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Course Name: ANTH 48889/58889 FACES:  Human Head Anatomy with a Forensic Art Focus

Description: This course studies Renaissance artists/anatomists to gain an appreciation for how well they understood human anatomy. Students study human skulls and learn the form and function of the muscles of facial expression and mastication, paying close attention to features of the skull that ultimately give each face its unique qualities and that indicate age and sex of the individual. Students learn the techniques of two-dimensional forensic facial reconstruction while sculpting the facial bones of a skull, using an exact replica cast as a model. Using knowledge of head anatomy, and tissue depth data from the literature, each student will prepare detailed sketches (one man, one woman) based on photographs of the skulls. We also learn how to age-progress images of young adults. Many site visits are included during class time, including to La Specola Anatomical Collection (exquisite wax models copied from real corpses during the 17th century). 

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites:  None

Course Name: ARTH 42091/62095 Art Experiences in Italy

Description: You are enjoying the singular opportunity of becoming acquainted with Florence, Italy, one of the most beautiful and celebrated cities in the world, hailed as a birthplace of the modern era in Western civilization.  This course will introduce you to the major artworks and monuments in the city, with the goal of giving you a sense of the progression of styles from the Middle ages through the Renaissance to the Baroque.  You will learn to understand some of the social, political and historical contexts that led to the formation of these styles. We will analyze and discuss the great works and monuments of the Florentine Renaissance directly on the spot in front of the actual works of art, a circumstance few people get to experience, and one which I hope will leave you with a lifetime of impressions and memories to savor.  You will also be exposed to the diverse regional productions of the great cities of Rome and Venice and the Tuscan hill towns.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: ARTS 45089/55089  International Experience: Studio Art

Description: A ����Vlog Faculty-led study abroad experience in studio art that integrates traditional classroom learning with experiential activities and site visits outside the United States.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name:  BSCI 30789 Feasts and Plagues: the Science of Italian Food, Wine and Disease

Course Description: This course explores the microbial mechanisms responsible for plagues such as the Black Death as well as for their positive roles in food and wine production. These costs and benefits are explored in Florence, Italy since each is ingrained in the city's history, culture, art, and biology. Course activities include food and wine tastings and field trips to historical sites and museums in Florence and Siena. This course is designed to appeal to students with a wide array of interests in human health and society. Students will analyze genomes of microbes responsible for human disease, discuss ecological and biological factors associated with disease transmission, construct cemetery life tables, discuss the impacts of disease on Italian art, architecture, and culture, master knowledge of the fermentation process, and compare and contrast the microbiomes and environments of vineyards in Tuscany vs. California.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: BSCI 30889/NEUR 30889 Beauty and the Brain: Exploring Florence Through the Senses

Description: This is an introductory sensory neuroscience course for undergraduate students. By exploring the sensory richness of Florence, Italy, students delve into the biology of their sensory systems. Through a combination of field trips, laboratory exercises, lectures and presentations, students learn how our sensory systems function to change diverse environmental signals into information that can be interpreted by the brain. Site visits are used to highlight specific sensory systems and laboratories/lectures provide the conceptual framework. Together, these experiences lay the foundation for students' understanding of vision, taste, smell, touch and hearing in the unique environment of Florence, Italy. 

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: BUS 30234 International Business

Description: This course provides an introduction to different environments, theories and practices of international business. This course is designed for all students interested in international business, regardless of their principal academic discipline. Topics covered include globalization; international companies; sustainability; the impact and importance of culture; economic, financial, social, political environments; global strategies and structures; international marketing and entry modes. In order to facilitate these goals, students are expected to prepare, present their views, and actively participate in classroom discussions. The course provides a broad survey of the theoretical and practical aspects of management practice in Europe, introducing you the major financial, economic and socio – economic, physical, socio – cultural political, labor, competitive and distributive forces that characterize business in Europe. The course will help you to develop an increased awareness of the differences between European and North American business practices, and a better grasp of the impact of differences in business practices on the conduct of business internationally. The emphasis in this course is both on understanding and applying one’s knowledge of different management practices, using national cultures as an aid to understanding the evolution of various management practices.
We begin by analyzing the international business environment that connects the phenomenon of globalization with the national and cultural differences that characterize the countries in this economy. Next we will analyze, how to first define a strategy to enter foreign markets, select then a global company structure, and define a global marketing and pricing strategies. We will delve into some strategic and functional issues that characterize the management of organizations in the global marketplace.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites:  or 

Open to all students with prerequisites.

