SIS Intercultural Study Abroad
Fall Semester Language/Elective 2024
12 - 19 credits
During a semester in Siena, SAI students expand their worldview and experience one of Europe’s most unique cultures. SIS students take a combination of Italian Language and elective courses, as well as participate in service learning, for a deep-dive in the Italian language and culture. All students live with local host families and enjoy a series of excursions and activities each term. SIS offers 3 semester tracks: Elective, Sciences, and Service-Intensive, and students earn from 12 - 19 US credits, depending on the track they select.
Application open until: May 15, 2024
Application Requirements
Complete online application
Personal statement (300-500 words)
Official transcript
Academic letter of recommendation
Passport scan (photo page)
Italian privacy consent form
Highlights
- Complete multiple levels of Italian language in a single semester
- Volunteer within the community each week
- Includes an international weekend excursion to Brussels!
Program Dates
September 1, 2024 – December 14, 2024
Eligibility Requirements
Age: 18+
Academic Year: Freshman (1st year) or above
Cumulative GPA:* 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale)
* contact SAI if you don’t meet requirements
Business Studies
Humanities & Social Sciences
Internship
Italian Language
Literature & Linguistics
Mathematics
Music & Visual Arts
Natural and Environmental Sciences
Science
Humanities & Social Sciences
Internship
Italian Language
Literature & Linguistics
Mathematics
Music & Visual Arts
Natural and Environmental Sciences
Science
This course is designed for students who are interested business and legislative Italian language and aims to provide students with the basic vocabulary and professional expressions that are most often used in Italian business and legal interactions. After identifying the basic technical vocabulary and expressions, the student is helped to assimilate them through targeted exercises and discussions. Throughout the course, students will also discuss various aspects of the business and legislative structures in Italy as well as visit various local offices and conduct interviews with relevant figures.
Contact Hours: 45
The course aims to show the student a more ethical and solidarity-based "use" of finance, which today no longer corresponds to the "moral" sense of market economy but is too often seen in the speculative sense instead of a motor of real economy. Through a general historic overview on the birth of economy and finance, tracing the foundations and the main objectives of banks (the bank of Monte dei Paschi di Siena, for example, was one of the first banks ever founded), we'll arrive at studying the corrective measures that can be taken to counter-act credit aberrations through visits to and lessons on "ethical" structures that have the specific objective to assist, finance and support the people and the ideas for which profit is not the only goal of market economy.
Contact Hours: 45
The general part of the course is concentrated on the issues related to the globalization and its development over human history, and how the concept of time and space have been changing through the centuries our economic perception of Goods Capital and People. Without such a radical change (either cultural or technological) the Market Economy network would not reach such a global extension. Besides the relationship between cyberspace and virtual economy will be explored, the peculiarity between the Internet and the global financialization of stock market will be analyzed.
The special part of the course is devoted to the European integration, with a strong focus on economic and business developments. The European Union with almost 500 million citizens faces serious challenges in its role as a major player in the global economy. After a brief historical overview, students will be introduced to several core issues on European institutional asset, economic politics, and decision-making processes.
Contact Hours: 45
3.0 Credits
Business | Course #: BU PP 300 | Open
The course aims to examine the development of accounting in the Italian context and in the European Union. The course content will cover the period from the Middle Ages until the current days, affording also some specific sub-areas such as Accounting History, Accounting & Banks and Accounting & Art.
The topic will be extended also to international accounting and it will be focused on the analysis of the processes of standardization and harmonization and the introduction of the IAS/IFRS in the European Union.
A large portion of the lessons will be devoted to international accounting institutions and particularly to the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The course will examine the rules issued by the European Union to endorse the IFRS.
The course uses interactive methods aimed at transmitting skills, abilities and attitudes which encourage learning and teamwork.
The topic will be extended also to international accounting and it will be focused on the analysis of the processes of standardization and harmonization and the introduction of the IAS/IFRS in the European Union.
A large portion of the lessons will be devoted to international accounting institutions and particularly to the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The course will examine the rules issued by the European Union to endorse the IFRS.
The course uses interactive methods aimed at transmitting skills, abilities and attitudes which encourage learning and teamwork.
Contact Hours: 45
This course introduces students to the panorama of Italian culture through the study of its traditions, rites, celebrations and beliefs, which form the basis of the historical and social evolution of Italian identity. Students first become familiar with methodological and conceptual instruments and then apply them to the specific situation of Tuscany and Siena in particular. By looking at celebrations and manifestations including the famous Palio we can observe social, public, secular and religious orders present in cultural legends and traditions that contribute to the formation of the Sienese identity. We also examine perceptions of identity in relationship to foreigners and tourists and the interactions of 'outside' cultures with the city of Siena. Visits and excursions are an integral part of the course and include: the contradas and contrada museums of Siena, the Bottini (underground water system), the Museo della Mezzadria (museum dedicated to peasant life and the local share-cropping system) and typical celebrations linked to the grape harvest and winemaking, and other seasonal harvests.
Contact Hours: 45
3.0 Credits
Anthropology | Course #: HS GPA 300 | Open
This course examines the economic, cultural and artistic mechanisms that brought on the Renaissance culture in Tuscany. Students will study the rhetoric of power and politics in the economy during the Renaissance period, and how the arts were influenced by the economic climate, providing ties and reflections on those of today.
The part dedicated to Politics (Power) and Greed will analyse the distribution and the concentration of power and economic resources from the late Middle Ages and the early Modern Era, when the Renaissance flourished in Italy, and more specifically in Tuscany. We will concentrate on the evolution of the Italian peninsula from the City-States of the Middle Ages to the regional states of modern Italy, examining civil and religious power, as well as the crucial role of the city in political, social, economic and cultural
transformations. A specific focus will be given to the political and economic relationship between Siena and Florence, from the birth of their rivalry as independent city-states to the creation of the Granduchy of Toscana. Visits will be organised to important economic and political centres of the time, such as the headquarters of the Monte dei Paschi di Siena bank and Siena’s State Archives. The part of this course that is dedicated to the arts intends to analyze the social and cultural situation of Renaissance Italy with a specific attention to Florence, the birthplace of Humanism and the Renaissance: lessons will be dedicates to the geography of Humanism, the birth of the Academies, the description of the Renaissance courts and the role of the arts (literature, painting, sculpting and music) within the courtesan society.
Visits will be organised to places that were an important part of Renaissance culture: Medici Palace, Palazzo Pitti or Uffizi Museum in Florence; in Siena, the Duomo and the Chigiana Academy.
The part dedicated to Politics (Power) and Greed will analyse the distribution and the concentration of power and economic resources from the late Middle Ages and the early Modern Era, when the Renaissance flourished in Italy, and more specifically in Tuscany. We will concentrate on the evolution of the Italian peninsula from the City-States of the Middle Ages to the regional states of modern Italy, examining civil and religious power, as well as the crucial role of the city in political, social, economic and cultural
transformations. A specific focus will be given to the political and economic relationship between Siena and Florence, from the birth of their rivalry as independent city-states to the creation of the Granduchy of Toscana. Visits will be organised to important economic and political centres of the time, such as the headquarters of the Monte dei Paschi di Siena bank and Siena’s State Archives. The part of this course that is dedicated to the arts intends to analyze the social and cultural situation of Renaissance Italy with a specific attention to Florence, the birthplace of Humanism and the Renaissance: lessons will be dedicates to the geography of Humanism, the birth of the Academies, the description of the Renaissance courts and the role of the arts (literature, painting, sculpting and music) within the courtesan society.
Visits will be organised to places that were an important part of Renaissance culture: Medici Palace, Palazzo Pitti or Uffizi Museum in Florence; in Siena, the Duomo and the Chigiana Academy.
Contact Hours: 45
This course is dedicated to exploring the history of Costume in Italy over the centuries, with examples from major works of art from the classical Roman world to the Medieval and Renaissance eras, arriving to the Futurist oddities of the Twentieth century, bringing together art, history, culture and fashion. Museum and gallery visits will be an integral part of the course. Students will observe these trends in paintings and frescoes in museums such as the Museo Civico and Pinacoteca in Siena and the Uffizi Gallery, as well as a visit to the Galleria del Costume in Florence.
Contact Hours: 45
3.0 Credits
Art History | Course #: HS AR 305 | Open
This course offers students a journey through the rich pageant of Medieval and Renaissance art and culture. The student will be given important resources with which to understand and appreciate more fully the works of art produced in central Italy from the mid-13th to the mid-15th centuries. We will look closely at the way in which changing styles in art reflected contemporary history and cultural attitudes. With power point presentations and visits to museums, churches and other places of historical or artistic interest in and around Siena and Florence, this course offers the students every opportunity to place their studies from the classroom in context and to see original works by the great masters.
