API students who choose to study abroad at Lorenzo de’ Medici – The Italian International Institute – Tuscania may select from a variety of courses in the fields of Italian language and culture, humanities, sciences, and studio arts.
Entry requirements: valid passport with student visa
Excursions
API students participate in several excursions per session designed to help familiarize them with areas of their host city, country, and surrounding region. The following is a listing of all excursions for API Tuscania programs. All excursions are subject to change.
Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri
Pompeii is one of the most significant proofs of Roman civilization and provides outstanding information on the art, customs, trades and everyday life of the past. The city was badly damaged by an earthquake in 63 AD and was completely demolished in 79 AD by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Life came to a permanent standstill in what had been one of the most active and splendid Roman centers. Although this tragic event ended the lives of 20,000 Pompeian residents, the ash that buried the town served as a sort of mummification for the entire city. The eruption thus captured a moment in time.
Sorrento is a resort town set atop rocky, picturesque cliffs along the Amalfi Coast. South of Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast is dotted with numerous beach towns that offer great shopping and dining, as well as breathtaking views of the sea.
One of the beautiful islands off the coast of Sorrento in the Gulf of Naples, Capri is a top tourist destination. Famous for its limestone crags and the Blue Grotto, students will enjoy the laid-back, serene nature of this exotic retreat.
Arezzo
Located in southeastern Tuscany, Arezzo sits atop a hill at the crossroads of four valleys: Val Tiberina, Casentino, Valdarno, and Valdichiana. Each of these, comprising unique landscapes where natural beauty blends harmoniously with historic heritage and masterpieces of art. Nature and a thousand years of man’s labor come together to create a millenary masterpiece that never ceases to astonish and enchant. Its Medieval center still offers plenty of monuments, churches, and museums to give visitors a chance to step back into history. Great Italian artists such as Piero della Francesca, Masaccio, Michelangelo, and Vasari all left signs of their creativity and genius in Arezzo.
Florence
Florence is a city that welcomes visitors, artists, and students to walk its streets, to relive past discoveries in the arts and sciences and to glimpse the rich history that permeates every inch of the city. Florence is situated on the banks of the Arno River, surrounded by rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside. Some of the medieval artisan traditions are still alive today, as seen in the daily open-air markets. API introduces students to the sights, sounds, and art that embrace a visitor at every turn in the flowering city of Florence.
Rome
With an almost uninterrupted history as an important center of power for more than two millennia, Rome is as close to eternal as it gets. The “Eternal City” was once the administrative center of the mighty Roman Empire, governing a vast region that stretched all the way from Britain to Mesopotamia. Today, it remains the seat of the Italian government and the world’s biggest open air museum.
Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri
Pompeii is one of the most significant proofs of Roman civilization and provides outstanding information on the art, customs, trades and everyday life of the past. The city was badly damaged by an earthquake in 63 AD and was completely demolished in 79 AD by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Life came to a permanent standstill in what had been one of the most active and splendid Roman centers. Although this tragic event ended the lives of 20,000 Pompeian residents, the ash that buried the town served as a sort of mummification for the entire city. The eruption thus captured a moment in time.
Sorrento is a resort town set atop rocky, picturesque cliffs along the Amalfi Coast. South of Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast is dotted with numerous beach towns that offer great shopping and dining, as well as breathtaking views of the sea.
One of the beautiful islands off the coast of Sorrento in the Gulf of Naples, Capri is a top tourist destination. Famous for its limestone crags and the Blue Grotto, students will enjoy the laid-back, serene nature of this exotic retreat.
Arezzo
Located in southeastern Tuscany, Arezzo sits atop a hill at the crossroads of four valleys: Val Tiberina, Casentino, Valdarno, and Valdichiana. Each of these, comprising unique landscapes where natural beauty blends harmoniously with historic heritage and masterpieces of art. Nature and a thousand years of man’s labor come together to create a millenary masterpiece that never ceases to astonish and enchant. Its Medieval center still offers plenty of monuments, churches, and museums to give visitors a chance to step back into history. Great Italian artists such as Piero della Francesca, Masaccio, Michelangelo, and Vasari all left signs of their creativity and genius in Arezzo.
Florence
Florence is a city that welcomes visitors, artists, and students to walk its streets, to relive past discoveries in the arts and sciences and to glimpse the rich history that permeates every inch of the city. Florence is situated on the banks of the Arno River, surrounded by rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside. Some of the medieval artisan traditions are still alive today, as seen in the daily open-air markets. API introduces students to the sights, sounds, and art that embrace a visitor at every turn in the flowering city of Florence.
