Rome: Ancient & Modern
2011 Spring Semester - Academics

Academic Focus

CEA's "Rome: Ancient and Modern" program gives you a wide range of course options from archaeology to business, from photography to theology, from Italian language to political science. It also provides unique opportunities to explore the culture and society of modern Italy in an active way: up close, hands-on, and fully immersed in a richly-equipped learning environment. Our courses allow you to engage face-to-face with the customs and people of present-day Italy in ways that would not otherwise be possible. Onsite activities, projects and team tasks help you learn by doing – for example:

• Attending your Art History class inside the Vatican Palaces
• Exploring the Forum with your Archaeology professor
• Discussing the challenges of immigration with Roman gypsies for your EU Integration class
• Preparing a team-built multimedia presentation about the Italian wine industry for our popular course on The Culture of Food and Wine in Italy

Our professors capitalize on opportunities to bring students out of the classroom to places where you interact with academic colleagues, other professional contacts, or leaders in the local community. Your courses are designed to include meetings with local religious leaders, politicians and local students. Academic Field Trips will take you behind the scenes into artisans’ workshops, private businesses, cheese factories, vineyards and more. You will find yourself immersed in an exciting new environment of social interaction and collaborative learning where you will thrive on personal discoveries. You’ll gain true insight and feeling for your host culture, and develop the international cultural fluency required to communicate and function effectively in an increasingly globalized world. Visit the Global Campus Facebook page to see what (and where) you could be learning if you were in Italy today.

Program Goals

Through formal and informal learning connected to the host city, people and culture; and by applying appropriate cognitive, affective, behavioral, ethical and intercultural tools; students will develop and articulate:

• discipline-based knowledge in Roman and Italian history, society and culture;
• analytic insight into the dynamics of the host culture given the wider global forces influencing the city’s cultural, socio-political and commercial life and;
• Italian language and intercultural communication skills.

Personalized Course Concentrations

The diverse curriculum at the Global Campus allows you to customize your course selection to best meet your individual academic and personal goals. Some ideas to get you started:

Examine the influence of the Catholic Church on Italian history and culture:

Explore and document the Ancient Roman artifacts and ruins which still contextualize the modern city:

Understand the political and cultural significance of Rome and Italy today:

Study economics, policy and commerce in one of Europe’s modern business capitals:

Faculty

All Global Campus faculty have advanced degrees in their fields. Trained in CEA’s active learning model, they bring their subjects to life through dynamic classes, field trips and activities. They give your work the attention it deserves, as elective class sizes never exceed 25, and language classes are capped at 15.

Integrate your Academics with Campus Life

Whatever elective courses you choose, and whatever your Italian language level is, you’ll find that your studies are richly integrated with campus and community opportunities. CEA organizes many events, activities and volunteer opportunities that complement your studies, taking you out of the classroom into the real world.

Credit

All language courses meet for a total of 60 contact hours and are generally worth 4 credits in the US semester system, with the exception of conversation classes, which meet for a total of 30 contact hours and are generally worth 2 credits. Other electives meet for a total of 45 contact hours and are generally worth 3 credits in the US semester system. If you enroll in 5 classes, you can earn up to 16 credits in the US semester system. However, it is up to the discretion of your academic advisor how much credit will be awarded. Transcripts for all Global Campus courses will be issued by the University of New Haven. Providence College will issue transcripts for all Theology courses.

Schedule Summary

Semester classes at the Global Campus meet once or twice 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.