Course Name: CCI 40089: Branding and Social Media Strategies for Italian Lifestyle

Description: The course will analyze the phenomenon of ‘made in Italy’ with a focus on fashion, food and design from a communication perspective. Students will have the chance to better understand the branding strategies effectively operating behind some of the most important Italian brands that make Italy and Italian productions fascinating and attracting for the foreign consumers and markets. The course will focus on PR, social media and advertising strategies that are central for contemporary brands and it will investigate the main strategic areas of ‘made in Italy’ and how they are communicated and promoted. Specific case studies will be presented and discussed in class.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Open to all students

Course Name: CCI 40189: Italian Pop Culture

Description:  This course is aimed at investigating Italian contemporary pop culture with a focus on celebrity culture, television and music in Italy. While investigating media, format, genres and imageries of contemporary Italian pop culture, students will be able to immerse themselves deeper into aspects of the Italian cultural identity that inform and shape pop culture narratives such as mafia, the Catholic/religious imagery etc. The course will investigate new practices of production and consumption of media content and it will take into consideration key concepts and practices that are central to the cultural industries such as genres, format, celebrity and adaptation by presenting and discussing different media products. While focusing on the Italian case, comparisons will be made with The U.S.A. and other European countries.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Open to all students

Course Name: CCI 40289 Italian Cinema

Description: The course introduces the student to the world of Italian Cinema. In the first part the class will be analyzing Neorealism, a cinematic phenomenon that deeply influenced the ideological and aesthetic rules of film art. In the second part we will concentrate on the films that mark the decline of Neorealism and the talent of ‘new’ auteurs such as Fellini and Antonioni. The last part of the course will be devoted to the cinema from 1970s to the present in order to pay attention to the latest developments of the Italian industry. The course is a general analysis of post-war cinema and a parallel social history of this period using films as ‘decoded historical evidence’. Together with masterpieces such as Open City the screenings will include films of the Italian directors of  the ‘cinema d’autore’ such as Life is Beautiful and the 2004 candidate for the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, I Am Not Scared. The class will also analyze the different aspects of filmmaking both in Italian and the U.S. industry where I had the pleasure to work for many years in the editing department on films such as Dead Poets Society and The Godfather: Part III. The films in DVD format are dubbed in English or sub-titled.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Open to all students.

Course Name: CLAS 21405 The Roman Achievement

Description: This course is an introduction to the history and culture of the Roman world, from the origins of Rome through its ascent to domination of the Mediterranean world, the troubled changes from Republic to Empire, and the flourishing of the city and its provinces during the Imperial period until its crisis and consequent fall during the 4th-5th centuries AD. Political and military organizations, religious beliefs towards life and death, social identity, entertainment, private life, familial relationships, sexuality and the changes of these assets and values throughout time are examined in this course by means of the most recent archaeological and historical approaches and debates. As we search together to unravel the historical, cultural and social significance of the Roman achievement, primary sources in translation will be used to provide a fresh look of how some political events were perceived, how Roman urban life and its agents were captured by the satirical descriptions of Juvenal and Martial, and how such a catastrophic event such as the eruption of the Vesuvius affected writers such as Pliny and Seneca.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Kent Core Humanities & Global Diversity 

Open to all students.

Course Name: EDPF 49525/69095 Relational Learning in Italy

Description: 

Undergraduate Course Catalog Description and Objectives: 

• Examine the social construction of knowledge that takes place in educational relationships. 
• Engage in relational learning experiences as you apply theories of learning to practice. 
• Work one-on-one with peers and/or other students in the process of learning. 
• Examine relational learning practices including Reggio Emilia approach, Bruner, Vygotsky’s socio-cultural learning, and documentation of learning experience. 

