Continue your journey abroad. Apply now or view your Passbook to track your favorite programs and courses, save flight credits, and watch videos on the destination you're interested in.
Designed for both art and non-art majors, this program challenges you to transform your Italian experience into art. Choose from printmaking, fashion design, painting, drawing, and more; close instruction by practicing artists encourage your contemporary work in response to Florentine traditions. Italy’s history, culture, and art are typical themes of complementary elective courses. Studio art courses are taught at our partner institution, Santa Reparata International School of Art (SRISA). Semester students attend courses both at SRISA and the CEA CAPA Florence Center; over the summer you will take courses only at SRISA. At the end of your program, you will exhibit your work at SRISA’s highly visible art gallery.
Our partner university, Santa Reparata International School of Art (SRISA), is one of Florence’s leading schools in studio art and design for English-speakers. Professors of art practice in their field, and will instruct you with up-to-date methods, techniques, and ideas. Attend class at SRISA’s facilities near the historic convent of San Marco, where you’ll benefit from easy access to Florence’s main attractions and feel like part of a Florentine neighborhood.
The CEA CAPA Florence Center offers a variety of courses that allow you to explore all that Florence has to offer, with your professors as guides. Classes are small, taught in English, and take full advantage of the city just beyond our doors. Experiential learning opportunities outside the classroom are plentiful and bring lessons to life, exposing you to new perspectives and starting you on your journey toward global citizenship.
When you study abroad in Florence, you can choose CEA CAPA Housing or arrange your own independent housing. CEA CAPA housing assignments are based on availability and confirmation date; we make every effort to match your housing requests, but we can’t guarantee housing preferences.
Program Structure
Enroll in 1 CEA CAPA core course, 1-3 CEA CAPA courses and 1-2 SRISA studio art courses. CEA CAPA language courses meet for 60 contact hours/4 credits; CEA CAPA and SRISA courses meet for 45 contact hours/3 credits; and SRISA studio art courses meet for 45-90 contact hours/3 credits.
Each semester, you may earn a total of up to 16 credits (up to 240 contact hours).
CEA CAPA language courses meet 4 times per week, Monday-Thursday. Elective courses generally meet 2 times per week, Monday-Thursday; some SRISA classes may only meet once per week. Active learning components required by your courses may be scheduled for Fridays.
Prior to departure, you will select your preferred courses and indicate your estimated Italian language level. After you arrive in Florence, you'll take a language placement exam to determine final placement. You will be enrolled into courses based on their availability. It is in your best interest to have multiple alternative courses approved by your home university prior to your departure due to course availabilities. To ensure that you receive credit for the language level you place into, have your home school pre-approve courses at several levels before you leave for Italy.
Please note that SRISA is affiliated with a School of Record, Maryville University in St. Louis, which grants credit for courses successfully completed at SRISA. As such, course details on the CEA CAPA website include both Maryville University and SRISA course information, including course code, subject area and course level, as recommended by each institution.
While CEA CAPA recommends using the Maryville University course code designations and transcript for credit transfer purposes, it is at the discretion of your home institution to determine the transfer of credit for SRISA courses. Please consult with your academic advisor at your home university on credit pre-approval guidelines.
The following courses have been confirmed for this term. Please note, the host institution reserves the right to cancel or change courses without prior notification.
*Courses with an asterisk indicate that the course has been associated with multiple subject areas.
Please click on the course title to view additional subject areas and detailed course information.
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
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
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
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
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.)
Sample Budget
This budget contains costs that you can take to your financial aid office. Please note that amounts may fluctuate; we’ve included a range of costs.
Federal law allows the use of financial aid to cover “reasonable” costs of study abroad including round-trip transportation, tuition and fees for the program, living costs, passport and visa fees, health insurance, and more.
Please note that all costs and charges listed below are subject to change without notice. With the exception of Program Price, all costs are estimates and may vary.
Program Fee Tuition and fees, registration, orientation, airport pickup, welcome and farewell receptions, housing, official transcript, cultural excursions/activities, student support services, CEA On-site Staff and administrative costs.
$32,795
$32,795
CEA Secure CEASecure™ is an optional refund plan that allows students to withdraw for any covered reason up to one week before the program’s start date
$0
$1,000
International Airfare & Transfers Cost varies depending on time of purchase, point of origin and time of travel.
$1,000
$1,600
Immigration Requirements Includes passport and additional requirements such as visa, entry and exit fees, French Carte de Séjour, French University Administrative Fee (if applicable), or Italian Permesso di Soggiorno.
$615
$615
Books, Materials and Supplies Includes books, school supplies, art supplies, and course fees. Does not include fees or supplies for optional courses. This cost varies depending on the course choices of the student.
$230
$950
Meals Includes the average expected cost for food in addition to your meal plan, such as eating out at restaurants.
$3,728
$7,455
Personal Expenses Includes telephone, laundry, local transportation, personal necessities and upfront payments for potential doctor visits. Please note, certain locations may require deposits to secure spots in CEA organized activities and excursions (deposits are returned at the end of the program if student attends activities/excursions or cancels participation before set deadlines). Some of these costs vary according to the spending habits of the student.
$1,243
$3,728
Travel Expenses Includes additional travel outside of CEA excursions. This cost varies according to the spending habits of the student.
