Padua Language & Liberal Arts Program

A thriving and ancient university city with few tourists, Padua offers a unique opportunity for study abroad. Headquartered at the BU Padua Academic Center, the program is run in cooperation with the Università degli Studi di Padova (UNIPD). The BU Padua Academic Center is located in the historic center of Padua and within walking distance of most university departments. The program includes excursions in and around the Veneto region, as well as to other major Italian art cities.

Program Curriculum

In order to be admitted to the Padua program, students are required to have completed at least two semesters of college-level Italian or the equivalent. Note: Syllabi are for course approval and reference only. Students will receive up-to-date syllabi when their courses begin.

Intensive Language Program Courses at the BU Padua Academic Center

Students enroll in one course listed below. Upon completion of the Intensive Language Program in the first month, students below fifth-semester Italian (LI 306) enroll in a consecutive language course as one of their electives.

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. During the intensive language period (September or February), class work is complemented by small, informal conversation groups led by students from the Università degli Studi di Padova. Syllabus (CAS LI 211/212)

CAS LI 212: Fourth-Semester Italian (4)

(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. During the intensive period (September or February), class work is complemented by small, informal conversation groups led by students from the Università degli Studi di Padova. Syllabus (CAS LI 211/212)

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. During the intensive period (September or February), class work is complemented by small, informal conversation groups led by students from the Università degli Studi di Padova. Syllabus

Watch a video from this course, of students reading an interview with world-known writer and director Pier Paolo Pasolini.

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

CAS IT 310: Exercises in Italian Stylistics (4)

Understanding Italian society though its language. Introduces students to techniques and theories of translation. Studies various sectors of the language: poetic and rhetorical, colloquial and dialectical, legal and scientific, the language of the media, and nonstandard language. Syllabus

Elective Courses at the BU Padua Academic Center

Students above fifth-semester Italian may enroll in three elective courses, and students below fifth-semester Italian may enroll in two elective courses at the BU Padua Center or UNIPD. We recommend that full-year students take a combination of BU courses and one or two UNIPD courses.

CAS AH 355: Italian Art, 1300-1800 (4)

(Formerly CAS IT 341.) IIntroduction to the history of art in Italy from the early 14th century to the late 18th century, covering painting, architecture, and sculpture. Places works of art within their cultural and historical context. Includes on-site lectures throughout Padua. Syllabus

CAS AH 357: Masterworks of the Italian Renaissance in Tuscany (4)

(Formerly CAS IT 520. Prerequisite: at least one previous Art History course.) Examines the birth, development, and spread of Renaissance art in Tuscany, particularly in Florence and Siena. Analyzes the political, social, and cultural contexts in which this artistic “language” appeared. Artists studied include Giotto, Michelangelo, and Donatello. Includes site visits. Syllabus

CAS HI 259 Italian Emigration and Immigration (4)

(Spring only. Pending approval.) Overview of the history of migration in and out of Italy since the mid-nineteenth century and its impact on contemporary Italian society. Special focus on the role of the cinema in the history of Italian immigration. Syllabus

CAS HI 260: The Venetian Republic (4)

(Formerly CAS HI 324.) 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. Syllabus

CAS HI 330: Modern Italian History (4)

The course reviews the political, social and cultural history of Italy from the first world war to present day. Analyzes the transformations that led Italian society from Fascism to the creation of a Democratic Republic. Syllabus

CAS IR 322: Topics in Italian and European Politics (4)

(Pending approval.) Multidimensional approach to political scientific study, with a focus on European and Italian perspectives on democracy. Special attention on the modernization of Italy, the political role of the Veneto area, and the structure of democracy across the U.S. and Italy. Syllabus

CAS IT 343: Contemporary Italian Literature (4)

(Recommended: previous coursework in literature.) 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. 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. Syllabus

Italian Music from Pop to Rock (4)

(Spring only. Pending approval.) The aim of the course is to offer a comprehensive view on the role of music in the major phases of modern Italian history, from the late Renaissance to 1990s, but with an emphasis on the post-WWII period. Includes reading and analysis of lyrics and as original music score.