Upon completion of the course, teacher candidates will be able to: 

• Describe social constructionist theory as it applies to educational practices throughout the world; 
• Compare and contrast a variety of theories of learning, focusing on how social constructionist approaches deconstruct hierarchical relationships to create deeper critically thinking participants in the world; 
• Begin to articulate their own philosophy about learning and study abroad; 
• Critique past educational experiences from the lens of social construction; 
• Engage in cooperative mentoring skills and relational ways of being; 
• Engage as a qualitative participant observer mini research project; 
• Engage in assessment activities making learning visible; 
• Experience student led curriculum and self-regulated learning as students design their own research projects based in their own individual interests related to their own college major; 
• Engage as a qualitative participant observer in a research project. 
• Accomplish writing a 5 “chapter” research paper explaining their research findings.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: ENG 38895/66895 Traveling and Writing

Description: Inspired by the environment—the landscape, art, culture, history, etc.—and by writers who have come before us, you may choose to write poetry, fiction, and/or nonfiction. As we try to absorb some portion of all we see and hear, we will employ Virginia Woolf’s practice of street haunting and consider Rainier Maria Rilke’s notion of inseeing. We will share poems or short vignettes, along with brief responses to readings, during classroom meetings, but half our time will be spent exploring. You will choose readings from a range of historical and contemporary poets and writers—from English-speaking travelers and expatriates like Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mina Loy, D. H. Lawrence, James Wright, Joseph Brodsky, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Rachel Cusk to Italians in translation like Boccaccio, Dante, Gaspara Stampa, Eugenio Montale, Cesare Pavese, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Italo Calvino, and Patrizia Cavalli. Each week we will focus on a set of topics: art, myth, and religion; social justice and health care; history and politics; landscape and the environment. Related site visits will include places like the Basilica of Santa Trinita; The Museum of the Duomo; the Hospital of the Innocents Museum; the English Cemetery; Casa Guidi (home of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning: and the Archaeological Area and Museum in the hillside town of Fiesole; The Cascine Park along the River Arno; and the Bardini Gardens and Villa. A longer work or a collection of polished poems or vignettes will be due at the end of the session. 

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: ENG 41292 Teaching English as a Foreign Language Practicum

Description: (Repeatable for a maximum of 12 credits) Students observe, participate and teach in a number of school contexts in Florence, Italy, from primary to secondary, community and higher education. Course gives students authentic practice teaching English in the foreign language context.

Credit Hours: 3-6 credit hours

Prerequisites: 

Course Name: FDM 35589 Italian Fashion & Culture

Description: This class will examine the evolution of the fashion industry in Italy and the long tradition of art, craftsmanship, style and design that led to the success of the post-war era. We will study the history, creators, design and production processes with emphasis on the evolving roles of the fashion centers of Florence, Rome and Milan. The class will also examine the political, economic and industrial factors contributing to the creation of the Italian fashion system.  The lectures are supplemented by site visits and field trips to museums, artisans and factories.

*Students enrolled in this course will be responsible for an additional fee for field trips related to this course.*

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: Pre-approved Fashion Student

Course Name: FDM 45589 Field Experience European Fashion Study Tour for Florence Students (ELR)

Description: (Repeatable for credit)Visit to European fashion markets including design and fabric houses or showrooms, retail stores, buying offices and other areas of the fashion industry.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: Fashion design or fashion merchandising major.

Only pre-approved Fashion students may register for this course

Course Name:  HDF 44089 Families in Florence, Italy: Love, Parenting and Policy

Course Description: The course explores the concepts of love, parenting, and social policy in the context of family experiences of Florence, Tuscany, and Italy. We aim to use the city of Florence as our classroom. In this course, we’ll explore how historical family honor, rituals, culture, and social context continue to influence the modern Florentine family. Students will engage in naturalistic observation of modern Florentine couples and families and explore historic family honor and power through art and fashion. We’ll work to identify family rituals and traditions passed down from the Roman empire and explore how modern social policies and culture influence love, relationships, and family. We’ll also pay particular attention to love and parenting from an Italian perspective. 

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: HDF 45089 Lifespan Development Practices and Outcomes

Description: This course will explore lifespan development through the lens of Italian culture, policy, religions, and practices. Class will be spent visiting the local markets and observing historical sites, and observing everyday life while learning about the influence of gender, social roles, and state policy on child, adolescent, and adult outcomes. Students may have the opportunity to engage with Florentines while talking with local guest speakers. 

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: HM 33031 Food, Wine and Beverage Pairing

Description: This course provides students with knowledge of the sensory relationship of food, wine, beer and spirits and the important role this process has in Italy. Course topics will include developing an understanding of beverage and food pairing as a hierarchical process, gastronomic identity, old and new world customs, and traditional and non-traditional gastronomic pairings.

