Siena Italian StudiesSiena, Italy

Overview
No place is as alive in the summertime as Siena, Italy. In the heart of Tuscany, the city that dates back to the early medieval period bursts with life as it prepares for the annual Palio horse race. This event is truly like nothing else on earth and the only way to understand it is to live it.

In addition to the once-in-a-lifetime experience of the Palio, students will also live with host families and participate in local service projects all while earning multiple university credits for our unique courses that cover a wide array of academic disciplines.

For those students that can’t leave their home campus for a semester or full academic year, SIS offers a series of summer study abroad opportunities that from the end of May through July. These programs not only allow students to study Italian language and culture in a more condensed period of time, they will also explore Tuscany during a remarkable time of year.

All programs include airport pick-up, program orientation, a series of activities and excursions, family home-stays and the opportunity to perform community service in a variety of areas.

Summer Course Description
Although course offerings for summer study abroad are fewer, there is still a choice selection for all majors. All Siena summer program students are required to take Italian Language, the Intercultural Dialogue and Reflections Course, and 1-3 content courses depending on the length of the program.

8- and 6-week students can choose 2 courses among the 5 content courses.

4-week students can choose between Art History and Food as Medicine.

For the 10-week summer quarter, students will take an intensive Italian course the first 2 weeks then select at least 1 course from the Semester Course offerings from week 3. From week 5 students will add 1 or 2 courses from the summer content course offerings (for a maximum of 3 content courses).

Activities and Excursions
Siena in the summer is vibrantly full of events and activities for all. Of course, the focal point of the summer in Siena revolves around the Palio, however there is much more to do. SIS Intercultural Study Abroad takes advantage of local events and guide students through as a way to create fun, interactive learning experiences.

Overview
A semester in Siena is the best way to fully immerse yourself in the local culture and understand the true meaning of intercultural study abroad. During a semester in Siena with SIS Intercultural Study Abroad, students expand their worldview and experience one of Europe’s most unique cultures. Students can enroll full time (all SIS courses are accredited through Portland State University) for a once-in-a-lifetime immersion experience in a series of semester options. Students take a combination of Italian Language and content courses, as well as participate in service learning. All students live with local host families and enjoy a series of excursions and activities each term.

Arrival
After meeting the group on the arrival day at Pisa International Airport (PSA), SIS staff will accompany the group to Siena where host families meet the students. Orientation activities take place in the 3 days that follow.

Orientation
The Orientation days also include a series of group activities, a welcome reception with host families, faculty and staff as well as a group historical tour of the ancient city.

Intensive Italian 3-Week Course
Then the Intensive Italian Language Course begins. These first 3 weeks of the semester are dedicated to learning Italian, exploring the territory, visiting service sites and getting to know the host families.

Gap Semester
Following the 3-week course, the gap semester officially begins. The Gap semester is specifically designed to give the student enough support and structure to navigate their months abroad, but also enough independence to explore and learn through their service activities. In fact, the only courses Gap Semester students are required to take are Italian language (both the Intensive 3 week course, and the semester course) as well as our Intercultural Dialogue, Democracy and Global Citizenship course, which guides the students in Intercultural Reflection linked to their service activities. However, for those inclined to spend more time with the other SIS students in the classroom and take home some additional college credit, there is also the option of taking another SIS content course from among those offered during the semester. Classes are held together with students participating in the standard SIS semester program.

Course Description
SIS Intercultural Study Abroad courses are divided in to 5 basic course categories. Please note that actual course offerings vary each semester based on student demand enrollment numbers.

All students are required to take Italian Language, the Intercultural Dialogue and Reflections course and 2-3 content courses depending on their chosen semester track.

Activities and Excursions
With SIS Intercultural Study Abroad, learning is not limited to the classroom. Whenever possible, teachers integrate field excursions and museum visits to enhance comprehension and provide students with a multifaceted experience. For example, Art History courses naturally include visits to museums, churches and sites of artistic relevance in Siena, Florence and other towns in the region so that students can see first-hand the masterpieces discussed in class. Cultural Anthropology students may attend traditional local festivals and visit museums dedicated to aspects of Tuscan folk culture; students studying Italian Costume will have the opportunity to visit museums dedicated to textiles, costumes and individual Italian designers in the Florence/Prato area, while students studying the History of Italian Cuisine might visit a local cheese making farm and attend a hands-on cooking lesson, and the list goes on…

Each study abroad semester in Siena, Italy includes a 3-day group excursion to a chosen location in Italy as well as another 3-day trip to Brussels, Belgium. The excursion within Italy follows the Intensive Italian Course and includes some relaxation time as well as visits to culturally significant sites. Instead, the trip to Brussels focuses on the EU Parliament, as students learn about the complex organization of Europe, and discover European diversity.

Course List

• Beginner Italian
  
• Intermediate Italian
  
• Advanced Italian
  
  Content Courses
  
• Art History: The Middle Ages
  
• Cultural Anthropology
  
• Green Renaissance: Sustainability and Development in Tuscany
  
• Food as Medicine