Summer 2024

Tentative dates: Early July  - Early August, 2024 (exact dates TBD)

Students will take 2 courses that count towards the minor and major in Italian. There are two tracks offered for students according to their proficiency level and prior studies in Italian before the start of the program in late-June. All classes are direct UA credit, and are taught by UA Italian Faculty and a local instructor. All excursions and field trips are conducted in Italian. Students who have previously studies Italian are eligible to apply to one of two tracks:

• Intermediate Track (ITAL 102 or ITAL 201 completed before the start of the program)
• Advanced Track (ITAL 202 completed before the start of the program)

Intermediate Track (students who will have completed  ITAL 102 or ITAL 201 by the end of June)

• ITAL 202z Intensive Intermediate Italian (4 units): Prerequisite: ITAL 102 or ITAL 201. This is an accelerated Italian language course covering the material of both ITAL 201 and 202. In this course you will continue to develop your Italian language skills and cultural knowledge through hands-on experiences in the classroom, local excursions, interactions with the community Orvieto, and field trips.  Students who have taken ITAL 201 are eligible to take this class.  Taught by a local instructor.
• ITAL 496A: Topics in Advanced Italian Studies: Italian Fashion, Food, and Wine (3 units) This course explores the history, lived (Italian) reality, and exportation of Made in Italy (fashion & design), the Slow Food Movement, and the protected status of Italian wine (DOC, DOP, IGT).  We will consider how these movements have affected the construction and representation of “Italianness” both in Italy and abroad.  We will also explore how our host city Orvieto – the international headquarters of Cittaslow, and famed producer of the Orvieto Classico white wine and ceramics – embodies and keeps alive these internationally recognized movements.  Community-based activities include cooking lessons, trips to the weekly farmer’s market, wine tasting, meetings with local artisans, chefs, and business owners, and other local excursions integrated into the curriculum.  This course is conducted in Italian, with some readings in English, and will include students from both the Intermediate and Advanced tracks.  Taught by Prof. Cavatorta (beppe@arizona.edu) 

Advanced Track (students who will have completed ITAL 202 by the end of June)

• ITAL 310 Italian Encounters: Spoken Italian in Context– Live, from Orvieto! (3 units): Prerequisites: ITAL 202.   This course is an advanced Italian conversation workshop that focuses on Italian popular culture and current events as represented in different Italian media.  While we will discuss a wide range of topics from politics,  immigration, and history, to music, the arts, and food, we will also focus on news and events happening in Orvieto.  You will explore Orvieto,  engage in community-based excursions and encounters with local Orvietans, and report on your experiences to your peers.  Through your hands-on experiences in the community, you will discover what makes Orvieto unique as you learn about its history, culture, and community.  ITAL 310 may be taken twice for credit when course content is different.  Taught by Prof. Cavatorta (beppe@arizona.edu) 
• ITAL 496A: Topics in Advanced Italian Studies: Italian Fashion, Food, and Wine (3 units): This course explores the history, lived (Italian) reality, and exportation of Made in Italy (fashion & design), the Slow Food Movement, and the protected status of Italian wine (DOC, DOP, IGT).  We will consider how these movements have affected the construction and representation of “Italianness” both in Italy and abroad.  We will also explore how our host city Orvieto – the international headquarters of Cittaslow, and famed producer of the Orvieto Classico white wine and ceramics – embodies and keeps alive these internationally recognized movements.  Community-based activities include cooking lessons, trips to the weekly farmer’s market, wine tasting, meetings with local artisans, chefs, and business owners, and other local excursions integrated into the curriculum.  This course is conducted in Italian, with some readings in English, and will include students from both the Intermediate and Advanced tracks. Taught by Prof. Cavatorta (beppe@arizona.edu) 

Orvieto is home to the headquarters of Cittaslow, the internationally recognized organization founded in Italy and dedicated to improving the quality of life of those living in an urban environment.  Located high atop a tufa plateau in the central region of Umbria, Orvieto is only one hour from Rome by train, but the pace of life is tranquil.  Students live and study in the historic district, a mostly car-free pedestrian zone that allows for more interactions and engagement with locals.  It is a small urban gem nestled into the Umbrian countryside, a town whose residents embody Italian small-town friendliness and the slower Cittaslow pace of life, making it the ideal environment for a total immersion program.  Famous for its cathedral, archeological ruins, art, ceramics, white wine, and food, Orvieto is a destination for Italians and a second home to UA students in our  Immersive Italian in Orvieto program. All classes are held in Palazzo Negroni, in the heart of the city near Piazza del Popolo.

Students live in nice, fully furnished apartments, all located in the historical district in Orvieto and within walking distance from the school. Generally, an apartment with two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and living room, is shared by four students (no co-ed housing). Housing costs are included in the program fee, and they will also cover all expenses (water, gas, electricity bills), sheets and towels (changed once a week), and a weekly cleaning of the apartment. A refundable deposit of Euro 100 will be requested upon arrival.

UA Italian Studies Program

Orvieto, Cittaslow

Orvieto Viva

2022 Student Video Contest Winner

• The Department of French & Italian offers scholarships in the range of $1,000-2,000 exclusively to Italian students participating in the Immersive Italian in Orvieto Program. Click here for more information and to complete the application.
• SILLC Global Award Fund: Benefits UA undergraduate students in good standing who are declared majors in any of the SILLC disciplines (Africana Studies, East Asian Studies, French, Italian, German Studies, Religious Studies, Classics, Russian, Slavic Studies).
• The UA College of Humanities offers a number of scholarships specifically for study abroad, including the Alfred and Mary Beigel Memorial Scholarship ($5,200), Donna Dillon Manning and Larry Horner Endowed Humanities Award for Study Abroad ($2,500), Donna Swaim Study Abroad Award for Double Majors ($1,000), Werner Schirmer Memorial Scholarship ($400). See complete list above for general scholarship opportunities from COH.
• Students who receive the Pell Grant may qualify for the Gilman Scholarship is a national study abroad scholarship sponsored by the Department of State. Many UA students have received the Gilman Scholarship!
• The Fund For Education Abroad is another national study abroad scholarship that is a great opportunity- if you are eligible, be sure to apply!
• Although it is not exhaustive, our office has put together a list of study abroad scholarships & we have compiled them into a database. Please visit our Scholarship Tracker to view the available scholarships. Do not forget that Scholarship Universe also is another great resource!