Faith & Religion
2010 Spring Semester - Academics

Academic Focus

The Faith & Religion program is intended for students of all language levels who are interested in developing a comparative understanding of faith and religion while being immersed in Italian culture. With a special curriculum focus on the Roman Catholic Church and the city of Rome as the key historical axis of western Christendom, the Rome Global Campus offers unique opportunities for study visits and fieldwork at some of the world’s most historic sites of religion and worship, including the Vatican and St. Peter’s basilica.

The curriculum has been specifically designed to help students gain special insight into the intercultural world of many different religions. By participating in this program, you will enjoy the unique advantage of studying in a multi-ethnic setting, and our courses strive to bring you into direct contact with experts and workers throughout Rome in the fields of religion, religious administration, charitable foundations, theological instruction and religious journalism and human rights.

Taking advantage of Italy's political and religious capital, the location of the CEA Global Campus in Rome also helps to frame the curriculum of the Faith & Religion program. The program is driven by a sequence of onsite activities, projects and team tasks that help you learn by doing - whether that means debating the challenge of inter-faith dialogue with religious leaders or working in teams to analyze the decorative mosaic cycles of Rome’s churches. Courses are designed to make use of Rome as the "classroom", so you will have the opportunity to visit local churches, the Vatican, pontifical colleges, Rome’s great synagogue, the historic Ghetto, the city’s mosque and Islamic Center, to speak with local experts and church leaders, and learn firsthand about Rome and its special place in the realm of global religions. By studying religion in Italy, you will gain valuable skills for the global marketplace as well as develop the international cultural fluency required to communicate and function effectively in an increasingly globalized world.

If you have never before taken an Italian language course, you are required to take Beginning Italian I, which focuses on basic communication, listening comprehension and grammar. In addition, you will choose 2 electives from the Faith & Religion subject areas such as theology or history. For your remaining courses, you may choose 1 or 2 electives from the full curriculum.

If you have already taken an Italian language course, you will choose 2 electives from the Faith & Religion subject areas. For your remaining courses, you may choose 2 or 3 electives (including a language course if you so wish) from the full curriculum.

All electives and language courses meet for a total of 45 contact hours and are generally worth 3 credits in the US semester system. If students enroll in 5 classes, they can earn up to 15 credits in the US semester system. However, it is up to the discretion of your academic advisor how much credit will be awarded.

Schedule Summary

Semester classes at the Global Campus meet one to three times per week for a total of 3 contact hours. Classes are typically held Monday through Thursday although study trips and other required fieldwork may occur on Fridays. Classes are offered at various times throughout the day. Class timetables will be released approximately three months before the program closure date, and your final course schedule will be posted to your MyCEA Account around two weeks before the program start date.

Course Registration

Students must register for courses prior to departure for Rome. A course preference form will be posted to your MyCEA Account when course timetables are released. This form should be completed upon submission of your program confirmation but no later than the program closure date. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis so it is in your best interest to submit your course preference form as soon as possible.

Course preferences for electives are considered final when submitted to CEA. For language courses, you will indicate an estimated level on your course preference form, but you will take a language placement exam onsite. Registration for your language course will then be adjusted as necessary to coincide with the results of your exam. To aid in the registration process, it is in your best interest to have courses, including alternates, approved by your academic advisor prior to submitting your course preference form.