*This course has an additional course fee of $300 per student. Students must be 21 years of age or older to enroll

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: Special Approval 

Course Name:  HIST 37001 Florence The Myth of a City

Description: Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance and the cradle of modern Western Civilization because, among the many Italian city-states, it experienced a cultural development that had no precedent in European history. Florentine republicanism is a political paradigm through which we, still today, trace the origins of the values of democracy, freedom, rational thought, individualism, the scientific method and the capacity for critical reflection. This course covers and analyzes different historical eras of Florence from its founding, during the Roman era, up until today. Special attention is given to periods of intensive development in Florence: the re-birth of the Middle Ages, the splendor of the Renaissance, and the crucial role of the Risorgimento, when the city was the capital of the new Kingdom of Italy (1865-1871) and became a center of culture and modern civilization. This course will be offered only in Florence.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: Sophomore Standing

Course Name: ITAL 15201 Elementary Italian I

Description: An introduction to the Italian language in the context of Italian culture.

Credit Hours: 4

Prerequisites: None

Open to all students.

Course Name: MKTG 45060  International Marketing

Description: The course provides a comprehensive overview of international marketing issues characterizing international companies in foreign markets. It will introduce students to the international markets and the principles underlying the development and implementation of marketing strategies across and within foreign countries. Topics include: political, cultural, and legal environmental changes as new competitive challenges for companies involved in international businesses, international marketing strategies (domestic market expansion, multi-domestic marketing, and global marketing), multicultural marketing researches, international segmentation and competitive positioning, and international marketing mix in terms of product, distribution, communication and price decisions. During lessons the students are expected to prepare, present their views, and actively participate in classroom. In order to facilitate their participation, lessons include discussions of cases and the viewing of videos on international marketing experiences. The course is designed to stimulate curiosity about international marketing practices of companies, which seek global market opportunities and to raise the student's consciousness about the importance of an international marketing perspective in the international business management.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites:  or  or 

Open to all students with prerequisites.

Course Name:  MUS 22111 Understanding Western Music in Florence 

Description: This course offers a unique opportunity to explore the history of Western music, taking advantage of Florence's deep musical connections—from Landini and the birth of opera to Dallapiccola—while fully immersing yourself in the city's rich musical, architectural, and artistic heritage. Highlights include visits to significant landmarks such as the Roman amphitheater, the Baroque-era Pergola Theater, the Bargello Museum, the Davanzati Medieval Home, the cupola of the cathedral,  and the Accademia. Students will also have the chance to attend live performances, including Gregorian chant by the Benedictine monks of the 1,000-year-old Church of San Miniato and operas at the renowned Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

For more information on the course (and Florence) contact Dr. Sebastian Birch at sbirch@kent.edu

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: MUS 22121 Music as a World Phenomenon in Florence

Course Description: This course explores music as a part of human life in a relaxed and fun way. As a complex social phenomenon, music reflects the experiences, desires, and histories of the world’s peoples. What does music mean to the people who produce it, practice it, and consume it? How are these meanings constructed and experienced? Each unit in this course highlights the music of a specific geographical area. In addition to these geographical regions, we will be exploring issues related to the musical practices of the musicians, audiences, composers, and teachers we study. The experiences of the musicians themselves help to contextualize the issues surrounding the complex world of music we will be exploring. Students in this class will learn to listen analytically and critically to many different kinds of music: to hear music as more than just sound. We will learn to recognize the fundamental structural elements of several different musical traditions and develop the ethnographic skills needed to understand their social and historical contexts.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: POL 40598 Global 2020's: Art, Science, and Politics in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Description: “The Global 2020s” have the potential to turn out to be a momentous time for upholding the value of human dignity and reimagine our global conversations. This course looks at the past and the present as we explore how art and various artistic expressions, as well as scientific achievements, technological advances, and interactions of scientists have shaped political, social, and cultural structures locally and transnationally. Additionally, this class explores the intrinsic characteristics of social media, such as amplification of disinformation, that make these platforms conducive to extremism and contribute to political polarization, thus weakening social cohesion leading to decline in trust and cooperation. We will also discuss the challenges presented by artificial intelligence (AI) and how to mitigate the impact of the widespread adoption of such technologies. Bad actors use of digital propaganda machines now has increased potential to disrupt and exploit the media ecosystem as they wield a comprehensive attack on the political, legal, social, and media spheres creating an existential crisis for democratic institutions and civil society.  
A comparative examination of these contemporary issues with those of Italian Renaissance artists and scientists will reveal patterns that continue to shape the world around us. We will consider the relationship between aesthetics and politics, conceptions of community and the public, and the practical aims of arts and sciences, both intended and actual.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: PROS 40095 Soft Skills of Leadership: European and American Perspectives

