Courses offered

AAH 214 – The Art of Florence: Exploring Visual Culture

Description
During the Renaissance, roughly defined as the period extending from the middle of the 14th century until the end of the 16th century, the city of Florence was the site of some of the most remarkable artistic experiences in European history. Why, though, should one city have contributed so much to the course of the arts? Why should so many of the city’s works of art, monuments, and buildings have played a major rule in the development of the visual arts? What set of circumstances and conditions made this possible? This course is designed to explore these questions through an examination of historical factors that made Florence the birthplace and point of reference for what we now call “Renaissance art.” We will examine the careers and achievements of some of the central figures working in Florence, including Giotto, Filippo Brunelleschi, Leon Battista Alberti, Donatello, Masaccio, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Fra Angelico, Fra Filippo Lippi, Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael.

Starting with the monumental site of the Duomo (the Cathedral of Florence), the first part of the course will focus on the development of sculpture and its architectural setting, emphasizing the circumstances of urban history that demanded public and monumental programs of architecture and sculpture. The first half of the course will end with an amplification of Filippo Brunelleschi’s achievement in the Pazzi Chapel, while providing an introduction to Giotto and fresco painting in Santa Croce. The second part of the semester will concentrate on the development of painting in the 15th century, and then move on to the Cinquecento (sixteenth century) with the achievements of Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael.

Emphasis will be placed on studying the art preserved and exhibited in Florentine museums and contained in monuments that often constitute its original site; therefore, class meetings will alternate between lectures in the classroom at Palazzo Rucellai, and study on site, so that the students will have the opportunity each week to experience original art rather than digital images. We will analyze the art within a sequence of contexts, in order to understand the cultural, political, economic and religious factors that contributed to the production of art in Renaissance Florence.

Objectives
The fundamental goals of the course are to introduce students to the art and architecture of Florence in its historical context, and in doing so, to make them familiar with the origins, nature and development of the Renaissance in the visual arts. Mastery of basic concepts and terminology of art historical studies is another essential aspect of this course.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

AAH 214 – The Art of Florence: Exploring Visual Culture

Description

During the Renaissance, roughly defined as the period extending from the middle of the 14th century until the end of the 16th century, the city of Florence was the site of some of the most remarkable artistic experiences in European history. Why, though, should one city have contributed so much to the course of the arts? Why should so many of the city’s works of art, monuments, and buildings have played a major rule in the development of the visual arts? What set of circumstances and conditions made this possible? This course is designed to explore these questions through an examination of historical factors that made Florence the birthplace and point of reference for what we now call “Renaissance art.” We will examine the careers and achievements of some of the central figures working in Florence, including Giotto, Filippo Brunelleschi, Leon Battista Alberti, Donatello, Masaccio, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Fra Angelico, Fra Filippo Lippi, Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. We will analyze the art within a sequence of contexts, in order to understand the cultural, political, economic and religious factors that contributed to the production of art in Renaissance Florence.

Starting with the monumental site of the Duomo (the Cathedral of Florence), the first part of the course will focus on the development of sculpture and its architectural setting, emphasizing the circumstances of urban history that demanded public and monumental programs of architecture and sculpture. The first half of the course will end with an amplification of Filippo Brunelleschi’s achievements, while providing an introduction to Giotto, and then Masaccio and Donatello. The second part of the semester will concentrate on the development of painting in the 15th century, and moving on to the Cinquecento (sixteenth century) with the achievements of Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael.

AAH 330 – Special Topics in Art History: Leonardo

Description
An in-depth study of the drawings, paintings and scientific writings of Leonardo da Vinci (Vinci 1452-Amboise, France 1519). This course seeks to define Leonardo’s development as a painter, a draftsman and a scientist. The student will become familiar not only with Leonardo’s individual masterpieces, but also with his theoretical ideas on nature and how to represent scientific knowledge in images (Leonardo regarded painting a natural science). The nature and significance of Leonardo’s extraordinary achievements as a painter and scientist will be assessed through close comparison of his works and writings with other artists and scientists. The student will gain insight in the design process of Leonardo’s painted works through attentive analysis of the preparatory drawings that reveal a close study of cause and effect in Nature.

Objectives
To introduce the student to the art and scientific thought of Leonardo da Vinci and to enable him or her to understand and appreciate the originality and universality of his genius. The student will learn the significance of Leonardo’s pioneering research in various branches of knowledge and will understand how that research relates to his artistic practice and theoretical ideals. The student will become familiar with the role drawing played not only in the creative process, but also in the transmission of the vast body of knowledge Leonardo gathered with the intention to compile illustrated treatises for the benefit of the painter.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

AAH/HIST 430 – The Rucellai Seminar: Life, Patronage and Culture in Early Modern Florence 1450-1650

Description
The course explores villas and gardens to better understand how men and women, from different times, cultures, and countries, transformed the landscape for leisurely purposes and conceived their relationship between Architecture and Nature. We focus on the dynamic relationship between landscapes, villas and their gardens, mainly Renaissance and Baroque in Tuscany and Rome, where gardens where conceived as part of a multifaceted architectural system. The ‘villa & garden’ complex originates in the Mediterranean area, especially ancient Greece and Rome. Renaissance Tuscany shaped the early formal garden, later becoming the ‘rational’ geometrical garden as an extension of the architecture of the villa. From our base in Florence, where we explore villas commissioned by the Medici family, we look South to villas commissioned by Popes and Cardinals. Then we look North, to 16th-century examples in Mantua and in the Veneto Region.We look East, to a different way of opening architecture to nature. We study the impact of Orientalism on the design of European villa & garden complexes. Back in Tuscany, we study the impact of 18th century England on Florentine culture and gardens. We look West, to the Anglo-American residents of Florence, and to their taste for villa life in late 19th-early 20th century.
Introductory lectures indoors, based on powerpoint presentations, will be followed by direct experience of villas & gardens on site visits both in Florence and Rome.

Objectives
– to look carefully at the architecture of villas, gardens, and palaces;
– to develop a vocabulary (regarding form, style, and function) so as to express what we see;
– to investigate the function, context and ideas behind the form of the works we study;
– to explore what these can tell us about the society that created them.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ARCH 310, 410 or 510: Architecture Design Studio

Description
The Summer Studio is exclusive to the F6 program and provides aspiring architects with an innovative and interdisciplinary experience, which surveys Florence’s extraordinary architectural infrastructure in its design, history, art, and development. The Design Studio curriculum is open to 3rd- and 4th-year architect students. Students will be placed in the appropriate studio level based on their proficiency, academic needs and prerequisites. Studio courses consist of urban studio classes and meetings in design-charrette style, with interactive urban projects, daily briefs, and progress presentations. Students will develop a unique design project for real urban sites in the city. Special attention will be given to each student to design an experience that meets their special curricular needs and interests.

Course Highlights

• Dedicated studio and workspace for each participant
• Experiential on-site learning
• Work individually and on teams to create local urban design projects
• Field trips to Veneto (Palladio and Carlo Scarpa), Pienza and the Val d’Orcia, San Gimignano, and Montalcino.

Objectives
CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT. The main opportunity offered by a design studio in Firenze is the opportunity of working in a strongly characterized historical context, with its multiple layers and its continuous in progress status. Firenze and its built environment will be the textbooks for studio, and the studio will develop methods to learn from it. Students will be asked to go beyond appearances, and to look at the city from different points of view and not as tourists. Architecture is strategy and communication. The main goal of the studio is to provide students with an insight into the nature of the public domain and the ways in which architecture and urban space are weaved to create the physical setting for the activities and rituals of public urban life.
STYLE IS NOT AN ADDED QUALITY. The studio will not focus only on a merely functional program; instead, it will operate on the premise that public spaces are important to the livability of a city. Students will cultivate design not to explore style, but to explore what they consider to be fundamental to architecture: namely, issues of space, urbanism and meanings, searching a way to hide thoughts inside shapes.
ORDINARY vs EXTRAORDINARY. Unorthodox programs using contemporary complexity of urban phenomena will be of main importance in developing design proposals.

Textbooks 
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation. Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ARCH 320 – Architecture Design Studio VI

Course Description
Context: strategy+Communication. As a continuation of ARCH 310, ARCH 320 gives an emphasis on the roles of space, structure and section in buildings. Students will focus on design projects in which spatial organization, along with principles of structure, materials, and site design, serve as form determinants. Aesthetic judgments based on technical concepts and applications become integral to the design process. This Design studio regards the designer as a thinker as well as a maker, working conceptually and strategically across the fading boundaries of traditional design disciplines. The studio will focus on two design goals: Integrating context and buildings and balancing the needs of the individual with community through projects of residential architecture. More urgently than ever, today’s world needs innovative, informed design, and architects are in need of more complex and interactive profiles. We’re here to define and nurture design’s emerging roles and methods – to educate, to envision and (I hope) to lead.

Objectives 
The main opportunity offered by a design studio in Firenze, is the opportunity of working in a strongly characterized historical context, with its multiple layers and its continuous in progress status. Firenze and its built environment will be the textbook for studio, and the studio will develop methods to learn from it. Students will be asked to go behind appearances, and to look at the city from different points of view and not as tourists.
ARCHITECTURE IS STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATION.
The main goal of the studio is to provide students with an insight into the nature of the public domain and the ways in which architecture and urban space are weaved to create the physical setting for the activities and rituals of public urban life.
STYLE IS NOT AN ADDED QUALITY
The studio will not focus on a merely functional program; instead, it will operate on the premise that public spaces are important to the livability of a city. Students will cultivate design not to explore style, but to explore what they consider to be fundamental to architecture: namely, issues of space, urbanism and meanings, searching a way to hide thoughts inside shapes.
ORDINARY vs EXTRAORDINARY
Unorthodox programs using contemporary complexity of urban phenomena will be of main importance in developing design proposals. In short (according to NAAB specs) goals of the studio are:
1) to continue the student’s development of architectural design investigation and communication skills ( NAAB SPC A.1, A.2, A.3, A.6, A.7)
2) to encourage an iterative design process (NAAB SPC A.2, A.5, A.6)
3) to document and analyze the forces and systems that are specific to a site or location and introduce the impact of these forces on Pre-Design (NAAB SPC A.2, A.5, A.11, B.1)
4) to investigate the interaction between landscape and architecture to find ways to optimize and conserve natural resources (NAAB SPC A.6, B.3)
5) to develop designs that balance the needs of the individual the community (NAAB SPC A.6)
6) to understand the requirements for life safety and egress (NAAB SPC B.5)
7) to work corroboratively to successfully complete design projects (NAAB SPC C.1)
8) to design spaces that meet or exceed Accessibility standards ( NAAB SPC B.2)
9) to design spaces that optimize natural resources and understand how the choice of materials impacts the environment (NAAB SPC B.3)
By accomplishing the requirements of this studio students will:
1) Students will complete site analysis and pre-design in which they research local zoning requirements.
2) Students will create a masterplan that integrates the building with the public space.
3) Students will develop a preliminary structural diagram for their design.
4) Students will create an ADA accessible residential unit.
5) Students will create a space that meet life safety egress requirements.
6) Students will create presentation drawings.
7) Students will create a portfolio.

Textbooks

During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation. Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ARCH 410 – Architecture Design Studio VII

Description
More urgently than ever, today’s world needs innovative, informed design, and architects are in need for more complex and interactive profiles. This Design studio regards the designer as a thinker as well as a maker, working conceptually and strategically across the fading boundaries of traditional design disciplines.
The studio will have an emphasis on context, urbanity, urban fabric and public space. The studio will focus on two design goals: develop investigative skills to integrate context and buildings and to evaluate the ways structural and mechanical systems inform spatial strategies. We’re here to define and nurture design’s emerging roles and methods – to educate, to envision and (I hope) to lead.

Objectives
CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT. The main opportunity offered by a design studio in Firenze, is the opportunity of working in a strongly characterized historical context, with its multiple layers and its continuous in progress status. Firenze and its built environment will be the textbooks for studio, and the studio will develop methods to learn from it. Students will be asked to go behind appearances, and to look at the city from different points of view and not as tourists. Architecture is strategy and communication. The main goal of the studio is to provide students with an insight into the nature of the public domain and the ways in which architecture and urban space are weaved to create the physical setting for the activities and rituals of public urban life.
STYLE IS NOT AN ADDED QUALITY. The studio will not focus only on a merely functional program, instead, it will operate on the premise that public spaces are important to the livability of a city. Students will cultivate design not to explore style, but to explore what they consider to be fundamental to architecture: namely, issues of space, urbanism and meanings, searching a way to hide thoughts inside shapes.
ORDINARY vs EXTRAORDINARY. Unorthodox programs using contemporary complexity of urban phenomena will be of main importance in developing design proposals.

Textbooks 
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation. Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ARCH 416 – Advanced Topical Design Studio: Urban

Description 
The primary mission of ARCH 416 is to enable students to explore how architecture, landscape architecture and urban design as formal, meaningful and performative constructs operate and relate to the historical context at different scales. The course proposes that site can be understood as a field within which different forces interact: It is the role of the designer to engage in analytical, intuitive, interpretative and transformational processes that lead to design solutions of significant meaning and value.
“Cities, like dreams, are made of desires and fears, even if the thread of their discourse is secret, their rules absurd, their perspectives deceitful, and everything conceals something else.” “I have no desires nor fears,” the Khan declared,” and my dreams are composed either by my mind or by chance”. “Cities also believe they are the work of the mind or of chance, but neither the one nor the other suffices to hold up their walls. You take a delight not in a city’s seven or seventy wonders, but in the answer it gives to a question of yours.” “Or the question it asks you, forcing you to answer, like Thebes through the mouth of the Sphinx.”
The aim of the first weeks is to introduce students to the cultural experience of living in a city whose layers date back centuries, which at the same time houses contemporary life for its citizens and visitors. The exercises are designed to acquaint the students with the city of Florence, by helping you in reading the urban fabric, along with mapping the city in order to facilitate your understanding of such a different environment from the one you are accustomed.

“The city, however, does not tell its past, but contains it like the lines of a hand, written in the corners of the streets, the gratings of the windows, the banisters of the steps, the antennae of the lightning rods, the poles of its flags, every segment marked in turn with scratches, indentations, scrolls.” Italo Calvino, 1972 “Invisible Cities” translated from the Italian by William Weaver
As architectural educators, we share the conviction that architecture should account for its place – its belonging in the contextual setting. Hence our attention will be directed to addressing the myriad issues of place and context in which architectural projects can be situated. The goal is to equip students with the necessary tools to describe, represent, analyze and interpolate the urban fabric. To this end attention is focused on the issues of context by means of initial intensive exercises in site analysis and documentation. Florence is a city whose layers are deposited throughout the centuries therefore a particular emphasis is placed upon the understanding of the urban context of the city, both in present and historical terms. This directive fosters the development of a comprehensive urban perspective.
The aim of the studio, is to bring together three modes of inquiry that are often considered separately: a theory-based approach, the consideration of historical urban environment – their meaning and use for today, and a design problem. Articles will be handed out periodically.
The first part of the semester will be dedicated to understanding design issues at the urban scale, where the interrelation between elements of a city can be better understood. Public spaces such as piazzas, public buildings and stores play a key role in the civic life of the historic neighborhoods. The studio will explore the rehabilitation of such important elements through a culturally sensitive design effort.
The site project in the historic center of Florence will encompass both urban and landscape analysis of the present situation and a proposal of recovery Master Plan for public/private uses. This exercise is concerned with streets, piazzas, green landscape on the Arno river, access, setbacks and all the elements which come together to form the “public face of Architecture” for Piazza Giuseppe Poggi.
The second design assignment will be an infill project located in the area between the San Niccolo’, with the pre-existing urban fabric and the Arno river esplanade. The program includes a main public building (new Arno Museum and Memorial of 1966 Florence flood), the new entrance of the Arno Terrace and beach facilities including 4 temporary pavilions and re-design of Giuseppe Poggi Piazza. The study of preexisting typologies entails an understanding of Italian cultural setting and more specifically of Tuscan way of living public space.
Your design will explore both the building typology and the layering of the surrounding fabric, providing a contextual response appropriate to the setback of the Piazza.
Both designs will address the dichotomy public – private space keeping in mind that the task of the architect is to provide the community with livable places of interaction as well as to respond to the individuals’ needs for a place of their own.

