Italy – ISU in Orvieto

The ISU in Orvieto summer program is a great option for all ISU students seeking a summer study abroad experience. Art, Art History, and History majors will have the opportunity to get major credit and experience their field abroad, but the program also offers courses that fulfill both the Fine Arts and Humanities requirement for the general education sequence. So, no matter your major, this program offers an exciting way to earn general education credit while experiencing another culture abroad.

Snapshot

Program Details

Academic Program Type : Faculty Led
Program Sponsors: Department of History and School of Art

Eligibility

Participants must meet the standard eligibility and program specific requirements
ISU cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
Completion of an interview with the Faculty Director after application submission

Research Your Country

Academics

Students will earn 6 credits during the summer Orvieto program. This program allows the student to tailor their summer experience to their academic interests.

Students can anticipate being in classes with other ISU students. All courses are taught in English by ISU faculty.
All students participating in this program are required to enroll in IDS 133.08 Study Abroad: Italian Language and Culture, 3 credits (fulfills Humanities General Education requirement)

ART 282: Art History Abroad, 3 credit hours (fulfills the Fine Arts General Education requirement AND major/minor credit in the School of Art)
HIS 224: The Renaissance, 3 credit hours
HIS 308: Medieval Italy, 3 credit hours (History majors only, or by consent of the instructor)

Please Note : Enrollment beyond 6 credit hours is possible, but is subject to faculty approval

Location

The City

With a population of just over 20,000 inhabitants, students are sure to have a truly immersive Italian experience on this program. Orvieto is a quaint medieval town in the region of Umbria. The city is known for its Etruscan archaeological remains, spectacular late Medieval cathedral, and Renaissance artworks.

The town itself is a jewel of a location - roughly halfway between Rome (to the south) and Florence (to the north). It makes it an ideal home base for an exploration of some of Italy's most historically important and beautiful cities.

The Program

Classes will be held in Orvieto for three weeks, where students will combine traditional classroom meetings with visits to the city monuments, meetings with local educators and officials, and excursions around the city. In the fourth week, students will head south to Pompeii and Rome, taking classes among the monuments.

During the three weeks in Orvieto, students will take trips to Assisi and Siena, and an overnight trip to Florence. In each city, the program fee includes entrance into many museums and cultural sites, such as the Uffizi galleries, the Cathedral of Siena, and the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi.
During the last week of the program, students will travel to Pompeii and Rome. The program fee includes entrance into many museums and cultural sites as well as hotel accommodation and breakfast.
While in Orvieto, students will also be offered informational (non-credit bearing) Italian Language instruction and will visit a local farm that produces wine and olive oil in the Umbrian tradition. A trip to a local lake will provide a little R&R, too.

Housing

Students participating on this program will be placed in apartments.

All student apartments will be located in historic buildings right in the middle of the city's Medieval center
While each apartment is unique, all will be equipped with internet, kitchens, and access to laundry facilties
The number of students per room and per apartment will vary depending on enrollment and the configuration of the available apartments