Description: This course will assist students in tapping into their leadership potential by exploring the soft skills of leadership and exploring both European and American perspectives regarding essential leadership characteristics. There will be multiple opportunities for exploration in and around Florence, studying leadership as it is manifested in business, education, the food and wine industry and professional sports.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: SPA 44089/54089/74089 Mind the Gap: Talking, Thinking, and the Space Between Us

Description: Communication is not just about exchanging information—it’s also about navigating misunderstandings, cultural differences, and the mental space between speakers. This course explores the cognitive and social foundations of conversation, with a focus on how we talk, miscommunicate, and ultimately learn from one another. Drawing on theories from cognitive science, psycho and socio-linguistics, students will investigate how ambiguity, reference, and shared knowledge shape everyday communication. Set in the culturally rich environment of Florence, this course encourages students to reflect on their own communication habits while engaging in real-world interactions. Emphasis will be placed on the productive role of miscommunication in learning and cultural exchange. Students will leave the course with a deeper understanding of the mental mechanisms behind conversation and practical tools to become more effective and empathetic communicators in both personal and global contexts.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: AERN 45135 Aviation Safety Theory

Description: This course provided an introduction to safety theories, models, and systems. This will include discussion about specific accidents and applications of those theories and models to real life scenarios.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites:  None

Course Name: AERN 45791 Aviation Security and Policy

Description: Examines policies, practices, procedures and regulatory provisions developed to create and enhance security in civil aviation with a special emphasis on airlines, airports, airspace and agencies responsible for civil aviation security. As a writing intensive course, AERN is designed to address emerging paradigms in civil aviation security through a scholastic approach that emphasizes descriptive analyses in the study of aviation security policy and practice.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites:  (can be waived by professor)

Course Name: ARTH 42045 Italian Art from Giotto to Bernini

Description: This course will explore the development of art and architecture in Italy from the late Middle Ages to the Roman Baroque period. Through an in- depth analysis of the art and history of these periods, we shall develop an understanding of Italy’s role in the overall development of Western civilization. Particular emphasis will be given to Florentine Art. Florence exhibits to this day a particularly well-integrated conception of painting, sculpture, and architecture. Taking advantage of this, we will use the city as our classroom in order to examine the development of Florentine art and architecture in context. In addition to “on-site” lectures, classroom lectures will focus on the art produced in other major Italian cities.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: BSCI 30789 Feasts and Plagues: The Science of Italian Food, Wine and Disease

Description: This course explores the microbial mechanisms responsible for plagues such as the Black Death as well as for their positive roles in food and wine production. These costs and benefits are explored in Florence, Italy since each is ingrained in the city's history, culture, art, and biology. Course activities include food and wine tastings and field trips to historical sites and museums in Florence and Siena. This course is designed to appeal to students with a wide array of interests in human health and society. Students will analyze genomes of microbes responsible for human disease, discuss ecological and biological factors associated with disease transmission, construct cemetery life tables, discuss the impacts of disease on Italian art, architecture, and culture, master knowledge of the fermentation process, and compare and contrast the microbiomes and environments of vineyards in Tuscany vs. California.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: BSCI 40195 From Mythical Creatures to Developmental Biology

Description: Since ancient times and in many different cultures, mythical creatures such as monsters (e.g. the hydra, gargoyles), human and animal hybrids (e.g. centaurs, the Sphinx), and creatures with a combination of traits (e.g. unicorns, dragons) are symbols of human values and feelings including power, loyalty, wisdom, fear, and sadness. Mythical creatures are represented in writing, art, and sculpture throughout the city of Florence, Italy. In this course we will explore and view mythical creatures through a developmental biology prism in order to assess what is possible due to architectural constraints of animal forms vs. what is fantastical, made possible only in man’s deepest imaginations. This course will include site visits to art museums and sculpture gardens to view mythical creatures, discussion of what these creatures symbolize in Italian cultural history, site visits to natural history museums to record animal architectural constraints in a historical context, and discussion of developmental biological processes that underlie these architectural constraints. This course is designed for biology majors and non-majors. 

