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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 choose to attend elective courses at SRISA or at both SRISA and the CEA 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 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 Housing or arrange your own independent housing. CEA 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
Choose to take courses at both the CEA Florence Center and SRISA, our partner institution, or take all your courses at SRISA:
By selecting our CEA & SRISA Hybrid program, you’ll enroll in 1 CEA language course, 1-2 SRISA studio art courses, and 1-3 CEA elective courses.
By selecting our SRISA Only program, you’ll enroll in 1 SRISA language course, 1-3 SRISA studio art courses, and 1-3 SRISA electives.
CEA and SRISA language courses meet for 60 contact hours/4 credits; CEA and SRISA elective 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). Over an academic year, you may earn a total of 26-32 credits (up to 480 contact hours).
CEA 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 website include both Maryville University and SRISA course information, including course code, subject area and course level, as recommended by each institution.
While CEA 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.
Rome
A fusion of ancient, baroque, and modern architecture, tradition and the cutting-edge, Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for millennia. CEA guides bring you to must-see sites, such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. Rome truly has something to offer everyone and more-than lives up to its nickname: “The Eternal City.”
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Rome
A fusion of ancient, baroque, and modern architecture, tradition and the cutting-edge, Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for millennia. CEA guides bring you to must-see sites, such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. Rome truly has something to offer everyone and more-than lives up to its nickname: “The Eternal City.”
Amalfi Coast
On this three-day tour, you’ll discover two famous coastal towns: Amalfi and Sorrento. Spend a day exploring the ruins of Pompeii, a city preserved under lava since 79 CE, and climbing Mt. Vesuvius, the volcano that buried Pompeii. This region of Italy is known for its cuisine, and CEA will take you off the beaten path to a farm to taste the best cheese in the world: fresh buffalo mozzarella.
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Amalfi Coast
On this three-day tour, you’ll discover two famous coastal towns: Amalfi and Sorrento. Spend a day exploring the ruins of Pompeii, a city preserved under lava since 79 CE, and climbing Mt. Vesuvius, the volcano that buried Pompeii. This region of Italy is known for its cuisine, and CEA will take you off the beaten path to a farm to taste the best cheese in the world: fresh buffalo mozzarella.
Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre National Park spans 4,300 acres across five picturesque villages (the cinque terre), connected by hiking paths and a train line. The area boasts delicious basil, lemons, and grapes. Spend a day hiking or at the beach, soaking up the sun, and enjoying the breathtaking stretches of beautiful coastline. Your Instagram followers will be green with envy!
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Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre National Park spans 4,300 acres across five picturesque villages (the cinque terre), connected by hiking paths and a train line. The area boasts delicious basil, lemons, and grapes. Spend a day hiking or at the beach, soaking up the sun, and enjoying the breathtaking stretches of beautiful coastline. Your Instagram followers will be green with envy!
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.)
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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.
$17,295
$17,295
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
$475
International Airfare & Transfers Cost varies depending on time of purchase, point of origin and time of travel.
$1,100
$1,800
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.
$545
$545
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.
$175
$1,050
Meals Includes the average expected cost for food in addition to your meal plan, such as eating out at restaurants.
$2,310
$5,775
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.
$578
$1,733
Travel Expenses Includes additional travel outside of CEA excursions. This cost varies according to the spending habits of the student.
$1,155
$5,775
TOTAL EXPENSES
$23,158
$34,448
Sample Calendar
Below is a tentative itinerary for your program. Please note, dates and events below may change without prior notification. Contact CEA 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 (FLR) airport on this date in order to be eligible for airport pickup. Students will then be transferred to their assigned housing.
August 28 - 31
Orientation
Mandatory CEA Orientation will be held.
August 31
Excursion
CEA Daytrip Excursion to Cinque Terre (choice 1 of 2).
September 02 - 05
Intensive Language Prep Course
Students participate in a one-week Intensive Language Prep Course and additional activities at SRISA.
September 06
Excursion
CEA Daytrip Excursion to Cinque Terre (choice 2 of 2).
September 09
Classes Begin
Classes begin at SRISA on this day.
October 11 - 13
Excursion
CEA Overnight Excursion to the Campania Region (choice 1 of 2).
October 18 - 20
Excursion
CEA Overnight Excursion to the Campania Region (choice 2 of 2).
October 23 - 24
Midterm Exams
Midterm exams will be held at SRISA.
October 25 - November 03
School Break
Fall Break. No classes will be held.
December 11 - 12
Final Exams
Final exams will be held at CEA during the last class meeting of each course: either Wednesday or Thursday of this week.
December 16 - 17
Final Exams
Final exams will be held at SRISA on these days.
December 18
Farewell Reception
The SRISA Student Art Show and Reception will be held this evening.
December 20
Program Ends/Move-Out
Official Program End Date. Students must move out of housing no later than this day at noon.
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