstration. Students are encouraged to talk about
their work with the instructor and fellow students to clarify
their objectives and problems. The course includes open air
painting and work in the studio. It follows on from ADM 3855
Painting in Florence I and builds on the principles established
in that course. A studio fee is levied on this course.
ADM 5855 (3) | Painting in Florence III
This is an advanced painting course, structured around
specific painting projects to develop the range and technical
competence of the student. Professional painting techniques
are demonstrated and experimented with. There are advanced
discussions of style, color, form, composition and subject
matter. This course includes outdoor painting and work in the
studio. This course builds upon ADM 4855 Painting in Florence
II. A studio fee is levied on this course.
HST 5825 (3) | Italian Food and Culture
Per anthropologist Jon Hertzman, the tastes and flavors of a
country’s traditional table are a meaningful representation of
its collective memory. This course examines the geography,
history and culture of Italian regional dishes that have
brought Italy worldwide renown. The course looks at regional
gastronomic traditions and their origins, including differences
in how food is prepared, the representation of Italian food
practices in media and cinema, food symbolism in Italian
culture, food ethics and sustainable agriculture, with an
examination of today’s fast and slow food traditions. A visit
to a wine and olive oil farm in Tuscany will give a practical
illustration of how resources are linked to food practices.
MKT 5810 (3) | Psychology of Fashion and Luxury Goods
Consumer psychology within the context of the consumption
of fashion and luxury products and services is complex
and is influenced by many factors. A thorough analysis and
understanding of these factors allows organizations to plan
effective marketing activities suitable to their target markets.
This course enables students to understand the importance
of consumer behavior in the process of marketing fashion and
luxury goods and services. Note: This course is cross-referenced
against MKT 5410 (offered on the Richmond campus).
4-Week Program
Please note that all courses are taught in English apart from Italian language. Choose 2 courses. Students taking both the optional Rome tour and the optional Venice excursion can also register for the Introduction to Italian Art course and earn 1 extra credit.
Italian Language Courses (Taught in Italian)
ITL 3831 (3) | Elementary Italian I
A thorough, basic introduction to the Italian language for
those with little or no previous experience, the course teaches
essential vocabulary and grammar and develops students’
ability to communicate in an authentic linguistic context –
key to making the most of the experience of their stay in Italy.
ITL 4831 (3) | Intermediate Italian I
This course helps students to develop their ability to
communicate effectively and accurately, using an expanded
range of vocabulary. Conversation practice improves
listening and interpretation skills for better understanding
and response. Reading and writing exercises improve skills in
understanding prose and writing letters and simple messages.
Prerequisites: ITL 3832, Elementary Italian II, and/or min.
70/100 score on the diagnostic test.
Content Courses
ADM 3855 (3) | Painting in Florence I
This course teaches students how to produce the illusion of
volume, space and movement on a two-dimensional surface.
Students explore hands-on approaches to paint application,
color, structure and composition, and experiment with different
ways of applying the paint. They learn to imitate the techniques
of painters such as Caravaggio, Monet, Seurat, Van Gogh and
Picasso. This course includes classroom assignments and
painting out of doors in places such as the Boboli gardens and
the hills around Florence. Classroom assignments are also
related to the city of Florence, and students work with their
own photographic material. The course is designed to provide
a foundation in the subject, and prepares students for the next
course in the sequence. A studio fee is levied for this course.
ADM 4855 (3) | Painting in Florence II
In this course, problems associated with tone and light are
studied, including side lighting, candle lighting, and artificial
lighting. Studio practice is combined with discussion, critique
and demonstration. Students are encouraged to talk about
their work with the instructor and fellow students to clarify
their objectives and problems. The course includes open air
painting and work in the studio. It follows on from ADM 3855
Painting in Florence I and builds on the principles established
in that course. A studio fee is levied on this course.
ADM 5855 (3) | Painting in Florence III
This is an advanced painting course, structured around
specific painting projects to develop the range and technical
competence of the student. Professional painting techniques
are demonstrated and experimented with. There are advanced
discussions of style, color, form, composition and subject
matter. This course includes outdoor painting and work in the
studio. This course builds upon ADM 4855 Painting in Florence
II. A studio fee is levied on this course.
ADM 3800 (3) | Drawing I
This course introduces students to figure drawing, structure
and object drawing, and outdoor drawing which includes the
city of Florence/Rome and the Tuscan/surrounding landscape.
Students experiment with lead, charcoal, conté pencil and
crayon and ink. The course is designed to provide a foundation
in the subject, and will also prepare students for the next
course in the sequence. A studio fee is levied on this course.