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: BUS 30234 International Business

Description: This course provides an introduction to different environments, theories and practices of international business. This course is designed for all students interested in international business, regardless of their principal academic discipline. Topics covered include globalization; international companies; sustainability; the impact and importance of culture; economic, financial, social, political environments; global strategies and structures; international marketing and entry modes. In order to facilitate these goals, students are expected to prepare, present their views, and actively participate in classroom discussions. The course provides a broad survey of the theoretical and practical aspects of management practice in Europe, introducing you the major financial, economic and socio – economic, physical, socio – cultural political, labor, competitive and distributive forces that characterize business in Europe. The course will help you to develop an increased awareness of the differences between European and North American business practices, and a better grasp of the impact of differences in business practices on the conduct of business internationally. The emphasis in this course is both on understanding and applying one’s knowledge of different management practices, using national cultures as an aid to understanding the evolution of various management practices.
We begin by analyzing the international business environment that connects the phenomenon of globalization with the national and cultural differences that characterize the countries in this economy. Next we will analyze, how to first define a strategy to enter foreign markets, select then a global company structure, and define a global marketing and pricing strategies. We will delve into some strategic and functional issues that characterize the management of organizations in the global marketplace.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites:  or 

Open to all students with prerequisites.

Course Name: CCI 40189: Italian Pop Culture

Description:  This course is aimed at investigating Italian contemporary pop culture with a focus on celebrity culture, television and music in Italy. While investigating media, format, genres and imageries of contemporary Italian pop culture, students will be able to immerse themselves deeper into aspects of the Italian cultural identity that inform and shape pop culture narratives such as mafia, the Catholic/religious imagery etc. The course will investigate new practices of production and consumption of media content and it will take into consideration key concepts and practices that are central to the cultural industries such as genres, format, celebrity and adaptation by presenting and discussing different media products. While focusing on the Italian case, comparisons will be made with The U.S.A. and other European countries.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: CLAS 21405 The Roman Achievement

Description: This course is an introduction to the history and culture of the Roman world, from the origins of Rome through its ascent to domination of the Mediterranean world, the troubled changes from Republic to Empire, and the flourishing of the city and its provinces during the Imperial period until its crisis and consequent fall during the 4th-5th centuries AD. Political and military organizations, religious beliefs towards life and death, social identity, entertainment, private life, familial relationships, sexuality and the changes of these assets and values throughout time are examined in this course by means of the most recent archaeological and historical approaches and debates. As we search together to unravel the historical, cultural and social significance of the Roman achievement, primary sources in translation will be used to provide a fresh look of how some political events were perceived, how Roman urban life and its agents were captured by the satirical descriptions of Juvenal and Martial, and how such a catastrophic event such as the eruption of the Vesuvius affected writers such as Pliny and Seneca.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: CRIM 37095 Born Criminal? The Italian Origins of Criminology

Description: This course focuses on studying crime and criminal behavior. Students will examine the history of criminological theory, which was developed in Italy across the 1700s and 1800s. In this course, we will explore the work of classical philosophers such as Beccaria and Lombroso, examining their thoughts on how crime is defined, what makes a criminal, and how society should punish people who engage in crime. Students will also study Renaissance and Enlightenment era art and its influence on narratives of justice, and visit several museums to see the pieces. This will include site visits to the Bargello, a historical courthouse and prison. Then, students will investigate the legacy of these Italian criminological theories in the criminal justice system today.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: ENG 39095 The Florence Files: Reading and Telling Stories of Crime

Description: Prepare to decode the mysteries of crime literature in one of the world’s most iconic cities! In this course, students will take a journey through both the city of Florence and the world of crime stories, from timeless classics to the bestsellers of today. Reading key examples by Edgar Allan Poe and Agatha Christie, we will break down the essential elements of the classic detective story, considering what makes the genre so compelling to readers. Next, students will investigate the relationship between crime and the city in Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, considering the rise of crime fiction alongside the rise of the modern, cosmopolitan city. Lastly, we will turn to Dan Brown’s contemporary bestseller, Inferno, set in the heart of Florence. We’ll explore how the novel weaves in historical and cultural touchstones, consider why conspiracy theories captivate readers, and contemplate the divide between “high-brow” and “popular” literature.   
 
The course will include field trips to key locations in the plot of Inferno, including Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi, and the Bargello Museum. Instead of traditional papers, students will write their own crime stories (set in either contemporary or historical Florence) over the course of the program. No creative writing experience required.   

