Tuscan sun invites summer studies

Have you dreamed of seeing the leaning tower of Pisa? Rome’s Sistine Chapel or the Colosseum? The wine country of Tuscany? The sunny isle of Capri?

You can do all this and much more while earning six hours of Georgia College & State University credit. Now is the time to sign up to study abroad in Montepulciano, Italy this summer.

Montepulciano is the highest of the hill towns in Tuscany. It combines breathtaking views of the Tuscan countryside dotted with vineyards and olive groves with a history that stretches back to the pre-Roman Etruscans. It is small enough that students can feel “at home” almost immediately, but its central location allows daylong field trips to such cultural and historic centers as Rome, Florence, and Siena.

Field trip costs are built into program fees, rather than being out of pocket expenses for the students as is the case with many programs. Best of all, students in Montepulciano will feel welcomed as a part of the community rather than feeling like an anonymous tourist in a crowded city. Many students come to think of Montepulciano as their “other” home and plan to return there.

Classes are held in the 16th-century Medici fortress in the historic center near the cathedral and 15th-century town hall. Instead of the typical study-abroad arrangement, where participants live in university dormitories and eat in cafeterias, students in Montepulciano live in shared apartments within the medieval walls and eat in local restaurants. Each student apartment has two double rooms, a bathroom, and kitchen facilities.

Meals included as part of the package cost are served at one of several restaurants in town. The schedule of provided meals is designed to accommodate field excursions and travel away from Montepulciano. A full-course dinner is provided for every night throughout the program.

The course offerings and the teaching faculty are different for each session. Students may take a maximum of six semester hours (two three-hour courses). Each three-hour course will meet in class sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays. Morning courses have Tuesdays reserved for field trips, and afternoon courses have Thursdays reserved for field trips. Three-day weekends allow students time for independent travel. Courses are offered at the undergraduate level, but upper-level courses can be modified for graduate credit. The instructors all have experience either teaching in study-abroad programs and/or living in Italy before.

Two five-week sessions are offered: May 19 to June 26, 2005 and June 30 to August 7, 2004.

A fee of $3,895.00 covers airfare, an Italy rail pass, lodging, dinners, and all field-trip expenses. The normal summer tuition (without fees) is paid separately.

This program always fills up quickly; interested students should apply as soon as possible. An application fee of $200 must accompany the application form.

To learn more about this summer program, the courses being offered, and how to apply, contact Dr. Jane Rose at jane.rose@gcsu.edu or 445-0146.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 22 2004. Filed under Other. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry