About Influence in Society and Business
If you're ready to start exploring, this is the program for you! While making Rome your home, you'll feel empowered to take a seat at the table and find your voice among other influencers. Courses and internships are designed to prepare you for your future role in local and global networks.
Academics at Influence in Society and Business
Looking for specific classes? Explore CHART, our exclusive class database — if the Influence in Society and Business Program is pre-approved at your institution, you’ll find classes recently taken by other IFSA students.
Influence in Society and Business provides a compelling curriculum in English focused on Business and the social sciences. Crafted for U.S. degree requirements and contemporary hot topics, IFSA-taught courses explore relevant topics in the Roman, Italian, and European contexts by incorporating a variety of case studies and field visits. The 15-credit semester is comprised of five elective courses open to all students without pre-requisites. All courses are worth 3 U.S. semester credits.
All students will take Essential Italian This exclusive IFSA opportunity is a required, 1 U.S. Semester Credit Hour language and culture course taught intensively during the first weeks of the program. By introducing key words and phrases in the classroom—and venturing out into the city to practice them —this class also provides insights into local customs and daily life. Right from the start, you'll gain essential skills to communicate effectively and navigate in a new culture.
Not all courses may be offered in a given semester depending on enrollment. Click on each link below for a detailed course syllabus and suggested U.S. university equivalencies.
This course invites students to examine a number of ethical issues revolving around economic order and business by understanding the context in which business agents operate. From empirical and normative perspectives, students engage with theory from moral philosophy, organizational behavior, economics and management, with cases that illustrate the ethical issues in the business environment.
Forced Migration, Refugees, and Change
More than 60 million people are displaced by war, violence, and environmental destruction today. Using ethnographic approaches, students investigate sociological and political forces behind the current increase of refugees impacting Europe, considering what has been accomplished and what can be done in the future through governments, NGOs, citizens, and researchers to address challenges with forced migration.
History of the Mafia
This course explores the history of the Italian Mafia from its origins to today as an economic, political, sociological, cultural and gendered phenomenon. Students examine the evolution of organized crime over the past century by seeking to answer questions such as: How do forms of social control operate? What role has the Mafia played in the political history of Italy? What are popular images of the Mafia?
Intercultural Professional Communication
Designed to improve students’ abilities to communicate effectively with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, this course utilizes intercultural theory, verbal and non-verbal communication, personal beliefs and values, and strategies for building cultural intelligence and adaptability. Examination of Italian work environments, professional practices, and business etiquette underpin the course.
International Political Economy
This course explores theoretical issues and illustrative case studies related to international political economy. Students examine ways domestic and international politics affect relations between states by examining the role of government in the production, distribution, and consumption of resources. Students also learn to apply core concepts and theories in international political economy to case materials.
The Jewish Community in Rome
This course explores the history of the Jewish community in Rome, the oldest one in Europe and one of the oldest continuous Jewish settlements in the world. Students utilize historical, artistic, and anthropological sources to learn in situ about the historical and religious events that have shaped it, from the Renaissance creation of the Ghetto through World War II.
Service Operations Management
This course explores the principals of service operations management in hospitality and tourism operations. Students develop an understanding of service excellence, facility designs and layouts, planning and analyzing service delivery systems, defining and measuring service quality, and service recovery. Additionally, students gain perspectives for managing demand and supply and making continual improvements a competitive strategy.
Sociology of Consumerism
We commonly hear that modern societies place disproportionate significance on money and material possessions – that we live in a consumer society. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, this course examines the ubiquitous presence of consumerism influences on individual behaviors, social welfare, culture, environmental quality, economic performance, and public policy. Students learn to critically engage with consumer culture within the Italian context.
Statistics for Social Sciences
This course demonstrates the value of being critical of the conclusions one hears reported, with a primary focus on techniques of measuring and counting for the purposes of analyzing data. Students apply statistical methods to answer questions social scientists ask about the world, and learn to use computerized tools of analysis such as SAS, SPSS and Excel descriptive statistics features.
