A thorough introduction to the Italian language for absolute beginners or students with little previous experience, the course teaches essential vocabulary and grammar and develops students’ ability to communicate in an authentic linguistic context.

This course is designed for students with some knowledge of Italian. Starts with a review of basic grammar and vocabulary before progressing to more complex structures and functions. Conversation is a central part of every class, with opportunities for all students to practice listening and comprehension of authentic material as well oral and written production. They will also have a greater awareness of Italian culture and society.

In this course students develop their ability to communicate effectively and accurately, making use of expanded vocabulary. Students practice conversation and improve listening and oral production skills in an authentic Italian context. The course covers cultural elements of the Italian society and lifestyle. Reading and writing exercises improve skills in understanding prose and writing letters and messages with appropriate vocabulary.

This course builds upon the abilities and knowledge acquired in Intermediate Italian I and develops them to enable students to understand and respond to complex lines of written and oral arguments.

Students review complex grammar structures and work regularly on reading, composition, phonetics, syntax, and style assignments. Constant conversation practice enables them to communicate competently in Italian.

This course prepares students to use advanced grammatical structures and vocabulary and enables them to interact with the Italian world at a sophisticated level. Students practice understanding of complex lectures and arguments, in both written and oral form. They are expected to become fluent and spontaneous in their verbal interaction, as well as capable of presenting an argument, orally and in writing.

This course surveys the history of Roman civilization from antiquity to present times with special focus on Rome’s material cultural, artistic and architectural evidences. The Classical, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, as well as the modern and the contemporary features of Roman art and civilization will be analyzed also, through frequent visits to churches, museums and other places of artistic interest.

This course explores the engineering techniques and production systems used in the construction of the architectural masterpieces of the Roman world: aqueducts, bridges, domes, roads, amphitheaters, atriums, temples, and other public places. We will study the sophisticated construction processes, the use of materials and the building practices that made the completion of such monumental and long-lasting structures possible. We will survey a broad range of ancient technologies - cranes, concrete, water supply and more - their practical implications, applications and developments.

The course explores human behavior from the social point of view and in a cross- cultural perspective, both in theory and in practice. The focus will be on Italy and the Italians. This course in cross-cultural psychology, through elements of sociology, ecology, anthropology and biology, gives students the opportunity to discuss the shaping and deployment of human attitudes, behavior, values, communication processes and social organization. Specific attention will be devoted to issues such as the individual vs the social, mental health and cross-cultural communication. Students will engage in field research, conducting interviews on topics related to their own study abroad experience while visiting various locations in Rome and Italy. The research as a practical tool of the course, and the course itself, aim at providing students with the opportunity to apply methodologies of inquiry focusing at studying how relationships and behavior in cross-cultural contexts take shape.

The course explores the entire panorama of world religions, from a comparative perspective and using methodologies from various, related disciplines. Ancient Roman, Greek, Eastern religious traditions, as well as the three monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – and the polytheistic religious systems - Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism – will be discussed and analysed along with current developments and the “new-age” religions. Religious, historical, anthropological, sociological and philosophical approaches will be considered to discuss the evolutions of religions and central religious issues, such as the problem of evil, free will, the construction of organized religious institutions, and the shaping of religious identities.

This course develops an understanding of contemporary Italian culture and style, also touching on the role of religion, politics, as well as the fashion industry. A variety of approaches from other disciplines, such as social and cultural anthropology as well as micro-economy will help students to analyze the topics at the core of the course. Italian society will be analyzed in all of its major components in order to see how a specific type of Italian style has been emerging in contemporary times. The shaping of a specifically Italian cultural identity will be examined and discussed.

Visits to major Roman sites are an integral part of the course.