Course Methodology
The studio is structured around lectures, discussions, readings and both group and individual exercises. A variety of conditions, concepts and principles will be introduced in lectures and other forums which are intended to transform into research and inquiry processes to which the students and faculty together will find design solutions. Individual desk crits and group design reviews will take place during studio time and are structured to generate theoretical discussions, sharing of information, collaboration and exploration of ideas in the search for excellence in conceptual and design proposals.
The Studio is the crucible for design education: as such it is the primary vehicle for the articulation and exchange of ideas- both in one-on-one desk crits and in the spontaneous and fluid energy which is created by committed design students coming together to consider challenging design problems of our time. As such the studio establishes a permanent and supportive environment for students to work individually and collectively, to discuss and research their ideas. The studio facilitates the communication and interaction among peer students and encourages collaborative design. It is imperative that this harmonious process of interaction is respected and encouraged by all students in the Studio. Design and research are rigorous and demanding processes requiring dedication and personal commitment from those involved in the process and thus you will be expected to work accordingly.
Design Reviews and Open Public Juries are a primary means of critical review of student work. These are often held at various stages of the process and at the conclusion of the project. Reviews are open forums of criticism and engagement with others and are critical for a successful holistic design, architectural or urban project. You are expected to actively participate in these reviews where you will engage by taking notes and engaging in conversations that will then translate into critical discussions and possible implementations in your design project.
Designers and architects have a variety of communication tools and given the importance of collaborative design processes in desk crits, group assignments, juries, and open reviews it is imperative that we communicate our ideas in the most effective way. For this reason, you will have to come prepared to all of these work sessions. This includes clarity of thoughts, oral discourse and sketches, clear hand and digital drawings – including explorations, diagrams, plans, sections, elevations, perspectives, axonometric and isometric drawings, and digital and physical 3D models. Another critical component of the course will be the research and investigative work to be done by students in preparation for every discussion and work session. It is critical that you come prepared for every studio class, prepared to fully engage in a meaningful dialogue concerning your work.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation. Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ARCH 448 – Survey and Drawing: Mapping Florence Architecture

Description
The goal of this course is twofold. First, have students gain deeper knowledge of Florence and its monuments. To demonstrate their comprehension of the local man-made environment, students will be expected to produce a series of drawings. In doing so, they will attain the second main objective of this course, that is, learn a method that will be of help for the rest of their lives, as they will be trained to observe, imitate, and expand on what they see.
The course is designed for students with an intense interest in history, art, and architecture, who want to use this passion not only from a strictly intellectual point of view but to broaden their general cultural perspective as well. In terms of academic requirements, the course is particularly recommended for students majoring in Art History, Architecture, Archaeology, and Photography.

Objectives
– Increase the students’ knowledge of Florence and its monuments from the Roman times to the present.
– Be introduced to a variety of survey technologies.
– Improve their drawing skills and learn a method that can be applied to different fields and career pursuits.
– Develop critical thinking and analytical tools that complement skills of synthesis.
– Become familiar with and benefit from masterpieces of Florentine art.
– Experience the visual arts from within.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ARCH 458 – Urban Florence: Traveling Across Layers

Description
To many visitors and students Florence appears as a storybook city, a kind of museum where everything stands still in a generic past. The common denomination “cradle of the Renaissance” gives a mistaken idea of the period in which the city came to being, expanded and remains today. This course will elaborate on the complex transformations of the city, from Etruscan village to Roman town to Renaissance metropolis and then back to Italian city. The course is designed as a historical analysis of the urban transformations which make Florence the city it is today, and site visits to the very different neighborhoods in Florence are a significant part of the program. Readings and analysis will furnish the background knowledge needed in order to visualize the different urban expansions of Florence. Selected readings, class discussion and site visits will form the body of the work of the course. Assignment topics may be chose according to the specific interests of the individual student.
This course will be beneficial to students of architecture, real estate, construction entrepreneurs and students of social and cultural history.
The aim of the course is to enable students to understand the origin of the city and its development throughout the centuries. At the end of the course, students will be able to determine the historical period of parts of the city based on the information obtained in lectures, readings and site visits. Students will acquire the analytical tools necessary to distinguish the different phases of the expansions from the original roman town. In the process, the student will acquire familiarity with the city of Florence outside the nucleus of the tourist area. Additionally, students will gain a general vision of urban development in history, taking Florence as a model.
The course combines slide lectures with numerous visits to various neighborhoods and areas of historical and modern Florence, including areas outside the touristic center. Students must complete one assignment. The participation grade also reflects in-class discussion, which is based on the reading assignments.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ARCH 470 – Firenze: Urban Form

Description
Context: strategy+Communication. As a continuation of ARCH 310 and ARCH 320, the goal of the course is to teach students a method to understand, analyze and evaluate a city/site and its context. The intention is to produce tools that will be useful and applicable in Architectural Design and in professional life.

The course will focus on Florence as a living city rather than an open air museum for tourists. It will help the students to read and understand the context of the city beyond the monuments.
As architects we never draw on blank sheets of paper; hidden lines – sometimes more, sometimes less – are always present. This course will provide students with an approach as well as with the basic tools to recognize those hidden lines. During this semester we will cultivate the experience of looking at architecture with a different eye, focusing on the invisible links and relations between things.
Le Corbusier used to say “…one obelisque: not architecture. Two obelisques: architecture!”
Using Florence and its built history as a case study, we will explore the various meanings of context: urban context, landscape and geography, social and human environment, historical processes and stratified layers. Architecture in context is about process, ideas, programs and passion in facing unknown contexts even more than about final products. In your work, at desk crits, and during presentations instructors and crits will be looking for evidence that you are searching and exploring the context as something new and that you listen to and respond constructively to feedback and advices from teachers and peers.

Objectives
The goal is a closer relationship with the site, recognizing its elements, stratified layers, behaviors, dimensions and figures. We will look at Florence and its monuments from different points of view, trying to go behind appearances. Drawings will be instruments to understand and communicate architectural thoughts.

Sketchbook
Students are required to maintain one (minimum) individual A5 (21×14,8) sketchbook for the sole use in this class, for recording field research, exploration of precedents, lectures, reading notes. The instructor wants to “see your in-progress experience”. Make a conscious effort to record and date your design process in your sketchbook. Make every sketch worthwhile and worth saving to show and record the progress of your ideas. Sketchbooks may be collected at any time and will be a graded component of the course (30% of final grade). Hand-out with list of mandatory subjects will be available in the first week.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation. Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ARCH 477 – Architecture in Context: City, Spaces and Urban Design

*This course is exclusive to the Roger Williams Advanced Architecture Program

Description
The course explores today’s Florence, seen as a living city rather than as an open-air museum for tourists. This approach helps students read and understand the city beyond its monumental highlights. We investigate the various meanings of “context”. We explore the multifaceted, sometimes conflicting, co- existence of modern/global needs & practices and traditional/local spaces. We address the contemporary urban fabric, its environment, its historic process, and its stratified layers; we consider the cityscape, the skyline, the surrounding landscape, the geography of Florence, and its terrain. Starting from the “finished” urban fabric, the course focuses on processes, ideas, and programs behind the contemporary city. We can apply to architecture what Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier, father of modern Chemistry, wrote about the physical world: “Nothing creates itself, nothing gets lost, all change”. Architects never draw on a blank sheet of paper. Hidden links are always present. This course provides students with an approach and the basic tools which enable them to recognize these hidden connections. We explore how contemporary architects and masters of the past used the context as a rich, active source of inspiration, rather than as a limit to their creativity.

Objectives
– to develop methods and tools for analyzing, understanding, and evaluating a city or a site and its context;
– to use Florence as a study case;
– to discover the hidden dynamics of the urban fabric of Florence, beyond the city’s monumental buildings;
– to look at the architecture of Florence with new eyes, focusing on the invisible links between life, space, and buildings.

Textbooks 
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation. Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ARCH/AAH 330 – History of Italian Design

Description
Italian design: imagination and exactitude.
The verb “to design” refers to the process of starting and developing a plan for a new object (machine, building, product, etc.). As a noun, “design” is used both for the final plan or proposal (a drawing, model, or other description), or the result of implementing that plan or proposal (the object being produced).
Lately “design” has become an adjective, designating an added quality for objects and attitudes.
“Made in Italy” has been traditionally a brand embodying at once the three aforesaid meanings. As is well known, Italy has always played a major role in the development of design, craft and style.
This course will focus on the history of design and production in Italy from the industrial revolution to the present, ranging from industrial, to product, to furniture design; giving attention to the extraordinary blend of imagination and exactitude that characterizes Italy.
During the semester we will trespass in the world of fashion design as well as that of car styling. Particular importance will be given to the parallel production of visual arts, cinema, literature and other fields of culture.
After a brief (and necessary) narrative on the international history of design from the XVIII to the early XXI centuries (the rise of consumerism and mass production, the Arts and Crafts movement, the Bauhaus ethics, etc.) the course will focus on Italy and Italian designers.
Each lecture will focus on one designer and his/her work or one object / family of objects, presenting their cultural and productive context and the technical and semantic background behind their success.

Objectives
The general aim of this course is to understand the role of “design” within Italian culture.
After completing this unit, students should be able to explain and contextualize the work of a designer through a presentation, in which they will develop criteria and create links and comparisons between different objects or pieces of furniture. Students should be able to analyze similar product types through a comparison of innovative features, function, aesthetic and visual appeal, as well as economic, social and environmental benefits and costs.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ARCH/AAH 430 – Special Topics: The Villa and the Garden

Description
The course explores villas and gardens to better understand how men and women, from different times, cultures, and countries, transformed the landscape for leisurely purposes and conceived their relationship between Architecture and Nature. We focus on the dynamic relationship between landscapes, villas and their gardens, mainly Renaissance and Baroque in Tuscany and Rome, where gardens where conceived as part of a multifaceted architectural system. The ‘villa & garden’ complex originates in the Mediterranean area, especially ancient Greece and Rome. Renaissance Tuscany shaped the early formal garden, later becoming the ‘rational’ geometrical garden as an extension of the architecture of the villa. From our base in Florence, where we explore villas commissioned by the Medici family, we look South to villas commissioned by Popes and Cardinals outside Rome. Then we look North, to 16th-century examples in the Veneto Region. We look East, to a different way of opening architecture to nature. We study the impact of Orientalism on the design of European villa & garden complexes. Back in Tuscany, we study the impact of 18th century England on Florentine culture and gardens. We look West, to the Anglo-American residents of Florence, and to their taste for villa life in late 19th-early 20th century.
Introductory lectures indoors, based on PowerPoint presentations, will be followed by direct experience of villas & gardens on site visits, in Florence and surroundings. Two day-trips, exceeding regular class hours, will complete the experience.

Objectives
– to look carefully at the architecture of villas, gardens, and palaces;
– to develop a vocabulary (regarding form, style, function) so as to express what we see;
– to investigate the function, context and ideas behind the form of the works we study;
– to explore what these can tell us about the society that created them.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ART 215 – Introduction to Digital Photography

Description
Taking photographs is something that most of us do every day. What are we photographing? Why? How can we take photographs that are more effective that convey and communicate our intentions?  Students will learn basic concepts, processes and techniques including camera usage, exposure controls, editing and manipulating digital photographic images. We will learn how light, composition, viewpoint and creativity can be used to create stunning and meaningful images.  We will explore the cultural phenomenon of photography and the role it plays in society, past and present.

No previous photographic experience is required. Any type of digital camera can be used. Whether you’re interested in learning how to effectively use that daunting looking single lens reflex camera that you’ve kept on auto until now, or if the only camera you have is more of a phone than a camera, this is the class for you.  The magic of photography lies in your ability to see a good photograph before you’ve even pressed the button.

“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera” Dorothea Lange

Objectives
Students will have:
– developed an understanding of photographic language;
– Learned how to use their camera effectively
– acquired a more critical eye in evaluating and reading photographic images;
– achieved proficiency in editing and optimizing digital images; and
– gained insight into the creation, use, and presentation of photographic images.

Required Material

Any camera or device that is able to take photographs (single lens reflex cameras and cell phone cameras welcome)

BIOL 240W – Function and Development of Organisms

Course Goals
• Identify and understand the underlying principles shared by physiological systems, at the molecular, cellular, and systems levels and relate these principles to the physical and thermodynamic laws that influence organismal design.
• Recognize the diversity of physiological systems and understand the interactions of these systems with anatomical structure, especially with regard to similarities and differences between plants and animals and how the two lineages adapted in their transitions to land.
• Use critical thinking and analytical skills when addressing physiological issues to understand organisms’ adaptations to their environments.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

BUS/COMM/FSST 355: Digital Marketing: Wine and Wineries of Central Italy

Description

This course offers an overview of the most important digital marketing theories and promotion techniques as applied to wine, with a special focus on wines from Central Italy. Students will analyze the wine markets of the world, consumer segments, companies’ communication strategies and will participate in a practical exercise designed to give them the opportunity to shape an online marketing plan for a winery. In addition, students will learn the importance of describing the sensory experience of wine and acquire the particular vocabulary necessary to describe wines from the Central Italian regions of Tuscany, Umbria, Latium, Marche, and Abruzzo to potential customers.

Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Explain the basic role, processes, and purpose of digital brand management in the wine business;
• Compare and differentiate the concepts of social media marketing, email marketing, branded content, online reputation;
• Explain the basics of wine promotion strategies;
• Identify and classify wines from Central Italy;
• Develop skills needed to taste wines and to understand the role of describing the sensory experience on market positioning using a particular vocabulary.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

BUSN 430 – Business Consulting in the Fashion Industry

Description
This course is designed to transform students into active members of the Florentine business community by joining 440 Industries, a consultancy firm committed to helping local businesses tackle global challenges.
Through this course students will be able to assist local Italian companies in solving real-life problems experienced by companies working in the fashion industry, especially in areas like marketing, management and finance.
The course addresses topics and issues which may include digital marketing strategy, brand management, retail management and internationalization strategies. The opportunity to provide real-life consulting services allows for participants to develop business analysis and decision- making skills.

Teaching Methodology
The class is structured so as to provide students with the opportunity to engage directly with local entrepreneurs and managers working in the Florentine fashion district. Consequently, student participation and involvement in class discussions are an essential component of this course.
Real-life business cases will be discussed by applying theoretical frameworks and case scenario analysis in order to provide advice and consultancy to a selection of businesses in the fashion industry.
Therefore, class meetings will have a mixed structure, including interactive lectures, in-class discussions, case analysis, guest lectures and site visits. Students will work in teams and will be given reading and practical assignment to be carried out on a weekly basis.
The connection to the Florentine business community provided by the course will enable students to not only put into practice the theory component of the course but also allow them to understand cultural and conventional elements of conducting business operations in Italy.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

BUSN 430 – The Business of Art: the Economics and Management of Culture

Description
Markets for visual arts provide a particularly fertile ground for those concerned with the economics of culture. The study of the past and current structure of the market for visual art, the mechanisms that fuel this flourishing market and the involvement of public and private institutions in the context of the current globalization of the arts, provides significant instruments for the development of museum management studies, as well as a different methodological approach to art history and history of culture management.
The economics of the arts are an inter-disciplinary field of study that deals with the application of economics to the production, distribution and consumption of all cultural goods and services. Past contributions to cultural economics were focused mainly on public policy issues, in particular the rationale for public subsidy and the evaluation of public expenditure, but the interdisciplinary nature of this discipline and the growing interest in it expanded research to broader areas

Objectives
By studying the theoretical and practical aspects of this field of study in the context of visual arts, students will develop an understanding of the main topics and scope of the field and the history, behavior and structure of the art market. While analyzing the economic impact of past and current art law they will evaluate the organization of visual arts and entertainment industries both in the past and in the ‘new economy’ environment, which will be enriched by meetings with significant professional figures working in the world of museums, foundations and international art trade.
Students will be introduced to institutional networks that sustain and promote the art business, the current art market and auction house environment.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

BUSN 430 – The Business of Sustainable Food Supply Chains in Italy

Description
This course will investigate the unique extended food supply system of Tuscany and Florence, along with its interrelated linkages to culture, social responsibility, value, the supply chain, the ecosystem, fiscal policy and marketing. It aims to provide students with an understanding of the sustainability challenges and opportunities facing this food and agricultural supply chain. Emphasis will be put on identifying and analyzing the dilemma of shareholder value versus truly sustainable businesses measured in terms of environmental, economic and social impact. As the course proceeds, students will be challenged to understand the mechanics of the system and to critically evaluate the value of such systems to other contexts.
The course is based on a variety of case studies/experiences situated primarily around central Italy.

