• Students from all majors and language learning levels will partake in a 4-week full immersion program. All students will be registered for an Italian language course of 3 or 4 credits, based on placement level. Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced language courses will be taught in the classroom and at various sites around Rome on select days, depending on the daily lesson. Language courses meet Mondays-Fridays from 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm. Daily attendance is required. Language courses follow RU curriculum, supplemented by full immersion activities around Rome. Besides daily conversation activities, students will complete online assignments, including a class blog.
• Upon acceptance into the program, students are automatically registered for the Culture Track option. The Culture Track consists of two 1.5 credit courses. A Cultural Tour of Italy (01:560:248), is a course with emphasis on independent exploration of Rome. Students will complete pre-departure readings and assignments as well as photo and analytical essay assignments while abroad. Italian Culture Today, (01:560:317) is based on two focused weekend cultural excursions per summer. Weekend one will be a one day trip where you’ll visit Italy’s Hollywood or ‘cinema city,’ Cinecittà; and experience the taste of olive oil and wine from the Roman countryside.  Weekend two is an overnight trip starting with the discovery of the archeological site of Pompeii. Next, you’ll travel to the coastal town of Salerno for the evening’s activities and lodging. The next day you’ll travel to Naples to visit the amazing archeological museum and have pizza in the city where it was invented. For this course students will complete pre-departure readings and assignments as well as reflections papers while abroad and a final essay. Culture Track students meet with Rutgers faculty twice per week to discuss assignments and plan group outings.
• Students have the option of applying for a limited number of 3-credit internships in English or Italian to gain work experience abroad. Interns will work from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, Monday–Thursday. Professors will monitor their progress in weekly 2-hour group meetings each Friday. Students will keep a daily online journal detailing their experience and complete a professional portfolio assignment by the end of the program. If selected, these students switch to the Internship Track, enrolling in Internship in Italian (01:560:398) and an additional fee will be added to the student's term bill (please review budget sheet for estimated costs). Students will also be dropped from the  A Cultural Tour of Italy (01:560:248), but stay enrolled in Italian Culture Today, (01:560:317), for an additional 1.5 credits.

Your Host City: Rome

Academics

Classes will meet five days per week, and regular attendance is required. Students should expect to be occupied with class time/internship placements from 9am-530pm daily. Grades will be based on examinations and class performance according to the Rutgers University system by the instructors and director in consultation.

Course Offerings:

• Italian Language Course (3 - 4 credits, depending on level)
  • 01:560:101, 102, Elementary Italian (4 credits)
  • 01:560:121, 131, 132, Intermediate Italian (4 credits)
  • 01:560:321 Advanced Italian (3 credits)
• Culture Track (3 Credits)
  • 01:560:248 A Cultural Tour of Italy (1.5 credits)
  • 01:560:317 Italian Culture Today (1.5 credits)
• Internship Track (4.5 credits) Additional Fee $250
  
  • 01:560:398 Internship (3 credits)
  • 01:560:317 Italian Culture Today (1.5 credits)

Program Directors

For information about Study Abroad credit transfer, registration, and transcripts please visit the Academics section of our website.
 

Accommodations and Meals

Students will stay in fully equipped dorms at St. John's University, located in the bustling but tranquil Prati neighborhood of Rome. In addition to numerous affordable and delicious eateries near campus, students can take advantage of shared kitchens, available at St. John’s.

Excursions

Two excursion trips are included in the Culture Track option. These will happen on the first and second weekends of the program. Costs for additional trips and excursions are the responsibility of individual students.

Independent Travel

Students who wish to travel independently outside of Rome should consult the program calendar carefully and plan well in advance of their departure for Rome. Students are not permitted to stay at St. John’s University outside the program dates (not even for a single night, for insurance and liability reasons). Students who wish to extend their stay in Rome beyond the exact program dates will need to make alternative lodging arrangements.

This is an intensive, 4-week program, where students earn credit for two+ semester-long courses at Rutgers University. Travel is not an acceptable reason to miss class time, and students’ grades will suffer if any class time is missed due to travel.

Flight Information

Airfare is not included in the program price, in order to give students maximum flexibility to find affordable fares that meet their needs. Plan to arrive on Saturday, July 13, 2019. The nearest airport is: Rome–Fiumicino International Airport (FCO). Plan to leave St. John’s University on Saturday, August 10, 2019. Train and shuttles to the university are not included.

Financial Information

For more information about Finances, including information about financial aid and tuition remission please visit the Finances section of our website. As part of your preparation to apply for this study abroad program, please familiarize yourself with the Rutgers study abroad withdrawal policy.

Scholarships

Students are encouraged to start researching scholarship opportunities as early as possible.  There are many kinds of scholarships available, with different eligibility requirements and application criteria.  To get a sense of what scholarships are available for your program, please download the Scholarships At-A-Glance worksheet, and visit our Scholarship Directory for a comprehensive list of study abroad scholarships.