University of Minnesota students in front of Milan Cathedral

Music, Art, & Fashion in Italy —

  1. Program Details

    Immerse yourself in Italian culture by studying opera, art, and fashion.

    Location Milan & Florence, Italy
    Term May Session
    Housing Hotel
    Credit Type Resident Credit
    Sponsor Learning Abroad Center

    Program Eligibility

    GPA 2.5
    Student Type UofM Students, Non UofM Students
    Student Year Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors, Graduate Students
    Language No Language Prerequisite

  2. About Music, Art, & Fashion in Italy

    Study Italian culture through opera, art and fashion. Through these artistic genres, you will learn about the impact Italy has had in the world throughout the centuries. Starting in Milan and ending in Florence, we will explore the origins of the Italian Opera, paying particular attention to the life and works of Giuseppi Verdi. Hear lectures on the development of Italian opera that began in Florence, attend a live opera performance, and visit La Scala opera house and the famous Verdi Casa. The seminar will also explore Roman and Greek sculpture, focusing on the influence in the major works of da Vinci and Michaelangelo.

    While in Milan, spend time exploring the great fashion street of Via Monte Napoleone, visit the famous fashion district where the Armani Silo Fashion Museum resides, shop Italian fashion, and take in the sights and sounds of this great fashion city. 

    **COVID-19 Update as of 2/4: Program participants will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of return to the United States. Students will be subject to whatever health requirements Italy has in place. Costs related to COVID-19 testing will be incurred by the individual student. 

    For more information on our Learning Abroad Center COVID-19 updates & policies click here.

    **The content of this webpage will be updated regularly. Check back for new information.

    Course Description

    This course offers the opportunity to learn facts about the industrialized city of Milan and Italy as a whole in its historical position in our globalizing world. Discover how Italy’s arts play in our global society by studying individual artists and the history of Italian art movements. Develop skills to critically interpret how artists' contributions are a reaction to the political and environmental moments in their lifetime.

    Housing & Meals

    You will live in shared housing with other program participants. A welcome and farewell meal, as well as some other additional meals are included in the program fee. 

    Excursions

    Excursions/activities in Florence may include:

    • Lecture on fashion 
    • Accademia Galleria, where Michaelangelo’s David is housed
    • Gucci Museum 
    • L’Uffizi Galleria
    • Santa Maria del Fiore
    • Santa Maria Novella Cathedral and Museum 
    • Abbey of San Miniato al Monte
    • Medici Villa at Castello
    • Boboli Gardens 
    • An opera performance

    Excursions/activities in Milan may include:

    • Armani Silos
    • Cimitero Monumentale
    • Duomo di Milano
    • Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie to view the Last Supper
    • Pinacoteca di Brera
    • Via Monte Napoleone--Milan Fashion District
    • Piedmont Vineyard
    • A Cooking Class
    • La Scala Opera Museum 
    • Lecture on fashion

     

      Flight

      All program participants are required to and responsible for booking their own round-trip flight through Village Travel, a local travel agency that the Learning Abroad Center works with. The flight is listed as a cost that you will incur prior to departure and the Learning Abroad Center will notify confirmed participants of flight options to book through the travel agency. 

      It might be possible to deviate your return flight. Inquire with your program contact if interested.

      Learning Outcomes

      • Develop independence by challenging yourself in a new environment
      • Understand and be confident in discussing major aspects of Italian opera, art, food and fashion
      • Function as an effective team member by utilizing your personal strengths in a group setting

      Faculty & Staff

      This program is led by Wendy Zaro-Mullins, Associate Professor in the Department of Music in the College of Liberal Arts.

      About the Learning Abroad Center

      Learning Abroad Center programs are:

      • Affordable: our programs are cost effective.
      • Academically strong: many programs have strong University of Minnesota departmental support and offer pre-approved courses for many majors.
      • Culturally rich: regardless of the program you choose, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture.
      • Expertly managed: our staff in Minnesota and abroad are trained professionals and are always available to answer your questions from extensive pre-departure advising and online orientations to reentry programming. Your safety and well-being are paramount, and we work hard to ensure you have a rewarding and safe experience abroad.

    • Program Structure

      Program Type Instructor-Led
      Program Level 3000 level coursework
      Courseload

      One 3-credit course

      Global Seminars are 3-week study abroad programs led by University of Minnesota faculty and staff that feature:

      • Intensive learning in a location that illuminates the topic
      • Small groups of 15–25 students
      • No prerequisites or language requirements
      • Included excursions and cultural activities
      • Instruction in English

      Coursework

      This course offers the opportunity to learn facts about the industrialized city of Milan and Italy as a whole in its historical position in our globalizing world. Students will discover how the arts in Italy play in our global society through the study of individual artists and the history of Italian art movements. Students will also develop skills that will help them critically interpret the artistic contribution as a reaction to the political and environmental movements during the artists’ lifetime.

      Assessment of student performance throughout the course will consist of journal maintenance, participation & attendance, and presentations.