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: EXSC 46095 Exercise, Sport and Italian Culture

Description: Sport is a form of physical activity or game. One of the most valuable parts of traveling is learning about ourselves and new cultures through the immersive experience — which often happens from learning and cultural differences. Therefore, this course will provide you with knowledge that drives our understanding of the theoretical foundations of sport, activity, sport in art, and the birth of the sport in the Olympic games in Italy. We will learn about the importance of learning immersion in the cultural differences in sport and wellness. Content learned in this course will increase students interests in communication and wellness in a cultural immersive experience by walking and talking in Italy but will also provide insight about how to be better learners in the real-world environment and get “hands on” experience. 

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name:  GEOG 31080 Geography of Wine

Description: Learn about the physical environment of viticulture, including climate, soil and farm practices; the cultural tradition of wine making, consumption and trade; and regional production styles of Tuscany.

*This course has an additional course fee of $100 per student. Optional wine tastings are included in the course only for students who are 21 years or older.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name:  HIST 37001 Florence The Myth of a City

Description: Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance and the cradle of modern Western Civilization because, among the many Italian city-states, it experienced a cultural development that had no precedent in European history. Florentine republicanism is a political paradigm through which we, still today, trace the origins of the values of democracy, freedom, rational thought, individualism, the scientific method and the capacity for critical reflection. This course covers and analyzes different historical eras of Florence from its founding, during the Roman era, up until today. Special attention is given to periods of intensive development in Florence: the re-birth of the Middle Ages, the splendor of the Renaissance, and the crucial role of the Risorgimento, when the city was the capital of the new Kingdom of Italy (1865-1871) and became a center of culture and modern civilization. This course will be offered only in Florence.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: Sophomore Standing

Course Name: ITAL 15201 Elementary Italian I

Description: An introduction to the Italian language in the context of Italian culture.

Credit Hours: 4

Prerequisites: None

Open to all students.

Course Name: MATH 10041 Introductory Statistics

Description: An introduction to statistical thinking and statistical methods. Emphasis is on statistical literacy, conceptual understanding and active learning in the classroom. No credit earned for this course if a student already earned credit for MATH 10040. Students who do not meet the prerequisites but do have a minimum of 3.5 high school GPA should contact the department for approval to register. 

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: Minimum 22 math ACT score; or minimum 520 math SAT score; or minimum 35 ALEKS® math assessment score; or minimum C (2.0) grade in MATH 00022; or any higher-level MATH course.

Course Name: MKTG 45060 International Marketing

Description: The course provides a comprehensive overview of international marketing issues characterizing international companies in foreign markets. It will introduce students to the international markets and the principles underlying the development and implementation of marketing strategies across and within foreign countries. Topics include: political, cultural, and legal environmental changes as new competitive challenges for companies involved in international businesses, international marketing strategies (domestic market expansion, multi-domestic marketing, and global marketing), multicultural marketing researches, international segmentation and competitive positioning, and international marketing mix in terms of product, distribution, communication and price decisions. During lessons the students are expected to prepare, present their views, and actively participate in classroom. In order to facilitate their participation, lessons include discussions of cases and the viewing of videos on international marketing experiences. The course is designed to stimulate curiosity about international marketing practices of companies, which seek global market opportunities and to raise the student's consciousness about the importance of an international marketing perspective in the international business management.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites:  or  or 

Open to all students with prerequisites.

Course Name:  MUS 22111 Understanding Western Music in Florence

Description:  This course offers a unique opportunity to explore the history of Western music, taking advantage of Florence's deep musical connections—from Landini and the birth of opera to Dallapiccola—while fully immersing yourself in the city's rich musical, architectural, and artistic heritage. Highlights include visits to significant landmarks such as the Roman amphitheater, the Baroque-era Pergola Theater, the Bargello Museum, the Davanzati Medieval Home, the cupola of the cathedral,  and the Accademia. Students will also have the chance to attend live performances, including Gregorian chant by the Benedictine monks of the 1,000-year-old Church of San Miniato and operas at the renowned Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

For more information on the course (and Florence) contact Dr. Sebastian Birch at sbirch@kent.edu

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name:  PH 30195 Addressing Climate Change and Environmental Health in Europe and the United States: Lessons from Florence Italy

Course Description: Across the globe, there is a growing base of evidence and opinion suggesting that climate change is affecting both the environment and human health. Indeed, issues in these areas are becoming pervasive, as they affect both ecological conditions and the lives and health of human beings. This course will focus on climate change and environmental health, and it will explore the differing ways in these issue areas are perceived and addressed in Europe and the United States. The course will also draw lessons based on climate change and environmental health issues and efforts in Florence, Italy.

