This program is designed for all Majors and all years of study. The focus of this course is the meaning of the good life.   We study the film “La Dolce Vita” which is about the present state and future of Western Civilization. It explores the question of how one can and ought to live one’s life.  The film is set in Rome and it is to these Roman monuments, and Italian imagery and culture that we will concentrate our study. 

This program costs $4870 dollars inclusive of all travel, hotel and apartment accommodation, and airfare. Also included are all admissions to museums, sites and all group travel, some group meals.   What’s not included?   You will need to pay for many of your own meals and incidental expenses.  Cooking facilities available.

ORIENTATION
Sunday March 7 at 6pm, we’ll have an evening orientation session on campus.  We’ll go over the course syllabus, what to pack, getting money overseas, extra expenses and applying for a student Visa.  The three hour session will cover everything you need to know before the trip concerning your health, safety and well-being in Italy.

DEPARTURE FROM CHICAGO
On Monday May 10, 2010, we’ll meet in the afternoon at Chicago’s O'Hare International Airport for our DIRECT flight to Rome. The overnight flight will have us in Rome early on Tuesday May 11th, at around 9am.

ROME
A bus will pick us up at the airport and take us to our hotel in Rome.  We’ll spend four nights, three days in this amazing city.  While in Rome, all breakfast and lunch will be provided.  Our first night we will have a welcome dinner together. Our first day there we will attend an orientation.  You’ll get a bus/metro pass for our days in the “Eternal City.”  You’ll be fully independent and ready to go shopping, sight-seeing and go out with new friends in the evening.  

When in Rome, we will visit the archeological site of the Roman Forum, the Colosseum.  We’ll visit the Borghese Art Gallery. Local experts will guide us.  We will attend lectures that enhance our understanding of the Monuments of Western Civilization in Rome.

You’ll have ample free time and sufficient knowledge to explore Rome in the late afternoon and evening.   On May 14th we will travel together by bus into the heart of Tuscany to the city of Siena.

SIENA
Seventeen days in Siena is a perfect amount of time to settle into Tuscany and Italian living. You’ll live in shared apartments near the city center.  We will be based in the IES Center in Siena, where we will attend lectures.  There is a library, computers and internet access.  We’ll take a few lessons in Italian language so you can try out your Italian skills at the grocery store or restaurant.  Our learning will center on the cultural, historical and philosophical basis of Italian culture with guest lectures, film viewings and site visits.

From our base in Siena we will spend a day together in Florence.  Florence is very close and you can take the train to spend more time exploring Florence, if you wish.  We’ll also visit the city of Assisi and learn about the life and philosophy of St. Francis of Assisi.  Our day trips will include lunch and entrance to the churches and museums that our the focus of our study.  We will be guided by local experts when we are out and about.

While in Siena, there will be plenty of time for independent excursions on the weekends.  If the group decides, we can plan extra outings together to Venice or Genoa or even other European cities outside of Italy. Or, there will support available to help you plan your own excursions.  However, you are responsible for expenses on your free time.  But be assured that there are also plenty of low-budget options for independent excursions very close to Siena.  Siena itself is a great place to explore, relax and reflect “under the Tuscan sun.”

GOING HOME
Early on Monday May 31st we will take a bus from Siena to the airport in Rome.  Our direct flight to Chicago will have us arriving home the afternoon of May 31.

ONLINE LEARNING
During the month of June we will continue the course online together.  Since the academic work in June is entirely online, you can participate from wherever you find yourself during the summer. Online learning allows you the flexibility to continue with a summer job or other classes.  You will be responsible for constructing an independent project in June.  We will go deeper into the subject matter and deeper into our philosophical investigations in discussion, reading and posted lectures.  The online component of the course ends the last day of June. 

You will be enrolled in STA 3970 (CourseID 725), which replaces two of following courses that you choose on your application form.

EIU 4194G, and the Sub ID Number for your application form is 3029

PHI 2500G, and the Sub ID Number for your application form is 796

PHI 2590G (Honors), and the Sub ID Number for your application form is 797

EIU 4167G, and the Sub ID Number for your application form is 798

PHI 3970, and the Sub ID Number for your application form is 799

Note, by selecting EIU4167 or EIU4194 (Honors), you complete your senior seminar requirement.

In Rome, students share an apartment with another EIU student. Same gender. There is an Italian resident assistant available for them.

At least two pre-departure orientations will be provided and are required for all participants.

Your faculty leader will hold one of these orientations, where he/she will cover information on safety, health, legal, environmental, political, cultural, and religious conditions in the host country(ies), as well as planning logistics.

The Office of Study Abroad (OSA) will hold the other orientation. They will cover general information about traveling abroad to different areas of the world and facilitate a panel discussion composed of students who have already participated in faculty-led study abroad programs.

You are strongly encouraged to read the U.S. State Department's Consular Information Sheet on your host countries. It will provide you with a great deal of information to help you prepare for your trip.

**Please be aware that you are responsible for obtaining the most up-to-date information on foreign entry requirements. The Office of Study Abroad only provides general information, as regulations and procedures are always changing. Please consult the Consulate for more information. **