UCSB’s Italian Studies Program strongly urges its students to complete some
portion of their undergraduate study abroad through the University’s Education
Abroad Program in Italy. You will enhance your knowledge of Italian culture and
Italian language by participation in EAP Italy. Living and studying in Italy and
Europe will expand your perspective, improve your critical thinking, increase
your independence and better prepare you for a career in an increasingly
internationally competitive world.
Being an Italian major, you have already shown that you have international interests. Why not take that interest a step further and have a transforming and life-enriching experience? Go live in Italy, enroll at an Italian university and experience Italian language and culture firsthand.
Improve your knowledge of the language you have already studied by using it for everyday life as well as intellectual endeavors. Learn how to better express your thoughts on complex topics and follow your interests in Italian. Participate more fully in national and international politics and events. Find greater access to Italian films, music, and the visual and dramatic arts.
Italian majors who study abroad find that a term, or better yet, a full year spent in Italy not only is critical for their language fluency, but that the experience of adapting to another academic and cultural world expands their self under- standing and gives them a sharper sense of the political, cultural, and social differences in today’s world.
The intellectual and personal growth students experience during their time abroad will serve them well throughout their lives. Participating in EAP provides further advantages when it comes to the challenges of graduate school and the competitive job market.
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While it is possible for students to go abroad at almost any point in their academic careers, the particular quarter, semester, or year that you study abroad depends on what courses you plan to take. Students interested in language and culture programs, or in fulfilling major preparation and General Education requirements, can participate as early as their sophomore year.Students wanting to fulfill upper-division major requirements should, in most cases, go abroad in their junior or senior years.
PLAN AHEAD! Applications are typically due six months to a year prior
to the program’s start date and some programs have academic or language prerequisites that must be satisfied in advance. Please check the EAP website
for application deadlines: http://www.eap.ucsb.edu.
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EAP offers a variety of short-term and year-long programs in multiple locations
in Italy. Possibilities include:
Intensive Language and Culture
• UC Center, Siena - fall, spring, summer
Special Focus Programs
• Business, Economics, and International Studies Programs, University of Commerce Luigi Bocconi, Milan - fall, spring, year
• Rome Through the Ages Program, UC Center, Rome - fall, spring
Immersion Programs
• University of Bologna - year
• University of Padova - year, semester.
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All EAP coursework is automatically credited towards your degree require- ments. Depending on your course selection, you may fulfill major or GE requirements as well. Plan ahead and consult with the department advisor.
The Italian Studies Program strongly encourages its students to take all of
their courses abroad in Italian. In addition to language classes, we recommend
students consider taking Italian literature courses. If you are an Italian major, you can use up to 20 upper-division units taken abroad towards your major. If you plan to minor in Italian, you can use a maximum of 8 upper-division units towards the minor.
You must, however, complete a minimum of 20 upper-division major units (or 12 upper-division minor units) in residence at UCSB along with other residence requirements. Consult an advisor in the College of Letters & Science for more information.
The undergraduate advisor will work individually with each student to ensure
the most effective use of courses taken abroad for major requirements. Internships, independent study and field work completed abroad can be used for
major requirements upon approval of the department and the college.
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Come by the EAP office at 2431 South Hall. Staff advisors and peer advisors
who have recently returned from studying abroad are eager to answer your questions.
Make an appointment with the Italian undergraduate advisor to discuss EAP opportunities and options. Then make an appointment with an advisor in the
College of Letters & Science to discuss general education, residence and other
requirements.
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If you go abroad in your junior year, you should strongly consider doing a senior honors thesis based on the coursework and intellectual interests you developed
abroad. This provides an ideal way of integrating time abroad with the
completion of the Italian major. Returnees must submit a Petition for Degree Requirements EAP in order to receive Italian major credit for work done abroad.
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