Florence Summer Program

Florence GE Program

Students have many general education course requirements, so what better time and place to complete them than a summer in Florence, Italy? Students have the opportunity to complete a variety of courses in this one-month program.

Program Dates

May 7, 2023 - June 30, 2023

Dates above indicate a planned departure date from the US and in-country return departure date.

Costs

Tuition: $1,955 per unit (same as Malibu tuition per unit)

Room & Board: $5,136

Program Specific Costs:

• Global Health Fee: $216
• Emergency Italy-Based Health Insurance: $62 (approximate)
  
  

Required Vital Documents and Deadline

Completed IP Document Submission Form including the following documents:

• Passport Copy Due: January 20, 2023
• Health Clearance Form* and Flight Itinerary
  • Programs departing in May 2023: March 17, 2023
  • *For summer students also enrolled in an AY program, please contact IP regarding your HCF submission due date in order for it to be valid for both/all programs.
• Visa Copy for non-US passport holders: April 17, 2023
• Refer to the COVID-19 vaccine policies section of our global policies page for COVID-19 vaccine requirements and current conditions.

Course Requirements

8 unit minimum requirement. Students must take ITAL 121 if they have no previous Italian language experience, even if they have met their GE language requirement with another language. Students that have already completed ITAL 151 or higher must enroll in HUM 295. Students must choose one 3-4 unit class from the May block and one 3-4 unit class from the June block. Alternatively, they may choose one 3-4 unit from either block plus an Italian course (4 units) which runs both blocks. 

Course Offerings

May

HUM 212 Western Culture II (3)

GE: Western Culture

Prerequisites: HUM 111, ENG 101 (or GSHU 121 or SAAJ 121)

An analysis and interpretation of six major historical "events" during the time period 1300-1815 and their cultural implications: Renaissance, Reformation, Intercultural Encounters, Science, Enlightenment, the French Revolution. Students will achieve cultural literacy in these areas and develop skills in cultural interpretation and analysis

REL 301 Christianity and Culture (3)

GE: Christianity & Culture

Prerequisite: REL 101

A study of ways in which Christianity shapes such aspects of culture as art, literature, music, medicine, law, secularization, ecology, racial and ethnic issues, and education, and ways in which these, in turn, influence Christian life and faith.

June

HUM 313 Western Culture III (3)

GE: Western Culture

Prerequisite: HUM 212

Focused on a particular topic in modern culture, the course will use historical narrative of the time period 1815 to the present as a background for investigation into a particular theme or themes. Students will engage with and assess varying cultural and historical interpretations. Students will achieve cultural literacy in the modern period and demonstrate their skill in synthesizing and evaluating diverse historical and cultural interpretations.

POSC 104 American People and Politics (4)

GE: American Experience

Provides a broad overview of the American political system, focusing on the historical and cultural context of its development. Intended to develop a basic understanding of the Constitutional foundations of the government of the United States, the role played by parties and interest groups throughout American history, the functions of the various branches of government and the evolution of their relations inter se, the methods by which public policy is formulated, and the role that diverse groups play in the policy process. In addition, the course seeks to enhance the ability of students to use historical and cultural understanding as a basis for the formation of independent judgments on current political issues.

May - June

HUM 295 Enriching the International Experience (1)

This course is designed to enrich the student's international experience by providing opportunities to engage more fully with the culture and to reflect more deeply on the experience. It is the goal of this course to help students know how to look at and listen to their new culture and how to give meaning to their international experience. Taught only in International Programs. May be repeated in a different location. Cr/NC grading only.

ITAL 121 Italian Language and Culture (1)

Teaches basic, practical conversation and limited reading and writing skills along with a study of Italian culture. This course does not prepare a student to take ITAL 152. Taught only in the Florence program during the summer term.

ITAL 151 Elementary Italian I (4)

Basic conversation, reading, and writing; study of Italian culture. Must be taken for a letter grade. Students must earn a minimum grade of C- before they can advance to subsequent courses.

ITAL 152 Elementary Italian II (4)

Prerequisite: ITAL 151 or equivalent competency

Continued practice of basic conversation, reading, and writing; study of Italian culture. Must be taken for a letter grade. Students must earn a minimum grade of C- before they can advance to subsequent courses.

ITAL 251 Second-Year Italian I (4)

GE: Language; Prerequisite: ITAL 152 or equivalent competency

Emphasizes language production skills and interactive language use with a concentration on conversation. This course also develops reading strategies and examines complex grammar structures. Students must earn a minimum grade of C- before they can advance to subsequent courses.

ITAL 252 Second-Year Italian II (4)

Prerequisite: ITAL 251 or equivalent competency

As in ITAL 251, this course emphasizes language production skills, but focus is on composition and reading literary texts to prepare students for upper-division courses. Students must earn a minimum grade of C- before they can advance to subsequent courses. This course is a prerequisite for all upper-division courses.

PE 191 Individual Exercise (1)

International Programs only. Extra fee required.

Faculty-in-Residence

 Felicity Vabulas is an associate professor of international studies at Seaver College. She teaches classes in International Relations, the Global Economy, Intelligence Analysis, International Organizations and Law and the International Studies Capstone. After graduating from the University of Illinois, she worked as a consultant at Accenture for 5 years before returning to get her Masters and Ph.D. in public policy from the University of Chicago. She has enjoyed many international academic programs herself including an undergraduate study abroad year in the United Kingdom, a Rotary homestay program in Japan, and all of her education in Australia til age 14. In graduate school, she led international programs to Turkey, Cambodia, Rwanda, Madagascar, Jordan, and Brazil. She has been teaching at Pepperdine for five years and is thrilled to serve on her first IP, where she will return to Florence, Italy. She first discovered Florence’s beauty, amazing lifestyle, and decadent food during her Eurail adventures 25 years ago. She is excited to share adventures in this beautiful city and country with Pepperdine students as well as her husband, Brian, and two sons this summer.

Updated: 08.10.2022