Objectives 
The objective of this course is to introduce students to the relationships between sustainability, value, brand and quality within the marketplace of Tuscan food and drink.
• Critically Evaluate Sustainability within the Food System.
• Understand the complexity of Sustainable Food Supply Chain Management.
• Understand the Meanings of Quality, Drivers in Quality and the mechanisms that control quality.
• Evaluate specific sustainability programs with a holistic approach.
• Develop effect change programs towards a more sustainable food future.

Textbooks 
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation. Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

BUSN/SUST 430 – Sustainability in the Fashion Industry

Description
This course aims at exploring the very pressing issue of sustainability in world of fashion and luxury, by analyzing both the tangible and intangible assets that are created in this industry. The course will discuss a variety of topics, which will include the management of sustainable fashion practices with a company’s stakeholders, the promotion of corporate social responsibilities (CSR) initiatives as well as the design of innovative business models capable of improving a business’s sustainability performance.
Furthermore, by analyzing the life cycle of the fashion product this course will address the adoption of sustainable practices to meet the demands of the fast fashion pipeline, from the sourcing of raw materials, to the product manufacturing stage, to retail, and – finally – to product usage and disposal.

Teaching Methodology
The class is structured so as to provide students with the opportunity to think critically about the issues of the contemporary fashion business. To reach this goal, a variety of teaching methodologies will be used.
Firstly, the course will discuss real-life business cases by applying theoretical frameworks and case scenario analysis in order to develop a hands-on approach to the subject, contextualizing it into the Florentine fashion district.
Secondly, class meetings will have a mixed structure, including interactive lectures, in-class discussions, case analysis, guest lectures, and site visits. Students will work in teams and will be given reading and practical assignment to be carried out on a weekly basis.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

CEP 101 – Practicum Communication – Mediating Cultures: Tour Guiding and Multicultural Competence

General Practicum Description
In this practicum students work as tour guides in one of the main churches in Florence. The aim of the course is, on the one hand, to make students appreciate first hand the significance and importance of historical monumental churches in Italian culture; on the other hand, they will also have to try to convey this significance to some of the million of tourists that visit Florence every year. Many of these tourists have very little previous knowledge of Italian culture and sometimes even western Christianity, so the seminar will guide students into acting as mediators between different cultures.

Practicum Description
Students will work with the non-profit association Ars et Fides, which is devoted to providing free tours in English to tourists in order to convey even to short-stay visitors the cultural and religious importance of the main Florentine churches. Students will work under the guidance of a supervisor. They will first observe tours conducted by the association’s guides, then will lead tours on their own.

Seminar description
The seminar meets once a week, and is based on students’ reports about their work, readings and discussions. The seminar will focus on the fundamental importance of these monuments for Italian national identity and Florentine local identity. We will also discuss how these historical sites can be appreciated by a widely multicultural audience, who only experience these churches through a heavily commoditized tourist industry.

Course Requirements and Learning Outcomes
Practicum: Students are expected to carry out their work professionally. In particular they are required to respect the agreed schedule, and be responsible and collaborative with other guides and tourists. Every week students must fill in their Attendance Form. More detailed instruction will be provided by ISI Florence Engagement Coordinator (dr. Giorgi).
Seminar: Students are expected to join in discussions and activities in class, which will be graded under “Participation” (see below). Students must also send short weekly journals before class. The Journal consists of a brief summary of the week’s activity. Towards the end of the practicum students will write a final essay (no longer than 3000 words) about one aspect of their experience, quoting (at least) one scholarly and one non-scholarly source.
By the end of the practicum, the successful student is expected to 1) have a detailed understanding of how historical religious sites contribute to a country’s national identity; 2) have solid practical experience leading tours to one such site; and 3) understand how to provide significant information to a diverse and multicultural audience, and act as a mediator between different cultures.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

CEP 201 – Practicum Critical Disabilities Studies – Discovering Abilities: Narratives, Disabilities and Identities

General Practicum Description
In this practicum students work with professional assistants or people with intellectual disabilities within local social enterprise institutions, such as a restaurant or shop. These associations help individuals with sensorial and/or intellectual disabilities integrate into a real work environment. While these are inclusive institutions aimed at people with disabilities, they are real businesses that have to turn a profit in order to survive. Students volunteering for this practicum will be helping staff in a practical way, but also learn how to relate to people with disabilities and observe how people with disabilities deal with the challenges of a real enterprise. This course offers two possibilities to do a cultural engaging activity: at I ragazzi del Sipario, or Matrix, both local institutions. Both options will be presented during the orientation meeting, and students may choose which one they would like to participate in.

Practicum description
Matrix is a social co-operative enterprise that helps people with intellectual disabilities to integrate themselves in the social and work context. I ragazzi del sipario is a restaurant whose working staff members are people with intellectual and/or sensorial disabilities. They also run a TV channel and have a workshop that produces hand-made goods for sale in a shop. Students will help professional staff (including people with intellectual disabilities) in their activities in the restaurant or the shop. Students will work in two 2-hour shifts (for a total of 4 hours per week).

Seminar description
The seminar meets once a week, and is based on students’ reports about their work, readings and discussions. The seminar will focus on the ways in which people with intellectual disabilities can integrate and be included in the social and work world through an empowering environment. We will also study the stereotypes surrounding disabilities in Italy, how they spread through specific narratives in the media.

Course Requirements and Learning Outcomes
Practicum: Students are expected to carry out their work professionally. In particular they are required to respect the agreed schedule, and be responsible and collaborative with staff. Every week students must fill in their Attendance Form. More detailed instruction will be provided by ISI Florence Engagement Coordinator (dr. Giorgi).
Seminar: Students are expected to join in discussions and activities in class, which will be graded under “Participation” (see below). Students must also send short weekly journals before class. The Journal consists of a brief summary of the week’s activity. Towards the end of the practicum students will write a final essay (no longer than 3000 words) about one aspect of their experience, quoting (at least) one scholarly and one non-scholarly source.
By the end of the practicum, the successful student is expected to 1) have a detailed understanding of how disabilities are negatively stereotyped and the attitudes towards disabilities in Italy; 2) become interculturally aware of the needs and skills of people with disabilities 3) understand how to talk about people with disabilities, acting as a cultural mediator.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

CEP 301 – Practicum Education – Teaching the Other: Study Abroad Teaching & Multicultural Competence

General Practicum Description
The aim of this practicum is to make it possible for students to participate in a real and significant teaching environment in Italy, and to introduce them to the challenges posed to the traditional school system by a diverse, multicultural society. Students will have the possibility of collaborating in teaching English in a primary school in Prato, a city next to Florence, or in the activities of an English-language kindergarten in Florence. In either case, students will be exposed to a diverse pupil population. Readings and activities in the seminar will guide students through the issues involved in teaching a multi-cultural classroom, as well as to the peculiar features of the local Italian culture and identity.

Practicum Description
Students will work in a kindergarten or primary school under the supervision of experienced teachers. Supervisors at the host institution will make sure the students familiarise themselves with the school system and teaching methods and know precisely how to act in class. Students volunteering in the primary school will also teach some lessons on their own as well as lessons that they themselves have designed.

Seminar Description
The seminar meets once a week, and is based on students’ reports about their work, readings and discussions. The seminar will focus specifically on the issue of social and cultural diversity. Students will be introduced to the historic linguistic and cultural diversity of Italy as well as to the “new diversities” due to immigration. The challenges posed by old and new diversities to teachers and traditional teaching methods will also be discussed.

Course Requirements and Learning Outcomes
Practicum: Students are expected to carry out their work professionally. In particular they are required to respect the agreed schedule, and be responsible and collaborative with teachers. Every week students must fill in their Attendance Form. More detailed instruction will be provided by ISI Florence Engagement Coordinator (dr. Giorgi).
Seminar: Students are expected to join in discussions and activities in class, which will be graded under “Participation” (see below). Students must also send short weekly journals before class. The Journal consists of a brief summary of the week’s activity. Towards the end of the practicum students will write a final essay (no longer than 3000 words) about one aspect of their experience, quoting (at least) one scholarly and one non-scholarly source.
By the end of the practicum, the successful student is expected to 1) have a solid experience teaching to children from different cultures within a different school system 2) be aware of the issues involved, and the skills required, to teach a multicultural class 3) understand how the challenges posed by globalization and immigration are dealt with in different national school systems, such as the Italian and American ones.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

CEP 401 – Cultural Engagement Internship Tour Guide for the City Hall (Palazzo Vecchio) Museum

Description

“Verily he who journeys far from his own country, dwelling in those of other men, gains very often a disposition and character of a fine temper, for, in seeing abroad diverse honorable customs, even though he might be perverse in nature, he learns to be tractable, amiable, and patient, with much greater ease than he would have done by remaining in his own country”

Giorgio Vasari

The goal of this internship is twofold. First, have students gain deeper knowledge of one of the most important Florentine monuments, rich in both art and history. Second, teach them to lead art history tours and communicate effectively to a varied audience ranging from kids to senior tourists.
This internship is designed for students with good communication skills, curiosity for history, ancient art and architecture, and willing to broaden their cultural perspectives. The practicum includes a seminar component, thus allowing students to reflect on and discuss their experience.
Like for all internships, students who commit to it should keep an open mind, be motivated to actively learn, and be flexible. This practicum is of particular interest for students majoring in Art History, Architecture, Museum Studies, History, and Communication.

Internship Description
The Association Mus.e Firenze is located inside the Palazzo Vecchio, one of the main and best-known Florentine monuments. Serving as Florence City Hall since 1299, the building offers a cross section, so to speak, of Florentine history from the late Middle Ages to the present. Mus.e Firenze develops approximately one hundred different and highly original kinds of tours. Students are involved in the Guided Tour of the Quartieri Monumentali, which provides a fresh approach to the building, revealing it to be not only a prestigious receptacle of artworks but also a place that brings together architecture, sculptures, and paintings to create a unique, rich, and complex whole.

Student Tasks and Duties
During the first part of the semester, students must study books on Renaissance Florentine history, focusing in particular on the Palazzo Vecchio and the Medici family. They will build this necessary historical background not only by studying the sources just mentioned (on average, 1 hour per week), but also by adding materials discussed in class (collaboration with their ISI Florence art history professor is very important) and participating in tours led by the other official guides of this Florentine palace.
Both the ISI Florence professor and the Mus.e Firenze tutor will support the selected student. Also, they will take care of the organizational aspects pertaining to the internship.
The ISI Florence professor will serve as reference point for historical and cultural feedback. He will show the student around the building, exploring all the museum rooms as well as the ones that are usually closed to the public. Furthermore, the ISI Florence professor will point out details, comment on materials, answer any questions the student may have and, finally, discuss all the assignments with him/her.
The aim of the first part of the semester is to prepare students to guide independently a tour of English speaking visitors through the Palazzo Vecchio. The tours run for approximately 1 hour, thus totaling 120 hours by the end of the semester. Students commit for 12 hours per week, including two weekends per month. During the second part of the semester, students will hone their critical thinking and develop skills to communicate effectively to a varied audience ranging from kids to senior tourists.

Seminar Description
The seminar includes 50-minute weekly meetings and is based on readings, interactive class discussions, lectures and examining communication and public speaking skills in culturally different settings, though always in the context of arts and history. Throughout the course, students complete weekly writing assignments (research papers) and prepare a final project under the supervision of their course instructor.

Objectives
By the end of this internship, students will:
• Increase their knowledge of one of the most important Florentine monuments, learning how it developed from the late Middle Ages to the present
• Gain a deeper knowledge of the history, art history, and architecture of medieval and Renaissance Florence
• Improve public speaking skills in group contexts
• Develop skills to communicate effectively to a varied audience ranging from kids to senior tourists
• Work autonomously with enthusiasm and confidence to lead their own group of tourists
• Improve their critical thinking and communication skills
• Become familiar with and benefit from being surrounded by masterpieces of Florentine art
• Experience the visual arts from within.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

The internship is held in collaboration with The Umbra Institute.

CHEM 212 – Organic Chemistry II

Description
This course follows on from Chemistry 210, which is a prerequisite. We will continue with spectroscopy to interpreter and understand the structure of organic molecules and them proceed to investigate the chemistry of carbonyl compounds, basic and acidic Polar reactions as well as those Pericyclic compounds. We will do this by understanding and applying the concepts of organic chemistry.

Objectives
• To interpret spectral data to determine/confirm organic compounds’ structures.
• To name carbonyl-containing compounds.
• To understand and predict the reactivities and properties of organic compounds, including carbonyl-containing compounds and how they are synthesized.
• To draw electron-pushing mechanisms of selected reactions and predict intermediate types based on reaction conditions.
• To apply a variety of reactions when designing the syntheses of organic compounds.
• To survey selected bio-organic molecules.
• To analyse the retro-synthetic analysis approach and the design of synthetic routes to selected compounds.

After completing this course, you will:
• Gain an appreciation for the practical aspect of spectroscopy for the use of structure determination.
• Be able to predict compound reactivity/function based on inspection of structure (identify electrophilic and nucleophilic sites within compounds).
• Be able to draw out and explain mechanisms of organic reactions for familiar and new polar acidic, polar basic, and pericyclic reactions.
• Recognize the connection of organic chemistry to everyday life (biological processes, food chemistry, pharmaceuticals).
• Acknowledge the importance of reactions and how they apply to the design of organic synthesis.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

CLAS 320 – Archaeology and Art of Ancient Italy

Description
This course is intended to provide an overview of Ancient Italy from the 8th century B.C.E. to the 5th century C.E. as interpreted through archaeology, the study of past cultures and societies through their material remains. We will explore different varieties of archaeology and examine theory, methods, and techniques for investigating and reconstructing the past; we will then examine the material evidence for key areas of ancient Italy such as Etruria and the Roman Empire, dealing with not only the artefact remains but also important social, cultural and economic issues. Architecture, sculpture, fresco painting, and the minor arts will be examined at such sights as Fiesole and Ostia, and the nature of archaeological evidence will be related to other disciplines such as Art History and History.
The course will be both a practicum in archaeology and a history course, team-taught by an archaeologist and a historian to allow students to learn each aspect of the course material from an expert in the field. Classes will be experimental and dynamic, and will be made of a combination of in-class lectures, field trips, site visits to museums in Tuscany and elsewhere (see schedule below). Major emphasis throughout the course will be given to Rome (where we will go on a field trip) and Pompeii. There will be two guest lecturers: one specialist of ancient writing techniques and an expert of digital technology applied to archaeology.

Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to:
– describe the basic archaeological skills: how to locate, record, investigate, analyze and interpret archaeological sites;
– discuss critically archaeology’s social relevance: connections of past human systems and adaptations with today’s world;
– analyze details of some of the main ancient Mediterranean cultures, describing major transitions in their history and how this knowledge is important for modern humans and interpreted differently by different interest groups;
– describe not only specific case studies but general archaeological and historical principles relating to real-world problem solving, in a practical application of knowledge from the human past;
– demonstrate good communication skills: written, oral, visual and interactive, to understand and tell the story of the past.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

CLAS 320: Archaeology in Central Italy: the Etruscan and Roman Heritage

Archaeology is the study of past civilizations through their material remains. This archaeological material includes anything left behind by ancient people, from buildings to coins. Most of these objects were not left behind on purpose, but rather were thrown away, lost, or abandoned as a result of the natural course of life or due to natural or man-made change. Archaeological remains have to be interpreted; the real challenge of archaeological research is to “tell a story” from these objects.

The course provides insight into theories and methods in archaeological research, data collection, and analysis. The objective is to familiarize students with the strategies employed in the investigation of archaeological records. The theoretical section aims to approach the discipline from different points of view. The course will focus on the history of archaeology in Italy, its origins and development, and the theories and methods of classical archaeology. Students will also learn about a variety of Etruscan and Roman sites as case studies. The course includes visits to local archaeological museums and other sites of interest.

In accordance with ISI Florence’s philosophy, one of the Trasimeno Archaeology Field School goals is to create a stronger and more productive bond with the local community. For this reason, part of the course will be spent in building long-term cooperation with all actors who are interested in the recovery and development of the archaeological heritage of the region.

Course Objectives

In this course students will learn about:

• Major archaeological theories;
• Ancient history of Italy (more specifically, Etruscan and Roman history);
• Basic archaeological field methods and their application in the Italian context.

Instructor(s)
Rebecca Schindler, Ph.D.,
Giampiero Bevagna, Laurea, Specialization

Course Materials
Mandatory course reader

CLAS 430: Archaeological Field Workshop

This course is part of the Trasimeno Archaeology Field School Program.

This course will provide on-site learning to design an archaeological survey and how to use sophisticated GPS (Global Positioning System) equipment in conjunction with computerized mapping techniques (GIS) to document the location of archaeological finds. Based on these results, fieldwork may include stratigraphic excavation. Students will also learn how to process, analyze, and interpret materials collected from the survey (or possible excavation).

All modern archaeology begins with a wide range of non-destructive reconnaissance techniques to locate and characterize archaeological sites (e.g. aerial imagery, geophysical prospection, and intensive survey). By mapping and recording previously unknown and undocumented sites, we help preserve the past from destruction by development and looting. This is ethically responsible and sustainable archaeology. After data has been collected (through survey, digging or both), it is processed and studied to form a coherent narrative that explains the history of a site as we have come to know it, and is then openly shared through publication.

The Trasimeno Archaeology Field School aims to structure a long-term project, based on this holistic approach to current strategies of research.

Daily activities for the archaeological practicum include lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on practice from pre-fieldwork preparation to post-fieldwork processing of data, including work with ceramics and other small finds. Field trips led by the faculty will take students to other archaeological sites and museums, providing historical and geographical context to the field training.

Course Objectives
In this course students will learn about:

• Archaeological field methods;
• Problems faced by the preservation of the archaeological record;
• How to “read” material remains of the ancient Roman world.

Service Learning Project
In accordance with ISI Florence’s philosophy, one of the Trasimeno Archaeology Field School goals is to create a stronger and more productive bond with the local community. For this reason, part of the course will be spent in building long-term cooperation with all actors who are interested in the recovery and development of the archaeological heritage of the region.

Instructors
Pedar Foss, Ph.D., Rebecca Schindler, Ph.D.

Course Materials
Mandatory course reader. Tools for fieldwork will be available on site.

COMM 430 – Fashion, Media and Communication

Course Description
This course in writing about style and fashion builds upon highly successful Summer Term courses at ISI Florence since 2015. At that time, the Institute introduced an innovative approach in a communications class using the unparalleled resources of Florence as a world capital of fashion.
The aim in both that class and now in a semester-long offering is to focus solely on the articulation of message and meaning in design. Although it may be taken by aspiring designers and craftspeople, it is structured to give intensive study of and practice in writing commentary and criticism.
Fashion Writing is an extremely important aspect of cultural and creative nonfiction prose. With the rise of internet and mass journalism worldwide, the fashion and accessories industry has become increasingly focused on getting across the messages to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. English remains the dominant language of communication essential for designers, stylists, marketers, and merchandisers of the multi-billion dollar world of design.
Major newspapers and magazines as well as countless online media cover basically who wears what, who carries what, who sells what in stores, online, and in the streets – and what all that means. On a daily basis, meaning and interpretation changes, and old certainties and assumptions about what is beautiful and what is ugly, if such terms exist at all, which gender wears what and why, and how celebrities become famous for what they wear and what they show and what they endorse – all these former standards vary from day to day if not faster.
Great opportunities exist for students to develop the ability to understand the world of design, why people put on and carry what they do on any given day. They need not be passive observers but if they chose can become active members of numerous levels of societies on consumers and commentators. But they must have the ability to read and write with comprehension of the styles and objects around them so that they have a standard of judgment, variable as it may be, but a standard that can be expressed in original and convincing English prose. It is never sufficient to hold a view of beauty or utility and salability of any design if it cannot be communicated to a reading or listening audience.
So this course is a Communications class, a Journalism class, a (Creative) Writing class, a Marketing class, a Public Relations class, and/or others. It is likely best housed in either a Business or a Humanities college, but if part of a Fashion Program, could also be in a Fine Arts college. As noted, students can aim to become designers themselves so as to learn best how to articulate meanings of what they will make. But its primary appeal may be for those who will not create the design but be a part of the industries based on those designs. They will write about value and meaning in fashion, judging and likely marketing what is made by building appeal and understanding in the public through Writing.
The class is thus solely about writing based on cultural understanding, in the simplest sense. That is why it is based in FLORENCE.
Of all cities in Europe, Florence offers perhaps the most concentrated and meaningful exposure to culture. It is not a national or political capital or a huge sprawling metropolis. Rather, it is a workable and accessible medium sized city which over the centuries since the Renaissance has had the reputation and image of a style center. Moreover, since the second half of the twentieth century, it has been a world capital of fashion and specifically menswear and accessories, as Milan is for women’s wear in Italy. The trade shows and expositions held in Florence receive universal media attention and coverage. On a daily basis the streets and markets themselves are living examples of styles of the present and future. Then, at certain moments in winter and spring world-class events are staged attracting media worldwide.
The course at ISI brings together these currents and offers students who would never have the opportunity to be part of the world of Italian fashion as first-hand experience of it as active participants. The class consists of study of fashion communications in writing and online, as practiced the leading writers of our time in the field. It gives instruction and understanding of how the writings are done and by whom. It asks students to place themselves as beginners in this tradition by learning to define their own senses of style and meaning, how they see themselves and others. What are their standards and criteria, what cultural backgrounds they have and may aspire to, what they can learn from spending a term surrounded by world famous monuments and art that reflect Italian design.
Students will write seriously and consistently about what they see and are exposed to. They will read their own and others’ work together with articles and features by significant cultural critics. Florence will be the backdrop and laboratory for developing a voice as a writer, and the abilities to use that voice in writing for a profession.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor. Also, exhibitions and events change each year in Florence, and the syllabus for each summer term will change to include the newest and most significant cultural opportunities taking place.

The class will grow and change like the world of fashion and design, and like the students enrolled in it!

COMM 430 – Social Media: an Italian Perspective

Description
What is “Social Media” and why should students wish to explore this field for their careers? The world of social media has its own specialized vocabulary, as students taking this course will soon realize. Key terms such as “social media strategy”, “followers”, “engagement” and “content marketing” will form the basis of our study. More importantly, social media today are a “must” not only for any business company seeking a place in the market, but also for anyone willing to emerge professionally and build a career in a society where most people expect to have whatever they need whenever they want. In the past, in a crowded place like a local market, sellers had to shout at the top of their voices to get attention from buyers and customers. Nowadays, thanks to the Internet, the small market downtown has enlarged its boundaries worldwide. Consequently, shouting louder has been replaced by advertising through social media. Hence, the title of this course: social media (of course), but from an Italian perspective.

Course Aims/Objectives
While in Florence, students will learn how to use social media for business and professional purposes, making the most of their presence in this city. Its art, architecture, food, wine, lifestyle and leisure are like brush strokes on the big tableau of Italian culture. COMM 430 students will thus have the chance to contribute to this “painting” by using social networks. They will learn how to blog in a professional way; how to plan a social media strategy; how to use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for gaining publicity, both for their own future careers and to the benefit of ISI Florence activities. Furthermore, they will learn how to organize and manage digital events involving the institute’s many partners (companies, brands, associations, academic institutions etc.), how to analyze the results of the activities they planned and develop new ideas. For instance, students will contribute to the following digital events: “Art in Florence”, “Fashion in Florence” and “Food and Drink in Florence.” In doing so, they will be exposed to major components of the city’s cultural life and have the opportunity to provide a detailed account of related activities through blogging, live Tweeting, Instagram posting and Facebook posting.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

COMM 431/HUM 399 – Social Media, Social Food

*WARNING: this course cannot be taken together with COMM 430 – Social Media: an Italian Perspective

Description
What is “Social Media”- and how will developing media skills help students plan successful careers in the world of food?
The world of social media has its own specialized vocabulary for food studies as well as other fields. Key terms such as “social media strategy”, “engagement” and “web content marketing” will form the basis of our study.
More importantly, we may say that social media today are a “must” not only for any business company seeking a place in the market, but also for anyone willing to emerge professionally and build a career in a society where most people expect to have whatever they need whenever they want.
In the past, in a crowded place like a local market, sellers had to shout at the top of their voices to get attention from buyers and customers. Nowadays, thanks to the Internet, the small market downtown has enlarged its boundaries worldwide and mere shouting has been replaced by advertising through social media.
The “Social Media, Social Food” course will provide a perfect example of the importance of social media in the food industry.

Course Objectives
While in Florence, students will learn how to use social media for business and professional purposes, making the most of their presence in this world capital city of food.
Florence’s traditional food markets, restaurants, and groceries offer unique opportunities to engage with the local community and explore the global-local linkages of food, from production to consumption, with a historical and contemporary perspective.
As is well known, food, wine, lifestyle and leisure are ingredients of Italian culture. “Social Media, Social Food” students will thus have the chance to contribute to this tasty menu of life by using social networks. They will learn how to blog in a professional way as food bloggers do; how to plan a social media strategy for a food related company; how to use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for gaining publicity at a local and international level, both for their own future careers in the food industry and ISI Florence activities.
Furthermore, they will learn how to organize digital events involving the institute’s many partners (companies, brands, associations, institutions), and how to analyze the results of the activities they planned and how to develop new ideas.
For instance, students will contribute to digital events such as: “Markets of Florence” and “Food in Florence”. In doing so, they will be exposed to major components of Florentine food culture and have the opportunity to provide a detailed account of activities through blogging and social media posting.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

COMM 432 – Intercultural Communication

Description
In the contemporary and globalized world, characterized by conflicts and by increasing processes of distinction, dealing with intercultural differences is a fundamental skill for each human being.
Intercultural Communication deals with the relevance of difference (not only among cultures but also within a culture). Intercultural communication is communication between people of different cultures in which cultural values are an obvious factor in the nature of the interaction and/or determining the outcome of the interaction.
The aim of the course is to understand the importance of communication in our contemporary society as a key process to pursue knowledge and nurture mutual understanding.
The role of intercultural communication will be analyzed and discussed as a strategic tool that we should learn to use in order to better comprehend what is our role in the world.
Given that communication is a complex and multilayered concept, the course will offer a variety of theoretical approaches from different disciplines (sociology, cultural studies, media studies and communication studies) and methods of analysis in order to comprehend the deep and relevant relationship between communication and culture(s), in order to understand how differences, influence people’s thinking, relation and social behavior.
The students will learn about Intercultural Communication theoretical models and practical ways of applying these in order to develop intercultural skills as a ‘global citizen.’
Students will critically deal with a variety of substantive fields of application of intercultural communication principles, such as the media, fashion, food, tourism, music etc. and they will analyze the relationship between communication, culture and identity change.
Students will be encouraged to engage critically with questions around communication across different cultures, through research and writing.
The course will challenge students to perceive and understand human diversity by exploring diversity within a context of constantly changing global systems, and also to answer to the following question: how do people understand one another when they do not share a common cultural experience?
Students will be encouraged to apply theoretical skills to reality and to their own experience as human beings living abroad, and to analyze Italian culture and Florence as study subjects as well.
During the course, students will be encouraged to express their positions and ideas through writings, presentations and in-class discussion.
Based on opportunities available in Florence, the course will try to fully integrate the students’ abroad experience in their learning process.
The use of several educational tools, such as readings, visits, lectures, guest lectures, will allow students to understand how different theoretical perspectives approach problems related to communication between/among different cultures.

Knowledge and understanding
After completing the course, students are expected to be able to:
– contrast, describe, and explain intercultural communication in different fields of social activity
– analyze and discuss processes behind intercultural incidents within different fields of social activity
– understand and evaluate the effects of global interconnectedness and global social, economic and political systems on local societies and cultures and/or on the natural environment

Skills and abilities
After completing the course, students are expected to be able to:
– analyze intercultural communication within different fields of activity (business, education, sport, food, fashion)
– apply intercultural communication models to practical situations (such as critical incidents, culture shock)
– to reflect upon ways in which personal and social identities are increasingly linked to communication
– take full advantage of their experience in Florence using the city as a learning tool in order to live a deep intercultural experience.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ENG 358: Writing Italian Food

Description
This exciting class combines the history and customs of food, olive oil, and wine in Perugia and the surrounding region, with food writing and travel. We start by exploring the history of Italian food and wine, but with a specific focus on Perugia and the wider Umbrian area. Each week is a different concentration/combination of historical moment and type of food, such as the history of pizza, the origin of the aperitivo, the arrival in Italy of coffee, tomatoes, chocolate, and more. In conjunction with this historical approach, the class includes visits to restaurants, vineyards, cheese-makers, and olive groves in and near Perugia. You will keep a food blog, and will have the opportunity to do a book review for a local magazine.

Objectives
The purpose of this class is to introduce you to the intricate and surprising history of regional foods in Italy as you learn the importance of food as a mode of identity-formation in Perugia, Italy, and, by extrapolation, your own families. Our focus on writing and the analysis of others’ written word will teach you how to become not just great food writers, but informed and discerning writers in general.

Course Material
Available electronically; links will be provided in course syllabus

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

This is a faculty-led program open to all students.

FILM/HIST 430 – History Of Italian Cinema And Society

Description
This course analyses the history of Italian cinema, its role in society, and how the most important changes in Italian society are reflected in some of Italy’s most famous movies. It focuses on the most important periods and genres in the history of Italian cinema, such as Neorealism and the commedia all’italiana; the work of directors such as Rossellini, De Sica, and Visconti; and on the so-called “New Italian Cinema.” From the socio-anthropological perspective, this course traces the evolution of the Italian family from the end of World War II to the present day and examines the patterns of Italian migration. The analysis also explores the two crucial transformations that have occurred in Italian society from the end of World War II to the present day: the so-called “Economic Miracle,” and the advent of commercial television.
The course is taught through a combination of formal lectures (including PowerPoint presentations), document discussion workshops, film presentations and outdoor activities. The lectures provide a broad outline of the respective period while the workshops enable students to focus on key topics or themes. Students engage in full class discussion and small group work.

Objectives
Upon successful completion of the course students should be able to demonstrate a detailed, critical understanding of the fundamental aspects of Italian cinema and how cinema has evolved in Italy from the 1950s to the present day.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

HIST 430 – History of Fashion

Description
Creativity, a taste for beauty, tradition and imagination have always been part of Italian culture, being key factors in the shaping of its extraordinary artistic heritage, and in the emergence of a specifically Italian style. Those same qualities that fed the blossoming of Renaissance painting, sculpture and architecture, and of an early market for extraordinary luxury goods, can be recognized behind the growth of a special Italian phenomenon of our own times, which was revealed to the world at the famous first catwalk in the Sala Bianca, at Pitti Palace, Florence, in 1952: that is, Italian High Fashion.
The aim of this course is to explore the evolution of Italian Fashion over the last eight centuries, engaging students in a visual and cultural journey that, from the fourteenth century to our own days, will help them to appreciate the evolution of the Italian market for fashion items such as luxury clothes, designer fabrics and precious accessories. A multi-faceted and cross-thematic approach to the understanding of the style, spirit, creativity, artistic content and artisanal know-how that are embedded in Italian Fashion will be an essential feature to this course. Society as a whole will be explored in order to highlight those developments that have led to the emergence of Italian High Fashion on the world stage. Students will be presented with a wide range of issues including: the impact of gender and political structures on the shaping of an individual and group identity through clothing; the contribution given by famous Renaissance artists to the production of luxury fabrics; the establishment of a Florentine silk economy in the fifteenth century; the emergence of writings on Fashion and style; the design experiments connected to the birth of Opera; and the impact of Hollywood and Cinecittà industries on Fashion production in our time.
Thanks to the material explored during each class students will be encouraged to establish dynamic relationships between cases pertaining to the past and contemporary fashion, costume and cultural issues; and, at the same time, to recognize the critical part played by Florence in all of this.
A variety of site visits ranging from specialist collections to contemporary workshops and ateliers will add freshness and excitement to this learning experience.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

HIST 430 – Ancient Rome: Civilization and Legacy

Description
This course is an introduction to the history and culture of the Roman world, from the Rome’s beginnings in myth and legend through its rise to domination of the Mediterranean world, its violent conversion from a Republic to an Empire, and the long success of that Empire down to its collapse in the fifth century A.D. The first part of the semester will focus on the development of Roman institutions and political system, while the second will be devoted to the social structure of the Roman Empire and the daily life of its people. As we search together to unravel the historical significance of the Roman achievement, we will look at Roman literature and religion, art and architecture, and philosophy. When possible, we will give a privileged place to primary sources in translation, letting the characters of this great historical drama speak for themselves. Our readings will be supplemented by slides, videos, and an overnight field trip to Rome.

Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, students should:
• Define and master the basic events of Roman History, from the foundation of Rome to the fall of the Empire
• Become familiar with the daily life, values and social attitudes of the ancient Romans during the Republic and early centuries of the Empire
• Trace the origins of many aspects of Western European culture and of modern Western society in general
• Gain understanding of the political, religious and intellectual heritage of Roman society and use it as a means of interpreting the human experience through history
• Recognize and understand how much of the English language is affected by Latin vocabulary
• Be able to translate historical knowledge from the narrow focus of the course to the much wider context of being active and acquainted citizens of today’s world.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

HIST 430 – Florence: The Story of the City

Description
Since its Roman origins, through its internecine conflicts and artistic and literary flourishing, the history of Florence is highly representative of the history of Italy. Moreover, Florence was the cradle of some philosophical, artistic, and political ideas that were key in shaping the Western World. This course will help students find their bearings across this unique city, identify its most celebrated spaces, and understand how the city has changed and how it has been shaped by the character of its people. This will entail the exploration of its both well-known as well as hidden landscape and social spaces. The course will be divided into class lectures with PowerPoint presentations and outdoor explorations.

Objective
Students will become aware of the changes that took place in the city through the centuries and how individuals and groups shaped both the character of the city and its cultural scene. Each week a list of readings will be assigned from primary sources, along with a few questions to help students concentrate on the texts.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

HIST 430 – Florence: The Story of the City

Description

Since its Roman origins, through its internecine conflicts and economic, artistic, and literary flourishing, the history of Florence has been highly representative of the history of Italy. From Dante Alighieri to the Medici family (men and women), from Machiavelli to Michelangelo, and from Leonardo to Galileo Galilei, Florence gave birth to some of the most influential individuals in the Western World in the fields of art, science, politics, and literature. Even in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, Florence remained one of the major centers to be visited during the Grand Tour, was a cosmopolitan city, and gave birth to innovative cultural initiatives. During the course, students will follow the history of Florence step by step, and will appreciate the context where ideas developed.

Objectives

Students will become aware of the changes that took place in the city through the centuries and how individuals and groups shaped both the character of the city and its cultural scene. Each week a list of readings will be assigned from primary sources, along with a few questions to help students concentrate on the texts.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

HIST 430 – Italy and the Jews: History and Culture from the Renaissance to the Present

Description
The Jewish community in Italy is the most ancient among the Jewish Diasporas that have remained continuously up until today. This course will focus on the social, economic and cultural interactions between the Jews and their surrounding mi- lieu in Italy. It will examine the shifts between integration and segregation that the Jews experienced, especially starting from the Renaissance until the modern period. We will focus especially on topics such as: Jewish intellectual life during the Renaissance; the Ghettos; Emancipation and its particular expressions in Italy; Jews under Fascism and Nazism; Italian Jewry nowadays.

Method
The course will be structured around lectures, PPT presentations, in-class discussion, and films. It will include visits to the most important Florentine Jewish sites as well as live meetings with various figures of the Jewish Community in Florence, a prominent architect, a Holocaust survivor and a group of Italian Jewish students. Emphasis will be put on reading a variety of articles characterized by different approaches, in order to develop critical reading and expose the students to a large variety of methodological questions.

Objectives
The main objective of the course is to reach a deep understanding of the history and culture of the Jews in Italy, while taking advantage of the physical presence of the students in this area. As such, this course aims to expose students to various types of documentation, including archival documents, inscriptions on walls, music, paintings, films, oral testimonies and more. In addition, the course aims to introduce methodological questions, which can be applied to Jewish History in general, and to focus on the uniqueness of this Diaspora in particular.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

HIST 430 – Sport History and Culture

Description
With its heroes and hustlers, its victors and victims, its stars and spectators, sport was, is, and will remain undeniably popular and significant. Ancient and modern civilizations share what amounts to an obsession with physical contests and public performances, but what is “sport” and how can it be studied and understood historically? This course will examine the prominence, variety, cultural distinctiveness and functions of sports (and spectacles) in ancient and modern societies.
The game will be played as follows:
The first half of term will focus on the Ancient World, from pre-history to the Middle Ages and Renaissance, with a special emphasis on Greek culture and Roman spectacles. But the phenomenon of ancient sports and spectacles – the Greek Olympics, the shocking violence of the Colosseum games – will not be approached as isolated pastimes but as essential elements in social, political and religious life. Sport will be used as an historical window into human nature, cultures, and periods.
Likewise, in the second half of term we will cover sport in the 20th century: from the humble origins of the modern Olympics in 1896 through the use of the games and sport in general as a political-social platform during Fascism and Nazism, Communism and the Cold War, up to the most relevant social issues reflected by sport in our present time. We will explore the connections between sport and global political, social and cultural power relations. Case studies will include, in addition to the Olympics, the World Cup, the significance and potential of soccer in both Europe and the USA, the interplay of race and sport and the issues of gender and sport. Students will be also given the opportunity to focus on events unique to American sport culture by investigating the use of sports and sporting events as a public stage to perform dramas of social change, and reporting the results of their critical analysis in a class presentation.
Class lectures (all power-point based) and discussions will be interactive, engaging and complemented by documentaries/film screenings. We will visit the National Soccer Museum, a couple of miles from the center of the city and we will attend a professional game of the local soccer team, Fiorentina, which is playing at the top level of the professional Italian soccer series (Serie A).

Objectives
At the conclusion of the course, students should be able to:
– Describe the chronology and the context of significant events in the history of sport;
– Evaluate the history of sport as a means of reflecting and assessing the human experience;
– Understand and read about sports as a representation of many of the historical and contemporary political, economic and cultural power relationships and conflicts that frame our world;
– Critically analyze and evaluate sports from a sociological perspective;
– Compare European and American sport culture, highlighting intercultural differences;
– Improve their ability to perform critical and constructive thinking, thereby developing thought-provoking attitudes of inquiry and investigation;

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

HIST/CJS 430 – Social History of the Mafia

Description
This course analyses the Italian Mafia through two different and closely related perspectives: political- historical and criminal-sociological. The political-historical viewpoint examines the origins of the Mafia, its role in the process of the unification of Italy, its relationships with political power both in the Liberal and the Fascist states, its rebirth during World War II, and its development towards a global, transnational phenomenon. The analysis also traces the evolution of the anti-Mafia as both public opinion and government response from the agrarian period to the more recent widespread perception of the problem and the birth of a collective movement in public opinion. From the socio-criminological perspective, the course examines the myths, theories and realities of organized crime, Mafia ideology, and the law enforcement agents against organized crime in a comparative perspective between Italy, Europe, and the United States.
The course is taught through a combination of formal lectures (including PowerPoint presentations), document discussion workshops, film presentations and outdoor activities. The lectures provide a broad outline of the respective period while the workshops enable students to focus on key topics or themes. Students engage in full class discussion and small group work.

Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to demonstrate a detailed, critical understanding of the fundamental aspects of the history of the Italian Mafia, in particular its relationships with politics and the American Mafia, the social and cultural aspects behind this criminal phenomenon, and the ideology of the Mafia. Also, they should be able to develop a critical perspective of the myths, theories and realities of organized crime.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

HIST/FLM 370 – Cosa Nostra – History & Cinema of the Mafia

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO PRESENTATION BY INSTRUCTOR

Course Description
Mafia is one of the words most associated with Italian American culture, and the portrayal of the mafia in cinema cannot be separated from popular perception of the organized crime phenomenon (or even an academic study of its history) as it is so pervasive. This hybrid history/cinema course provides an in-depth examination of the Italian American Cosa nostra through a historical, social, cultural, and fictional-narrative perspective. Students will trace the progression of the mafia from its Sicilian roots into the United States and be asked to analyze a variety of primary sources. The fiction – stereotypes, myths, and legends – surrounding the mafia will be examined through a close reading/viewing of some of the most important cinematic narratives portraying mafia culture in order to analyze those works in relation to historical realities. This course has no prerequisites and students will be given all the necessary tools and techniques in order to read primary resources and analyze films with a certain degree of sophistication

Learning Outcomes
After completing this course students will be able to

• explain Cosa nostra’s origins, growth, and persistence;
• read and analyze different types of primary historical documents;
• relate historical facts about the mafia to a broader (Italian) American cultural and historical context;
• explain the representation of the mafia in cinematic popular culture;
• identify and analyze specific film techniques.

Filmography

• Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather II 1972
• Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather II 1975
• Martin Scorsese, Goodfellas 1990
• Mike Newell Donnie Brasco 1997
• Martin Scorsese, The Irishman 2019
• David Chase, The Sopranos (TV series, selections) 1998-2006

Bibliography

• Dickie, John. Cosa nostra: A History of the Sicilian Mafia. London: 2007.
• Newark, Timothy. Mafia Allies: The True Story of America’s Secret Alliance with the Mob in World War II. St. Paul, MN: Zenith, 2007.
• Raab, Selwyn. Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America’s Most Powerful Mafia Empires. New York: Thomas Dunne, 2005.
• Renga, Dana. Mafia Movies: A Reader. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2011.
• Reppetto, Thomas. American Mafia: A History of its Rise to Power. New York: Holt, 2004.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

HIST/FSST/SOC 349: The History and Culture of Food in Italy

Description

What can we learn about Italian culture through an exploration of the history of food in Italy? By examining the radical changes that have occurred in Italian food-ways, the pronounced differences in eating habits of different socio-economic classes, and the important role played by food in shaping Italian national and regional identities, we will uncover various trends in Italian history and society. These trends include the gradual process of political unification, the effects of industrialization, as well as the contemporary rediscovery of “typical” foods as a response to globalizing processes and a way to construct new social identities. The purpose of this course is to use food as a means of exploring the political, social, cultural, environmental, and economic changes that have taken place in Italy through history. By the end of the course, students will have acquired a more sophisticated understanding of food history, an interdisciplinary approach to studying Italian culture and society, and a framework for analyzing important aspects of Italian history.

Objectives

• Learn about the Italian history and culture of food through the ages;
• Work with non-traditional historical texts;
• To challenge students to examine unfamiliar food cultures with unbiased frameworks, applying an anthropological concept of culture to understand diversity;
• Integrate theory and practice as it applies to Italian foodways;
• Develop a more sophisticated understanding of how historical events are shaped by a combination of economic, political, social, and cultural factors.

HIST/POLSC 430 – History and Politics of Modern Italy: The Twentieth Century

Description
This course has been designed to review and examine the modern political history of Italy from the First World War to the end of the 20th century. After a short overview over the longer Italian History, the main areas of focus will be: the rise and the fall of Italian fascism, the Second World War and the Cold War, the workings of governing institutions in the post-war period (there will be detailed discussion of the postwar constitution and the new political system), the role of the Church, political parties and movements, the European unification process, black and red terrorism, as well as political corruption and political conspiracy. There will also be detailed discussion of the crises and transformation of the post-war Italian political system in the early 1990s.

The course will be taught through a combination of formal lectures, document discussion workshops, film presentations and outdoor activities. The lectures will provide a broad outline of the respective period while the workshops will enable students to focus on key topics or themes. Students will engage in full class discussion and small group work. There will be several outdoor activities in Florence.

Objectives
The course seeks to provide students with basic knowledge about Italy’s modern political history, so that they may evaluate the complexity of Italian politics with some degree of sophistication. On successful completion of this course students will be able to gain a command not only of the “facts” of modern Italian political history–the dates of key events, the importance of major personalities, and such–but also come to understand the dynamics involved: the basic trends of continuity and change, cause and effect, the interplay of regional, national and international influences, and the significance of global events within Italy. The four scheduled out-door activities should allow students to get some first-hand experiences of the place where they study.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

HIST/POLSC 430 – The European Union

Description 
The European Union is still the biggest capitalist marketplace, the biggest trading power and one of the most influential political players in the world, despite its facing one of the worst political, social and economic crises in history. The course is divided into two parts. The first focuses on the main policies of the European Union, taking into account historical evolution, political objectives and major achievements of each area of activity. The second concentrates on the relations between the European Union and the United States, analyzing separately the most important dimensions of the transatlantic relationship.

Objectives
The aim of the course is to give students explanations for current trends within the European Union. The focus is on the present, the study of the past being a way to better understand the European Union as it is nowadays. On completion of the course, students will have acquired the instruments for grasping, interpreting, and discussing the topical issues of the European Union and its relations with the United States.

Textbooks

During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation. Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

HP 391 – Architecture in Italy: History and Preservation

Description
Since the Middle Ages, European cities of ancient Roman foundation developed by means of a constant transformation and re-use of existing architecture and urban fabric. In Italy, this cyclical adaptation of pre-existing structures always flanked the erection of new, innovative architecture. Since the 1980s, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) started to include many Italian cities in its list of World Heritage sites (Rome, 1980; Florence, 1982; Venice, 1987; Naples and Siena, 1995.) The need to balance the conservation of the historic city and the life of a modern metropolis, as well as both natural and man-made disasters, force us to think about issues of preservation. Against the backdrop of the development of architecture in Italy, the course examines historically significant buildings, which have been preserved or adapted for subsequent uses. Historical, technical, and legal aspects of preservation will be considered. Lectures and class discussions will be followed by site visits. A day trip to Rome will complete the experience.

Objectives
– to explore the architectural language of the masters of Italian architecture;
– to explore traditional building techniques and materials found in different cities and eras;
– to understand the history of architectural heritage;
– to understand buildings in relation to their historical and urban context;
– to distinguish the layering and stages of transformation of a city and of its architecture;
– to develop an understanding of the theory and practice of historic preservation.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

HUM 306 – The History & Culture of Italian Food: A Comparative Analysis

Description
In this course we will examine the relationship between food, culture and identity in Italy through a variety of readings, discussions, outdoor activities and tasting experiences. We will trace the historical evolution of Italian food culture in a world history perspective focusing on the many global influences which over the centuries have shaped the use of different food products, preparation methods, consumption patterns, i.e. the Italian approach towards food, as well as on the many ways in which Italy itself has become a dynamic factor in the process of culinary globalization. We will look at food in its social and cultural context through a multi-disciplinary approach — history, anthropology, sociology, and geography. A major focus will be on understanding the extraordinary significance of food in the definition of “Italianness” from an Italian, as well as from an international (i.e. American) perspective.
Lectures and class discussions will be supplemented by special food workshops in which we will explore the history, culture and taste of selected Italian food products: bread, wine, and olive oil. We will visit food markets in Florence, and go on a fieldtrip to the Tuscan countryside.

The course will be taught through a combination of formal lectures (incl. power point presentations) class discussions, student presentations, tastings and outdoor activities designed to engage students with local community in Florence. The structure of the course will follow a chronological order and methods of analysis will be predominantly historical in nature.

Objectives
By the end of this course you should be able: to understand the relevance of an interdisciplinary approach studying food; to be familiar with the historical and social construction of taste; to develop an understanding of food as a most fundamental cultural aspect of Italian society and to have enhanced your academic skills of critical analysis, literature reviews and oral presentation.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

HUM 399/SOC 299 – Diversity in Italy

Course Description
Despite the international popularity of Italian culture and arts, strong stereotypes remain about Italy and Italians. The main feature of the country that these stereotypical views eliminate is its rich, deep and historical diversity, in all spheres of social life: popular culture, religion, ethnicity, gender roles, and economy, among others. The aim of this course is to introduce students to this diversity through movies and readings, while at the same time making them aware of the stereotypes and prejudices that eliminate all these groups from the overall picture of Italy. The course will look at both “old” diversities – such as differences in gender roles, religion, ethnicity – and the “new” ones introduced recently by migration. We will discuss how these social differences take place in an Italian culture that values local identity and local culture above a weak national identity, resulting in processes of recognition and integration that can be quite different from those of other cultures.

