High School Programs
SAI Summer High School Program 2011
Study Abroad Italy and Florence University of the Arts are pleased to offer high school students from all academic backgrounds the possibility of earning college credit and living for four weeks in one of the most treasured centers of art, culture and history in the world. Students will experience the Italian culture hands-on while participating in a variety of classes in the arts and humanities in this summer enrichment program. Florence University of the Arts (FUA) is located in the historic center of Florence, just steps from the splendid Piazza Santa Croce.
| Summer 2011 Application |
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
- One-week in Sicily (Summer I) or Tuscany (Summer II); a Cultural Introduction to Italy
- Two courses at Florence University of the Arts (All courses are taught in English. Courses require a minimum of 8 students. Students are requested to indicate an alternative course selection.)
- Students will receive Florence University of the Arts college credit for courses taken.
- Classes are held Monday through Thursday (9-11; 11:30-1:30; 3-5)
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
Ages: 15 to 18
GPA: 3.0 or Higher
PROGRAM COST: $6,950.00
PROGRAM INCLUDES:
- One week in Sicily or Tuscany
- Two 30-hour courses
- Airport pickup and return
- Accommodation in very nice 3-star hotel
- 2 Meals per day
- Afternoon Activities
- Weekend Field Trips
- Lab Fees
- Museum Pass
- Orientation session
- Information/Orientation Folder
- HTH Insurance (including full medical coverage, medical emergency evacuation)
- SAI T-Shirt
- Cell phone for each student, with free incoming calls
- Free Internet access at school facilities in Florence
Program cost does not include: Counseling services, airfare, personal expenses, some meals.
ACTIVITIES:
- Afternoon Activities: Mondays – Wednesdays 6:00pm to 8:00pm
- Sports Activities, organized both as a group and as solo sports: Tuesdays – Thursday 6:00pm to 8:00pm
- Discover Florence; walking tours to all parts of the city and its important sites
ACCOMMODATIONS: Grand Hotel Mediterraneo: Lungarno del Tempio, 44 50121 Florence, Italy. Students will be assigned double/triple rooms with A/C, Satellite TV, Safe Box, Telephone (outgoing calls will be charged individually). Continental Breakfast will be served every morning. The Grand Hotel Mediterraneo has a wonderful view over the famous river Arno (called “Lungarni”), near the beautiful Piazza Santa Croce, with a stunning panorama of the city and Florentine hills. The hotel is ideal for its closeness to the city’s historic center. The hotel offers an Internet Point, available 24 hours a day, with hourly rates.
CALENDAR:
Summer I
Thursday April 20th: Application Deadline
Sunday June 19th: Students Arrive in Rome
Monday June 20th: Orientation
Monday June 20th to Sunday June 26th: Cultural Introduction to Italy: Sicily
Sunday June 26th: Students Arrive in Florence – Orientation/Final Registration
Monday June 27th: Classes Begin in Florence
Friday July 15th: Classes End
Saturday July 16th: Housing Check out (by 10 am)
Summer II
Thursday May 11th: Application Deadline
Sunday July 10th: Students Arrive in Rome
Monday July 11th: Orientation
Monday July 11th to Sunday July 17th: Cultural Introduction to Italy: Tuscany
Sunday July 17th: Students Arrive in Florence Orientation/Final Registration
Monday July 18th: Classes Begin in Florence
Friday August 5th: Classes End
Saturday August 6th: Housing Check Out (by 10 am)
FIELD TRIPS:
In addition to the hands-on activities and excursions in each course, students participate in social, cultural and athletic activities every afternoon. The following weekend excursions are included in the program fee:
· Sicily or Tuscany: Cultural Introduction to Italy (7 days).
· Tuscany: medieval and Renaissance hill towns of Montalcino, Montepulciano and Pienza (1 day).
· Fashion designer outlets near Florence (1 day).
· Roma Caputi Mundi: walking tour of Rome (Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo de’Fiori, Piazza Farnese, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps), Vatican Museum guided tour, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, tour of Ancient Rome (Trajan’s column, Coliseum, Arch of Constantine, the Forum). Dinner and breakfast included (3 days).
· Capri, Amalfi and Pompeii: resort town of Maiori, Amalfi, island of Capri, archaeological visit of Pompeii. Dinner and breakfast included (3 days).
COURSE OFFERINGS: Students select 2 courses from the list below, plus one alternate course.
Beginning Italian Language
Students will learn skills of basic conversation, reading, writing, grammatical structures, vocabulary and conversation in order to allow them to engage in simple but useful everyday communication, thus enhancing their experience in Italy.
Florence Sketchbook
Inspired by the city of Florence, students will draw on location at sites of historical significance and visual interest in the city: architectural works, landscapes, medieval streets, formal gardens, street markets, fountains, etc. will be explored. On-site drawing will be accompanied by slide lectures documenting Florence’s rich history and how it has attracted and inspired artists for centuries.
Watercolor and Tempera/Gouache Techniques
Using modern painting techniques, students will study form, values and proportion as a means of determining space, shape, volume and composition. The objective of the course is to heighten and strengthen each student’s level of observation, interpretation and critical ability to improve painting skills.
Paper Maché and Creative Decoration
After a historical overview of the origins of paper maché and its contemporary uses in theater and carnival floats, students will learn about technique, design and production through individual work. Other forms of decoration—japanning, lacquer, decoupage, Asian paper art, and book binding—will also be explored.
Food, Culture and Society
The relationship between Italian traditions, folklore and contemporary Italian society will be examined via the examples of festivals, food, tourism and the influence of foreign cultures in Italy.
The Mediterranean Diet: A Guide to Healthy Living
Following discussion about typical Italian and Mediterranean products and the current food pyramid, students will participate in hands-on preparation of the most typical dishes of the Mediterranean diet.
Introduction to Art History: From the Romanesque to Mannerism
After an overview of the Greek and Roman art and architecture that influenced Renaissance culture, this course will explore 15th century Renaissance art, particularly in Florence. The course and its on-site visits focus on Florentine artists such as Masaccio, Donatello, Brunelleschi, Fra Angelico, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
Introduction to International Relations
This course provides a survey of major concepts and issues in international relationships from 1919 to the present day, together with discussion of how and why things happen in the international state system.
The Italian Soccer Experience
This course traces the history of Italian soccer and the personalities who have shaped the game. The technical aspects of Italian soccer—rules, tactics, strategies, psychology, and training—will be explored during the training hours. Students will participate in a field trip to the Coverciano Museum of Soccer and the world-renowned coaching school.
Fashion Design
This course provides an introduction to creative design development, fashion design skills, and fashion illustration. Students complete hands-on projects that allow them to explore the roles of research, design, development and editing in the fashion design process.
Introduction to Accessory Design: Shoes, Bags and Belts
In this course students will be exposed to a variety of design materials and techniques, including three-dimensional sketching and creative detail design. The course includes a historical overview of personal accessories from ancient Egypt to the present. Excursions include trips to trade fairs, a leather factory and the Ferragamo Museum.
Eco-Sustainable Fabrics and Fashion Design
In this course students explore the meaning of socially-responsible and ecologically-friendly fashion, develop a sustainable fashion brand and create a small collection employing eco-sustainable fabrics and textiles.