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Italy Winter

Dates

December 27, 2024 – January 7, 2025

Cost

$3,595 + airfare
Scholarships & Financial Aid

Subjects

Art & Design, Communication, Digital Humanities, Public Relations, Psychology

Deadlines

Aug. 1: Apply Early & Save $100
Sept. 15: Regular Deadline 

Program Overview

The KIIS winter program in Italy begins in the beautiful Tuscan city of Florence and ends in the country’s magnificent capital, Rome. Students spend the first five days in Florence where they are living within walking distance of the most famous museums and sites in Italy’s Renaissance capital. The program will then move to Rome where students visit and explore the Vatican, Colosseum, famous churches, and other memorable monuments.

Note: Studying abroad likely is more physically strenuous than you are used to at home. KIIS study abroad programs typically involve approx. 5-10 miles of walking (approx. 10,000-20,000 steps) or the like in a day, including the possibility of walking, hiking, and climbing stairs in variable weather, over elevations at higher altitudes, and over rocky terrain. See Health & Wellness for more information.

Language Requirement: None. All courses are taught in English. 

Accommodations: Hostel, 3-5 people per room

Orientation: Mandatory orientation on Saturday, November 2, 2024 in Elizabethtown, KY. Go to our Orientation page for more information. 

Courses

All courses are taught in English and are 3 credit hours. You may enroll in 1 course.

ART 491 Topics: Italian Decorative Art & Design

Prof. Ian Hagarty

For this course students will examine the history, purpose, and application of illusionistic deception in Italian art and design through countless visits to museums, churches, galleries and historic sites. This course is open to all students/majors and will serve as an upper-level art studio elective or an upper-level general elective. There are no prerequisites for this course.

PR 415 / COMM 415 Topics: Global Digital Storytelling for Public Relations

Dr. Marcie Hinton

Students will create meaningful stories for social media and websites, to become better writers and photographers. We study Piazzas and Museums to see how art is used to influence. Journalism/Public Relations/Social Media Influencing/Tourism students will take a deep dive into digital storytelling to create global awareness that supports the tourism industry.

IDST 350 Topics: Digital Humanities in Italian Culture

Prof. Jessica Lowman

This course offers an introduction to the field of digital humanities with a special focus on projects related to Italian culture. Students will visit significant cultural and historical sites in Italy, such as the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and the Pantheon in Rome, and discover digital humanities projects created for these sites. Throughout the course, students will grow their understanding of digital humanities and its relevancy to humanistic inquiry in today’s digital world. No prior experience with coding, data analysis or digital design is required. This course is open to all majors/students.

PSY 299 Topics: Culture, Aggression, and Violence in Italy

Dr. Lynda Sharrett-Field

We will begin by developing a basic understanding of how to define and identify aggression and violence. In Florence, we will focus on how honor culture influences aggression and how alcohol can promote interpersonal violence. Next, we travel to Rome where we will discuss biopsycholosocial factors that contribute to the development of a serial killer and search out evidence of these factors in Roman culture. Students will become familiar with famous serial killers who have plagued Rome throughout the centuries and discuss factors that might have contributed to the making of these serial killers.

All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Prior to your KIIS program, please speak with your home campus academic advisor and/or study abroad office to determine course equivalencies. Grades will be transferred to your home institution in late January after the completion of the program. Course offerings are subject to change according to enrollment. For more information, visit Transcripts & Grades.

Program Excursions

Orvieto

Orvieto is a small fortified city approximately an hour and a half outside of Rome that was founded by the ancient Etruscans. Dramatically perched atop a volcanic rock, students spend the day exploring the city's famous basilica, quaint medieval streets lined with shops and cafes, museums, caves, and panoramic views of the surrounding valleys.

Vatican City

Vatican City is considered to be the center of the Roman Catholic Church and home to the Pope. The KIIS group will visit St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum, all of which are the most popular landmarks of Vatican City. On occasion, the KIIS group has been known to attend a papal audience.

Colosseum, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum

The Palatine Hill, Roman Forum & the Colosseum are some of the most important landmarks of western civilization. You spend an entire day exploring these ancient ruins that were once the center of the world and that have captivated our collective imagination ever since.

Santa Maria del Fiore

Santa Maria del Fiore - The Duomo is the main cathedral of Florence. With its famous cupola (dome) designed and engineered by Brunelleschi, fascade, baptistery and campanile, it is one of the most memorable landmarks in the world. Students typically have the chance to attend a service presented by the Archbishop of Florence, hike to the top of the dome or campanile and explore the many layers of the church's history.

