BU’s four Padua programs take place in a lively town that’s home to one of the oldest universities in the world. The Padua Internship Program, offered only in fall semesters and designed for those with all levels Italian language skills, provides students with the opportunity to develop their professional skills in one of Italy’s top economic and communications hubs. Classes are taught at the BU Padua Center, where students take elective courses in English or Italian and participate in an academic internship for credit.
Requirements & Considerations
- All students must enroll according to, and remain in compliance with, the Boston University Study Abroad Course Load Policy.
- No previous coursework in Italian is required
- Students wishing to take electives in Italian need to have completed 4th-semester Italian or the equivalent
- Some courses may carry prerequisites
- Admissions Requirements for all programs
Curriculum
This program is open to students with all levels of Italian language skills. Students with no prior knowledge of Italian enroll in First Semester Italian. All students will choose two or three content courses in English or Italian from the variety offered at the BU Padua Center. Additionally, all students will take the internship course which is comprised of an academic seminar and internship placement 15–20 hours a week for 12 weeks.
Required Courses
Required Course List
Italian Language
Students with no prior knowledge of Italian are required to enroll in First-Semester Italian.
- CAS LI 111 First-Semester Italian (4 credits)
- Begins with a Core Phase of 2-weeks with 2-hour session, 4 days a week. At the end of the Core Phase the course is scheduled with 2-hour sessions twice a week.
- Aims at presenting communicative functions and exposes students to real life situations and language.
- Syllabus
Internship Course
Students enroll in an internship placement in either English or Italian. Placements are contingent upon a students's past experiences, language abilities, and available opportunities in a given semester. Flexibility is essential.
The internship course focuses on the main cultural, historical, political and economic issues related to the Italian job market. Thanks to an intercultural perspective, the main internship-related topics will be discussed on both national and local levels in comparison with the US work environment. Special attention will be given to the greater Padua area and the Veneto region that host the internship program and placements.
The internship course begins with a 2-week Core Phase and a 12-week Internship Phase. The Core Phase is devoted to class instruction, while during the Internship Phase students participate in internships with local organizations in the greater Padua area, about 15-hours per week, Monday-Friday. During the Internship Phase students meet with the Internship course professor for a tri-weekly class session, for a total of 4 sessions.
Internship Course numbers depend on on the fields of specialization in which students complete their internship and accompanying academic work.
- CAS AH 505 Internship in Arts and Arts Administration (4)
- CAS LX 451/452 Internship Linguistics Research (4)
- CAS CAS PO 405/IR455 Internship in International Organizations and NGOs (4)
- CAS PO 401/451 Internship in Politics/International Relations (4)
- SHA HF 390 Field Placement in Hospitality Administration (4)
Elective Courses
Students choose two or three content courses from those offered at the BU Padua Center, taught in English or Italian.
Language Courses
- CAS LI 112 Second-Semester Italian (4)
- Prerequisite: CAS LI 111; or placement exam results.
- Continues the CAS LI 111 basic text: grammar, conversation, compositions. Conducted in Italian. Lab required. Four hours weekly.
- CAS LI 211 Third-Semester Italian (4)
- Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level Italian, or placement exam results.
- Intended for students with a satisfactory background in elementary Italian who require extensive review of basic structures, verbs, and related essentials. Review, emphasis on composition skills, and conversation. Reading and discussion of short articles and stories.
- Syllabus
- CAS LI 212 Fourth-Semester Italian (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Prerequisite: three semesters of college-level Italian, or placement exam results.
- Intended for students who wish to build active use of Italian in speaking, writing, and reading. Discussions in Italian on everyday themes. Development of reading and writing skills through analysis of contemporary texts and conversation.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS LI 303 Self-Expression in Italian (4)
- Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level Italian, or placement exam results.
- Building and expansion of vocabulary through development of writing skills and discussion in Italian on topics of current interest. Review of fundamental grammatical topics and idiomatic patterns. Reading of a contemporary Italian novel or short fiction and articles from Italian magazines and newspapers.
- Syllabus
- CAS LI 306 Advanced Italian Practicum (4)
- Fine tunes a student’s ability to use Italian through emphasis on written and oral proficiency. Reading and discussion of a novel, non-fiction, and magazine articles.
- Syllabus
Courses Taught in English
- CAS AH 349 Between the Lily and the Lion: Art in Renaissance Padua (4 credits)
- This course presents Padua as case study for Renaissance art given its unique geo-historical position: physically between two artistic giants (Florence and Venice), and rooted in Roman origins. Includes critical analysis of works of Padua and the Veneto region from the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries with reflections in contemporary history and culture. Class excursions include visits to museums and monuments in the Veneto region and in other main Italian cities.
- Syllabus
- CAS HI 263 Modern Italian History (4)
- This course follows the history of Italy’s rapid transformation from agricultural economy to industrial and post-industrial country. Starting from Italy’s “liberal” period of 1870s through World War I, the course then introduces students to Fascism and the Mussolini era. From post-war republicanism, the course moves on to the 1970s, and traces the historical roots of current economic crises and issues. On-site classes are part of this course.
- Syllabus
- SHA HF 323 The Italian Food Industry: Economics, Culture, and Society (4)
- The Italian food industry from economic, cultural, and social perspectives. Special attention paid to producers, product quality and certification, and relationships to the land and regional cultures. How is the industry evolving to offer consumers up-to-date products while remaining anchored in Italian tradition? Taught through a combination of lectures, seminars by industry experts, case studies, and company visits.
- Syllabus
Courses Taught in Italian
Please note: Courses taught in Italian are only open to those students who have completed at least 4 semesters of college-level Italian, or the equivalent. All other students should enroll in electives taught in English.
- CAS HI 260 The Venetian Republic (4)
- Traces the rise of Venice from its scattered settlements to the height of its imperial glory. Lectures and detailed guided visits to sites in and around the city illuminate the history of Venice through its rich cultural heritage. On-site classes are part of this course.
- Syllabus
- CAS IT 344 Topics in Italian Music History (4)
- Examines the history of music in Italy from 1600 to 1850. The course is based on listening comprehension and the discussion of various excerpts with different functions (religious, secular, and theatrical music) and the composers and institutions to which they are linked. On-site classes are part of this course.
- Syllabus
- CAS LI 354 Contemporary Italian Literature (4)
- Study of essential authors and works of contemporary Italian literature, with an aim to understand the many challenges of this literary period. Emphasis on the representation of the post-war situation, industrial development, cultural identity, social problems, and the female condition. On-site classes are part of this course.
- Syllabus
Housing & Student Services
- 1–2 students per household
- Students will have a private bedroom with shared bathroom, kitchen, and living spaces
- Kitchen available for occasional use with permission from host family
- Partial board included - four dinners with host family per week, breakfast included. All other meals are paid for by the student, out of pocket.
- All students apply for a student ID that allows them access to University of Padua, including their cafeterias. No dining hall at BU Padua Center
- Laundry facilities available in host homes
- Study facilities available at BU Padua Center and libraries around University of Padua. Athletic facilities available for an extra charge locally
Program Dates
- Fall Semester: late August to late December
Please note: This program is only offered during the Fall semester.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester: March 15
Cost & Financial Considerations
- 2018/2019 Tuition and Fees: $24,704
Cost includes tuition, housing, partial board, program related activities, administrative fee, international medical insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage. - Estimated program budget, including cost of living expenses.
- Financial aid available.
