BU’s Padua programs take place in a lively town that’s home to one of the oldest universities in the world. The Padua Italian & European Studies Program, offered Fall and Spring semesters, is designed for students with all levels of Italian language ability. Students will take elective courses in English or Italian at the BU Padua Center or at the Università degli Studi di Padova.
Requirements & Considerations
- All students must enroll according to, and remain in compliance with, the Boston University Study Abroad Course Load Policy.
- Open to students of all levels of Italian
- Admissions requirements for all programs
- Students wishing to take electives in Italian need to have completed fourth semester Italian or the equivalent
- Some courses may carry prerequisites
Curriculum
This program is open to students with all levels of Italian. Students with no prior knowledge of Italian are required to enroll in First-Semester Italian.
Please note that a minimum enrollment is necessary for a BU Padua course to be offered for the semester, and availability is subject to change. All courses are taught by local faculty.
Required Course
Required Course List
Students with no previous knowledge of Italian are required to enroll in CAS LI 111 First Semester Italian.
- CAS LI 111 First-Semester Italian (4 credits)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Individual in Community
- Aims at presenting communicative functions and exposes students to real life situations and language.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Elective Courses
Elective courses can be selected from the BU Padua Center as well as the University of Padua course offerings. Course availability varies based upon enrollments, class schedules, and student's Italian language proficiency and requirements.
Students will select a combination of three BU Padua Center courses and one University of Padua course, or take all four courses at the BU Padua Center. Individual advising is provided through the BU Padua Center.
For University of Padua courses, a high degree of flexibility is required. Students must be aware that they are enrolling in an institution abroad that will function differently from a US institution.
Language Courses
All language courses are held at the BU Padua Center.
- CAS LI 112 Second-Semester Italian (4)
- Spring only
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Individual in Community
- 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.
- Syllabus
- CAS LI 211 Third-Semester Italian (4)
- Fall only
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Individual in Community
- 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)
- Spring only
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Individual in Community
- 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
Elective Courses in English
All courses below are held at the BU Padua Center.
- CAS AH 349 Between the Lily and the Lion: Art in Renaissance Padua (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Historical Consciousness
- Introduction to art history with regard to notable works of art and architecture of the Middle Ages and Renaissance in Padua, Venice and Florence. Exploration by on-site visits and experience of the cultural context in which works were created.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- 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
- CAS IR 334 European Politics and Policy Challenges: Italy and the United States (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Individual In Community
- Social Inquiry II
- Explores the birth of the European Union and the Europeanization concept. Through a comparative approach, students explore important topics for the EU, including migration, human rights and security policies, gender distribution in the political institutions, foreign and environmental policies.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- SHA HF 323/CAS SO 333 Italian Food Culture and Society: Foundations, Transitions and Representations (4)Effective
Fall '24- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry I
- Ethical Reasoning
- 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
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CFA MH 340 Italian Music: From Renaissance to 20th Century Avant-Garde (4)Effective
Fall '23- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Historical Consciousness
- The course examines the history, evolution, and main aesthetic features of Italian music from the 16th century to the mid-20th century. Italy played a central role in the development of music, witnessing the birth of opera, the cantata, oratorio, sonata, concerto, and symphony, all of which were disseminated internationally, creating a cohesive, international musical style. The main aim of the course is to provide students with a comprehensive view on the making and developments of the main Italian music genres, from Renaissance to post-WWII Avant-gardes.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Elective Courses in Italian
Please note: Some courses may carry language prerequisites as indicated in course syllabi.
- CAS HI 260 The Venetian Republic: Rise and Fall of a Global Power (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Historical Consciousness
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Research and Information Literacy
- Founded around the 5th-6th century by former Roman fleeing the barbarian invasions, Venice has been for centuries one of the strongest and most powerful political entities. Venice was for centuries one of the most powerful political global powers until its fall in 1797.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS LI 303 Exploring Padua: Culture, Language, and Life (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Oral and/or Signed Communication
- Writing-Intensive Course
- Prerequisite: CAS LI 212, fourth-semester college-level Italian, or the equivalent.
