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Language & Culture, UC Center Florence (Quarter)
Firenze! Whether your interest is art, history, architecture, science, fashion, music, food, or more, the birthplace of the Renaissance offers something for everyone. UCEAP’s language and culture program in Florence gives you the opportunity to take full advantage of this magnificent city while accelerating your Italian language acquisition. Explore Florence’s outstanding museums and galleries, stroll the Ponte Vecchio built in the 14th century, and navigate the maze of small streets and beautiful squares like a local. Your language classes, cultural activities, and excursions take full advantage of the local surroundings and put you in direct contact with Italian society.
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Students attend classes with UC students only.

Course Opportunities

Beginning, intermediate, and advanced Italian language study. You will take a placement exam upon arrival to determine your level of language proficiency and then be assigned to Italian language courses at the appropriate level. You will also take one upper-division elective culture course. The following culture courses are available:
 
·         Michelangelo: Art, Persona, and Politics in Renaissance Italy
The course examines the life and creative production—sculpture, painting, and architecture—of one of the great protagonists of the Renaissance, Michelangelo Buonarroti. The course explores the tensions that colored Michelangelo’s interactions with his patrons, rival artists, the Medici rulers of Florence, and the Catholic Church. We’ll consider how social and political conditions may have fostered or hindered his creativity, and how Michelangelo’s “creativity” and “genius” were understood both in the Renaissance as well as in recent historiography. In addition to familiarizing students with all of Michelangelo’s major works, the course is designed to enhance the skills and abilities in historiographic analysis, stimulate independent critical thought, and sharpen argumentation skills.
 
·         Mediterranean Food and Culture
Florence and Tuscany are rightly famous for their cuisine, with an international reputation for producing the finest wines and olive oils. This course is designed to contrast the cultural eating habits of Florence against those of America to highlight the benefits of a Mediterranean style diet. The cultural aspects that contribute to healthy living as well as modern nutritional ideas are also discussed. The course also covers the development of nutrition as a science and offers fundamental insights into the growing epidemics in the developed world of obesity and diabetes. The course takes full advantage of the local markets and producers for visits and tastings, highlighting the traditional production techniques and food products.
 
·         Florence in Cinema
This course examines Florence and its presence in Italian and international cinema from the period immediately after World War II to the present. It presents a survey of films, movements, and genres in Italian cinema as well as the image of Florence in British and American cinema. The films are analyzed as aesthetic objects as well as in relation to the political, economic, social, and cultural environments. The course is designed to broaden students’ knowledge of Florentine and Italian culture, society, history, economy, politics, literature, and cinema, as they learn how to critically analyze films and to recognize different film genres.
 
·         ‘What's Love Got to Do with it?’ The Social History of Quattrocento Florence
Why were babies in Renaissance Florence sent away from their mothers as soon as they were born? Why were women in their teens married to men more than a decade older than they? How was it that in a culture that produced Petrarch's passionate sonnets to Laura and Botticelli's Primavera, love was not considered a requisite for marriage? This course will explore attitudes toward love, marriage, and the family in Renaissance Florence, mainly through primary sources: letters, diaries, trials records, criminal reports, tax records, as well as stories, poems, and paintings created by Florentines themselves. 
 
·         Machiavelli & Friends
What does it mean to be called "Machiavellian" -- to be sneaky, underhanded, evil? Niccolò Machiavelli is known by most people only for having written The Prince, the notorious handbook for tyrants, but he also wrote the sparkling comedy La Mandragola, many love poems and songs, as well as The Discourse on Livy, a treatise which passionately praises self-governing republics. In this course we will challenge the Florentine author's "Machiavellian" reputation and get to know the man who, in addition to the above works, also wrote hundreds of letters to his friends, letters that are incisive, witty, tender, and often hysterically funny and occasionally obscene.