Contact Hours: 45
This course offers the student a wide “panorama” of topics in Italian Art History. This course will appeal to students that are intrigued by the architectural layout of a typical medieval city or are curious about the creative environment that inspired some of the most important art historical works of the Renaissance period. We will analyze works by artists such as Duccio di Boninsegna, Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Simone Martini, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Students will explore how Italian art is not simply a long list of beautiful masterpieces but that it explains, sometimes better than any other discipline, how Italian society has been formed, why Italy is referred to as the “Bel Paese”. An integral part of the course will include visits to museums in Siena and Florence, such as the Museo del Duomo, Santa Maria della Scala, the Pinacoteca di Siena and the Museo Civico di Siena, as well as the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia in Florence. Viewing these masterpieces first hand will allow students to appreciate and enjoy what is perhaps the best expression of Italian Culture and Art of any time period.
Contact Hours: 45
3.0 Credits
Italian History | Course #: HS CI 300 | Open
On March 17, 1861 the Italian Parliament convened for the first time. That date, symbolic of Italy's unification, could also be taken as the beginning of the long process which ended in the creation of a government and a nation. Through the analysis of the most significant periods of Nineteenth and Twentieth century Italian history (the Unification, Birth of the Sovereignty, the Great War, Fascism, the Second World War, the Resistance, the Constitution of the Republic, and ultimately, the creation of the European Union), we will trace the profound social, political, and economic transformations that changed the face of the population and its sense of national identity through over 150 years of history.
Contact Hours: 45
The history of Italian emigration speaks of the 26 million Italians that left their country in various periods between 1861 and 1975. The legacy of moral and civil values that these Italians brought with them greatly contributed to the development of their adopted countries around the world. Latin America was the first destination of emigrants outside of Europe, while North America was the recipient of the highest numbers of emigrants during the second wave of emigration.
Over time, communities of Italian origin integrated themselves into the social fabric of the Americas until they became an essential and lively part, not only of the culture and economy, but also of the political realities of these countries. Numerous Italian immigrants became noteworthy figures in politics, such as members of parliament and presidents, while others distinguished themselves in the arts, sciences and professional sports of their new countries.
This course has the objective of reconstructing historic, socioeconomic, and political premises from which Italian emigration resulted in the Americas while identifying geographic areas of emigration and following the integration process of Italians in these areas. The course will have a bilateral approach: it will examine both the impact of Italian culture on the Americas and the influence that the American continent, with its millions of immigrants, has had and continues to have on Italian reality today.
Contact Hours: 45
3.0 Credits
Italian History | Course #: HS EI 350 | Open
Pre-requisite: Taught in English
Through a full integration of experiential approaches, service-learning and reflective education, this interdisciplinary course offers the possibility to explore Italyâs migration history in an active and participatory way.
The course runs on two parallel tracks: the past and the present. The departure point of the largest emigration from any country in recorded world history, seeing more than 13 million Italians leaving their homeland between 1880 and 1915, Italy represents an ideal laboratory to learn about the many facets of the migration issue. Against this historic backdrop of emigration, newer patterns have manifested, making Italy a destination for migrants from various regions, whether for permanent settlement or as a way station. Furthermore, by accident of geography, Italy has played an outsized role in the current European migration crisis, receiving vast numbers of migrant arrivals via the Mediterranean and the Balkan route over the last 10 years which present Italy and the European Union with new challenges in curbing asylum seeker and migrant journeys across the often treacherous sea.
This course is taught by experts in the field who will analyze these socio-anthropological, historical, political and economic aspects related to Italy as a theater of migration. Students will also have the opportunity to meet with representatives of local NGOs involved in the reception of migrants in the local context. While learning all this, students will also participate in service-learning in the âHome 4 the Worldâ project, organized and hosted by âNuova Associazione Culturale Ulisseâ â a SIS Institutional partner with the aim of helping migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. The project was born in Spring 2022 and soon developed from a service for refugees to a service for Pakistani refugees, given the large number of Pakistani people who arrived in the area of Siena between June and December 2022 (around 600 hundred people). SIS, Associazione Ulisse and several other organizations of the territory of Siena have joined forces to cope with the lack of structures that could host such big numbers. In this context âHome 4 the Worldâ has become a reference point for Italian and English Language classes, linguistic support for the driving license test, intercultural education, development of democratic competences and citizenship education.
While serving the Pakistani refugees, students will also have a chance to meet with all the different stakeholders involved in the resolution of this crisis and to participate in town assemblies, meetings and activities, contributing with solidarity and towards inclusive communities.
Being a fully integrated service-learning course, all students will keep a journal that will be shared with the peers and the instructors with the goal of critically evaluating the course, the service provided, the personal difficulties encountered and the development of intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding among the different parties involved.
The course runs on two parallel tracks: the past and the present. The departure point of the largest emigration from any country in recorded world history, seeing more than 13 million Italians leaving their homeland between 1880 and 1915, Italy represents an ideal laboratory to learn about the many facets of the migration issue. Against this historic backdrop of emigration, newer patterns have manifested, making Italy a destination for migrants from various regions, whether for permanent settlement or as a way station. Furthermore, by accident of geography, Italy has played an outsized role in the current European migration crisis, receiving vast numbers of migrant arrivals via the Mediterranean and the Balkan route over the last 10 years which present Italy and the European Union with new challenges in curbing asylum seeker and migrant journeys across the often treacherous sea.
This course is taught by experts in the field who will analyze these socio-anthropological, historical, political and economic aspects related to Italy as a theater of migration. Students will also have the opportunity to meet with representatives of local NGOs involved in the reception of migrants in the local context. While learning all this, students will also participate in service-learning in the âHome 4 the Worldâ project, organized and hosted by âNuova Associazione Culturale Ulisseâ â a SIS Institutional partner with the aim of helping migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. The project was born in Spring 2022 and soon developed from a service for refugees to a service for Pakistani refugees, given the large number of Pakistani people who arrived in the area of Siena between June and December 2022 (around 600 hundred people). SIS, Associazione Ulisse and several other organizations of the territory of Siena have joined forces to cope with the lack of structures that could host such big numbers. In this context âHome 4 the Worldâ has become a reference point for Italian and English Language classes, linguistic support for the driving license test, intercultural education, development of democratic competences and citizenship education.
While serving the Pakistani refugees, students will also have a chance to meet with all the different stakeholders involved in the resolution of this crisis and to participate in town assemblies, meetings and activities, contributing with solidarity and towards inclusive communities.
Being a fully integrated service-learning course, all students will keep a journal that will be shared with the peers and the instructors with the goal of critically evaluating the course, the service provided, the personal difficulties encountered and the development of intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding among the different parties involved.
Contact Hours: 45
The course aims at presenting the history of Italian Cuisine through its main ingredients and most important products, closely related to the history and geography of the Italian peninsula and dating back to the origins of Italian culture at the end of the Roman Empire.
Classes will recount the history of Mediterranean products (olive oil, wine, grains), foreign and imported foods (tomatoes, cocoa, some kinds of fruit and vegetables), the dichotomy between meat and fish in the religious perspective, the variety of regional gastronomic traditions, the cultural and anthropological meaning of food and conviviality in Italy.
Students will be led to reflect about the stereotypes and cliches surrounding the myth of Italian food and cuisine around the world.
Theoretical in-class lessons will be accompanied by food and wine tastings and excursions to places of interest.
Classes will recount the history of Mediterranean products (olive oil, wine, grains), foreign and imported foods (tomatoes, cocoa, some kinds of fruit and vegetables), the dichotomy between meat and fish in the religious perspective, the variety of regional gastronomic traditions, the cultural and anthropological meaning of food and conviviality in Italy.
Students will be led to reflect about the stereotypes and cliches surrounding the myth of Italian food and cuisine around the world.
Theoretical in-class lessons will be accompanied by food and wine tastings and excursions to places of interest.
Contact Hours: 45
This course aims to present the main historical events that defined Italian history from the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 BC) to the Peace of Lodi (1454) that, for Italy, signified the transformation from the Medieval Period to the Modern Period. The course outlines the study of the historic events linked to the political, religious and social context of the ever-changing Italian reality, without ignoring the essential European panorama in which Italy was located. Themes such as gender relationships and family structure, social class structures as well as the contrada, or neighborhood, system in Siena will all be explored. During the course, there will also be several excursions to relevant points of interest such as Mt. Oliveto Abbey, the Santa Maria della Scala Hospital, Contrada museums.
Contact Hours: 45
The objective of this course is to contribute to the students cultural foundation while encouraging them to reflect upon the contribution that Christianity, as a phenomenon, has given to the cultural development of Italy. In order to allow for a clear comprehension of how the events of Christianity have affected the cultural aspects of Italian history, we will accompany the student on a brief but complete voyage through the centuries until today, with the influence of religion from an art historical point of view (religious iconography like the Biblia pauperum), a literary point of view (a synthetic profile of Italian Christian literature), as well as a popular point of view (the sacred element that ancient festivals and local traditions held until modern secularization).
Contact Hours: 45
Students may select an internship from the program offerings. Internships are listed under "Services", then "Internship Opportunities". Students will sign up for their preferred internship during the first week of the program.
PLEASE NOTE: Internships are normally non-credit, unless prior arrangements are be made with your home university. Contact admissions for more information on how to receive credits
PLEASE NOTE: Internships are normally non-credit, unless prior arrangements are be made with your home university. Contact admissions for more information on how to receive credits
Contact Hours: 45
Following the Three Week Intensive Italian Course, students are placed in the appropriate level and continue to study Italian language 2 hours a day, 4 days a week for the duration of the semester. Classes include a variety activities linked to experiences in the city, student presentations, discussions, videos, quizzes, and writing assignments, as well as the study of specific aspects of Italian grammar. The intermediate and advanced levels provide a complete study of grammatical and communicative structures using materials that are varied in both content and type.
Contact Hours: 90
6.0 Credits
Italian Language | Course #: IT SM 200 | Open
Following the Three Week Intensive Italian Course, students are placed in the appropriate level and continue to study Italian language 2 hours a day, 4 days a week for the duration of the semester. Classes include a variety activities linked to experiences in the city, student presentations, discussions, videos, quizzes, and writing assignments, as well as the study of specific aspects of Italian grammar. The intermediate and advanced levels provide a complete study of grammatical and communicative structures using materials that are varied in both content and type.
Contact Hours: 90
6.0 Credits
Italian Language | Course #: IT SM 250 | Open
Following the Three Week Intensive Italian Course, students are placed in the appropriate level and continue to study Italian language 2 hours a day, 4 days a week for the duration of the semester. Classes include a variety activities linked to experiences in the city, student presentations, discussions, videos, quizzes, and writing assignments, as well as the study of specific aspects of Italian grammar. The intermediate and advanced levels provide a complete study of grammatical and communicative structures using materials that are varied in both content and type.
Contact Hours: 90
6.0 Credits
Italian Language | Course #: IT SM 300 | Open
Following the Three Week Intensive Italian Course, students are placed in the appropriate level and continue to study Italian language 2 hours a day, 4 days a week for the duration of the semester. Classes include a variety activities linked to experiences in the city, student presentations, discussions, videos, quizzes, and writing assignments, as well as the study of specific aspects of Italian grammar. The intermediate and advanced levels provide a complete study of grammatical and communicative structures using materials that are varied in both content and type.
Contact Hours: 90
Following the Three Week Intensive Italian Course, students are placed in the appropriate level and continue to study Italian language 2 hours a day, 4 days a week for the duration of the semester. Classes include a variety activities linked to experiences in the city, student presentations, discussions, videos, quizzes, and writing assignments, as well as the study of specific aspects of Italian grammar. The intermediate and advanced levels provide a complete study of grammatical and communicative structures using materials that are varied in both content and type.
Contact Hours: 90
3.0 Credits
Italian Language Intensive | Course #: IT IN 150 | Open
Pre-requisite: Italian language placement exam
All students, whether beginners, intermediate or advanced, begin their Siena Italian Studies experience with our Three Week Intensive Italian Language Course. After an entrance exam, students are placed in appropriate levels and participate every day in classes and activities designed to develop all linguistic abilities, from the basic (listening, reading, writing, speaking) to the integrated (responding to questions, note-taking, transcodification).
A wide variety of teaching materials is used, including the Program's own textbook, Dimmi Tutto!, to allow each student to best identify and develop his or her abilities. Students also interact with the city environment and help to create their own Italian language study materials. Once a week, students and teachers discuss the dynamics of language learning and the teaching methods used.
A wide variety of teaching materials is used, including the Program's own textbook, Dimmi Tutto!, to allow each student to best identify and develop his or her abilities. Students also interact with the city environment and help to create their own Italian language study materials. Once a week, students and teachers discuss the dynamics of language learning and the teaching methods used.
Contact Hours: 45
3.0 Credits
Italian Language Intensive | Course #: IT IN 200 | Open
Pre-requisite: Italian language placement exam
All students, whether beginners, intermediate or advanced, begin their Siena Italian Studies experience with our Three Week Intensive Italian Language Course. After an entrance exam, students are placed in appropriate levels and participate every day in classes and activities designed to develop all linguistic abilities, from the basic (listening, reading, writing, speaking) to the integrated (responding to questions, note-taking, transcodification).
A wide variety of teaching materials is used, including the Program's own textbook, Dimmi Tutto!, to allow each student to best identify and develop his or her abilities. Students also interact with the city environment and help to create their own Italian language study materials. Once a week, students and teachers discuss the dynamics of language learning and the teaching methods used.
A wide variety of teaching materials is used, including the Program's own textbook, Dimmi Tutto!, to allow each student to best identify and develop his or her abilities. Students also interact with the city environment and help to create their own Italian language study materials. Once a week, students and teachers discuss the dynamics of language learning and the teaching methods used.
Contact Hours: 45
3.0 Credits
Italian Language Intensive | Course #: IT IN 250 | Open
Pre-requisite: Italian language placement exam
All students, whether beginners, intermediate or advanced, begin their Siena Italian Studies experience with our Three Week Intensive Italian Language Course. After an entrance exam, students are placed in appropriate levels and participate every day in classes and activities designed to develop all linguistic abilities, from the basic (listening, reading, writing, speaking) to the integrated (responding to questions, note-taking, transcodification).
A wide variety of teaching materials is used, including the Program's own textbook, Dimmi Tutto!, to allow each student to best identify and develop his or her abilities. Students also interact with the city environment and help to create their own Italian language study materials. Once a week, students and teachers discuss the dynamics of language learning and the teaching methods used.
A wide variety of teaching materials is used, including the Program's own textbook, Dimmi Tutto!, to allow each student to best identify and develop his or her abilities. Students also interact with the city environment and help to create their own Italian language study materials. Once a week, students and teachers discuss the dynamics of language learning and the teaching methods used.
Contact Hours: 45
3.0 Credits
Italian Language Intensive | Course #: IT IN 300 | Open
Pre-requisite: Italian language placement exam
All students, whether beginners, intermediate or advanced, begin their Siena Italian Studies experience with our Three Week Intensive Italian Language Course. After an entrance exam, students are placed in appropriate levels and participate every day in classes and activities designed to develop all linguistic abilities, from the basic (listening, reading, writing, speaking) to the integrated (responding to questions, note-taking, transcodification).
A wide variety of teaching materials is used, including the Program's own textbook, Dimmi Tutto!, to allow each student to best identify and develop his or her abilities. Students also interact with the city environment and help to create their own Italian language study materials. Once a week, students and teachers discuss the dynamics of language learning and the teaching methods used.
A wide variety of teaching materials is used, including the Program's own textbook, Dimmi Tutto!, to allow each student to best identify and develop his or her abilities. Students also interact with the city environment and help to create their own Italian language study materials. Once a week, students and teachers discuss the dynamics of language learning and the teaching methods used.
Contact Hours: 45
3.0 Credits
Italian Language Intensive | Course #: IT IN 350 | Open
Pre-requisite: Italian language placement exam
All students, whether beginners, intermediate or advanced, begin their Siena Italian Studies experience with our Three Week Intensive Italian Language Course. After an entrance exam, students are placed in appropriate levels and participate every day in classes and activities designed to develop all linguistic abilities, from the basic (listening, reading, writing, speaking) to the integrated (responding to questions, note-taking, transcodification).
A wide variety of teaching materials is used, including the Program's own textbook, Dimmi Tutto!, to allow each student to best identify and develop his or her abilities. Students also interact with the city environment and help to create their own Italian language study materials. Once a week, students and teachers discuss the dynamics of language learning and the teaching methods used.
A wide variety of teaching materials is used, including the Program's own textbook, Dimmi Tutto!, to allow each student to best identify and develop his or her abilities. Students also interact with the city environment and help to create their own Italian language study materials. Once a week, students and teachers discuss the dynamics of language learning and the teaching methods used.