Sienna
Siena, the city famous for its Palio and listed as World Heritage by UNESCO for its singular artistic heritage, was a proud, wealthy, and warlike independent city-state during the Middle Ages. Located in the heart of Tuscany, Siena is built on three hills, maintaining its medieval appearance, a magnificent city of art with characteristic alleys, wards and towers, artisan shops and noble buildings. Built on three hills, it is not difficult to find a terrace from which admire the surroundings made by dense woodlands, clay hills and magnificent paths. Ever since the Middle Ages, the center of the everyday life of Siena has been Piazza del Campo in Siena, one of the most beautiful Piazza in the world.
Rome
With an almost uninterrupted history as an important center of power for more than two millennia, Rome is as close to eternal as it gets. The “Eternal City” was once the administrative center of the mighty Roman Empire, governing a vast region that stretched all the way from Britain to Mesopotamia. Today, it remains the seat of the Italian government and the world’s biggest open air museum.
Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri
Pompeii is one of the most significant proofs of Roman civilization and provides outstanding information on the art, customs, trades and everyday life of the past. The city was badly damaged by an earthquake in 63 AD and was completely demolished in 79 AD by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Life came to a permanent standstill in what had been one of the most active and splendid Roman centers. Although this tragic event ended the lives of 20,000 Pompeian residents, the ash that buried the town served as a sort of mummification for the entire city. The eruption thus captured a moment in time.
Sorrento is a resort town set atop rocky, picturesque cliffs along the Amalfi Coast. South of Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast is dotted with numerous beach towns that offer great shopping and dining, as well as breathtaking views of the sea.
One of the beautiful islands off the coast of Sorrento in the Gulf of Naples, Capri is a top tourist destination. Famous for its limestone crags and the Blue Grotto, students will enjoy the laid-back, serene nature of this exotic retreat.
Florence
Florence is a city that welcomes visitors, artists, and students to walk its streets, to relive past discoveries in the arts and sciences and to glimpse the rich history that permeates every inch of the city. Florence is situated on the banks of the Arno River, surrounded by rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside. Some of the medieval artisan traditions are still alive today, as seen in the daily open-air markets. API introduces students to the sights, sounds, and art that embrace a visitor at every turn in the flowering city of Florence.
Sienna
Siena, the city famous for its Palio and listed as World Heritage by UNESCO for its singular artistic heritage, was a proud, wealthy, and warlike independent city-state during the Middle Ages. Located in the heart of Tuscany, Siena is built on three hills, maintaining its medieval appearance, a magnificent city of art with characteristic alleys, wards and towers, artisan shops and noble buildings. Built on three hills, it is not difficult to find a terrace from which admire the surroundings made by dense woodlands, clay hills and magnificent paths. Ever since the Middle Ages, the center of the everyday life of Siena has been Piazza del Campo in Siena, one of the most beautiful Piazza in the world.
Rome
With an almost uninterrupted history as an important center of power for more than two millennia, Rome is as close to eternal as it gets. The “Eternal City” was once the administrative center of the mighty Roman Empire, governing a vast region that stretched all the way from Britain to Mesopotamia. Today, it remains the seat of the Italian government and the world’s biggest open air museum.
Program Details
What You’ll Study
TOTAL CREDITS - 12-16 credits per semester
API students who choose to study abroad at Lorenzo de’ Medici – The Italian International Institute – Tuscania may select from a variety of courses in the fields of Italian language and culture, humanities, sciences, and studio arts.
Students are required to take at least 1 Italian language course and then may choose 3-4 additional courses from the aforementioned subject areas (detailed on the course information page).
SERVICE-LEARNING AND INTERNSHIPS
API students have the opportunity to earn valuable credits through service-learning and internship experiences with LdM in Tuscania! Students earn 3 credits for their project, which is counted toward their total academic load for the semester, and appear on the academic transcript along with a pass/fail notation. Students are assessed based on a weekly journal, a minimum of two papers, and an evaluation by their academic advisor/tutor at LdM. Options are listed on the API/LdM course schedules on the website and will focus on placements in organizations engaged in socially meaningful tasks. These may include:
Service-learning: Working with women, children, elderly, disabled, and/or immigrants; Language exchange with local high school; Environmental projects
Internships: Marketing/Advertising
Students should indicate their interest in an internship or service-learning option upon application, and submit a résumé/C.V., essay, and portfolio. The essay should discuss the student’s reason for applying, expectations about the placement, and a detailed description of the duties in which the student would like to partake in. An on-site interview is required of all service-learning participants. Placements are limited, so students are encouraged to apply early!