Fresco Painting Workshop

Fresco Painting Workshop at the Palazzo Vecchio introduces students to the basic materials and methods used by painters of the Italian Renaissance to permanently adorn the walls and ceilings of palaces, churches and other important buildings.

Uffizi & Accademia Galleries

The Uffizi and Accademia Galleries showcase some of the most important artworks created during the Italian Renaissance. Home to famous artworks, such as, Michelangelo's David, Botticelli's Birth of Venus and countless others, participants will experience these masterpieces firsthand.

Tour of the Historical Center

City Orientation Tour of the Historical Center (Centro Storico) helps students to get their bearings and gain a very basic historical overview of the city, in order to locate the main landmarks including the Arno River & Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio & Uffizi Gallery, and Piazza del Duomo.

What's Included

Program Cost: $3,595 + airfare

Earn up to 3 Credit Hours

Group Flight (Optional)

Airport Transfers in Italy

Accommodations

All Breakfasts & Lunches

Groups Excursions & Transport

Security Evacuation Protection

Medical Insurance

Program Director & Faculty
on-site 24/7

To help you budget, keep in mind that you are responsible for the cost of your textbooks & materials, passport fees ($165), one meal per day + personal expenses (approx. $400, or if you are an avid shopper, you may consider bringing additional funds), and any fees from your college/university.

Although KIIS tries to foresee all possible expenses in formulating program fees, please note that dramatic fluctuations in foreign currency valuations and/or airline surcharges may affect the total cost of the program.

Group Flight

Estimated Cost:  $1,700 – $1,800

The Italy Winter program offers a group flight option where you can travel to your program location with other students and faculty. If you choose this option, KIIS will purchase a flight ticket on your behalf. The flight cost will be added to your final program fee on November 1. The group flight will depart from Cincinnati or Louisville.

Flights to Italy are typically overnight flights which means you will depart the USA on December 27 and arrive in Italy on December 28. The Italy Winter program concludes on January 7. Return flights from Italy to the USA are typically the same day. Visit flights for more information.

Student Voices

Take Your Education Further

Category:

Description

Dates

December 27, 2024 – January 7, 2025

Cost

$3,595 + airfare
Scholarships & Financial Aid

Subjects

Art & Design, Communication, Digital Humanities, Public Relations, Psychology

Deadlines

Aug. 1: Apply Early & Save $100
Sept. 15: Regular Deadline 

Program Overview

The KIIS winter program in Italy begins in the beautiful Tuscan city of Florence and ends in the country’s magnificent capital, Rome. Students spend the first five days in Florence where they are living within walking distance of the most famous museums and sites in Italy’s Renaissance capital. The program will then move to Rome where students visit and explore the Vatican, Colosseum, famous churches, and other memorable monuments.

Note: Studying abroad likely is more physically strenuous than you are used to at home. KIIS study abroad programs typically involve approx. 5-10 miles of walking (approx. 10,000-20,000 steps) or the like in a day, including the possibility of walking, hiking, and climbing stairs in variable weather, over elevations at higher altitudes, and over rocky terrain. See Health & Wellness for more information.

Language Requirement: None. All courses are taught in English. 

Accommodations: Hostel, 3-5 people per room

Orientation: Mandatory orientation on Saturday, November 2, 2024 in Elizabethtown, KY. Go to our Orientation page for more information. 

Courses

All courses are taught in English and are 3 credit hours. You may enroll in 1 course.

ART 491 Topics: Italian Decorative Art & Design

Prof. Ian Hagarty

For this course students will examine the history, purpose, and application of illusionistic deception in Italian art and design through countless visits to museums, churches, galleries and historic sites. This course is open to all students/majors and will serve as an upper-level art studio elective or an upper-level general elective. There are no prerequisites for this course.

PR 415 / COMM 415 Topics: Global Digital Storytelling for Public Relations

Dr. Marcie Hinton

Students will create meaningful stories for social media and websites, to become better writers and photographers. We study Piazzas and Museums to see how art is used to influence. Journalism/Public Relations/Social Media Influencing/Tourism students will take a deep dive into digital storytelling to create global awareness that supports the tourism industry.

IDST 350 Topics: Digital Humanities in Italian Culture

Prof. Jessica Lowman

This course offers an introduction to the field of digital humanities with a special focus on projects related to Italian culture. Students will visit significant cultural and historical sites in Italy, such as the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and the Pantheon in Rome, and discover digital humanities projects created for these sites. Throughout the course, students will grow their understanding of digital humanities and its relevancy to humanistic inquiry in today’s digital world. No prior experience with coding, data analysis or digital design is required. This course is open to all majors/students.

PSY 299 Topics: Culture, Aggression, and Violence in Italy

Dr. Lynda Sharrett-Field

We will begin by developing a basic understanding of how to define and identify aggression and violence. In Florence, we will focus on how honor culture influences aggression and how alcohol can promote interpersonal violence. Next, we travel to Rome where we will discuss biopsycholosocial factors that contribute to the development of a serial killer and search out evidence of these factors in Roman culture. Students will become familiar with famous serial killers who have plagued Rome throughout the centuries and discuss factors that might have contributed to the making of these serial killers.

All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Prior to your KIIS program, please speak with your home campus academic advisor and/or study abroad office to determine course equivalencies. Grades will be transferred to your home institution in late January after the completion of the program. Course offerings are subject to change according to enrollment. For more information, visit Transcripts & Grades.

Program Excursions

Orvieto

Orvieto is a small fortified city approximately an hour and a half outside of Rome that was founded by the ancient Etruscans. Dramatically perched atop a volcanic rock, students spend the day exploring the city's famous basilica, quaint medieval streets lined with shops and cafes, museums, caves, and panoramic views of the surrounding valleys.

Vatican City

Vatican City is considered to be the center of the Roman Catholic Church and home to the Pope. The KIIS group will visit St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum, all of which are the most popular landmarks of Vatican City. On occasion, the KIIS group has been known to attend a papal audience.

Colosseum, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum

The Palatine Hill, Roman Forum & the Colosseum are some of the most important landmarks of western civilization. You spend an entire day exploring these ancient ruins that were once the center of the world and that have captivated our collective imagination ever since.

Santa Maria del Fiore

Santa Maria del Fiore - The Duomo is the main cathedral of Florence. With its famous cupola (dome) designed and engineered by Brunelleschi, fascade, baptistery and campanile, it is one of the most memorable landmarks in the world. Students typically have the chance to attend a service presented by the Archbishop of Florence, hike to the top of the dome or campanile and explore the many layers of the church's history.

Fresco Painting Workshop

Fresco Painting Workshop at the Palazzo Vecchio introduces students to the basic materials and methods used by painters of the Italian Renaissance to permanently adorn the walls and ceilings of palaces, churches and other important buildings.

Uffizi & Accademia Galleries

The Uffizi and Accademia Galleries showcase some of the most important artworks created during the Italian Renaissance. Home to famous artworks, such as, Michelangelo's David, Botticelli's Birth of Venus and countless others, participants will experience these masterpieces firsthand.

Tour of the Historical Center

City Orientation Tour of the Historical Center (Centro Storico) helps students to get their bearings and gain a very basic historical overview of the city, in order to locate the main landmarks including the Arno River & Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio & Uffizi Gallery, and Piazza del Duomo.

What's Included

Program Cost: $3,595 + airfare

Earn up to 3 Credit Hours

Group Flight (Optional)

Airport Transfers in Italy

Accommodations

All Breakfasts & Lunches

Groups Excursions & Transport

Security Evacuation Protection

Medical Insurance

Program Director & Faculty
on-site 24/7

To help you budget, keep in mind that you are responsible for the cost of your textbooks & materials, passport fees ($165), one meal per day + personal expenses (approx. $400, or if you are an avid shopper, you may consider bringing additional funds), and any fees from your college/university.

Although KIIS tries to foresee all possible expenses in formulating program fees, please note that dramatic fluctuations in foreign currency valuations and/or airline surcharges may affect the total cost of the program.

Group Flight

Estimated Cost:  $1,700 – $1,800

The Italy Winter program offers a group flight option where you can travel to your program location with other students and faculty. If you choose this option, KIIS will purchase a flight ticket on your behalf. The flight cost will be added to your final program fee on November 1. The group flight will depart from Cincinnati or Louisville.

Flights to Italy are typically overnight flights which means you will depart the USA on December 27 and arrive in Italy on December 28. The Italy Winter program concludes on January 7. Return flights from Italy to the USA are typically the same day. Visit flights for more information.

Student Voices

Take Your Education Further

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