Course Requirements and Learning Outcomes
Throughout this course students are expected to engage in active participation by contributing their thoughts, ideas and questions. It is thus crucial that they do the required readings and be ready to share opinions on the topics discussed in class. Course requirements include to tests, a midterm exam, a final exam and a research paper. The midterm exam and the final exam consist in answering (essay form) one mandatory question and then pick another from the list. Each question is worth 100 points; the final grade is determined by the average. Each answer should be approximately 1 to 2 handwritten pages. In the final paper (about 10 pages) students are expected to refer to the interpretative concepts and methods of analysis acquired during the course and apply them to their autobiographical experience. Also, they are expected to find (at least) one scholarly and one non-scholarly source. By the end of this course, successful students are expected to be able to: 1) actively discuss the topics brought to their attention — assessed through in-class participation; 2) understand the main cultural theoretical perspectives and empirical findings discussed in class — assessed in the midterm and final exams; 3) analyze their own autobiographical experience, applying the concepts and methods learned during the course (and eventually assessed in the final paper).

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

HUM 399/SOC 299 – Identity and Culture in Italy: A Comparative Approach

Description
The aim of the course is to introduce the concept of culture in the sociological and anthropological sense. After clarifying the meaning of the word ‘culture’, other related concepts will be analyzed: values, norms, lifestyles, attitudes, beliefs, stereotypes. Attention will also be drawn to the notion of social and cultural change (de-secularization, globalization, mediatization, individualization). Concepts and methods learnt in the first part of the course will be applied to Italian culture to identify its specific features. The following cultural dimensions will be looked at in-depth: (Experience in German); Expressive / Instrumental; Propensity to consume / Propensity to invest; Dependence / Responsibility; Passivity / Activity; Particularism / Universalism. Italian-ness will be compared with traits of the American, Northern European and Mediterranean cultural heritage.

Objectives
The course will focus mainly on the following themes: the creation of a sense of belonging and the experience of being “different”; self-recognition and recognition of others (as individuals and as members of a group); the dynamics of interaction with another person/other people as well as the origins of representations and stereotypes. Another objective of the course is to take an in-depth look at the concept of individual and collective identity; within the lifecycle stages particular attention will be given to the passage from youth to adulthood, depicting a peculiar Italian phenomenon: the prolongation of youth. As well as learning theoretic propositions and paradigms, students will be invited to undertake a journey of self–awareness, so as to internalize the themes tackled during the term and apply them in a critical manner. Part of the course will be set aside for the theme of journey. Students will thus be able to supplement their studies by learning concepts which will help them to elaborate what they are experiencing. The basic concepts (theories, paradigms etc.) adopted – and shared with the students – allow for an interdisciplinary approach, including Sociology, Social and Cultural Anthropology, and Social Psychology. The narrative approach will be our “discipline glue”.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

IARCH 320A – Interior Architecture Studio VI

Description
Italy: news from the interior.
We will not choose wall-papers, curtains or furniture, we will not “decorate” rooms in order to give them a particular appeal, we will shape interior spaces in order to better serve contemporary needs and life-styles.
“A constant, light background noise can be detected behind the apparently unchanged facades of our cities. It corresponds to a continuous change inside our houses, offices, factories, schools and theaters. An incessant bustle is transforming our inhabited spaces, our places of work, study, social life and entertainment from within. It is a reflection of a profound change in our way of life. This is mostly taking place behind closed doors. Protective masks hide today’s faces, which are so different from those of a few decades ago. Over the threshold, and behind apparently unchanged facades, new and constantly changing Italian interiors reflect a profoundly different society. The face of Italy is now composed of these numerous facets. They correspond to different stories and aspirations, but are only rarely expressed or directly perceptible on the outside.” This is how Mirko Zardini, curator of the Italian exhibition of the 2004’s Venice Biennale, presented the excellence of Italian architectural design. In this framework, the Interior Architecture Studio, will operate within the boundary of that phenomenon of gentle transformations, of constant redesign of the internal and external spaces that can be perceived as the main character of Italian urban environment. An approach that is not less important than the one traditionally expressed by disciplinary process of modernization which, until the 1970s, led to the country equipping itself with infrastructure, houses, social housing, factories, offices and schools.
This studio, open to architects and designers, will focus on the possibility offered by the use of architectural tools applied to the re-shape of interior spaces. From residential to retail spaces, from installations to refurbishments, we will experience the process of analysis of the needs, the development of concepts, the design of the solutions and the presentation to the clients.

Objectives
An ability to analyze potentiality and qualities offered by spaces, to critically analyze and develop expertise in interior architecture, in site analysis, basic programming, diagramming and design.
An ability to synthesize culture, technology, and design in a final project that demonstrates mastery of skills and develop a rigorous formal and theoretical response.
An awareness and understanding of Italian environmental and urban conditions, related to space re-modeling and re-furbishing.
Completing the assignments, the student will gain all tools and skills needed to design, communicate, evaluate and coordinate the process of the refurbishment of an interior space.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

IARCH 410A – Interior Architecture Studio VII

Description
This Design studio regards the designer as a thinker as well as a maker, working conceptually and strategically
across the fading boundaries of traditional design disciplines.
The studio will have an emphasis on urban interiors, urban fabric, context and public space.
The studio will focus on two design goals: integrating context and buildings and balancing the needs of the individual
with community through spatial projects.
More urgently than ever, today’s world needs innovative, informed design, and architects are in need for more complex
and interactive profiles.
We are here to define and nurture design’s emerging roles and methods – to educate, to envision and (I hope) to lead.

Objectives
CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT
The main opportunity offered by a design studio in Firenze, is the opportunity of working in a strongly characterized
historical context, with its multiple layers and its continuous in progress status. Firenze and its built environment will be
the text book for studio, and the studio will develop methods to learn from it. Students will be asked to go behind
appearances, and to look at the city from different points of view and not as tourists.
ARCHITECTURE IS STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATION.
The main goal of the studio is to provide students with an insight into the nature of the public domain and the ways in
which architecture and urban space are weaved to create the physical setting for the activities and rituals of public
urban life.
STYLE IS NOT AN ADDED QUALITY
The studio will not focus only on a merely functional program, instead, it will operate on the premise that public spaces
are important to the livability of a city. Students will cultivate design not to explore style, but to explore what they
consider to be fundamental to architecture: namely, issues of space, urbanism and meanings, searching a way to hide
thoughts inside shapes.
ORDINARY vs EXTRAORDINARY
Unorthodox programs using contemporary complexity of urban phenomena will be of main importance in developing
design proposals.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

INT499 – Graphic Design and Publishing

Number of Internships Available
Two (2)

Course Information
INT499 (3 credit hours)
Unpaid internship for academic credit

Position Length
Semester Internship: 12 weeks
Summer Internship: 8 weeks

Position Hours
Approximately 135 hours total

Summary of Position
Interns will assist the Marketing and Design staff with the creation and execution of its graphic communications projects, including its editorial endeavors. The Intern will be briefed on new projects and will then prepare sketches and presentations of their ideas. For editorial projects, the Intern will provide page layouts and study its coordinated image and then format and layout its contents including photographic/illustrative material.

Roles and Responsibilities
– Create sketches and presentations for the design projects pursued.
– Help develop new designs of all marketing materials such as brochures, logos, web pages, and editorial projects.
– Create and organize a branding book for ISI Florence and its other partners.
– Help with the design and layout of ISI Florence’s editorial projects including ‘Beyond’, ‘Il Quaderno’, and other faculty book projects.
– Research and analyze current trends in visual communication for higher education and, based on the findings, suggest, find, or make new layouts for the ISI Florence website or other printed material.
– Assist with the marketing team on the visual development and promotion of the Institute.
– Based on self-reflection, create a peer-to-peer communications project to promote the study abroad experience to future students.

Qualifications
– Passion for graphic and editorial design
– Proficiency in Creative Suite graphic design programs (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator)
– Familiarity with pre-press and printing processes
– Good organizational and problem-solving skills
– Enthusiastic and proactive work ethic
– Previous graphic design experience is a plus

Acquired Skills
– Increase knowledge of the design process from the brief to the finished product
– Advance visual literacy and how it pertains to good communication
– Project management skills including planning, organization, and execution
– Advance editorial and publishing skills from book design to layout
– Completion of communication projects within a multicultural environment
– Increase knowledge of the use of graphic design for marketing and communications

INT499 – International Education: Community Engagement

Number of Internships Available
Two (2)

Course Information
INT499 (3 credit hours)
Unpaid internship for academic credit

Position Length
Semester Internship: 12 weeks
Summer Internship: 8 weeks

Position Hours
Approximately 135 hours total

Location and Travel
Florence / Walking Distance

Summary of Position

This internship aims at integrating academic material, relevant hands-on experience, and critical reflection in a reciprocal partnership that engages interns and local community members to achieve academic, social, and personal growth.
Interns will assist the Community Engagement Coordinator in managing all elements of volunteering, internships and community engagement on a larger scale.
The assistant will work both independently and with the coordinator, onsite partners, and community volunteers to deepen the ISI Florence collaborative efforts and impact.

Roles and Responsibilities
– Monitor volunteer recruitment, screening, and training.
– Update and manage a database of interns and volunteers.
– Coordinate a volunteer calendar and scheduling.
– Maintain ongoing communication with volunteers around needs and support. Provide oversight and supervision for volunteers.
– Serve as a point person for interns and volunteer inquiries.

Qualifications
– Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with people, drawing on strong interpersonal skills
– Good organizational skills and the ability to manage administrative workload
– Aptitude to work both independently and in teamwork with the coordinator/ISI staff, and prioritize different projects to meet multiple deadlines
– Flexible approach to different tasks

Acquired Skills
– Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
– Basic project management skills, including planning, executing and assessing outcomes.
– Completion of projects with community engagement work in a professional setting environment.
– Active listening and creative thinking

INT499 – Photography & Visual Communications

Number of Internships Available
Two (2)

Course Information
INT499 (3 credit hours)
Unpaid internship for academic credit

Position Length
Semester Internship: 12 weeks
Summer Internship: 8 weeks

Position Hours
Approximately 135 hours total

Summary of Position
Interns will assist the Marketing and Communications staff with visual story-telling with a focus on student life, academic programs, and scholarly activities as well as on self-reflection. The Intern will help document, through the use of visual imagery (photography, video, or other), the following areas: 1) curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular work of students; 2) scholarly accomplishments of ISI Florence faculty; 3) students and Global Leaders; 4) student life in Florence; 4) the Institute’s academic programs. The intern will also assist with organizing and cataloging ISI Florence’s photographic archive as well as help the Marketing team develop new visual communications projects

Roles and Responsibilities
– Create a brief and storyboard for the visual project to be pursued.
– Report on all aspects of ISI Florence (student life, academics, extra-curricular and co-curricular, Florence, travel, etc.) through the use of photography, video or other visual media.
– Create and organize a visual archive on Pinterest.
– Help with the development of ISI Florence’s Photographic Archive Project which documents the history of The Institute at Palazzo Rucellai and ISI Florence.
– Research and analyze current trends in visual communication for higher education and, based on the findings, suggest, find, or make new photos/videos for the ISI Florence website.
– Assist with the marketing team on the visual development and promotion of the Institute

Qualifications
– Passion for photography, video, film, or art
– A minimal knowledge of Visual Literacy
– Familiarity with visual story telling
– Good organizational and problem-solving skills
– Enthusiastic and proactive work ethic

Acquired Skills
– Advance visual literacy and how it pertains to good communication
– Project management skills including planning, organization, and execution
– Advance visual story telling skills
– Completion of projects with community-engaged work in a multicultural environment
– Increase knowledge of the use of imagery for marketing and communications

INT499 – Social Media & Digital Communications Assistant

Number of Internships Available
Two (2)

Course Information
INT499 (3 credit hours)
Unpaid internship for academic credit

Position Length
Semester Internship: 12 weeks
Summer Internship: 8 weeks

Position Hours
Approximately 135 hours total

Location and Travel
Florence / Walking Distance

Summary of Position
Interns will assist the Institute’s Social Media & Digital Communications staff on all online communication from the Institute with a focus on student life, academic programs, and scholarly activities. The Intern will help develop and implement a social media plan that: 1) highlights the curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular work of students; 2) promotes the scholarly accomplishments of ISI Florence faculty; 3) profiles students and Global Leaders; 4) Profiles student life in Florence; 4) promotes the Institute’s academic programs.

Roles and Responsibilities
– Plan the semester’s communication through various channels, including, but not limited to, newsletters, social media, and press releases to US partners and local media.
– Assist during interviews and transcription of materials as well as editing photo shoots and videos.
– Write research results about the Institute’s online communication and suggest future directions.
– Copy edit and post new entries on the website.

Qualifications
– Familiarity with social media platforms and their use for educational/promotional purposes.
– Creative writing skills, and
– enthusiastic and proactive work ethic.

Acquired Skills
– Public communication and promotion through online writing.
– Development and implementation of social media and promotion plans and activities.
– Basic project management skills, including planning, budgeting, executing and assessing outcomes.
– Advance knowledge of qualitative research methods.
– Advance writing and storytelling skills; and
– Completion of projects with community-engaged work in a multicultural environment.

IR 297/397/497: Independent Research

The Independent Research course is a student-centered learning experience in which you engage in advanced research on your selected topic with the support of a faculty mentor. It is ideal for students who have previously studied a particular topic and would like to continue exploring it in more depth through individual research. Independent Research courses may vary depending on student interests and needs. They are assigned an appropriate disciplinary code and the appropriate academic level depending on the nature of the specific research project.

A minimum of one month before the beginning of the semester, you must submit a detailed research proposal to the ISI Florence Director. Once approved, an appropriate faculty member will then be identified as the advisor. During the first two weeks of the semester, a more detailed proposal, bibliography, and project design will be submitted to the faculty advisor for approval, and a project timeline will be established. Throughout the semester, you will work independently and meet weekly with your advisor to discuss your progress.

Approximately two weeks before the end of the semester, you will give a short, oral presentation to your advisor and submit the first draft of your study. You will then submit your final draft of the research project.

Please Note: This course may incur additional charges.

Evaluation
Independent Research courses are evaluated based on the successful completion of the research project, the final presentation, and the submission of a full-length study.

Course Fees
Please contact ISI Florence regarding your independent study and the additional fees it may incur. Fees may vary based on the nature and scope of the project.

ITAL 101 – The Florence Experience I: Beginning Italian I

Description
The Florence Experience I is an interdisciplinary course that focuses on achieving a basic level in cultural and linguistic-communicative competences (speaking, writing, reading and understanding) regarding familiar contexts, everyday life activities and simple interaction with native speakers. At the same time, it introduces students to various, relevant aspects of contemporary Florentine life and Italian culture. The course offers students an interdisciplinary experience in language learning. As is well known, this is possible only by direct immersion in the target culture. Since language and culture are deeply connected (language IS culture and culture IS language), each class will introduce students to linguistic skills such as communicative structures, grammar structures, vocabulary and pronunciation. In addition, it will provide them with a deeper knowledge of Italian culture. The city of Florence will thus become a cultural laboratory: with its world-famous fashion firms, its beautiful theaters and lively markets, its young writers and actors, and its characteristic stores and artisans’ workshops, Florence stands out as a most appealing mix of contemporary Italian culture to be explored by students. In addition to classroom work, which is based on the standard content of the first semester of language study, the course includes a series of on-site meetings (incontri). These will range from interviews with Florentines to field-trips and treasure hunts at the most lively markets in town, as well as meetings with students from the “Università di Firenze”. Students will meet Francesco Rotelli and Roberto Caccavo. Both Francesco and Roberto are professional actors, directors, and playwrights. Both Florentines, they will conduct language/culture in-class activities.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ITAL 102 – The Florence Experience II: Beginning Italian II

Description
The Florence Experience II is an interdisciplinary course that focuses on achieving a basic level in cultural and linguistic-communicative competences (speaking, writing, reading and understanding) regarding familiar contexts, everyday life activities and simple interaction with native speakers. At the same time, it introduces students to various, relevant aspects of contemporary Florentine life and Italian culture. The course offers students an interdisciplinary experience in language learning. As is well known, this is possible only by direct immersion in the target culture. Since language and culture are deeply connected (language IS culture and culture IS language), each class will introduce students to linguistic skills such as communicative structures, grammar structures, vocabulary and pronunciation. In addition, it will provide them with a deeper knowledge of Italian culture. The city of Florence will thus become a cultural laboratory: with its world-famous fashion firms, its beautiful theaters and lively markets, its young writers and actors, and its characteristic stores and artisans’ workshops, Florence stands out as a most appealing mix of contemporary Italian culture to be explored by students.
In addition to classroom work, which is based on the standard content of the first semester of language study, the course includes a series of on-site meetings (incontri). These will range from interviews with Florentines to field-trips and treasure hunts at the most lively markets in town, as well as meetings with students from the “Università di Firenze”, and with the Italian cadets from the local Scuola Militare Aeronautica Giulio Dohuet. Also, students will meet Francesco Rotelli and Roberto Caccavo. Both Francesco and Roberto are professional actors, theater directors, and playwrights. Both Florentines, they will conduct language/culture in-class activities.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ITAL 201 – The Florence Experience III: Intermediate Italian I