Students in the course will have an opportunity to compare climate change and environmental health perspectives, problems, and public policies in the EU and the US. Florence Italy and one or more comparably sized cities in the United States (US) will be used as illustrative cases for comparison (the US comparison city or cities have not yet been determined, but Cleveland, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are good candidates). After reviewing differing perspectives regarding climate change and ways in which human beings interact with their physical environments, students will compare climate change and environmental challenges, governing institutions and actors, policymaking processes, and climate change and environmental health policies in the US and Europe. Climate change and environmental health perspectives, problems and issues, governance arrangements, and related public policies in Florence Italy will help illuminate approaches taken in Europe and they will be compared to situations in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and/or other appropriate cities in the US. Students in the course will gain an appreciation for differing perspectives on climate change and environmental health, as well as the challenges facing Europe and the US and the varying ways these challenges can and are being addressed.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: PH 40195/PH 60195 Global Perspectives on Health Insurance

Description: This immersive course introduces students to health insurance systems with a comparative focus on the U.S. and Italian models, framed within a global public health perspective. Students will examine the evolution, structure, and financing of these two distinct systems, alongside insights from other countries. By integrating concepts from business, economics, policy, and public health, the course explores how differences in insurance design affect population health outcomes, equity, and access to care. Learning is enriched through field visits, case studies, and professional interviews conducted in Florence, providing a unique, experiential understanding of both systems in context.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: PHY 11030 Seven Ideas That Shook the Universe

Description: Description of major revolutionary physical concepts and their implications for understanding the physical universe.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: PSYC 41495 Emotions, Culture & Health

Description: Emotions are central in all psychological and many physiological processes. Moreover, emotions are robustly evident in daily life in both culture and in health. In this class, we will investigate the science of emotions and health as well as the broader role that emotions play in society. In particular, we will participate in a century-old yet still pressing debate as to the underlying nature of emotion: biological vs. cultural. We will discuss evolutionary and socio-cultural models of emotion as well as observe emotions elicited and expressed in both art and society. Our primary goal: to attempt to resolve this debate based on evidence accumulated throughout the course.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: PSYC 41495 The Psychology of Luxury

Description: In this interdisciplinary course, students will apply concepts from psychology to better understand perceptions of luxury in the domains of art, wine, and fashion. We will read primary literature and pop-press articles to answer questions like: According to children, what makes something authentic, luxurious, and museum worthy? For example, which piece of chewed up gum belongs in a museum: Taylor Swift’s gum, or a piece of gum you might find stuck under a table at a restaurant? How might the label on a bottle of wine influence the perceived taste or value of that wine? What does research on people’s understanding of math tell us about how much they are willing to pay for luxury goods? According to Psychology, why are scarce luxury goods (e.g., Hermes Birkin or Kelly) so coveted? 

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: SPA 44089/54089/74089 Mind the Gap: Talking, Thinking, and the Space Between Us (July Session)

Description: Communication is not just about exchanging information—it’s also about navigating misunderstandings, cultural differences, and the mental space between speakers. This course explores the cognitive and social foundations of conversation, with a focus on how we talk, miscommunicate, and ultimately learn from one another. Drawing on theories from cognitive science, psycho and socio-linguistics, students will investigate how ambiguity, reference, and shared knowledge shape everyday communication. Set in the culturally rich environment of Florence, this course encourages students to reflect on their own communication habits while engaging in real-world interactions. Emphasis will be placed on the productive role of miscommunication in learning and cultural exchange. Students will leave the course with a deeper understanding of the mental mechanisms behind conversation and practical tools to become more effective and empathetic communicators in both personal and global contexts.

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Name: SPED 43030 Applied Behavior Analysis: Punishment and Reinforcement in Renaissance and Medieval Italy

Description: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the study of human behavior and the mechanisms of change. Through ABA educators, therapists, and other service professionals use antecedents and consequences to promote prosocial behavior. This course explores the principles and practices of applied behavior analysis through examples in renaissance and medieval Italy. This course will use historical examples to help students (a) understand the foundational principles of applied behavior analysis, (b) learn about historical use of behavior management practices in schools, and (c) learn about the historical treatment of individuals with and without disabilities. Students will analyze modern and historical techniques and their effects on behavior including incentives, attention, corporal punishment, and many others. *Note: Historical examples include instances of mistreatment and punishment of individuals, including neglect, abuse, and torture. 

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: SPED 23000