IFSA Rome Quarter Program: Art and Architecture

Students enroll in three or four classes per quarter. Not all classes may be offered in a given term, depending on enrollment.

Details coming soon!

DIRECTED RESEARCH
Engage in individualized field research with faculty experts on a contemporary issue of interest. Regular meetings with faculty will assist in the formation and execution of research plans, and they will guide you on how to thoughtfully and critically integrate academic research with experiential learning. You will sharpen your written and oral communication skills through the development of articulate and comprehensive research that is respectful to the sensitivities of the local culture.

If you chose to research live human subjects, live animals or another topic that is deemed by IFSA to be required to be reviewed by the Institutional Research Board (IRB) at your home institution, then you will have to file your project with your home institution’s IRB board and submit your result to IFSA. Your IFSA Enrollment Counselor will review your application materials to help determine if you must file with IRB.

For more detailed information and examples of previous student placements, contact your IFSA Enrollment Counselor.

INTERNSHIPS
IFSA internships include real-world work experience, along with developing intercultural skills and experiences that are key to personal, academic, and professional success. Expect to devote a total of 120 hours working with your host organization, with supervision from your seminar instructor, coordinated by on-site IFSA team members. In addition, interns complete the International Internship Seminar for 4.5 quarter credits. Internships are not remunerated.

Students have interned at galleries and museums, business incubators, development agencies, religiously affiliated non-profits, and human rights advocacy groups in Rome.

Your goals are carefully considered, tailoring the placement process to ensure the best possible fit. Keep in mind that final placements depend on your skills, prior experience, and availability. Although every effort is made to match your placement with your preferred field or area of business, it can’t be guaranteed. Most internships are conducted in English. If you have had at least four semesters of Italian language instruction, you can ask your IFSA Enrollment Counselor about opportunities to conduct your placement in Italian.

Application. After you submit your application, resume, and IFSA Internship Interest Form, an IFSA Enrollment Counselor and an on-site IFSA Team member will work with you to identify your professional strengths, review your goals, and refine your internship interests to establish a match. From there, you’ll have an interview with your potential internship host. You will be provided with tips and resources to prepare for your interview.

Sample Placements. The following are examples of internships IFSA students have recently completed. Placement options vary from term to term.

• Organization: This is a day center for refugees and asylum seekers. It offers services ranging from basic supplies, to legal and social counseling, employment support, language and skills courses, for nearly 150 people every day.
  Subject Areas: Social Studies, Education, Communications, Political Science
  Potential Projects: Interns will help with front desk operations, office management, intercultural mediation, as well as with promotional initiatives and event planning.
• Organization: This Rome-based, independent, English-language, online magazine covers everything Italy-related, offering news and opinion about politics, economy, culture, and sports.
  Subject Areas: Communications, Journalism, Marketing
  Potential Projects: You will help with content creation for the magazine and promotion.
• Organization: This English-language event and lifestyle magazine is targeted to tourists and expats visiting or living in Rome. It includes a daily listing of the latest and most diverse cultural and lifestyle events in and around Rome.
  Subject Areas: Communications, Journalism, Marketing
  Potential Projects: You will help with content creation for the magazine and promotion. You can also be involved in the creation of a new Florence branch of the magazine.
• Organization: This is an historic Rome-based association, one of the first in Italy, that offers support to the LGBTQ+ community and organizes cultural events and initiatives, including the big annual Pride event.
  Subject Areas: Communications, Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, Politics
  Potential Projects: You will help with the organization of cultural events and contribute to the social media presence of the association.
• Organization: This is a small private museum in the very heart of the historic center, focused on interactive reproductions of inventions and machines designed by Leonardo da Vinci.
  Subject Areas: Communications, Museum Studies, Art History, Marketing
  Potential Projects: Interns will help with front desk operations, English-led tours, as well as with promotional initiatives and social media campaigns.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
• You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
• You must have completed at least one (1) full-time semester of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.
• If you would like to pursue the option to take a class at LUISS a 2.7 GPA is required.

Recommendation Letter
Not required. A directed research or internship site may request a reference letter before placement is finalized.

TRANSCRIPT
IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to U.S. semester credits hour system unless your home university has opted out of the official transcript process with IFSA for this quarter program. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.