Description
The Florence Experience III is an interdisciplinary course that builds on two semesters of previous work. It focuses on achieving an intermediate level in cultural and linguistic-communicative competences regarding familiar matters, personal experiences, events, and a various range of conversational topics and situations likely to arise while traveling. The course offers students an interdisciplinary experience in language learning. At the same time, it introduces students to various, relevant aspects of contemporary Florentine life and Italian culture. As is well known, this is possible only by direct immersion in the target culture. Since language and culture are deeply connected (language IS culture and culture IS language), each class will familiarize students with linguistic skills such as communicative structures, grammar structures, vocabulary and pronunciation. Furthermore, it will provide them with a deeper knowledge of Italian culture. The city of Florence will thus become a cultural laboratory: with its world-famous fashion firms, its beautiful theaters and lively markets, its young writers and actors, and its characteristic stores and artisans’ workshops, Florence stands out as a most appealing mix of contemporary Italian culture to be explored by the student. In addition to classroom work, the course includes a series of on-site meetings (incontri). These will range from interviews with Florentines to meetings with artisans in their botteghe (workshops) in the characteristic Oltrarno neighborhood, field trips and treasure hunts at the most vivacious markets in town, as well as meetings with students from the “Università di Firenze” and with the Italian cadets from the local Scuola Militare Aeronautica Giulio Dohuet. Students will meet Francesco Rotelli and Roberto Caccavo too. Both Francesco and Roberto are professional actors, directors, and playwrights. Both Florentines, they will conduct language/culture in-class activities.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ITAL 202 – The Florence Experience IV: Intermediate Italian II

Description
The Florence Experience IV is an interdisciplinary course that builds on three semesters of previous work. It focuses on achieving a post-intermediate level in cultural and linguistic-communicative competences. The course aims at developing such skills (both oral and written) so that students may be able to express themselves in a wide range of subjects and effortlessly interact with native speakers. In doing so, this course introduces students to various, relevant features of contemporary Florentine life and Italian culture. As such, it offers students an interdisciplinary experience in language learning, which is only possible by direct immersion in the target culture. Since language and culture are deeply connected (language IS culture and culture IS language), each class will introduce students to linguistic skills such as communicative structures, grammar structures, vocabulary and pronunciation. At the same time, it will provide them with a deeper knowledge of Italian culture. The city of Florence will thus become a cultural laboratory: with its world-famous fashion firms, its beautiful theaters and lively markets, its young writers and actors, and its characteristic stores and artisans’ workshops, it stands out as a most appealing mix of contemporary Italian culture for students to explore. In addition to classroom work, the course includes a series of on-site meetings. These will range from interviews with Florentines to meetings with artisans in their botteghe (workshops) in the characteristic Oltrarno neighborhood, field trips and treasure hunts at the most vivacious markets in town, as well as meetings with students from the “Università di Firenze“ and with the Italian cadets from the local Scuola Militare Aeronautica Giulio Dohuet. Students will meet Francesco Rotelli and Roberto Caccavo. Both Francesco and Roberto are professional actors, directors, and playwrights. Both Florentines, they will conduct language/culture in-class activities. As part of this class, a workshop on learning Italian through collage of words and images will be offered during the semester. Its main goal is to use psychology and visual arts to enhance language skills. Two Italian professionals (one a writer, Francesco Gori, the other an artist, Francesco Chiacchio) will be in charge of it.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ITAL 310 – The Florence Experience V: Advanced Italian

Description
The Florence Experience V is an interdisciplinary course that builds on four semesters of previous work. It focuses on achieving an advanced level in cultural and linguistic-communicative competences regarding a wide range of complex topics. The oral and written skills developed throughout the course will enable students to express themselves fluently and interact with native speakers. In addition, the course will introduce them to various, relevant aspects of contemporary Florentine life and Italian culture by providing an interdisciplinary experience in language learning. As is well known, this is possible only by direct immersion in the target culture. Since language and culture are deeply connected (language IS culture and culture IS language), each class will acquaint students with such linguistic skills as communicative structures, grammar structures, vocabulary and pronunciation. At the same time, it will provide them with a deeper knowledge of Italian culture. The city of Florence will thus become a cultural laboratory: with its world-famous fashion firms, its beautiful theaters and lively markets, its young writers and actors, and its characteristic stores and artisans’ workshops, Florence stands out as a most appealing mix of contemporary Italian culture for the students to explore. In addition to classroom work, the course includes a series of on-site meetings (incontri). These will range from interviews with Florentines to meetings with artisans in their botteghe (workshops) in the characteristic Oltrarno neighborhood, field trips and treasure hunts at the most vivacious markets in town, as well as meetings with students from the “Università di Firenze” and with the Italian cadets from the local Scuola Militare Aeronautica Giulio Dohuet. Students will meet Francesco Rotelli and Roberto Caccavo. Both Francesco and Roberto are professional actors, directors, and playwrights. Both Florentines, they will conduct language/culture in-class activities. As part of this class, a workshop on learning Italian through collage of words and images will be offered during the semester. Its main goal is to use psychology and visual arts to enhance language skills. Two Italian professionals (one a writer, Francesco Gori, the other an artist, Francesco Chiacchio) will be in charge of it.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ITAL 340 – Readings in Italian Theater Literature: A Journey into Italian Theater (in Italian)

Description
Il corso, interamente impartito in italiano, è rivolto a studenti a un livello avanzato di conoscenza della lingua italiana.
Gli studenti saranno guidati nella lettura di una selezione ragionata di testi teatrali dedicata ai ruoli femminili sulle scene italiane tra Cinque e Settecento: dalle Innamorate della Commedia dell’Arte ai “caratteri” di Carlo Goldoni. L’analisi dei testi sarà inserita all’interno dei contesti nei quali furono prodotti. Il corso non si limita pertanto alla lettura delle opere, ma fornisce agli studenti anche le linee guida per la comprensione di alcuni dei principali fenomeni dello spettacolo italiano.
Le lezioni integrano la lettura di testi scritti all’analisi di materiali multimediali, film e registrazioni di spettacoli che allarga la riflessione ai “ruoli” femminili nel teatro e nel cinema italiano del Novecento.
Tramite la visione dell’allestimento di spettacoli dal vivo in cartellone presso i teatri fiorentini si stimolerà l’interesse degli studenti verso la tradizione del teatro di prosa e d’opera italiani. Il laboratorio di drammaturgia permetterà agli studenti di mettere alla prova le proprie abilità espressive nella comunicazione orale e scritta.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

ITAL 430 – Italian Language through Economics and Business

Description
Italian Language through Economics and Business is a course that focuses on achieving a basic level in cultural and linguistic competence (speaking, writing, reading, and understanding). As such, it gives students the opportunity to learn vocabulary and language skills that are proper to the business world. Language is the core of culture and vice versa. We thus wish to teach students both, so that they may fully understand our language while learning what it means to work with and for Italian companies. As is well known, this is only possible by direct immersion in the target culture. Since language and culture are deeply connected (language is culture and culture is language), each meeting will introduce students to linguistic skills such as communicative structures, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. In particular, lexicon and communicative structures are focused on economics and the business world. These elements will make up the core of this course so as to provide students with a deeper knowledge of business in Italy. Each day, students will have the chance to experience this peculiar culture and use its specific language by using the skills they learn in class. In addition to classroom work, which is based on the standard content of a first semester of language study, the course includes a series of on-site meetings (incontri).

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

JOUR/COMM 430 – Writing For The Media In Italy

Description
This course follows two parallel and complementary paths: firstly, it introduces students to the history of the Italian media system and journalism, tracing their evolution from the Fascist period to the present day by focusing on the roles of radio, cinema, television and the internet; secondly, it examines the main writing styles in journalism and the fundamental aspects of media ethics.
By taking this course, students also develop their skills in critiquing existing media writing and have the opportunity to publish articles on the local monthly newspaper, Florence News.
The course is taught through a combination of formal lectures and workshops. The lectures provide a broad outline of the respective period, while the workshops enable students to focus on key topics or themes and learn the fundamental aspects of news writing.

Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate a detailed, critical understanding of the fundamental aspects of Italian journalism and media system, and how Italian media and journalism contrast to other Western countries (in particular, the English-speaking democracies). Students should be able to demonstrate their ability to recognize good stories, gather facts through skillful interviewing and research, develop sources, craft welcoming leads and satisfying endings, and create news and feature articles that inform and engage.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

JOUR/COMM 430 – Writing For The Media: Print and Digital in Italy

Description

This course is an introduction to the main writing styles used in journalism and public relations. It teaches students how to successfully write for print, digital and broadcast media, and the main techniques and strategies used in social media communication. Students will engage in all facets of the writing process including writing, critiquing, editing and revising, with the ultimate goal of becoming more effective writers and readers of both media and social media messages.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate a detailed, critical understanding of the fundamental aspects of the journalism and media system, and how. Students should be able to demonstrate their ability to recognize good stories, gather facts through skillful interviewing and research, develop sources, craft welcoming leads and satisfying endings, and create news and feature articles that inform and engage.

MGMT 320 – Family Business in Italy

Description
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Italy, many of them family owned, account for 81% of the Italian workforce, compared to a European average of 67%. Many of the world’s most famous brands such as Prada, Ferrari, Ferragamo and Benetton are Italian companies that remain firmly under family control.
Family businesses have long been the motor of Italian economic development. Is there something in the fabric of Italian society that leads to such a high proportion of family businesses? Are there lessons to be learned for family businesses elsewhere?
This course will explore the trends in family business, the challenges that they face, the keys to their success and the future, bright or otherwise, of these businesses.
Another unique feature of Italian business is the Industrial Cluster. Internationally, companies generally try to put as much distance as possible between themselves and their competitors. In Italy, however, competitors have often tended to cluster in tight geographical locations. We examine the reasons why, the implications of doing so and the likely future development of such clusters.
The first half of the course will focus on achieving a solid understanding of the theory of family business, what makes it successful and what threatens its survival, through classwork and visits. After the mid-term break, we will deepen our analysis by looking at a series of world-class Italian family businesses, to understand the secrets of their success.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

MGMT 320 – Family Business in Italy

Description

Some of the world’s best-known brands are derived from Italian family businesses.  Family businesses globally employ more people, contribute more GDP, account for more innovation, more jobs and more profitability than their corporate rivals, yet are rarely appreciated.

So why is that and why in Italy does the Family business model endure?  This course will examine the good, the bad and certainly La Bella Figura of Italian Family Business; from Entrepreneurship to World Domination (FCA, Luxottica, The Medici), from Finance to Strategy (Ferrari and Gucci), from Management to Marketing (Eataly), from Culture to Values and Ethics (Parmalat). Students will learn this full range of business know-how through lectures, real-life case studies and projects.

This course is suitable both for those that have an interest in business, but no academic background in the subject and for those that are studying business and want to be able to see the subject from a different perspective.

MKTG 430 – Fashion Marketing: Analyzing Italian Brand Strategies

Description
This course will explore the Italian fashion system. To do so, it will analyse the most important brands marketing strategies as well as the main Italian designers, that is:
1) Fendi;
2) Roberto Cavalli;
3) Valentino – documentary: “Valentino: The Last Emperor (2008)”;
4) Salvatore Ferragamo / Gucci
5) Ermanno Scervino;
6) Piquadro/ The Bridge;
7) Casadei;
8) Buti Pelletterie;
9) Versace – documentary: “The day before Donatella Versace (2010)”;
10) Elsa Schiaparelli (TOD’S Group)
11) Forzieri.com
12) Benetton
13) Brunello Cucinelli
The first half of the course will focus on achieving a deep understanding of the Italian fashion system. To this purpose, the following topics will be discussed:
– the notion of “fashion”
– the communication levels involved in fashion,
– comparison between Italian Fashion on the one hand and French prêt-à-porter or American ready-to-wear on the other.
– how Italian Fashion firms have changed their marketing strategies from the 80s to the present

After the mid-term break, we will deepen our analysis by looking at the digital marketing strategies of world-class Italian Fashion brands. This will help students both to understand the secrets of their success and learn from their failures. The following topics will be discussed:

– the main marketing techniques used by Italian brands to enter the Internet arena
– the development of fashion websites, e-commerce, and digital marketing online
– social media marketing techniques that involve and engage the youngest generation (“millennials”) – social media marketing techniques that reconnect with existing customers.
– the importance of sustainability in the Italian fashion system: how brands like Brunello Cucinelli became the “patrons” of the new millennium.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

MKTG 431 – Digital Branding: Italian Fashion & Luxury

Description

Digital technologies have radically changed our ways of starting, growing and scaling a business. Now more than ever luxury and fashion brands are leveraging the powers of technology to build a community, engage their audience and validate their products. As the threshold to entrepreneurship has significantly lowered, competition is becoming more fierce and startup businesses need to be led by innovative strategies capable of maintaining high-profit margins while keeping assets light.

In this course, students will learn about the new dynamics of the fashion and luxury industries when it comes to digital entrepreneurship.  Students will learn how to plan, launch, and scale a fashion and luxury brand through lectures, real-life case studies and hands-on research. The course will allow participants to understand what needs to be done in order to create an aspirational brand image, how to identify and exploit a market opportunity and to achieve service and post-purchase excellence. Lastly, the course will address how a company blueprint can be brought to life, by identifying the right funding strategies to get a business running.

MKTG 431 – Italian Luxury Communication – The Digital Marketing behind Jewellery, Food, & Fashion

Description
This course will explore the Italian brands in the Jewellery, Food, and Fashion Industries, by analyzing the digital marketing and communication strategies adopted to succeed in their home market as well as on an international level. Among the brands analyzed, here is a list:
1) Delfina Delettrez Fendi Jewellery
2) Alessandro Dari Gioielli Jewellery
3) Richard Ginori Porcelains
4) Dr. Vranjes Home Fragrances
5) Cantine Antinori Winery
6) Antonio Mattei Biscuits Cantucci
7) Roy Rogers Jeans
The first half of the course will focus on achieving a deep understanding of the “Made in Italy” and “Italian lifestyle” -which lies in many communication and marketing plans-, by defining:
– what is the meaning of “Made In Italy” and “Italian Lifestyle”: for the customers and for brands,
– what are the communication levels involved and how they are developed, on and offline,
– what makes a “Made in Italy” brand perceived as synonymous of the highest quality in Fashion, Food, and Jewellery.

After the mid-term break, we will deepen our analysis by looking in the online marketing strategies of the Italian brands in different industries, to understand both the secrets of their success and to learn from their mistakes.
– the digital marketing techniques embraced by the brands to be known worldwide
– the development of the brand website, e-commerce and digital communication,
– the social media marketing techniques to reach new markets, new clients and be in contact with their customers.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

PHYS 273 – Introductory Physics: Waves

Description
The official title of the course is Introductory Physics: Waves. In fact, the course is somewhat broader than this. It will, of course, deal with the physics of waves. However, more generally it will cover aspects of the physics of oscillations as well as waves; in addition it will provide an introduction to the mathematical techniques needed to describe vibrations and waves.
The physics and mathematics discussed in this course are interesting and important in their own right. Moreover, the various approaches used in this course constitute important paradigms in virtually all subjects of advanced physics.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

PHYS 274 – Mathematical Methods for Physics

Description
Complex Variables
Curvilinear Coordinates and Vector Analysis: Curvilinear orthogonal coordinates; cylindrical and spherical coordinate systems; gradients, divergences and curls in curvilinear coordinates and their geometrical interpretation, with examples from physical systems; Gauss’ and Stokes’ theorems.
Linear Algebra: Linear vector spaces; linear operators and their representation as matrices; matrix algebra; determinants and their application to the solution of linear inhomogeneous equations; inner products; eigenvalues and eigenfunctions with examples of applications to physical problems; infinite dimensional vector spaces.
Dirac Delta Functions: Properties of the delta function; delta function of a function; delta functions in more than one dimension.