      Receive credit for: MUS 3271

      Liberal Education Fulfillment: Arts & Humanities, Global Perspectives

      2020 Syllabus- Draft

    • Dates & Deadlines

      Submit the online application and complete the assigned application checklist according to the appropriate deadline:
      Term Program Dates Application Deadline
      May Session 2021 May 13, 2021  –  Jun 6, 2021 Mar 1, 2021

      Program dates are subject to change.

      If the deadline falls on a weekend, submit your materials on the following business day.

      Important Note: Enrollment on this program is limited to 16 students. Admission is granted on a rolling basis and applications are reviewed in the order they are completed. Some programs may fill to capacity prior to the application deadline, therefore applying early is recommended. Additionally, applying early will allow for more time to plan ahead and prepare for the program.

      Orientation Dates & Locations

      Orientation will be conducted in 2 parts: an online orientation, which is mandatory for all students, and an in-person, program-specific session. You will receive more information about the online orientation via email. Failure to complete the online orientation will impact your ability to go abroad.

      See below for tentative dates and times for your in-person session. You will be notified of the official date and time via email. Participants will receive applicable orientation materials via email approximately 1 week prior to the in-person session.

      Term Abroad Date/Time Location
      May Session 2021 TBD TBD

    • Priority Deadline

      If you apply by the priority deadline and confirm within the allotted time you will receive the published program fee. Applying after the priority deadline and/or not confirming within the allotted time means you may be subject to an airfare increase.

      Fees for Music, Art, & Fashion in Italy

      May 2021 Cost of Participation 

      Program fees can vary widely due to location, cost of living, airfare, and program inclusions. The program fee generally includes tuition, airport transfers, in-country program related transportation, housing, some meals, entrances to course-related excursions and site visits, program administration, and international health insurance. You must also budget for the international flight, passport and passport photos, additional meals, textbooks, independent travel, and miscellaneous living expenses.

      The Learning Abroad Center has worked with Village Travel to identify a coordinated flight that program participants will travel on together. You can view the coordinated flight itinerary here. We will notify confirmed program participants of when they should book this flight and at that point you will be responsible for booking it through Village Travel. The Cost of Participation lists the estimated flight cost in the Estimated Additional Expenses box. Please note that the flight cost is subject to change.

      If you do not see a budget estimate for the term you intend to go abroad, the fee has not yet been finalized. We strive to post fees for this program at least 30 days prior to the application deadline. The Learning Abroad Center will delay the posting of some fees until enrollments, inflation and exchange rates are determined. Note the average increase in fees will be 3–10%. Program fees are based on estimates and may change depending on international economic factors.

      Billing & Payments

      Visit Billing for information about the billing process for application fees, deposits, and program fees.

      Financial Aid & Scholarships

      Visit Financial Information for information on using financial aid and scholarships for study abroad.

      Cancellation Policy

      Before you apply to or confirm your participation on this program, review the Learning Abroad Center's Cancellation Policy to inform yourself of the timeline and financial obligations for canceling.

    • Prepare

      Complete pre-application advising.

      Be aware: All programs require a $50 application fee. This fee will be charged to your student account upon submission of an online application.

      To complete the online application for this program, you will need to select or provide the following information on the online application:

      Center Name TC Learning Abroad Ctr
      Education Abroad Term May Session 2021
      Program Name Global Seminar: Music, Art, & Fashion in Italy
      Track Name Music, Art, & Fashion in Italy
      Country Italy

      Submit

      May & Summer Programs – University of Minnesota Students

      Use your University of Minnesota internet ID and password to log into the Education Abroad application system. Your student account will be charged a $50 application fee.

      Apply Now

      May & Summer Programs – Non-University of Minnesota Students

      Once you submit your application, Learning Abroad Center staff will create a University of Minnesota student internet account for you. You will use this account to access the Education Abroad Application System, and other University of Minnesota services. You will be charged a $50 application fee for this program.

      Our staff will contact you within 2–3 business days with your internet account information, and additional application instructions.

      Apply Now

      Fall 2021 & Beyond Programs – All students

      All students, both UofM and Non-UofM should use this apply button if applying for a program Fall 2021 or beyond (academic year, winter break etc.). You will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.

      Apply Now

      Complete

      After you submit your application, you will receive an email notification confirming that your application was received. Submitted applications are assigned an application checklist, which will include the following items:

      • Application Essay

      Detailed descriptions and instructions for submitting each checklist item are included on the application checklist assigned to you.

      If you do not meet the GPA requirement for this program you will be required to submit two additional application items—the Low GPA Essay and Special Circumstances Recommendation. Both items will be added to your checklist after you start your application, and you will be notified when they have been added.

      Next Steps

      After your application checklist is complete, your application is reviewed by our program team. You will be notified of an acceptance decision by email. If accepted, you will be assigned a confirmation checklist, which you will complete to confirm your participation in the program. If you decide not to continue with the application process, log into the online application system and submit a Cancel Request.

    • Program Contact

      For further information or questions about this program, send an email to 

      Roslyn Udairam or call at 612.625.0475.