$1,491
$14,910
TOTAL EXPENSES
$41,102
$63,053
Sample Calendar
Below is a tentative itinerary for your program. Please note, dates and events below may change without prior notification. Contact CEA CAPA before purchasing airline tickets.
You will receive a finalized itinerary once you arrive onsite.
Note: Additional cultural activities/excursions or required course-related activities may be incorporated into your final itinerary. You are advised not to make personal travel arrangements until you have the final dates.
Official Program Start Date. Students must arrive at the Florence airport (FLR "Amerigo Vespucci") on this date in order to be eligible for airport pickup. Students will then be transferred to their assigned housing.
August 25 - 26
Orientation
Mandatory CEA Orientation will be held: general orientation, academic orientation, health & safety, and time to familiarize yourself with Florence!
August 29 - September 02
Intensive Language Prep Course
Option B students participate in a one-week Intensive Language Prep Course at SRISA.
August 30 - September 03
Orientation
Option A students will participate in additional CEA Orientation sessions.
September 05
Classes Begin
Fall semester classes begin at the CEA Florence Center on this day.
September 08
Drop/Add Deadline
This is the last day to add classes at SRISA for Option A & Option B students.
September 09
Drop/Add Deadline
This is the last day for Option A students to drop and/or add classes at CEA Florence Center.
September 10
Excursion
CEA Excursion to Cinque Terre - Daytrip.
September 15
Drop/Add Deadline
This is the last day to drop classes at SRISA for Option A & Option B students.
September 30 - October 01
Excursion
CEA Excursion to Turin - Overnight.
October 03 - 13
Midterm Exams
Midterm exams will be held at CEA Florence Center anytime within these two weeks.
October 07
Make-Up Class
Make-Up day for CEA Tuesday classes (November 1st holiday) for all Option A students. All CEA Tuesday classes will meet this day.
October 14 - 23
School Break
Fall Break. No classes will be held.
October 28
Make-Up Class
Make-Up day for Thursday classes (December 8th holiday) for Option A students. All Thursday classes will meet this day.
November 01
Holiday
National holiday. The CEA Florence Center will be closed
November 02
Course Withdrawal Deadline
This is the last day on which students can withdraw from a course at SRISA and receive a "W".
November 04
Course Withdrawal Deadline
This is the last day on which students can withdraw from a course at CEA and receive a "W".
November 04
Course Withdrawal Deadline
This is the last day on which Option A students can withdraw from a course at the CEA Florence Center and receive a "W".
November 11
Excursion
CEA Excursion to Bologna - Daytrip.
December 08
Holiday
National holiday. The CEA Center will be closed.
December 12 - 15
Final Exams
Final exams will be held this week at both CEA & SRISA.
December 16
Cultural Activity
SRISA Student Art Show will be held this evening.
December 17
Program Ends/Move-Out
Official Semester End Date. Students must move out of apartments by noon, or have spoken with CEA staff to discuss winter break plans and possibility of remaining in Fall semester apartment
January 03
Arrival/Program Begins
Official Program Start Date. Students must arrive at the Florence airport (FLR) on this date in order to be eligible for airport pickup. Students will then be transferred to their assigned housing.
January 04 - 07
Orientation
CEA & SRISA Orientations will be held.
January 09
Intensive Language Prep Course
Students enrolled in Option B participate in a one week Intensive Language Prep Course at SRISA.
January 09
Classes Begin
Classes begin at CEA on this day for students enrolled in Option A.
January 13
Drop/Add Deadline
This is the last day to drop and/or add classes at CEA.
January 13
Make-Up Class
Monday classes will be held this day at CEA to make up for the April 17th holiday.
January 16
Classes Begin
Classes begin at SRISA on this day for students enrolled in both Option A & B.
January 19
Drop/Add Deadline
This is the last day to add classes at SRISA for Option A & Option B students.
January 26
Drop/Add Deadline
This is the last day to drop classes at SRISA for Option A & Option B students.
February 17
Excursion
First CEA Daytrip Excursion to Siena (students may choose ONE Siena excursion of the two offered).
February 24
Excursion
Second CEA Daytrip Excursion to Siena (students may choose ONE Siena excursion of the two offered).
February 27 - March 02
Midterm Exams
Midterm exams will be held at CEA throughout this week.
March 03 - 12
School Break
CEA & SRISA Spring Break. No classes will be held.
March 08
Course Withdrawal Deadline
This is the last day on which Option A & Option B students can withdraw from a course at SRISA and receive a "W".
March 10
Course Withdrawal Deadline
This is the last day on which Option A students can withdraw from a course at the CEA and receive a "W".
March 24 - 26
Excursion
CEA 2-night overnight excursion to Amalfi Coast.
April 17
Holiday
Easter Monday national holiday. No classes will be held at CEA.
April 24 - 27
Final Exams
Final exams will be held at CEA during this week for Option A students.
April 24 - 25
Final Exams
Final exams will be held at SRISA for Option A & Option B students on these two days.
April 25
Reading Day
No Final Exams will be held at CEA this day.
April 26
Cultural Activity
SRISA Student Art Show held this evening.
April 28
Program Ends/Move-Out
Official Program End Date. Students must move out of housing no later than 12:00 noon on this day.
Speak with an Admissions Advisor
Schedule an appointment to speak with a study abroad expert.