ADM 4800 (3) | Drawing II
This course includes figure drawing, still-life drawing and
landscape drawing, with the focus on Florence and the Tuscan
landscape. Students are encouraged to examine the problems
of drawing the human figure (anatomy), perspective (several
vanishing points) and objects (complexity, varied tonality). This
course includes a consideration of the individual handling of
traditional drawing techniques. It follows on from ADM 3800
Drawing I and builds on the principles established in that
course. A studio fee is levied on this course. Prerequisites:
ADM 3800 Drawing I
ADM 5800 (3) | Drawing III
This is an advanced drawing course, further developing
students’ drawing skills. It focuses on figure drawing, still-life
drawing and landscape drawing, with attention to the Florence
and the Tuscan landscape. Students are encouraged to further
develop their personal style of composing and choosing types
of lines and mark-making. Assignments are complex and
narrative/illustrative, requiring a process-based approach,
which students are asked to verbalize to their instructor and
fellow students. This course follows on from and builds upon
ADM 4800 Drawing II. A studio fee is levied on this course.
Prerequisites: ADM 4800 Drawing II
ADM 5860(3) | Photography for the Media
Recommended for communications and journalism majors as
well as photographers, this course develops knowledge and
experience in photojournalism via the study of the work of
major practitioners and the production of assignments typical
of today’s photojournalists. Students will need to provide
a DSRL (digital reflex) camera and a laptop (with any basic
photo editing software). There is a studio fee for this course.
Prerequisites: ADM 3160
AVC 4800 (1) | Introduction to Italian Art
This course examines developments in early Italian painting
and sculpture leading up to the Renaissance and Baroque.
Students consider early Italian art from the Etruscans and
Romans up to the Renaissance, in art historical context,
particularly in terms of patronage and the key social, religious
and philosophical events. It is normally taught during field
study visits, which include Lucca, Pisa, Venice, and Rome. A
field project paper is normally required.
AVC 5860 (3) | Florentine Art in Context
This course examines the concepts underlying Italy’s Renaissance art and architecture in their art historical context, including the visual representation of space in painting, sculpture and portraiture, harmony and space in architecture, disguised symbolism in Christian art and the language of allegories. The course normally includes weekly visits to museums, galleries, and exhibitions, with their rich intercultural collections, enabling students to engage directly with the original art works and consider their display. Prerequisites: HST 3200 World Cultural History or GEP 4180 Research and Writing 2.
COM 6805 (3) | Fashion and Media
This course traces the multiple connections between the
fashion and media industries. It emphasizes the material
realities, pragmatic and creative dynamisms, fantasy
components, and essential visuality of fashion. It also
highlights how cities in general function as creative agencies
for fermenting style and fashion ideas and attitudes.
Prerequisites: COM 4200 or COM 5200 or MKT 5200 or SCL
5200.
HST 5810 (3) | History of Florence
This course covers the history of Florence, concentrating on
its development as a city and a state before and during the
Renaissance and the Early Modern period. The uniqueness
of Florence is underlined by drawing comparisons with other
cities in Italy and Europe. The course features primary source
readings by such authors as Dante Alighieri, Dino Compagni,
Giovanni Villani and Franco Sacchetti. Some lessons take place
onsite so that students experience this city’s past first-hand.
Prerequisites: HST 3200 World Cultural History or GEP 4180
Research and Writing 2.
HST 5825 (3) | Italian Food and Culture
Per anthropologist Jon Hertzman, the tastes and flavors of a
country’s traditional table are a meaningful representation of
its collective memory. This course examines the geography,
history and culture of Italian regional dishes that have
brought Italy worldwide renown. The course looks at regional
gastronomic traditions and their origins, including differences
in how food is prepared, the representation of Italian food
practices in media and cinema, food symbolism in Italian
culture, food ethics and sustainable agriculture, with an
examination of today’s fast and slow food traditions. A visit
to a wine and olive oil farm in Tuscany will give a practical
illustration of how resources are linked to food practices.
MKT 5805(3) | Fashion Marketing and Retail
This course covers the fundamentals of fashion and the basic
principles that govern all fashion movement and change.
It examines the history, development, organization and
operation of merchandising and marketing activities, trends
in industries engaged in producing fashion, purchasing of
fashion merchandise, foreign and domestic markets, and the
distribution and promotion of fashion. Prerequisites: MKT
5200 - Principles of Marketing
MKT 5810 (3) | Psychology of Fashion and Luxury Goods
Consumer psychology within the context of the consumption
of fashion and luxury products and services is complex
and is influenced by many factors. A thorough analysis and
understanding of these factors allows organizations to plan
effective marketing activities suitable to their target markets.
This course enables students to understand the importance
of consumer behavior in the process of marketing fashion
and luxury goods and services. Note: This course is crossreferenced
against MKT 5410 (offered on the Richmond
campus). Prerequisites: MGT 3200
SCL 5855 (3) | Culture and Style in Italy
This course is recommended for students with an interest in
contemporary Italian culture and style. The course focuses on
aspects of post-war Italian culture including cuisine, fashion,
religious beliefs and the persistence of superstition. Lectures
cover topics such as the role of women, food and wine as
cultural traditions, the effect of social change, and culture and
style. Lectures are supported by field visits, food and wine
tasting sessions, and audio-visual materials.
