Study + Internship in Florence
Spring 2018 Semester

About the Program

The Study + Internship program in Florence is designed for students who are aspiring professionals that want to distinguish themselves in an evolving global job market. The program allows you to make progress toward your academic degree and remain on track for graduation, while developing the top skills employers want you to gain by the time you enter the job market. During the program, you will intern at a local host organization while also taking our mandatory Global Internship Course and additional courses. Our diverse range of courses will provide you with a platform to excel academically, and your personalized internship placement will help you acquire professional experience from a global perspective and learn from professionals in an international context. Program options are dependent upon location, but may include: Semester, Summer, Part-Time and Full-Time Internships, and English and host language speaking placements. Learn more about the options and benefits of a CEA CAPA internship.

Program Structure

For your CEA CAPA Study + Internship program, you will simultaneously intern at your host organization, take our mandatory Global Internship Course, and take additional elective courses. Your internship work schedule will be established once you arrive. It will be structured around your course schedule and may vary depending on your career field and host organization. 

Internship Placement Duration and Hours:
You will intern at your host organization for a total of 12 weeks, not including any agreed upon break-week periods. Throughout your program, you will work 20 hours per week (240 hours total) and will likely intern during standard business hours Mondays-Fridays. Your placement may include in-person, remote, and hybrid work depending on the needs of your host organization.

Global Internship Course:
You will take the Global Internship Course alongside your internship placement. This professional development course is designed to accompany your placement so you can make the most of your internship abroad. You will learn how to understand and articulate the value of your internship through the lens of NACE Career Readiness Competencies that employers crave, which will help you stand out to future employers and graduate schools. You will also engage in live cultural discussions that will enhance your global perspective and intercultural awareness between your program location and the U.S. The course comprises of reading, writing, and verbal assignments, including building an e-portfolio, completing mock interviews, developing your online professional presence, giving a final presentation, conducting industry field research work, and more. You can also take advantage of additional CEA CAPA mentoring and career preparation workshops to complement what you learn in the course.

Credit Options:
You will receive academic credit for your internship abroad via the Global Internship Course and your performance at your internship placement. You can enroll in the course for 3 or 6 credits based on your unique needs and preferences. Whether you enroll in 3 or 6 credits, you will complete 20 hours per week (240 hours total) at your internship placement. The differentiation in the number of credits you choose will come from the amount of coursework and contact hours in the Global Internship Course. Unlike the 3-credit course, for the 6-credit course you will complete an additional robust industry field research project. 

• 3 credits: minimum 240 placement hours (20 hours per week) + Global Internship Course (meets for 1.5 hours for 8 sessions)
• 6 credits: minimum 240 placement hours (20 hours per week) + Global Internship Course (meets for 1.5 hours for 13 sessions)

You will choose the number of credits you would like to enroll in for the Global Internship Course during the Internship Placement Process. 

Additional Elective Courses
In addition to taking the Global Internship Course and completing your internship placement, you will choose 2-4 CEA CAPA elective courses to take from the catalog of course options available to you. By taking elective courses to complement the internship portion of your program, you will be able to make progress toward your degree and graduation requirements, maximize your learning, and gain a richer cultural experience while you are abroad. 

Language courses meet for 60 contact hours/4 credits and elective courses meet for 45 contact hours/3 credits. Language courses meet 4 times per week, Monday-Thursday. Elective courses generally meet 2 times per week, Monday-Thursday; however required active learning components may be scheduled on Fridays. Please keep this in mind, as you will be expected to prioritize your courses over any personal travel on Fridays.

You may earn a total of 12-16 credits during your program. Given the demands of your internship, the Global Internship Course, and your elective courses, we recommend enrolling in a total of 12 credits. We also encourage you to discuss the total credits you plan to take with your home institution. 

NACE-Certified Career Coaching & Internship Placement Process
Once you’ve submitted your application and required documents for your internship program, your career development adventure will begin! You will be assigned your very own NACE-Certified Career Development & Internship Specialist, who will work with you one-on-one throughout pre-departure to guide you through the steps and deadlines of our Internship Placement Process. Your Specialist will be your main point of contact for your internship prior to your departure. They will be happy to answer any questions you might have, and will also provide you with personalized career coaching, as needed, so you are set up for success for your internship abroad.

In addition to working with your Career Development & Internship Specialist, during the Internship Placement Process you will engage with your In-Country International Internship Coordinator in your location and your potential host site supervisor. Your International Internship Coordinator will draw from your application materials to source and match you with a personalized internship placement that best aligns with your unique experience, skills, career interests, and goals for your internship abroad. Please also note, your host site supervisor will retain the final decision on the finalization of your placement, so it’s important to approach your interview with your host site supervisor with maturity, adaptability, curiosity, and commitment to both your career interests and the host organization.

Excursions

Get out and explore! Excursions are offered for most semester, year, and summer programs*. Semester students are typically offered between two to three excursions and summer study students are typically offered between one to two excursions. You'll receive a calendar of excursions during orientation; here are a few day and overnight excursions we've offered in the past.

Pisa & Lucca

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Everyone knows of Pisa for its famous leaning tower.  But do you know why that tower was built?  It’s the belltower of this medieval port town’s breathtaking cathedral complex, and there’s so much to learn about it and the buildings that accompany it.  After a visit to Pisa, we’ll move on to Lucca: a beautiful and peaceful Tuscan town that dares you to slow down for the day.

Ravenna

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Originally a port town, Ravenna was a crossroads of western and eastern peoples and art for nearly 300 years as an important political center of the late Roman Empire. Public and private structures built during this time were decorated with mosaics that will make you catch your breath. This off-the-beaten-path visit will include a guided tour of these gorgeous monuments and a delicious local lunch.

Bologna

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Bologna is best known for its medieval towers, porticoed streets, and hearty cuisine. It’s also home to Europe’s oldest university, founded in 1088. We will tour the university’s main historical building and its Anatomical Theater, where autopsies were once performed to train early doctors. We will treat you to a group lunch before you have time to explore Bologna on your own.

Siena

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One of Italy’s most picturesque and international medieval cities, Siena is home to well-preserved Gothic architecture and is the birthplace of one of Italy’s patron saints. Siena may be best known for its annual summer horse races, whose origins go back to the 1300s (Think the horseracing scene in James Bond’s Quantum of Solace.)