About the Program

Overview

Nearly every area of instruction at Bard—including the sciences—recognizes in its course offerings the central importance of the Italian contribution to civilization. Italian culture is unique in the extent to which it affects other European and non-European cultures: the Venetians in overseas trade and the Byzantine Empire; Savoy with France; Trieste, Venice, and Milan with the Austro-Hungarian Empire; Sicily with Normandy, Greece, Spain, and the Islamic world. Contemporary aspects of German and Eastern European history—fascism and the Balkans are obvious examples—cannot be considered in isolation from Italian history.

The Italian Studies Program provides the mechanism for assembling and focusing the curriculum of the undergraduate who has an interest in Italian culture. At the core of the program lies acquisition of fluency in reading, writing, and translating the Italian language. This is accomplished through regular courses during the academic year or through an intensive Italian language class, which includes a month of study in Florence, Italy, during the January intersession.

Study Abroad

Students study at an excellent Florentine educational institute called the Accademia del Giglio, our regular educational partner in Florence. Each day in Florence, the students will study 3 ½ hours of Italian language in the morning, followed by a break for lunch, and then they will be back in the classroom for a few more hours in the afternoon and into the evening. The afternoon classes will cover a range of subjects in Italian culture- including art history, literature, film, and - and will include visits to renowned sites such as the Uffizi Museum, the Pitti Palace, and the Accademia, all jewels from the city’s unparalleled medieval and Renaissance heritage. Each weekend, the students will go on guided tours and excursions to some of Tuscany’s most beautiful and fascinating venues, including Siena, the remarkable countryside outside of Florence, and the medieval city of Lucca. The program will also include a wealth of cultural events, including visits to the cafe and cinema.

Next Program: January 2010

 

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