Global Programs: Rome, Italy | Course Details
An Immersion in Roman Life & Culture
Rome students choose one course from each category: Roman Life and Culture, Italian Language Study, and Humanities.
Roman Life & Culture
Students choose one Roman Life & Culture course offering: Ancient Roman Civilization or Renaissance Rome. Classes consist of lectures and site visits, taking full advantage of the program's location. All courses include special access to sites and projects that are normally closed to the general public. The city of Rome is your classroom in this tailored and unique program.
Ancient Rome: Archaeology and Civic Life (CRN: 10397)
The main objective of this course is to introduce students to the high point of Roman civilization, the Early Imperial Era, from which remains rich literary and archaeological evidence. Students will investigate the Romans through daily visits to archaeological sites throughout the modern city of Rome, as well as through museum visits and readings in the relevant literature.
The Romans ruled an empire that stretched from Spain and Morocco in the west to Iraq in the east, from England in the north to Egypt and Arabia in the south. The city of Rome was the political, economic, and cultural center of this empire, and, together with ancient Greece, became the father of our Western culture, as evidenced in our art, architecture, literature, engineering, law and government. We will be studying the early Imperial era (ca. 40 BC " AD 140) of this ancient civilization, when the Roman Empire was at its largest extent. We will be investigating both political and historical trends, as well as the art, architecture, and literature of the Romans. This course will enable a student to move into a college-level Roman Civilization, Roman Art and Archaeology, or Roman Religion class with a basic understanding of important historical movements and figures, cultural practices, and archaeological terminology.
Course objectives:
- provide students with a general knowledge of the topography of ancient Rome and the southern Italian plain as well as the most significant monuments and artifacts of the period in question.
- to help students achieve a better understanding of the daily lives of the Romans through investigation of these materials in their original contexts, as well as through lectures on social history.
- develop in students a recognition and appreciation of the cultural heritage that the Romans have passed down to us.
Secrets and Symbols of Roman Art and Architecture: Renaissance and Baroque (CRN: 10398)
This course will provide an in-depth, insider investigation of the architectural and artistic wonders of the city of Rome, from the Renaissance through the Baroque. This course will bring students behind the scenes to explore the secrets and symbols of the hidden city. While the course will cover the major items of art historical interest, from the Caravaggio’s paintings to the Sistine Chapel, what sets this course apart is its focus on the important but little-seen jewels of the Eternal City. The result is an insider’s study of the art and architecture of what is arguably the most important city in the history of the civilized world.
Language
Beginning Italian (CRN: 10370)
To really experience Italy one must feel the color and rhythm of the Italian language. This course aims to help students experience the Italian language in everyday contexts, so that they may use it in their wanderings around Rome. In the classroom, students will learn by doing, and they will be involved in all sorts of team projects, musical games, and creative thinking activities. Students will also study cultural topics, which will enable them to better understand Rome and Italy.
Humanities Courses
Students choose one afternoon Humanities class from the following:
Views of Rome: A Rome Sketchbook Course (CRN: 10512)
This course takes full advantage of St. Stephen's location in the historic center of Rome. The Aventine hill is accessible to a variety of important sites to name only a few, Circo Massimo, The Baths of Caracalla, Pyramide Cestia, The Protestant Cemetery, and the Forum. Familiarizing students with these important sites through art will complement their academic experience of history with first hand experience. Increasing students visual acuity and artistic skills will serve as a useful platform for many fields such as graphic and industrial design, architecture and the fine arts.
Students will work to record their observations in sketchbook form. In class demonstrations will complement fieldwork. Instruction will be given on various methods of working in a variety of media including pencil, charcoal, contè crayon and ink wash. Experiments with a variety of mediums will be encouraged. The focus of the course is on fluency, quality and the development of an individual style with personalized interpretations of the assignments and sites visited. Verbal communications will be fostered through class discussions. Students will have the unique opportunity of experiencing a twenty-first century version of the "Grand Tour" while expanding their conceptual and technical abilities and experiencing the beauty of Rome firsthand. The techniques and approaches to drawing are a solid foundation for further study in any visual field.
Digital Photography (CRN: 10400)
Students will learn the art of photography while documenting the Eternal City's urban landscape. The technical component of the course consists of mastering camera operation, exposure and digital input and output. Students will gain an understanding of the aesthetic possibilities of photography through assignments, lectures on important photographers, photo field trips in Rome and visits to contemporary photo exhibits. By the conclusion of the course, students will have produced a visual diary of their Roman experience. Students are required to supply their own digital camera.
Field Trips
Weekend excursions to the Sorrentine Coast, Tuscany, and Umbria allow students to experience the great diversity of landscapes that make up the Italian boot. Program staff members accompany the field trips and supervise students at the off-campus sites.
Daily Schedule
8:30am - 12:30pm Roman Life & Culture
12:30 - 1:15pm Lunch
1:15 - 2:45pm Italian
2:45 - 3:00pm Break
3:00 - 5:00pm Humanities courses
5:00 - 5:30pm Break
5:30 - 6:30pm Dinner
6:30 - 7:30pm Study Hall
7:30 - 9:00pm Evening Cultural Activities
11:00pm Curfew