Contact Hours: 45
This course will analyze some of the fundamental themes present in Italian literature during the contemporary period: love, political consciousness, the search for freedom and the creation of an identity. The themes will be presented through the reading of various passages from such authors as: Ungaretti, Montale, Saba and Luzi and short stories from authors such including Ginzburg and Moravia. Students will learn how the works are constructed and how language has evolved by comparing one author to another and discussing the themes presented.
Contact Hours: 45
3.0 Credits
Italian Literature | Course #: IL MA 200 | Open
The course will analyze a theme that has been a foundation of Italian literature from the medieval period to the contemporary one: the love story, with the woman often considered as an angel and inspirational muse. This theme will be presented through the reading of some of the most poetic works, from Dante to Saba, and from Petrarch to Montale. This reflection will also be accompanied by the study of some pieces by modern and contemporary authors on the existential crises of the modern man, from Pirandello to Calvino, from Svevo to Tabucchi.
The instructor will provide the necessary theoretical background that will allow students to confront the literary themes of each author, for which the students must provide the biography.
The instructor will provide the necessary theoretical background that will allow students to confront the literary themes of each author, for which the students must provide the biography.
Contact Hours: 45
This course aims to introduce the students to the multifaceted aspects of contemporary Italian, namely through its various axes of variation which are: time, geographical space, communication context, social extraction of the speakers, means of communication. Further discussion will concern simplified varieties of Italian, especially baby talk, Italian spoken by foreign immigrants in Italy and Italian spoken by Italian emigrants abroad. Theoretic analyses and discussions will be supported by literary passages, written and oral samples of several varieties (excerpts from movies, TV programs, etc.), student’s independent research for information, fieldwork activities in the Sienese territory.
Contact Hours: 45
1.0 Credits
Reflective Writing | Course #: RW SL 150 | Open
This course combines structured and guided reflection with fundamental issues that characterize today's world both in a global and a local perspective. Students are invited and led to reflect on the ever-changing challenges that await them as future global citizens.
The course opens with a historical and philosophical discussion about the paradigm of hospitality and its corollaries guiding students to reflect and ponder on how this paradigm has been changing in recent times. It leads students through the understanding of the concept of otherness and includes a brief overview on human rights. It goes on with discussing the history of European institutions and Europe's efforts to spread the concept of intercultural dialogue and deeply analyzes the most recent European outcomes in terms of democracy protection and democratic competences development.
Reflection in the course is carried out thanks to the discussion of cultural topics that reveal their inner meanings and deepness when put in the right perspective.
The aim of this course is to empower engaged global citizens with the necessary knowledge and a reflective attitude that will allow them to open to the world without getting lost, to discover the confines of their own culture, to see reality from different perspectives and to feel common ties of humanity under the flow of apparent differences.
The course opens with a historical and philosophical discussion about the paradigm of hospitality and its corollaries guiding students to reflect and ponder on how this paradigm has been changing in recent times. It leads students through the understanding of the concept of otherness and includes a brief overview on human rights. It goes on with discussing the history of European institutions and Europe's efforts to spread the concept of intercultural dialogue and deeply analyzes the most recent European outcomes in terms of democracy protection and democratic competences development.
Reflection in the course is carried out thanks to the discussion of cultural topics that reveal their inner meanings and deepness when put in the right perspective.
The aim of this course is to empower engaged global citizens with the necessary knowledge and a reflective attitude that will allow them to open to the world without getting lost, to discover the confines of their own culture, to see reality from different perspectives and to feel common ties of humanity under the flow of apparent differences.
Contact Hours: 15
Calculus is a very important branch of mathematics because of the various fields in which it is applied. As you learn the techniques of calculus in this course, you will also see a variety of applications for them, and you will finally begin to experience the payoff for your years of diligent study while being told that the algebraic techniques you were learning would be applied in later mathematics courses. In calculus, we see some immediate, powerful applications. This course begins the study of the most important functions you will use in this course. It is followed by an exploration of the important concepts of limit and continuity. The major focus for this course is the concept of the derivative of a function and several applications in various fields of science.
Contact Hours: 45
Calculus is a very important branch of mathematics because of the various fields in which it is applied. As you learn the techniques of calculus in this course, you will also see a variety of applications for them, and you will finally begin to experience the payoff for your years of diligent study while being told that the algebraic techniques you were learning would be applied in later mathematics courses. In calculus, we see some immediate, powerful applications. The course will begin introducing the concept of the Integral of a function with several applications in many science fields. The course will continue with the study of the differential equations, ending with some other very important applications in other fields of science.
Contact Hours: 45
Topics covered will include application layer protocols (e.g. HTTP, FTP, SMTP), transport layer protocols (UDP, TCP), network layer protocols (e.g. IP, ICMP), link layer protocols (e.g. Ethernet) and wireless protocols (e.g. IEEE 802.11). The course will also cover routing protocols such as link state and distance vector, multicast routing, and path vector protocols (e.g. BGP). The class will examine security issues such as firewalls and denial of service attacks. We will also study DNS, NAT, Web caching and CDNs, peer to peer, and protocol tunneling. Finally, we will explore security protocols (e.g. TLS, SSH, IPsec), as well as some basic cryptography necessary to understand these.
Contact Hours: 45
Statistics is very important nowadays because of the many applications in real environments. The course will begin with the study of probability and the introduction of random variables. The course will continue with the explanation of many discrete and continuous random variables with all their properties. We will see many applications within them. At the end of the course, we will study the relationship between two random variables.
Language of Instruction: English
Contact Hours: 45
This course focuses on the most important Italian cinematic movement, Neo-realism, and includes discussion of the practical aspects of filmmaking. In the first part of the course, we watch and discuss the principle neo-realist films, presenting the historical period and overviews of each director's production while analyzing structure, storyline, protagonists, etc.
The second part concentrates on the masterpieces of one of the great Italian directors, Luchino Visconti. After learning about the main characteristics of his work and comparing him to other important Italian directors like Fellini and Antonioni, we analyze, compare and contrast his most significant films. During the course, we will discuss themes relating to the planning and realization of films, including screenwriting, acting and cinematography. In addition, students may participate in seminars offered by Italian directors currently working in the film industry in Rome.
Students are asked to write two short papers during the course. Films are shown in Italian and accompanied by the instructor's explanations.
Contact Hours: 45
The course analyzes the modern and contemporary history of this country through its music (melodies, voices, lyrics, traditional dances, socio-historical and political context). Original songs coming from different areas of Italy will be first analyzed from a linguistic point of view; then they will be contextualised into the socio-political framework that generated them.
Contact Hours: 45
3.0 Credits
Studio Art | Course #: MA ST 200 | Open
This course aims to stimulate the personal creativity of each student, allowing them to express themselves through their artistic notions. During the semester, students will develop aesthetic sensibility through their interpretations of contemporary Tuscan society, and of Sienese society in particular. The student will also be made familiar with local artistic culture through visits and guest lectures featuring local artisans. Students will work with various artistic materials and in various genres in the creation of a series of projects that will then be displayed at the conclusion of the semester. The course is designed to inspire admiration for originality or contemporary works, as well as the value of historical works in their respective contexts.
Contact Hours: 45
This course is principally designed for undergraduate students studying Italian as a foreign language that have an interest in Cell Biology. A background in Biology is desirable although the syllabus targets individuals with little or no knowledge of the subject. The course is focused on basic aspects of Cell Biology ranging from a study of cell structure, function and molecular organization, while learning about the tradition of science and the school of medicine in Siena and its relevance in the social background of this ancient city.
As part of the program will explore basic aspects of Plant Biology, during some of the lectures, on-site visits to the Dept of Plant Biology and the Botanic Garden will be organized; On-site visits will also be organized to the Museum of Natural History of the old Accademia dei Fisiocritici and to the famous Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala;
The final objective of the course is to enable students to confidently and creatively express principal ideas and scientific concepts in the target language. Lessons are primarily held in Italian (target language). At the beginning of each new topic, a portion of the lesson will aim to build up the new vocabulary in order to facilitate lessons. However, more complex readings might be done in English and coupled with comprehension activities in the target language to balance the learning process that will be regularly monitored with specifically designed class activities.
** This course includes a lab component which will be transcripted as BI 399 for 1 credit.
As part of the program will explore basic aspects of Plant Biology, during some of the lectures, on-site visits to the Dept of Plant Biology and the Botanic Garden will be organized; On-site visits will also be organized to the Museum of Natural History of the old Accademia dei Fisiocritici and to the famous Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala;
The final objective of the course is to enable students to confidently and creatively express principal ideas and scientific concepts in the target language. Lessons are primarily held in Italian (target language). At the beginning of each new topic, a portion of the lesson will aim to build up the new vocabulary in order to facilitate lessons. However, more complex readings might be done in English and coupled with comprehension activities in the target language to balance the learning process that will be regularly monitored with specifically designed class activities.
** This course includes a lab component which will be transcripted as BI 399 for 1 credit.
Contact Hours: 60
Within the region of Tuscany one can find all of the three main climates and
environments most common of the Italian peninsula: the typical Mediterranean coastline, grasslands and valleys of a more continental character and the Apennine peaks with a mountain climate. Numerous and diverse are the animal and plant species that are found in these areas. Within the city of Siena there are academic institutions and museums that represent a true “window” which opens onto the Tuscany territory. The frontal lessons of this class will serve to give the student a general picture of the common flora and fauna of Italy, which will then be further illustrated through
practical activities included in the course. In these practical sessions the student will be introduced in the activities of a research center or a
museum, actively participating in the consultation and even the preparation and management of the naturalistic collections.
environments most common of the Italian peninsula: the typical Mediterranean coastline, grasslands and valleys of a more continental character and the Apennine peaks with a mountain climate. Numerous and diverse are the animal and plant species that are found in these areas. Within the city of Siena there are academic institutions and museums that represent a true “window” which opens onto the Tuscany territory. The frontal lessons of this class will serve to give the student a general picture of the common flora and fauna of Italy, which will then be further illustrated through
practical activities included in the course. In these practical sessions the student will be introduced in the activities of a research center or a
museum, actively participating in the consultation and even the preparation and management of the naturalistic collections.
Contact Hours: 45
The course aims to direct the students into the set of problems relevant to
Italian archaeological research in order to obtain theoretical knowledge of the methodological and technical fundamentals of Archaeology. The contribution of the scientific disciplines to archaeological studies (geomorphology, sedimentology, paleobotanics, zooarchaeology and so on) and methods of collecting, quantification and documentation of the archaeological finds will be described. The course focuses on the studies carried out by the Research Unit of Prehistory and Anthropology of Siena. This institution has been involved for many years in the investigations of the earliest migration of Homo sapiens into southern Europe and of the replacement of the Neanderthal by the Anatomical Modern Human. To the students attending the course will be offered the possibility to visit the laboratories of the Department of Earth, Environmental and Physical
Sciences of University of Siena.
Italian archaeological research in order to obtain theoretical knowledge of the methodological and technical fundamentals of Archaeology. The contribution of the scientific disciplines to archaeological studies (geomorphology, sedimentology, paleobotanics, zooarchaeology and so on) and methods of collecting, quantification and documentation of the archaeological finds will be described. The course focuses on the studies carried out by the Research Unit of Prehistory and Anthropology of Siena. This institution has been involved for many years in the investigations of the earliest migration of Homo sapiens into southern Europe and of the replacement of the Neanderthal by the Anatomical Modern Human. To the students attending the course will be offered the possibility to visit the laboratories of the Department of Earth, Environmental and Physical
Sciences of University of Siena.
Contact Hours: 45
This course combines passion and science. Tuscany is a land of flavors and tastes, rich in typical products coming from our traditions. But food is also our energy, composed by substances with different properties and characteristics. Day by day students will increase their awareness of food usage and its properties. Food will be analyzed starting from its composition and chemical structure to its usage in everyday life, not forgetting its application in special diets.
Students will be involved in the creation of their own diet that reflects to their individual needs and imagination. Students will create numerous alternatives to their usual menus, respecting a healthy balance of chemical compounds. Starting from theory we shall involve students in practical exercises, visiting sites of food production and distribution. Practical sessions will involve the experience of working in a vegetable garden, visiting vineyards and chemical labs for analyses.
The objective of this course is to acquire awareness of scientific skills and attitudes, developing a scientific interpretation of theoretical concepts on the field. This course will provide the students with general knowledge of chemical structure and power of food through the observation and analysis of its main compounds. We will accompany the student on a brief but complete journey through traditional cooking in Siena, exploring the influence of Siena's rich gastronomic history. The final aim of the course is to integrate different culture types of alimentation combining healthy habits with scientific knowledge.
Students will be involved in the creation of their own diet that reflects to their individual needs and imagination. Students will create numerous alternatives to their usual menus, respecting a healthy balance of chemical compounds. Starting from theory we shall involve students in practical exercises, visiting sites of food production and distribution. Practical sessions will involve the experience of working in a vegetable garden, visiting vineyards and chemical labs for analyses.
The objective of this course is to acquire awareness of scientific skills and attitudes, developing a scientific interpretation of theoretical concepts on the field. This course will provide the students with general knowledge of chemical structure and power of food through the observation and analysis of its main compounds. We will accompany the student on a brief but complete journey through traditional cooking in Siena, exploring the influence of Siena's rich gastronomic history. The final aim of the course is to integrate different culture types of alimentation combining healthy habits with scientific knowledge.
Contact Hours: 45
3.0 Credits
Pharmaceutical Studies | Course #: SC CV 400 | Open
The objective of this course is to acquire an awareness of scientific skills and attitudes, while developing a critical interpretation of theoretical concepts on the field.This course will provide the students with general knowledge of pharmaceutical principles but the main aim is to apply them on the job with different types of simulations. We will accompany the student on a brief but complete voyage through the pharmaceutical world within the Siena city network. Particular focus will be on the influence of the historical background of Siena (Sclavo/Novartis pharmaceutical company), as well as Siena's famous artistic and naturalistic patrimony.
An important aim of the course is to present the typical scientific life experience, attempting to create a personal and critical view of the pharmaceutical world. In their personal journals, students will elaborate their judgment, developing ideas, doubts, and thoughts to be discussed in classroom at the beginning of each lesson for a dedicated time.
An important aim of the course is to present the typical scientific life experience, attempting to create a personal and critical view of the pharmaceutical world. In their personal journals, students will elaborate their judgment, developing ideas, doubts, and thoughts to be discussed in classroom at the beginning of each lesson for a dedicated time.
Contact Hours: 45
3.0 Credits
Pharmaceutical Studies | Course #: SC PT 300 | Open
Pre-requisite: Some chemical studies
The World Health Organization has recently shown that about 80% of the world population uses plants as a main, if not exclusive, source of therapeutics. This course aims to guide students in the acquisition of the basic elements of phytotherapy.
Phytotherapy is the branch of medicine that studies the use of medicinal plants capable of producing a pharmacological effect. The city of Siena hosts innovative research institutes such as the seat of the National Society of Phytotherapy (S.I.Fit â Societaâ Italiana di Fitoterapia) as well as museums and academies of renowned traditions such as the Academy of Sciences (Accademia dei Fisiocritici) and the Botanical Gardens of the University of Siena. Throughout this course students will learn about the main
plant- based active ingredients, as well as the methods utilized for their extraction and their effects on the organism through theoretical lessons and simple lab activities carried out at research or museum sites. Special attention will be given to the description of the common uses of plant extracts and to their examination from a scientific perspective.
Phytotherapy is the branch of medicine that studies the use of medicinal plants capable of producing a pharmacological effect. The city of Siena hosts innovative research institutes such as the seat of the National Society of Phytotherapy (S.I.Fit â Societaâ Italiana di Fitoterapia) as well as museums and academies of renowned traditions such as the Academy of Sciences (Accademia dei Fisiocritici) and the Botanical Gardens of the University of Siena. Throughout this course students will learn about the main
plant- based active ingredients, as well as the methods utilized for their extraction and their effects on the organism through theoretical lessons and simple lab activities carried out at research or museum sites. Special attention will be given to the description of the common uses of plant extracts and to their examination from a scientific perspective.
Contact Hours: 45
3.0 Credits
Sustainability | Course #: SC GR 250 | Open
This course will analyze the main issues related to Sustainable Development, based on the idea that no growth process can be considered authentically sustainable without considering the interactions between the evolution of the economic system and the evolution of the natural environment. Only after a careful analysis of traditional economic theory, of ethical issues and of the contributions of ecology and thermodynamics, will it be possible to define the importance of safeguarding the stock of natural capital and the need for a transition from the traditional approach linked to the concept of growth to the new approach oriented towards sustainable development. We will also briefly present the international debate, both in official institutions, such as the UN (with UN 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals) and the European Union, and in civil society. Everything will be seen in a positive light, thanks also to the presentation of the case studies of Siena and Tuscany, taken as a feasible and exportable example of a virtuous relationship between community and territory. In this analysis we will try to clearly highlight the three economic functions of the environment: that of a supplier of resources, that of a receiver of waste and that of a direct source of utility. An important sustainability indicator, the Ecological Footprint, will also be presented with the aim of measuring the sustainability of our economy on the basis of the study of the impacts it causes on the environment. The course will be completed by excursions, service-learning activities, visits and meetings with important local organizations that will present us with studies, projects and good practices present in our territory.
Contact Hours: 45
This course presents the history of some of the most significant discoveries in astronomy that can be replicated with simple tools available to any student. In so doing, concepts such as measurement of astronomical distances, mathematics applied to physical systems, the importance of observation and measurement, and celestial mechanics will be learned. The course will also address the question of extraterrestrial life.
Contact Hours: 45
4.0 Credits
Chemistry | Course #: SC CK 250 | Open
Pre-requisite: General chemistry
Additional lab fee required
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the chemical basis of food and food processing. The most relevant staples, including milk and dairy products, eggs, grains and legumes, fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, will be analyzed, including discussion on their role in civilization and human history. Their transformation and interaction during the different cooking processes will be examined with particular emphasis on the chemical and physical process which affect food quality. Visits to local wine and cheese producers will integrate course lectures.
Contact Hours: 60
4.0 Credits
Chemistry | Course #: SC EC 150 | Open
Pre-requisite: Additional lab fee required
General Chemistry prerequisite
The course provides theoretical and practical tools to deal with basic problems of environmental analysis. In particular, the following topics will be addressed: elements of qualitative and quantitative analytical chemistry; elements of the theory of systems far from equilibrium and complexity theory; applications for environmental analysis of classical and instrumental techniques; basic techniques for sampling and analysis of environmental matrices. Water and aqueous systems will be the focus of the course.
The theoretical part will be coupled with laboratory work: lab activity will be planned to provide students with practical skills. Students will do simple (volumetric and instrumental) analyses in order to determine the concentration of pollutants and other elements (metals, organic matter, BOD, COD, alkalinity, etc.) in waters.
The theoretical part will be coupled with laboratory work: lab activity will be planned to provide students with practical skills. Students will do simple (volumetric and instrumental) analyses in order to determine the concentration of pollutants and other elements (metals, organic matter, BOD, COD, alkalinity, etc.) in waters.
Language of Instruction: English
Contact Hours: 60
4.0 Credits
Chemistry | Course #: SC OC 250 | Open
Pre-requisite: *additional lab fee required*
This course offers students the opportunity to learn the nature of the carbon element in different organic compounds. It presents general principles of organic chemistry related to structure, stereochemistry, nomenclature, synthesis, uses, and reactions of alcohols, ethers and aliphatic hydrocarbons, alkanes, alkynes, alkenes, cycloalkanes, etc.
The theoretical part will be completed by some laboratory work, where students will study organic syntheses that illustrate both theory and different laboratory technologies that are used for preparation, workup and characterization of organic compounds.
The theoretical part will be completed by some laboratory work, where students will study organic syntheses that illustrate both theory and different laboratory technologies that are used for preparation, workup and characterization of organic compounds.
Contact Hours: 60
Archaeology, as historical anthropology, is a discipline between humanities (given the research subject) and sciences (given the peculiar materials and methods of research). Modern interdisciplinary and contextual approach are the outcome of the rich debate in the second half of last century (between the 60th and 80th) and of the consequent methodological and theoretical rethinking of discipline. Simultaneously, the outstanding development of technology allowed to us to reach impressive results (unthinkable only few decades ago) and, perspectively, new advances will be achieved in near future.
This course will introduce participants to discipline's theoretical evolution and current approach, focusing both multidisciplinary and interconnections between different research fields. This course will follow the main steps of theoretical and methodological evolution of archaeological thinking (e.g. New/Processual Archaeology vs Post-processualism). It will frame the main methods (e.g. survey and excavation) and lineages of discipline, focusing the interconnection between the different fields of research "in action" (e.g. anthropology, zooarchaeology, paleobotany, sedimentology and archaeological stratigraphy, lithic technology, pottery analysis, quantitative and spatial archaeology, excavation/survey approach,
dating methods, geophysics). Moreover, a special attention will be putted on specific themes of the Past, as the reconstruction of social and economic structures of societies, behaviors and production organization, mobility, exchanges, cognitive world. Practical activities will be also included in this course, allowing to better understand how the archaeology works (e.g. reading and documentation the stratigraphy by drawing, profiles, forms, reports and Harris's matrix, analysis of archaeological materials, experimental archaeology). Some of the practical activities will be carried out to the Department of Earth, Environmental and Physical Sciences of University of Siena, where participants will get in touch with researches and they will observe archaeological materials from the didactic collection of the Research Unit of Prehistory and Anthropology.
This course will introduce participants to discipline's theoretical evolution and current approach, focusing both multidisciplinary and interconnections between different research fields. This course will follow the main steps of theoretical and methodological evolution of archaeological thinking (e.g. New/Processual Archaeology vs Post-processualism). It will frame the main methods (e.g. survey and excavation) and lineages of discipline, focusing the interconnection between the different fields of research "in action" (e.g. anthropology, zooarchaeology, paleobotany, sedimentology and archaeological stratigraphy, lithic technology, pottery analysis, quantitative and spatial archaeology, excavation/survey approach,
dating methods, geophysics). Moreover, a special attention will be putted on specific themes of the Past, as the reconstruction of social and economic structures of societies, behaviors and production organization, mobility, exchanges, cognitive world. Practical activities will be also included in this course, allowing to better understand how the archaeology works (e.g. reading and documentation the stratigraphy by drawing, profiles, forms, reports and Harris's matrix, analysis of archaeological materials, experimental archaeology). Some of the practical activities will be carried out to the Department of Earth, Environmental and Physical Sciences of University of Siena, where participants will get in touch with researches and they will observe archaeological materials from the didactic collection of the Research Unit of Prehistory and Anthropology.
Contact Hours: 45
This course aims to illustrate the main aspects of the exploitation of plants by humans, from prehistory to the modern age, and guide students through the acquisition of the basic elements of Ethnobotanics and Phytotherapy. Ethnobotany is the study of a region's plants and their practical uses through the traditional knowledge of a culture and people. Many ethnobotanical studies testify that this exploitation of plants by humans has ancient origins. Phytotherapy is the branch of medicine that studies the use of medicinal plants capable of producing a pharmacological effect. The World Health Organization has recently shown that about 80% of the world population uses plants as a main, if not exclusive, source of therapeutics.
The city of Siena hosts innovative research institutes such as the seat of the National Society of Phytotherapy (S.I.Fit â Societaâ Italiana di Fitoterapia) as well as museums and academies of renowned traditions such as the Academy of Sciences (Accademia dei Fisiocritici) and the Botanical Gardens of the University of Siena. Throughout this course students will learn about the main plant-based active ingredients, as well as the methods utilized for their extraction and their effects on the human organism. Special attention will be given to the description of the common uses of plant extracts and to their examination from a scientific perspective through theoretical lessons and lab activities. Lab activities will be carried out at research or museum sites and will illustrate analytic methodologies applied by the professor and his research team through real case studies.
The city of Siena hosts innovative research institutes such as the seat of the National Society of Phytotherapy (S.I.Fit â Societaâ Italiana di Fitoterapia) as well as museums and academies of renowned traditions such as the Academy of Sciences (Accademia dei Fisiocritici) and the Botanical Gardens of the University of Siena. Throughout this course students will learn about the main plant-based active ingredients, as well as the methods utilized for their extraction and their effects on the human organism. Special attention will be given to the description of the common uses of plant extracts and to their examination from a scientific perspective through theoretical lessons and lab activities. Lab activities will be carried out at research or museum sites and will illustrate analytic methodologies applied by the professor and his research team through real case studies.
Contact Hours: 45
Geology studies the history of Earth from a multidisciplinary perspective, interlacing numerous research fields, given the complexity of the Earth System. This course proposes a synthetic overview on the geology's theory and methods, exploring some main themes (e.g. geologic time, evolution of Earth, geological history of Italy) and research fields (e.g. tectonics, petrology, pedology, sedimentology, geomorphology, paleontology). It will be highlighted how geodynamic processes shape the planet, with impressive and longstanding effects also in geographic, climatic and biological settings. Nature of minerals and rocks, evolution and transformations will be recognized. A particular attention will be paid on the relation between formational processes, environments and sedimentological structures. These data will be also correlated to evolution of life, observing the meaning of fossil proxies and contextualizing them in the broader framework of evolution of Earth.
By means of recognition and interpretation of relationships between residual traces of the Past and active structure of the Present, participants to this course will understand how the dynamic reading of geologic and geomorphologic record can help in identifying future trajectories of landscape evolution (preventing possible risks for humans) and in predicting possible localization of strategic resources.
By means of recognition and interpretation of relationships between residual traces of the Past and active structure of the Present, participants to this course will understand how the dynamic reading of geologic and geomorphologic record can help in identifying future trajectories of landscape evolution (preventing possible risks for humans) and in predicting possible localization of strategic resources.
Contact Hours: 45
This course will introduce students to the history of human evolution and discuss the importance of archaeological records. We will proceed chronologically from our earliest human ancestors, passing through the early forms of the genus Homo, up through the anatomically modern human. We will cover topics such as how can we reconstruct human behavior and its relationship with the environment through the analysis of prehistoric deposits. The contributions of certain scientific disciplines to archaeological studies (genetics, archaeometry, geomorphology, sedimentology, paleobotanics, zooarchaeology and so on) and methods of collecting, quantification and documentation of the archaeological finds will be described. This course will focus on the studies carried out by the Research Unit of Prehistory and Anthropology of Siena. Students enrolled in this course will be offered the possibility to visit the laboratories of the Department of Earth, Environmental and Physical Sciences of University of Siena and to carry out, together with the professor, some basic analysis on prehistoric materials coming from some Italian prehistoric sites, acquiring the analytic methodologies applied by the professor and his research team on relevant case studies.
Contact Hours: 45
3.0 Credits
Interdisciplinary Science | Course #: SC PR 250 | Open
This course will provide the basic skills necessary for the knowledge of the different methodologies of research in prehistoric ecology and their use in a diachronic and in a multidisciplinary sense. The important natural events that occurred on Earth during the Quaternary Period will be illustrated and discussed in detail. The latter is a period of climatic upheaval, characterized by recurring ice ages, and the migration and extinction of animals and humans across the globe. Particular attention will be dedicated to sedimentological, geological and archeobiological evidence (archeobotany and zooarcheology) that testify and describe the events of this important phase of Earth's history. Students enrolled in this course will be offered the possibility to visit the laboratories of the Department of Earth, Environmental and Physical Sciences of the University of Siena and carry out, together with the professor, some basic analysis on archaeological and paleontological materials coming from some Italian prehistoric sites. In the final part of the course, students will use their newly acquired skills to analyze and understand the causes and the effects of today's climate change, one of the most pressing issues of our time.
Contact Hours: 45
3.0 Credits
Interdisciplinary Science | Course #: SC SS 300 | Open
Spatial Archaeology is the perfect convergence point between multifocal perspective, contextual archaeology and behavioral approach. This puts Spatial Archaeology on a central position for achieving a global reconstruction of the Past. In addition, introduction of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in archaeological research trigged revolutionary effects, well-recognizable in the outstanding development both of scientific debate and of discipline theory and methods in the last decades. Perspectively, the increasingly perfect concatenation between GIS and archaeological sciences will allow to achieve new impressive (maybe still unthinkable) advances in near future.
This is a monographic advanced course, aimed at allow to participants to practically test how archaeological research works (mainly in the field of intra-site spatial archaeology). Focus of this course is the reconstruction of Paleolithic settlement dynamics, by means of in-depths theoretical and practical exercises. Participants will approach the principles of interdisciplinary and scientific method in spatial archaeology, understanding the structure of analytical work-flow of a research in its main steps. They will get acquainted with the construction of a research issue, finding interlaced themes and methods to develop the research (e.g. classifying and gathering data, building an experimental protocol, integrating experimental and archeological data,
analyzing data by statistical and geostatistical approach, comparing results with taphonomic, experimental, archaeological and ethnographical data). Moreover, a special attention will be paid to issue of archaeological visibility (as main limiting factor for a correct reading of the Past), expressed as the actual overall potential and the relative error margin of an archaeological context to be correctly referred to the behavior al, social and economic structures that produced it. These themes will be also treated by means of a critical approach to cutting-edge studies (both from Research Unit of Prehistory and Anthropology of the University of Siena - Department of physical sciences, earth and Environment and from other international Research Units), recently published on international peer reviewed journals.
This is a monographic advanced course, aimed at allow to participants to practically test how archaeological research works (mainly in the field of intra-site spatial archaeology). Focus of this course is the reconstruction of Paleolithic settlement dynamics, by means of in-depths theoretical and practical exercises. Participants will approach the principles of interdisciplinary and scientific method in spatial archaeology, understanding the structure of analytical work-flow of a research in its main steps. They will get acquainted with the construction of a research issue, finding interlaced themes and methods to develop the research (e.g. classifying and gathering data, building an experimental protocol, integrating experimental and archeological data,
analyzing data by statistical and geostatistical approach, comparing results with taphonomic, experimental, archaeological and ethnographical data). Moreover, a special attention will be paid to issue of archaeological visibility (as main limiting factor for a correct reading of the Past), expressed as the actual overall potential and the relative error margin of an archaeological context to be correctly referred to the behavior al, social and economic structures that produced it. These themes will be also treated by means of a critical approach to cutting-edge studies (both from Research Unit of Prehistory and Anthropology of the University of Siena - Department of physical sciences, earth and Environment and from other international Research Units), recently published on international peer reviewed journals.
Language of Instruction: Italian
Contact Hours: 45
Who invented the telescope? An Italian. And who made the first controlled nuclear chain reaction? Also an Italian. How about the radio? Trick question, it might have been Nikola Tesla or an Italian named Marconi. This course surveys the contribution several famous and not-so-famous Italian scientists have made over the past thousand years. These contributions are many, quite creative, and are expressive of some of the best features of Italian culture. They are also an excellent introduction to science for non-science majors, and a way to help science majors appreciate the breadth of human experience through relatively familiar figures.
The course includes several lab experiments and field trips.
The course includes several lab experiments and field trips.
Language of Instruction: English
Contact Hours: 45
This course is a serious introduction to physics for students who have high school algebra, geometry, and trigonometry at their fingertips, and have had, or are taking calculus. Calculus will be used in class but sparingly on exams. The algebra, geometry, and trig are absolutely essential. If some time has elapsed since your last math course, or you feel a lack of confidence in this area, you are strongly urged to study math intensively before we get too deeply into the physics course. Topics include kinematics and dynamics of particles; momentum, work, and energy; gravitation; circular, angular, and harmonic motion.
Contact Hours: 45
This course is an introduction to electricity and magnetism, light, electromagnetic induction; electromagnetic waves; geometrical optics; interference, and diffraction. Many concepts from General Physics I will be used in this course such as: position, velocity, acceleration, force, Newton's laws of motion, work and energy. The course uses high school algebra, geometry and trigonometry, vectors and vector arithmetic, and some calculus.
Contact Hours: 45
Service-Learning is an integral part of the intercultural study abroad experience in Siena. Participants in all SIS programs are encouraged to perform service in the community through SIS’ sister association Nuova Associazione Culturale Ulisse. This service can range from 1-5 hours a week and opportunities are in a variety of different service sites. Students might set tables at the city soup kitchen, visit with the elderly at a nursing home, teach English to local elementary school children or volunteer on the city ambulance. Volunteering in the community is an unparalleled way to improve language skills, get involved in the local social fabric and make a genuine contribution to the host community. For more information on volunteering see SIS Service Learning & Volunteer.
Courses & Schedule
All students begin the semester with a 3 week intensive Italian Language course (3 credits). All students also enroll in 2 semester-long courses: Italian Language and Intercultural Dialogue (3 credits), and Democracy and Global Citizenship (3 credits). Additionally, students select one of the following tracks:
- Elective Track: students enroll in 2 – 3 elective courses in various departments including Humanities & Social Sciences, Music & Visual Arts, Business, and Natural and Environmental Sciences. Students earn 15 – 18 US credits.
- Scientific Track: this track is geared toward students wishing to complete courses in natural, environmental and applied sciences, as well as math and statistics. Students enroll in 2 – 3 courses from a list of scientific track courses. One of the courses chosen can have a lab, for a total of 15 – 19 US credits.
- Service-Intensive Track: students in this track choose fewer academic content courses in order to allow for additional service-learning time. Students choose 1-2 elective courses, for a total of 12 – 15 US credits.
Italian Language Competency
SAI students enrolled in a semester at SIS can go from absolute beginner Italian speakers to advanced, all while taking language and subject coursework. Elective courses are conducted in a mix of English and Italian and students are given English language readings and supporting materials to ensure that the content is not compromised (scientific track courses are offered in English). As students’ linguistic competencies improve, more and more Italian is used and by the end, not only are lessons held in Italian, but also final papers are written in Italian.
Course Registration
Students complete their course registration during the SAI application process by selecting their primary course choices as well as required alternate courses. Course schedules are confirmed in Siena after students have been given an introduction to the courses and finalized which courses they will take.
| Pre-Departure Calendar | |
|---|---|
| May 15 2024 |
Application Closes Applications accepted after closing as space permits. |
| Within 1 week of acceptance |
SAI Deposits Due $500 Enrollment Deposit (applied toward program fee) $300 Security Deposit (refundable) |
| May 1 2024 |
50% of Total Program Fee Due Students who are accepted and submit SAI deposits after this date will have an amended pay schedule. Either 50% or 100% of Program Fee will be due within 5 business days, based on the deposit payment date. |
| June 1 2024 |
Enrollment Closes Students must complete their enrollment, including paying deposits, by this date. |
| June 1 2024 |
SAI Scholarship Application Deadline Students wishing to apply for a SAI scholarship must have all application items submitted by 11:59pm Pacific Time on this date. |
| June 15 2024 |
SAI Financial Aid Verification Deadline Students wishing to defer payment until financial aid disbursement must submit the financial aid verification forms to SAI by this date. |
| July 1 2024 |
Balance of Total Program Fee Due |
| On-site Calendar | |
|---|---|
| September 1 2024 |
Arrival & Housing Check-in Students arrive at Florence Peretola Airport (FLR). Students must arrive by 2:30pm for the group shuttle to Siena where students are transferred to family housing. |
| Coming soon |
SIS Academic Orientation SIS holds several days of orientation activities and events including walking tours and group social events. |
| Coming soon |
Fall 3 Week Intensive Language Classes Begin |
| Coming soon |
Regular Semester Courses Begin These courses include semester language and electives. |
| Coming soon |
Fall Break (no class) Students must vacate their host family’s home for this time period unless other arrangements are made directly with the family. |
| Coming soon |
Final Exams |
| December 14 2024 |
Program End & Housing Check-out Students must move out of housing by 10:00am to return home or pursue independent travel. |
| SAI Program Fees* | USD |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $120 |
| Security Deposit Refundable at the end of the term. |
$300 |
| Program Fee Includes tuition, standard housing and SAI 360° Services (see What's Included). |
$15,550 |
| Optional / Additional Fees: | |
| International Mailing Supplement Students residing outside the U.S. are charged an international mailing supplement to ensure visa paperwork arrives in a timely manner. |
$90 |
*prices are subject to change
Note: certain SAI-affiliated US universities require specific payment arrangements. These may require that some fees are paid by the student directly to SAI, and other fees are paid to SAI by the affiliated university on behalf of the student. If you attend a SAI-affiliated university please contact your study abroad office or speak with your SAI Admissions Counselor for details.
| Budget | Low Est. | High Est. |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare to/from Pisa |
$900 | $1,800 |
| Visa & Permit to Stay |
$300 | $500 |
| Books, Supplies & Course Fees |
$25 / course | $50 / course |
| Meals Majority of meals are included in cost. |
$100 / month | $150 / month |
| Personal Expenses | $250 / month | $350 / month |
| Transportation within Siena Public transportation with some taxi rides. |
$100 / month | $150 / month |
| Weekend Travel Cost varies greatly by student. |
$300 / month | $1,000 / month |
This is a SAI 360° Services Program; it includes our full services!
- Program tuition and U.S. academic credit
- Accommodation in carefully selected student housing
- Airport pickup on arrival day
- Welcome reception and events
- Orientation to the host city and school
- On-site staff who foster a welcoming community and provide assistance when needed
- 3 meals/day provided by host family
- SAI Viva Experience: cultural engagement, excursions & wellness activities
- Student health insurance providing full coverage and medical emergency evacuation
- 24-hour on-site emergency support
- Farewell event
Pre-departure and Re-entry services
- Knowledgeable Admissions Counselor dedicated to you, providing friendly assistance
- Helpful pre-departure tools and resources
- Parent & family resources
- Online student groups to acquaint you with other SAI students
- Student visa advising
- Assistance with financial aid processing
- Need-based SAI scholarships
- Alumni Ambassador Program, with paid internship opportunities
- SAI alumni network
SAI offers all students the Viva Experience: frequent cultural activities, at no extra cost, for participants to get to know their community, city and country. Following is a sample of the activities included in this program. Please note that actual activities may differ.
Welcome Reception
Upon arrival, new students, host families and SIS faculty and staff unite at a welcome reception to kick off the semester.
Natural Hot Springs Spa
Students visit the Antica Querciolaia Spa in the town of Rapolano Terme and relax in the therapeutic waters. The spa features a series of large pools fed by the nearby natural springs and overlooks the rolling Tuscan hills.
Brussels Weekend Excursion
Students will visit Brussels, Belgium, the diplomatic and organizational center of the European Union. During the weekend excursion, students tour the headquarters of the EU parliament with an EU representative, visit related museums as well as other EU organizations, NGOs, and cultural attractions.
Italian Weekend Excursion: Sulmona & the Apennine Mountains*
Students have the opportunity to explore Italy off the beaten path for an unforgettable weekend. The excursion begins with a stop in Assisi for a visit to the stunning city center, before continuing on to Sulmona in Abruzzo. Students explore the city that is nestled in a valley surrounded by the regional and national parks of the Apennine mountains. The group joins a guided hike through the mountains and enjoys local delicacies. To complete the trip, students stop at Rocca Calascio, the highest fortress in the Apennines, and then in Spoleto before returning to Siena.
* The Italian Weekend Excursion varies each term — recent trips have also included Bologna, Modena and Verona, or Genova and Turin! Each trip is intended to help students explore places they may not have chosen on their own.
Tuscan Seaside
Students explore the breathtaking Tuscan coast by hiking to a secluded cove or relaxing on the dunes along the Mediterranean Sea. After beach time, the group heads to the breathtaking medieval town of Castiglione della Pescaia to explore and sample the best gelato around.
I Bottini: Siena’s Underground Aqueducts
Students tour the Bottini with a local guide, exploring a portion of the miles of galleries that run underneath the city of Siena. Carved during medieval times, the Bottini were used to gather Siena’s drinking water for centuries, feeding the many fountains scattered throughout the city.
Wine Tasting
Students visit a winery, learn about the winemaking process, and enjoy various tastings.
Day Trip to Florence
SIS Art History professor accompanies students on a day trip to Florence to visit the Uffizi Gallery and explore the city and visit one of its famous museums.
Tuscan Cooking Lesson
Students learn the art of Italian cooking in a hands-on, Italian cooking lesson, including appetizers, main courses and dessert. Lessons conclude with a meal of all that is prepared!
Visits to Tuscan Hilltowns
Students explore the Italian countryside, visiting one or more of the quaint towns tucked in the Tuscan hills, such as San Gimignano, Pienza, Montepulciano or Cortona.
Museum Visits in Siena
Students visit various museums in Siena as part of Italian class and other content courses. These include the Duomo, OPA Museum, the Museo Civico, the Santa Maria della Scala, as well as others.
Contrada Museum Visit
Students first have a historic/cultural lesson on Siena’s world-famous Palio and the history of its unique Contrade, then visit the museum and grounds of one of the 17 city districts to learn about it first hand from a contradaiolo.
Ceramics Workshop
Students participate in a hands-on ceramic workshop to create small ceramic objects, and learn a technique to paint decorative ceramic plates typical of Tuscan handicraft.
Farewell Dinner
After the exams are completed and final papers handed in, the students, faculty and staff share in a celebratory final meal to reflect upon the program experience and to say final goodbyes before departure.
Standard Housing: Family homestay
All participants are accommodated with local host families. Homestay accommodations include breakfast and dinner 7 days a week. Students are also provided with a meal plan for weekday lunches at a local restaurant near the school each day. Depending on the particular family placement students could be in a shared or private room. Homestays are an integral and indispensable part of all SIS programs, offering students the opportunity to make life-long friends, reinforce the language skills acquired during daily lessons and to experience modern Italian culture from “the inside.” SIS’s carefully selected families, whether a single parent or married couple with children, are all experienced in hosting American students. The host families view this experience as a form of cultural exchange and are eager to share their version of Italian culture with program participants.
Passports
Passports should be valid for 3 months after planned departure from Italy.
Student Visas
In accordance with Italian law, students studying in Italy for 91 days or more are required to obtain a student visa. Those with Italian/EU citizenship are exempted. Non-US nationals should consult their local Consulate for information on student visa requirements.
Depending on the consulate, students will either mail in their student visa application or appear in person to present their application to the consulate. Our Student Visa Office is available to assist students in preparing for the appointment; SAI Student Visa Consulting is part of the SAI 360° Services included in the program fee. SAI Student Visa Processing Service is available for select consulates only, for an additional fee.