- The students explore the city of Padua and its surroundings, developing their analytic skills in order to understand and analyze contemporary culture, language and traditions which set their roots in ancient history, art, science and literature. Students familiarize themselves with some of the hot topics regarding life in Padua and in the Veneto area. They actively investigate places, become aware of the national and regional identity, face linguistic issues, establish relationships, explore academic as well as socio-political life, an discuss about the trends of tourism and economy in Italy.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS LI 308 Venetian Landscapes: A Contemporary Grand Tour (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Oral and/or Signed Communication
- Fall only
- Prerequisite: CAS LI 212, fourth-semester college-level Italian, or the equivalent.
- The Veneto region, where Padua always played and still plays a lively cultural role, has inspired artists, musicians, writers throughout the centuries. Johann W. Goethe, Lord Byron and Henry James, among others, wrote beautiful memories of their Italian journeys and left us extraordinary depictions of cities like Padua, Venice and Verona, surrounded by hills, mountains, lagoons and rural landscapes. Following the path of these famous travelers, the course aims to offer students the opportunity to discover the Veneto region through literary and cultural experiences. By means of on-site lessons, readings and field trips, students are able to recognize the local identity that deepens its roots into the landscape (natural and human), culture (progress and tradition), language (Italian and dialect), history and society.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS LI 354 Contemporary Italian Literature (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Writing-Intensive Course
- Spring only
- Prerequisite: 4 semesters of college level Italian or the equivalent
- Exploration of literary works and movements of Italian literature, from the end of the Second World War until today: Twentieth Century history, arts and literature are strictly interconnected, and are expression of the geo-historical and cultural Italian and European context.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS LI 355 Italian Migrant Literature (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Writing-Intensive Course
- Fall only
- Prerequisite: 4 semesters of college level Italian or the equivalent
- While at the end of the Nineteenth Century and the first half of the Twentieth Century, Italy was a country of emigration, recent history shows that it has become the country of destination for many people. This change concerns diverse aspects of life at various levels: social, anthropological, economic, but also linguistic and cultural. The course introduces students to different aspects of Italian migrant literature (e.g. history, style, topics) from its appearing in the late Eighties to today. Students will approach literary works written by authors with different intercultural backgrounds.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
University of Padua Elective Courses
University of Padua courses are taught either in Italian or in English. Students will select the appropriate course based on individual advising that they will receive by the Assistant Academic Director once they arrive in Padua.
Please note that the University of Padua semester starts a month after the beginning of the Padua program. The availability of a particular course cannot be guaranteed. Flexibility is highly recommended.
The list of courses below are courses that have been offered in past semesters, and is subject to variation from one semester to another. There is no guarantee that the courses below will be offered during your desired semester of enrollment. Some courses may also be in conflict with courses held at the BU Padua Center. It is highly recommended that each student identify alternate course choices in addition to their primary choices.
For a complete list of courses, visit the UNIPD website.
BU Study Abroad students have taken courses in the following University of Padua departments in past semesters:
- Archaeology
- Art History
- Biology
- Business
- Economics
- Film
- Geography
- History
- International Relations
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Management
- Music
- Natural Science
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
Housing & Student Services
- 1 student per household, 2 occasionally.
- Students will have a private bedroom with shared bathroom and living spaces.
- Partial board included - four dinners with host family per week and breakfast provided.
- All students have access to University of Padua cafeterias; no dining hall at the 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: early September to mid-December
- Spring Semester: late January to mid-May
Application Timeline
This program follows rolling admissions and may fill before the official deadline.
Fall Semester
- Applications Open December 15
- Applications Deadline March 15
Spring Semester
- Applications Open June 1*
- Applications Deadline October 1
This program is rolling admissions; applications are reviewed once all application materials are received, prior to all deadlines. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials are received by the BU Study Abroad office. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible as some programs and internship tracks have limited space and may fill up before the deadline. Submitting a complete application prior to the application deadline, does not guarantee acceptance. Students will be emailed an admissions decision within three weeks of a completed application.
Information for BU Students Awaiting an Admissions Decision and exceptions to the standard admission calendar for all students can be found here.
Cost & Financial Considerations
- 2024/2025 Tuition and Fees: $40,434
Cost includes tuition, housing, board, program related activities, administrative fee, overseas medical insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage. - Estimated program budget, including cost of living expenses.
- Grants and Scholarships available
