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Florence is a vibrant, awe-inspiring, and culturally rich Global City. Its history as the "Cradle of the Renaissance" remains readily accessible through its art and architecture, and with an ever-growing immigrant population, Florence is very much a multicultural city. You can explore the city's diversity by taking a Migrantour or visiting Vivi Market to find authentic foods and ingredients from Asia, Latin America, and other regions.
This six-week summer program gives you insight into the significant ways in which Florence has been imagined, invented, and transformed by globalization. Plus, take advantage of additional Online Courses in London and Sydney. Earn 6 credits.
Experience
live
learn
volunteer
CAPA program fees are comprehensive and include tuition, housing, excursions, My Global City events and activities, 24/7 emergency support, insurance, and more!
Earn 6-9 credits per term. Credits are issued by State University of New York (SUNY) Oswego.
You can opt to live in a shared apartment or a homestay (with your own room and two meals a day), all within commuting distance to the CAPA center. Homestays incur a supplementary fee.
A Florence bus pass is included.
Enjoy full-day excursions to Siena, famous for its art, history and Palio horse race, and to the walled town of San Gimignano, with its 14 medieval towers (COVID-19 restrictions permitting). Social events and program activities include an arrival lunch and a farewell dinner.
Participate in a volunteer opportunity. Help your host community and gain valuable skills.
CAPA-led events include a walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo for stunning views over the city of Florence and a hike in the nearby hills, followed by dinner in one of the best pizzerias in town. Other activities, often self-guided, reflect what’s going on in the city at the time and may include a walking tour to the most important markets of Florence, tasting typical Italian snacks, a night at the opera, or attending soccer match at the Florence Stadium.
CAPA provides comprehensive support services for students to utilize during their time in Florence. The team is available throughout the duration of the program to assist and support students 24/7 with any emergency situations. Students will also have access to the Guardian study abroad safety app which includes emergency assistance and other support resources.
As a student on our program, you’ll receive our medical, travel, and accident insurance.
CAPA is committed to the health and wellness of our students while they are studying abroad in Florence. We maintain a comprehensive health and safety plan to ensure a safe and productive learning experience, and provide a variety of health and wellness tools and resources.
Courses are available in person at our CAPA Florence Center in business, marketing, psychology, urban studies, and more. Plus CAPA Florence students have access to CAPA online courses in London and Sydney.
This course, designed for students with no prior knowledge of the Italian language, will focus on basic Italian language skills necessary to communicate clear messages in everyday life. Students will develop an understanding of the fundamental knowledge of grammar, phonetics, morphology, and syntax using a functional-situational approach where lessons will focus on real situation exercises, grammar drills, consolidation of material, and a deepening of concepts through readings, conversations, role playing games, and listening exercises to correct pronunciation.
FLOR ITAL 1101
This course will explore the field of cross-cultural psychology through a focus on Italy and its inhabitants. Students will discuss aspects of cross-cultural analysis from the field of cross-cultural psychology, including cultural influence on human behavior, attitude, values, communication, and societal organization; examine topics of ethnocentrism, individual vs. collective societies, plural societies, cultural views on mental health, and intercultural communication; and investigate methodical issues of cross-cultural research, with the opportunity to be participant-observers of their own experiences in Italy, including through field work.
FLOR PSYC 3320
This course will direct students to reflect about their own relationship with food. Starting from a multi-disciplinary approach, that involves such fields as sociology, history, anthropology and nutrition, students will explore new aspects of their life in Italy directly related to health, education and everyday life. The final aim of this course is to provide an insightful, life-changing experience, which leads students to develop healthier lifestyles (Personal Development Outcome), comparing their culture with Italian culture (Diversity Outcome) and its distinct history and traditions related to food (Urban Environment Outcome).
FLOR ANTH 3340
This course will explore the complexities of cultural identity and migration, and the impact they have on intercultural conflict and cooperation. There will be a particular focus on migration in Italy and on the marginalized communities of contemporary Italy, such as migrants, their Italian-born non-citizen children, and the Roma. We will examine the fluidity of cultural boundaries across time and space, and how ingroup and outgroup dynamics contribute to the manufacturing of fear and prejudice among populations. During their semester abroad, students will reflect on the various elements that define a culture while gaining an increased understanding of how culture shapes individuals and how our cultural identities interact in shared social spaces such as the piazze of Florence.
FLOR SOCY/COMM 3309
This course will explore key economic issues in the global business environment. Students will develop an understanding of how global businesses are impacted by real world developments in economics, politics, and finance; critically examine the global economic landscape with an emphasis on the interaction between international economics and business through discussions of current economic and political development; and explore topics such as globalization, country differences, cross-border trade and investment, the global monetary system, and competing in a global marketplace.
FLOR BUSN 3374
This course will introduce a broad range of painting, sculpture, and architecture in Florence from the great projects of the Middle Ages that defined the religious and political centers of the city, with a special focus on major monuments of the Renaissance period. Students will examine issues of social, political, and economic context, as well their function, which was integral to artistic production of the period; conduct related scholarly research; deepen their appreciation of Renaissance civilization; and analyze the interrelationship between people’s creative achievements and their society.
FLOR ARTH 3311