 

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A strict attendance policy is in effect for this program. ​

Units

You will take a full-time course of study while abroad; 14 UC quarter units are required (two language courses worth 5 units each and one 4-unit elective).
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Language of Instruction

English; Italian
Elective courses are taught in English.​


Language Study

Italian
Language courses are taught in Italian. ​


Internships, Research, and Independent Study

Internship opportunities are not available in this program.
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Duration

Go to the Participants section to see current or past calendars.
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Summer :  
mid-June to early August
 

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Housing

You can choose to live in a shared apartment with other UC students or in a homestay with an Italian family. Housing is arranged by ACCENT, an international education organization partnered with EAP.
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On-site Support

EAP students are supported by UC’s network of EAP offices at every UC campus and partnerships with EAP host universities throughout the world. In Florence, local ACCENT staff help integrate you into the culture and provide assistance with housing, safety, and other issues.
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See the UCEAP Program Guide (PDF) for program-specific details about host institutions, program structure, and courses; academic culture and conduct; internships, research, & independent study; units, exams, and grades; orientation; housing; and information about the intensive language program (if applicable).​

Host Institutions

Florence Center

Florence
The intensive language and culture programs at the UC Florence Center are specially designed for UC students and are taught by faculty from Italian universities. The program is administered by ACCENT, the International Consortium for Academic Programs Abroad. Local staff in Florence will advise on academic matters and provide information on cultural and social activities.
 
The beautiful Study Center in Florence is located in Piazza Santo Spirito, in the heart of the city. The piazza is located in the neighborhood of Oltrarno which means “on the other side of the river Arno.” You will find that Oltrarno, which is removed from the tourist crowds but just a few minutes from Ponte Vecchio, will provide you with many occasions for an authentic experience of Florentine life. Very lively with cafés, small stores, and markets attended by locals, it is also known for the many artisans who still keep their studios there and are generally very welcoming. Palazzo Pitti, the Medici family’s residence, is also around the corner, with its museums and the famous Boboli Garden, the most perfect example in the world of Italian garden. Once in Florence you will receive a special museum pass that grants you free unlimited access to the most important Florence sites and museums, including the Galleria degli Uffizi, the Galleria dell’Accademia, and the Boboli Garden itself.
 
 
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Estimated Cost

Participation in UCEAP is a great value! The cost of studying abroad on UCEAP programs is typically less than that of non-UC study abroad programs. The dollar figures listed in the chart represent: 1) the amount of the fees that are paid directly to UCEAP in the current year, and 2) an estimate of the amount needed to cover personal living expenses in this location. Personal travel and entertainment are not included here.
 
Don't forget that you take your financial aid with you and the amount of your financial aid package will take into account the estimated TOTAL COST of this experience, as it is estimated below.
 
These expenses are estimated for 2012-13. Amounts will vary for 2012-13 participation due to potential changes to UC fees, exchange rate fluctuation, etc. Non-Resident Fees apply: If you are subject to out-of-state tuition at your UC campus, you will pay the same fees on UCEAP. For a more detailed breakdown of 2012-13 payment information, visit the Participants Portal and select the appropriate program. 
 
Here’s what is included in the estimate:
 
  • Predeparture expenses (visa, etc.)
  • Round-trip airfare
  • UC fees
  • Tuition
  • Accident and medical insurance
  • On-site orientation
  • Room and board
  • Program excursions and cultural activities
  • Books and other incidental expenses
  • Automatic transfer of credits and grades to your UC transcript
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Estimated EAP Costs*

Options Cost
  • Summer
  • $10,100
*Based on most recent costs to the nearest $100.

Scholarships

UCEAP scholarships for the 2012-13 academic year are available. Please visit our scholarships overview page for general information and details  regarding eligibility requirements and application deadlines.

Application Requirements

Class Level:

Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Graduate

Language Prerequisites:

Italian
- The University-level language requirement is: minimum 0 quarters / 0 semesters and maximum 5 quarters / 3 semesters.

GPA:

2.00 cumulative GPA at the time of application and maintained through the end of the last term prior to departure.
GPA Note: Good academic standing is also required, as defined by your UC campus.

Minimum Criteria:

 All applicants must also have:
  • Serious academic goals and a clear plan for integrating EAP studies into the student's UC degree program
  • Social and cross-cultural sensitivity; maturity; ability to adapt successfully to a different environment and an new education system; ability to assess and exhibit appropriate behavior in a variety of situations
  • A willingness to abide by program regulations
  • An endorsement by the Campus EAP Selection Committee and completion of all campus-specific requirements (an interview may be required)

Deadlines

Application deadlines and information on the application process are available through your Campus EAP Office. Supplemental predeparture materials will be required for many programs, including, but not limited to, host institution applications, visa and housing applications, medical clearances, etc.

For participation in the program, you must meet all deadlines and submit complete application materials.

Visit your Campus EAP Office for more information: