Rome, Italy
IFSA January in Rome
Program Overview
THREE WEEKS AMIDST THE WORLD’S FINEST ART AND ARCHITECTURE
Mild temps are ideal for exploring Rome’s magnificent treasures and considering how they reflect 2,000+ years of Italian history. Fill an elective or requirement as you examine the role of art in politics and investigate the ways various people and groups have used literature, cinema, architecture, and visual arts for influence. Learning comes to life with visits to places like the prestigious American Academy, the Vittoriano Museum Complex, the Esposizione Universale Romana District, and more.
This is an exclusive IFSA-Designed Program. Learn more about these affordable programs here.
Details at a Glance
Application deadline
Minimum GPA
2.00
Credit load
3
Housing
Apartment/Flat
Instruction language
English
Language prerequisites
None
Visa required?
Not in most cases. Learn more.
Academics
Italian Art, Power, and Influence
Art and culture reflect the society they stem from, and at the same time they can be vehicles for political messages and even play a role in international relations. This class will explore how the “soft power” of art—including literature, cinema, architecture, and visual arts in general—can be leveraged by individuals, groups, or governments as they promote their ideas and values for political gain and influence. Students visit famous monuments, museums, and architectural sites that showcase more than 2,000 years of Italian history through its great artists and leaders. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)
Australia Outbound Program
Students enrolled at select Australia universities are invited to participate in this program. The program is open to students of all year levels and all fields. Students will earn 45 contact hours credit; the equivalent of one subject.
Please see the Australia Outbound term below in the Dates and Fees section for program fees and expected expenses in Australian dollars. For more information on the Australia Outbound program, please reach out to us at australiaoutbound@ifsa-butler.org.
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. Students attending select Australia universities are also eligible.
- You must have completed at least one (1) full-time semester of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.
Recommendation Letter
Not required.
TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. 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.
Excursions
Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.
Below are a selection of activities and excursions from previous terms; options may vary for your program. Due to the seasonal nature of many of program activities, we cannot guarantee a specific activity or excursion will be available in a given term or program.
- Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatino Hill Tour: Offered during orientation, this excursion allows you to visit some of the most iconic monuments in world history and to explore the very heart of the eternal city.
- American Academy in Rome Visit: A prestigious research and arts institution located on the Gianicolo (Janiculum Hill) in Rome, the American Academy in Rome plays a major cultural and political role in U.S. international relations.
- Vittoriano Museum Complex Visit: A grandiose neoclassical monument that celebrates the founding father of the new Italian nation, King Victor Emmanuel II, the Vittoriano was meant to combine political and architectural ambitions of the new Kingdom of Italy.
- EUR District Visit: EUR (Esposizione Universale Romana) was originally the Roman site for the 1942 World’s Fair which Benito Mussolini planned to open to celebrate 20 years of fascism. Completed in rationalist style after the end of fascism and World War II, EUR still is the background for major international political venues and events.
Housing and Meals
Housing
Apartment/FlatMeals
Self-CateringDetails
Rome students typically live in fully-furnished apartments shared by four to six students in Rome’s historic center, Prati, or Trastevere neighborhoods. Apartments vary but are generally in updated historic buildings in neighborhoods with plenty of local charm, an easy 30- to 45-minute commute from the IFSA Program Center, either on foot or using public transit.
Your apartment mates could include other study abroad students, as well as students from Italy or other countries, and could be mixed gender. Most apartments have two or more bathrooms. Bedrooms are typically shared by two IFSA, same gender students. In a few cases, depending on the specific apartment layout, triple rooms are possible. Students are responsible for meals.
Sample housing
Explore Via Cola di Rienzo 285 to see what your Rome home might be like:
- Location: The Prati district, close to Rome’s historic city center.
- Commute: A six-minute walk to the IFSA Program Center.
- Living space: Apartments for four to six students in older, historic buildings. Students share bedrooms with two, same gender students per room. Bedrooms include single beds and storage. All residents share the living space, kitchen, eating area, and bathroom(s). Sometimes two students share one desk. Complete bedding and towels provided. Kitchens are equipped with oven, refrigerator, and basic dishes and kitchenware.
- Meals: No meal plan. Students prepare or purchase meals, and often tell us cooking together is a fun, social part of the day. Plus, we’ll share pro grocery shopping tips when you arrive.
- Other details: Wi-Fi included. Laundry washing machine and drying rack. Vacuum cleaner. Iron and ironing board. Fans. Air conditioning is common but not guaranteed. Weekly cleaning service of shared spaces is often included.
- Nearby: Cafes, markets, shopping, public transportation. Vatican City. Castel Sant’Angelo. Tiber River. Piazza del Popolo. Villa Borghese. Spanish Steps. Piazza Navona and the Fountain of the Four Rivers.
Dates and Fees
Get Started
Eleni Katsarelas
Enrollment Counselor