CAS IT 403: History of the Italian Cinema (4)

The purpose of this course is to consider the history of Italian film-making from the 1940s to the 1980s from the point of view of the scripts based on Italian romances and novels (from the Decameron by Boccaccio to Moravia, Pavese, and others). Syllabus

Jews and Christians in Italy: A Historical Perspective (4)

(Pending approval.) A social history of the relationship between the Jewish and Christian communities in Italy, from early modern times to today. Fosters an understanding of this relationship in cultural, economic, social, and religious contexts. Includes site visits.Syllabus

 

Elective Courses at the University of Padua (UNIPD)

In addition to the BU courses, students may choose one to two 4-credit courses from UNIPD. Students who wish to take a course at UNIPD should be fairly confident in their Italian language skills. Please note that the UNIPD course listings are not available until shortly before the beginning of the academic year in October for the fall semester, or March for the spring semester. For this reason, Boston University Padua cannot guarantee the availability of a particular course in a given semester. In any given semester, UNIPD offers more than 200 courses in the humanities and social sciences. For more information about the courses offered by UNIPD, please visit their website or email us directly.

Some courses that have been taken by students at UNIPD in the past are listed below:

Linguistic Studies and Literature:
  • Medieval and Renaissance Literature
  • Contemporary Italian Poetry
  • History of Modern and Contemporary Italian Literature
  • Italian Literature of Gender and Women
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures (German, French, Spanish)
  • English Literature
  • Dialectology
History, Geography and Antiquities
  • Early Modern European History
  • Medieval History
  • Modern History
  • Greek History
Political and Legal Sciences and International Studies
  • Contemporary Italian History
  • European Political Organizations
  • European Studies
  • International Relations
  • International Law
  • History of Political Thought
  • History of Political Institutions
  • Political Parties and Pressure Groups
  • Political and Economic Geography
  • History of Journalism
  • Social Philosophy
Economics
  • Many courses are taught in English and after checking prerequisites, and with consent of professor, can be available for BU students.
Historical and Cultural Heritage: Archaeology, Art History, Film and Music
  • Roman Archaeology
  • History of Classic Art
  • History of Italian Cinema
  • History of Photography
  • Film Studies
  • History and Criticism of Italian Cinema-Cinema and Revolution
  • Modern Art History
Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology
  • General Sociology
  • Study of Cultural Processes
  • History of Moral Philosophy
General Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology

Program Details

Requirements
  • Minimum of two semesters of college-level Italian language or the equivalent
  • Admissions requirements for all programs
Program Dates
  • Fall Semester: late August to late December (in rare cases, some courses at the UNIPD may end after Jan. 1)
    • Depart U.S.: August 29, 2012
    • Program Arrival: August 30, 2012
    • Depart Italy: December 20, 2012
  • Spring Semester: late January to late May
    • Depart U.S.: January 25, 2012
    • Program Arrival: January 26, 2012
    • Depart Italy: May 26, 2012
Cost

The cost for 2013/2014 has not yet been announced and will be subject to approval by the Board of Trustees at Boston University.
Credits
  • Upon successful completion of the program, students earn sixteen Boston University credits. Students must enroll for a total of sixteen credits.
Housing
  • Students live in Italian households. Households selected for program participants represent a wide range of incomes and situations, from a grandmother living alone to a couple living in the city to a suburban family with young children. Students are given a monthly stipend toward the cost of local transportation and meals. They are encouraged to eat at the university cafeterias, called “mense,” where meals are available at nominal cost. Students eat breakfast every day and three evening meals a week with their hosts. Students are given an ID from the University of Padova, which allows them to access department libraries and mense, and to have discounts in cinemas and stores in Padua, as well as in a number of museums.
Application Deadlines
  • Fall Semester: March 15

    It’s not too late to apply for Fall 2012! Applications will be considered on a space-available basis, so it’s best to complete your application as soon as possible. (Noted on 4/3/2012.)

  • Spring Semester: October 15

Download a description of the Padua Language & Liberal Arts Program.

Program Faculty & Staff

The Boston University Padua programs are administered by staff in both our Boston and Padua offices. In Boston, a program manager facilitates the admissions and pre-departure procedures, and maintains contact with students prior to their arrival in Padua. The office also houses administrative personnel who are responsible for everyday operations. In Padua, the staff comprises a resident director and administrative, academic, and housing personnel.

Faculty & Staff Profiles

Mary Ogburn, Program Manager

Overseas Staff

Faculty

Ready to go abroad? Apply now!