Strategic Communication in Business
This course challenges students to explore leadership styles by leveraging strengths to communicate clearly in a variety of settings and to a range of audiences. Students practice effective written and oral internal communication strategies proven to improve moral, inspire innovation, and increase productivity. Similarly, students study strategic communications theories to produce integrated external communications across platforms.
Urban Event and Project Management
This course explores in-depth planning and project management processes as part of event planning in urban settings. Students develop an understanding of methodologies, best practices, and applications of project management in the field of hospitality and the production of special events. Core PMBOK and EMBOK standards are also analyzed and applied directly to the practice of event management.
Service Excellence in Hospitality and Tourism
Additional levels available upon request based on previous student language experience
Internship and Methodology Seminar
In Rome, IFSA students may choose to participate in a part-time, credit-bearing internship at sites that may include Italian family businesses, corporations, non-profit organizations and government agencies. Students undergo an individually tailored placement process and collectively take part in a methodology seminar that culminates in a final paper and presentation. Throughout the semester, students acquire real world work experience while developing intercultural skills and experiences which are critically important to personal, academic and professional success. Internship placements may include galleries and museums, business incubators, United Nations agencies, religiously affiliated non-profits, marketing firms, and human rights advocacy groups.
Placement Highlights
The following list showcases the variety of recent internship opportunities. While some of these internship opportunities may be available for upcoming terms, internship placements do vary from term to term. We will work with you individually to identify a placement that meets your unique personal, academic, and professional goals.
Organization: This small, family-run cooking school specializes in English-speaking clients and study abroad. The school works only with small groups to offer a tailored service, and aims to recreate an authentic and shared experience by stressing the value of good food prepared at home, even without previous experience or expensive equipment.
Subject Areas: Communications, Hospitality & Tourism, Marketing
Potential Projects: You would on the school website to enhance its appeal, including possibly adding cooking lesson videos. Projects may also include expanding the school’s audience through social media.
Language: English, Italian
Organization: This school of Italian language has a special focus on assisting U.S. study abroad programs, while offering a variety of courses in Italian studies, guided tours, advanced training for teachers, and online didactics.
Subject Areas: Education Studies, Marketing, Media/Multimedia Studies
Potential Projects: You would work on renewing the school’s website and social medica communication to better appeal to American students. Additionally, the school can assist Education majors in the preparation of lesson models and teaching materials.
Language: English, Italian
Organization: This historic Italian association focuses on the protection of the environment and landscape. The local chapter, based in the Garbatella neighborhood, organizes initiatives to raise awareness on environmental issues and urban sustainability, including exhibits, “Clean the world days,” and park maintenance.
Subject Areas: Environmental Science/Studies, Film Production, Marketing
Potential Projects: You would help create and edit short videos and other materials about the association’s activities, with a special focus on urban gardens and beekeeping.
Language: Italian
Organization: This family-run, award-winning organic winery on the outskirts of Rome specializes in organic wine production and revitalizes native grape varieties.
Subject Areas: Marketing, Viticulture and Oenology
Potential Projects: You would work with the owners to optimize the winery website and social media presence, and to launch a new e-commerce option.
Language: English, Italian
Organization: This online blog publishes content for the creative industries in the areas of fashion and technology.
Subject Areas: Communications, Fashion Marketing and Merchandising, Marketing
Potential Projects: If you are interested in the areas of digital marketing or content marketing, this internship would allow you to create blog posts for the website, learn about inbound marketing, and develop highly marketable skills in the fashion industry.
Language: English
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.
Language: English, Italian
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.
Language: English, Italian
After you return to the U.S., IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. credit system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects courses taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost.
Excursions
Program activities are designed to enhance your intercultural competence by developing your understanding of the local culture and people. They are optional, but they are included in your total program fee. Activities vary each term based on availability, but previous events have included weekly lunches with local influencers and weekly dinners with local Italian families, city tours, wine tastings, cooking classes, and museum tours.
Dates and Fees
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