Italy was breath-taking and a great first study abroad experience. I chose to take the art course in two of the richest art and history cities in the world. I learned so much more in a 10 day trip than I would have in multiple semesters in a classroom. You can read about the Vatican, study Medici history, and admire Michelangelo, but there's nothing like seeing each of these in person to make the history really come alive. No picture on this site will do it justice.
Art 491: The Art and Architecture of Rome and Florence
This art course was graded based on oral reports and journal entries. The oral reports were over a certain place we had seen and our analysis of the artwork displayed. We wrote in journals daily, telling our reactions and feelings about each day. It will make a great souvenir of the trip.
Class was scheduled between 9-12 and 2-5 everyday. While this sounds extensive, we used a "place as text" model for this class, which means these 6 hours a day were spent touring the cities. We let each place teach us, and only sat in a "classroom" to give our oral reports. You end each day overwhelmed by what you saw and learned, and with aching feet from all the walking.
Art 491: The Art and Architecture of Rome and Florence
This art course was graded based on oral reports and journal entries. The oral reports were over a certain place we had seen and our analysis of the artwork displayed. We wrote in journals daily, telling our reactions and feelings about each day. It will make a great souvenir of the trip.
Class was scheduled between 9-12 and 2-5 everyday. While this sounds extensive, we used a "place as text" model for this class, which means these 6 hours a day were spent touring the cities. We let each place teach us, and only sat in a "classroom" to give our oral reports. You end each day overwhelmed by what you saw and learned, and with aching feet from all the walking.