Objectives
The aim of the course is to provide the students with some of the main mathematical tools (scalars, vectors, matrices, complex numbers, differential analysis, special functions/distributions) that are commonly used and thus required in all the fields of Physical sciences.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

PHYS 276 – Experimental Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism

Description
Physics 276 is the third course in the introductory Physics lab sequence PHYS 174-275-276. The course is intended for physics majors and also for science and engineering students who desire a more rigorous introduction to experimental science. Experiments are mainly chosen in the general area of ac and dc circuits, and electricity and magnetism. Other major components of the course include the construction of an AM radio, analysis of both random and systematic errors, working individually and with a lab partner, and writing clear lab reports.

The Lab meets for four hours each week. You should expect that roughly three hours of this time will be spent working on the lab and one hour in discussion with your instructors and other students during the lab.

Each student will be provided with a kit that includes electrical components, a breadboard or two, and a complete set of parts needed for constructing various circuits and AM radios.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

PHYS 371 – Modern Physics

Description
Introduces students to special relativity, thermodynamics and quantum mechanics at an introductory level.The goal of this class is to discuss relativity, elementary thermodynamics, and quantum theory. We will discuss the experiments that revealed the limitations of classical mechanics and the conceptual revolutions that followed, leading to the creation of quantum mechanics. Although the treatment will not be as deep as those you will see in Phys 401, 402, 404 and 410, we will employ mathematical concepts to quantify the discussion whenever possible.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

PHYS 373 – Mathematical Methods for Physics II

Description
The course is intended to provide
a strong mathematical background for solving equations
in physics. Topics to be covered are generally found in
Chapters 7, 8, 12, 13 and 14 of Boas. The topics include Fourier series and Fourier and Laplace transforms, ordinary and
partial differential equations, special functions and eigenfunction expansions, and complex variables including
the properties of analytic functions and complex integration. The emphasis will be on techniques which are useful to the practicing physicist.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

PSYCH 430 – Addiction: from Theory to Treatment

Description
As we continue to read the headlines proclaiming the rise in opioid addiction, the latest overdose crisis, the newest street drug or the toll addiction has on the family and society one can begin to ask why. Why do people take a substance knowing that they could become addicted? Why are some people able to experiment and not become addicted whereas others are unable to? Are those who become addicted just not ‘strong enough’ or do not have enough ‘willpower’ to quit?
These and others are some of the questions that we will discuss during our journey through addiction. By the end of this course, students will be able to do the following:
1. Define addiction and identify its core features and diagnostic criteria.
2. Describe various theories of addiction.
3. Understand the developmental course of addiction.
4. Describe the effects that various substances have on an individual.
5. Identify genetic and environmental factors associated with addiction.
6. Gain a basic understanding of interventions and treatments for addiction.
7. Discuss European trends in addiction.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

PSYCH 430 – Cross-Cultural Psychology

Description and Goals
This course will provide an overview of the basics of cross-cultural psychology, with a specific focus on Italy and its culture. Through the integration of theory and research findings with a continuous reflection on students’ lives in Florence, the course will examine the role of culture in human psychology and behavior. Special attention will be paid to topics which are relevant to the study abroad experience, including culture, ethnocentrism, acculturation, culture shock, intercultural communication, cultural views on relationships, mental health and development. Methodological issues of cross-cultural research will be addressed, and students will have the opportunity to conduct cross-cultural interviews and be participant-observers of their own experience here in Italy. The main goals will be to improve students’ understanding of cultural differences and similarities. Likewise, we shall aim to develop specific psychological abilities, such as observational and communication skills, which will help students to apply the acquired knowledge to their current experiences. The course will also promote students’ awareness of the influence that their own cultural identity and ethnocentrism play in cross-cultural situations.

Knowledge and understanding

After completing the course, students are expected to be able to:

• Understand the influence that both culture and context play in psychological processes, behavior, communication, attitudes, and values;
• Have a critical awareness of their own culture and how it can influence social interactions in different environments;
• Understand how the perception of others can shape personal identity;
• Critically evaluate cross-cultural psychological research and its generalizability (or not!).

Skills and abilities

After completing the course, students are expected to be able to:

• Understand the role that culture and different contexts play in psychological processes;
• Recognize how ethnocentrism can be an obstacle in intercultural interactions and communication;
• Identify and critique upon the ways in which cultural identity influences thoughts, behaviors, and social processes;
• Develop strategies to address cultural differences respectfully and effectively in both psychological research and real-life settings .

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

SOC 299 – Sociology of the Arts

Description
Sociology of the Arts examines the dynamics of art, culture and society through an interdisciplinary approach. Drawing on fields as diverse as art history, anthropology, philosophy and economic history, the course explores a series of basic yet profound questions: What is art? Who makes it? For whom is it produced and why? To address these questions, we begin with theoretical premises and use case studies to elucidate the points, contemplating how the answers change according to the cultural and historical context. Therefore, our discussion transcends questions of style, attribution, or meaning to understand art from a broader point of view in its relation to society.
Given our location in Florence and the its crucial role in early modern culture, we will dedicate several weeks discussing the Renaissance period in various aspects – the changing status of the artist, the demand for art, its display and function, various forms of patronage. We will look at the different players in artistic production from the Church to promote doctrine to individuals cultivating personal prestige. Mercantile, aristocratic, urban and feudal aspects come to play in this game. Studying the art in a courtly context like Palazzo Pitti will demonstrate how art is used to convey and consolidate power.
In the second half of the course, we will look at modern interpretations about the figure of the artist and the social role of art and architecture. We will consider art as a tool for social consolidation, rebellion, and symbolic revolution. From the considerations about production and demand, we will move to the consumption side of art. Who determines what is art and how we are to experience it? How do museums shape our experience of art?
Finally, we will reflect on the role of technology in art. What distinguishes a photographer from everyone else if with the iPhone, Instagram and Facebook one can produce and gain exposure without any particular skill or training? Does the facility of technology explode the idea of craftsmanship in artistry or can everyone to a certain degree produce art?

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

THEAT 431/ENGL 430 – Italian Theater: History, Theory, and Practice

Description
The aim of the course is to introduce students to Italian theater through a theoretical and practical approach. Students will be guided on a journey through the history of Italian theater from the Renaissance to the present. As for the practical part of the course, we will focus on Italian contemporary dramaturgy, selecting plays written by internationally renowned playwright dealing with strong ethical issues that will offer students the opportunity to think about the role of theater in contemporary society. At the end of the course, students will stage a play under the instructors’ supervision.
The course is enriched by meetings with Italian and international actors, so as to further stimulate students to explore contemporary theater. Such meetings will also provide them with precious insights into acting techniques, introduce them to this profession, and inform them of related job opportunities.

Objectives
1. To give students an overview of Italian theater from the Renaissance to the present.
2. To help students develop their analytical skills, understand a text, and put it on stage.
3. To introduce students to the most common and basic performing techniques.
4. To have students enhance their imagination, discipline, concentration ability, sense of responsibility, and teamwork skills.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

VARTS 204 – Drawing: The Human Figure

Description
This course offers students the possibility to master the basic notions of anatomical drawing through the study of classical and Renaissance Florentine sculptures and live models. The first part is centered on the anatomical study of the male and female figures; in the second part, it will progress toward the incorporation of color according to old masters’ techniques. In the first phase students will observe and draw busts, plasters and sculptures in the various Florentine collections, following the method of the old masters, using the more familiar drawing techniques with pencil, charcoal, sanguine (iron oxide) and fusaggine. The classes will include brief theoretical lessons to illustrate human anatomy and to analyse figures drawn by famous artists in history. Students will then proceed to drawing figures directly, both in the piazzas , museums of Florence and in the studio with live models. The aim of the course is to prepare students to express their own artistic creativity after having acquired mastery of the drawing of the human figure. There will be an end-of-term exhibit, after which students may take there work back with them.
Class will meet for six hours per week in the studio.
Projects: Students will be expected to work through a series of assignments that will help in becoming familiar with the techniques being studied.
Critiques: Critiques are intended to serve as an open forum for evaluation and discussion of your work.
Slide Presentations/Site Visits: Slide presentations will address the connections between concepts presented in class, your work, and art history, while site visits to museums and galleries will enable students to view the work of the Italian masters.
Readings: Students will be given handouts to assist in learning techniques.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

VARTS 261 – Introduction to Photography: Portfolio of Florence

Description
This course will offer students a foundation in one of the most diffused media of the contemporary world: photography. Students will be immersed in the world of imagery by walking tours in the Florentine landscape including urban sites and historical monuments. Florence is an ideal city for photographic imagery. Apart from hosting some of the most precious artworks, it is blessed with a variety of buildings and the unforgettable Tuscan landscape. Relying on these unique features, students will focus on beginning digital photographic techniques including professional portfolio presentation and creative thinking.

Objectives
An objective of the course is to gain knowledge of the basics about shooting color and black and white images with DSLR (digital single lens reflex) cameras. Students will leave the course knowing how to use their cameras, correct an image through Adobe Photoshop software, and having produced a professional portfolio that reveals their personal view of Florence.
They will improve their capability to creatively interpret and criticize photographic images while developing the ability to think critically about pictures they see. Using the Florentine environment, students will experience a new culture through the medium of photography and its digital processes. By the end of the course, they will have developed an understanding of
their own photographic language, and have acquired a more critical eye.

Required Materials
Art courses require overall time and extra money for supplies. In this photography course you are expected to print only enlargements for the Mid-term and Final Portfolio. Students will also be expected to buy the materials required in order to put together the final portfolio.
An overall estimated cost for the entire semester (including all materials and lab costs) is 40 Euros.
Please note that you will not be able to use all the photos you take. As the semester proceeds, you will have to select your best shots. Keep in mind that the images you photograph are going to be used as a sketchbook for your visual education.

Students must be equipped with:
− SLR Reflex Digital camera with ‘Manual’ function and with at least one lens (manual of instructions for camera, if possible). The amount of Megapixels is not important.
− The camera’s USB cable.
− A memory card (at least 2 G card is suggested).
− A card reader compatible with your camera.
− A battery charger and an extra battery for your camera.
− A laptop computer with Adobe Photoshop.
− An external hard disk or USB of good capacity (at least 2 G card is suggested).
− Matting cardboard for final portfolio (this would be announced).

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

VARTS 282 – Beginning Oil Painting: Imagery of Florence

Description
This course is designed to introduce students to fundamental materials, techniques, and styles of oil painting. It is for both beginning art students and more advanced ones who are new to the technique of oil painting. The course will present and demonstrate the basic materials used in oil painting, along with fundamentals of drawing and color theory. Students will be introduced to the skills necessary to create painted images while being immersed in the world of the Florentine landscape, urban sights, and historical monuments.

• Projects: Students will be expected to work through a series of assignments (both in-class and homework) that will help them become familiar with the discipline of oil painting. Part of your work will be from life observation and part will be worked out with the support of images. In the latter case, it is very important that you rely on computers and digital cameras.
• Critiques: Critiques are meant to serve as an open forum for evaluation and discussion of your work. During informal critiques where we will address both the positive and negative aspects of your work. By giving students the chance to express their opinions in a spontaneous way, this can prove very useful and stimulating for you. Fellow students can offer precious feedback on your work.
• Slide Presentations/Site Visits: Slide presentations will address the connections between class concepts, your work, and different masters of oil painting techniques. Furthermore, visits to museums and galleries will enable students to view – first hand – the various styles of paintings.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

VARTS 383 – The Art of Buon Fresco

Description
The studio where students have class is very similar to the original painting workshops that one could find in the narrow streets of Renaissance Florence. As such, it offers an inspiring setting. The fresco walls are prepared with a bare, rough layer allowing students the possibility to work directly in an authentic environment. During the first month of the semester, students will be able to see and study the main ancient techniques of fresco wall painting, from prehistoric times to the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, paying attention to Asiatic and Mesoamerican methods too. Students will also familiarize themselves with the famous art handbooks passed down to us by ancient masters (such as Pliny, Vitruvius, Cennino Cennini, and Vasari).
The study of the various steps in the process includes making the mortar, the preparatory drawings and life-size cartoons, the subdivision into “days’ work”, and the various pictorial phases of this technique. After the first tries, more complex projects (that students can take home with them) will be gradually added. During the last 2-3 weeks of the semester, when students have mastered the technique, we will concentrate on a large fresco that will be carried out by the whole group, as in a real fifteenth-century “bottega fiorentina” (“Florentine workshop”). The theme of this fresco will be realistic; once the setting and the theme are decided upon, students will design the characters themselves. Next will come the life-size drawings and the cutting out of the “cartoons”, followed by preparation of the mortar and all the materials. This one, each student will paint his/her character in the portion set up for the “day” (giornata). By completing the fresco, students will participate in the creation of a large original mural in authentic fifteenth-century fresco technique. They can also make a thorough digital documentation of their work.
Class will meet for six hours per week in the studio.

− Projects: Students will be expected to work through a series of assignments that will help them become familiar with the techniques being studied.
− Critiques: Critiques are intended to serve as an open forum for evaluation and discussion of student work.
− Slide Presentations/Site Visits: Slide presentations will address the connections between class concepts, your work, and art history. Visits to museums and galleries will enable students to view the work of the Italian masters.
− Readings: Students will be given handouts to help them learn fresco techniques.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

VARTS 430 – Introduction to Digital Photography

Description
Students will leave the course being confident in knowing how to use their camera, how to correct an image through Adobe Photoshop software and produce a professional portfolio that reveals their personal imagery. They will improve their ability to creatively interpret and criticize the photographic image and develop the ability to think critically about pictures they see. By the end of the course, they will have developed an understanding of their own photographic language and different techniques, and have acquired a more critical eye.

During class time there will be theoretical lectures, technical demonstrations, slide shows, practical work, critiques and photo-shooting field trips.
The teacher will distribute handouts with the most relevant technical information. Since photography is an art and this is a practical course, students are expected to be creative and to actively participate in class critiques and discussions.
Notice that you will not use all the pictures you take. Rather, you will gradually learn to discern which ones are best (from both an aesthetic and technical point of view). The images you photograph are going to be used as a sketchbook for your visual education.

Objectives
Students will leave the course being confident in knowing how to use their camera, how to correct an image through Adobe Photoshop software and produce a professional portfolio that reveals their personal imagery. They will improve their ability to creatively interpret and criticize the photographic image and develop the ability to think critically about pictures they see. By the end of the course, they will have developed an understanding of their own photographic language and different techniques, and have acquired a more critical eye.

Required Material
A digital camera of at least 5.0 mega pixels with an optical zoom lens 3X or more is required. Although not mandatory, it is recommended to have a DSLR camera which functions in manual mode. It is also recommended to have a laptop computer with Adobe Photoshop installed.
The estimated cost for the entire course (considering all materials and lab expenses) is 35 euros.

Students must be equipped with:
− Digital camera (it is recommended to have a DSLR)
− Camera USB cable
− Memory card (4 G card is suggested)
− Card reader compatible with your camera
− Battery charger and an extra battery for your camera
− Laptop computer with Adobe Photoshop
− External hard disk or USB of good capacity
− Matting cardboard for final portfolio (to be bought on site)

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

VARTS 481 – Drawing Florence: Putting Things in Perspective

Description
The course is designed for a Summer Program consisting of 6 weeks, with 2 classes of 3 hours and 30 minutes each per week and site visits. The aim of the course is to learn to draw objects in perspective and use architectural perspective.
The first part of the course will be in studio. Students will learn the theory of perspective according to the rules of geometric design developed in the Renaissance, esp. in Florence by Filippo Brunelleschi and Leon Battista Alberti. Theory will be accompanied by practical demonstrations on the board and video screenings of famous works of ancient and contemporary trompe l’oeil. In doing so, this technique’s full potential will stand out and different methodologies to elaborate perspective will be discussed.
Afterwards, students will begin practicing what they learn by making sketches (in the studio and at home) of objects viewed from different angles. Once they have acquired some mastery of perspective drawing, we will proceed to focus on urban spaces. First, they will visit the most architecturally significant areas of the city center. After identifying the most interesting subjects (alleys, building facades, squares, aerial views, from the bottom up etc.) students will have on-site exercise sessions of approximately 2 hours each. At this stage, students can rely on photographs to better elaborate perspective. Their drawings will be in black and white, making use of different kinds of pencils, charcoal, chalk, and paper.
In the latter part of the course, the paper will be shifted to a suitable thickness to accommodate colors. The latter will in turn be prepared by using recipes taken from the best-known Renaissance handbooks.
The final project will be the color drawing of an architectural subject from the city of Florence.

Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.