TRANSCRIPTS
Students receive a transcript from U.S.-accredited Marist College for courses taken at LdM. Marist College is a four-year, fully accredited U.S. college in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Staff & Coordinators
Matteo Berni
Matteo will be your Resident Director in Tuscania and a resource for you while you are in Italy!
Mariana Delmonte-Gladstone
Mariana Delmonte-Gladstone will be your Program Coordinator and prepare you to go abroad!
Be sure to check for any course additions, cancellations, or closures, and remember to pay close attention to prerequisites and class times in order to avoid conflicts.Not all courses are offered every session. The course selection may vary and no course is guaranteed. Some courses may require additional fees for labs, equipment, etc. These fees are not included in the program cost.
Courses are available at lower- and upper-division levels. In general, 100 level courses are elementary, 200–300 level courses are intermediate, and 400 level courses are advanced. Students who choose intermediate level Italian or higher must complete a placement exam upon arrival to verify their level of proficiency. Students who do not meet proficiency standards are assigned to the appropriate course.
Note that all students must take at least one language course per semester.
When obtaining pre-approval for course selections, students should refer to the Marist College course codes and titles, as these will appear on the transcript. If you have any questions while looking at the course schedule or filling out your application, please call the API office at (800) 844-4124.
CREDIT INFORMATION
API partner universities in Italy issue credit according to the American system, whereby most courses are worth 3-4 U.S. credits each.
SERVICE-LEARNING AND INTERNSHIP OPTIONS (FOR CREDIT)
API students have the opportunity to earn valuable credits through service-learning and internship experiences with LdM in Tuscania! Students earn 3 credits for their project, which is counted toward their total academic load for the semester, and appear on the academic transcript along with a pass/fail notation. Students are assessed based on a weekly journal, a minimum of two papers, and an evaluation by their academic advisor/tutor at LdM. Options are listed on the API/LdM course schedules on the website and will focus on placements in organizations engaged in socially meaningful tasks. These may include:
Service-learning: Working with women, children, elderly, disabled, and/or immigrants; Language exchange with local high school; Environmental projects
Internships: Marketing/Advertising
Students should indicate their interest in an internship or service-learning option upon application, and submit a résumé/C.V., essay, and portfolio. The essay should discuss the student’s reason for applying, expectations about the placement, and a detailed description of the duties in which the student would like to partake in. An on-site interview is required of all service-learning participants. Placements are limited, so students are encouraged to apply early!
STUDIO ART COURSES
The class schedules on the API website indicate that many of the studio art courses involve two time blocks; students enrolled in those courses must attend both time blocks.
Placement exams for studio art courses are mandatory for any student wishing to register for any course at a level other than beginning. Studio art placement tests are administered during the first week of classes. Students are provided with the exact meeting time during orientation.
COURSE MATERIALS AND LAB FEES
Many studio art classes require that students purchase their own materials. The cost of materials varies depending on the type of course. While students may want to bring some basic, easily transportable materials (such as brushes or pastels) with them, most course materials should be purchased in Italy once classes start. Students can speak directly with their instructors to make sure they buy exactly what is required for the course. Many studio arts and cuisine courses require a lab fee that is paid by students upon arrival. In addition, several courses from different departments require that students pay for visits and field trips as noted in the descriptions for such courses.
LdM Courses
To choose your courses, click on this link, and select on the campus and term you are interested in.
Transcript from U.S. accredited institution (Marist College)
Immersive setting
Agricultural Studies and Technologies Options!
Internships and service-learning options available (for credit)
Lauren Lund Memorial Scholarship
Housing
Housing for API students is usually located within 20-25 minutes walking distance of the school.
The host family option is recommended for students who are studying Italian at the intermediate or advanced levels, for students who are Italian majors/minors, and for students who are seeking greater insight into Italian culture. Host families provide three meals per day Monday through Friday, as well as laundry service. Most students live in single rooms.
Apartments are typically a 10-15 minute walk from the school. Most students will share a room with only 1-2 other students. All apartments come equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, and common areas. Washing machines are available, and students are responsible for their own meals. Students in apartments will be given 4 meal tickets per week, and are responsible for preparing the remainder of their own meals. Students can opt for a single room for an additional fee.
Note: Housing between the fall and spring semesters is not included.
