BU’s Padua programs take place in a lively town that’s home to one of the oldest universities in the world. Classes are taught at the BU Padua Center in English or Italian. The Padua Summer Italian & European Studies Program offers an immersive experience in Italian and European culture. Students enroll in two courses for a total of eight credits.
Requirements & Considerations
- Some courses carry prerequisites
- Admissions requirements for all programs
Curriculum
Please note that a minimum enrollment is necessary for a BU Padua course to be offered. All courses are taught by local faculty.
Students enroll in two courses from the following lists.
Language Courses
- 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:
Courses Taught in English
- 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:
- COM FT 315 History of Italian Cinema
- The course explores the history of Italian Cinema from 1943 to nowadays, with particular attention to the function of cityscapes and landscapes as portrayed by major Italian film directors such as Fellini, Antonioni, Moretti, Soldini and Segre. Starting from references to silent films and the Fascist cinema, the course will move on to Neorealism as well as Comedies Italian Style. The radical changes affecting Modern and Contemporary Italian cities will also be explored
- On-site lessons to observe the behind the scenes of some movies, as well as to iconic places, will be part of the course.
- Syllabus
Courses Taught in Italian
- CAS HI 262 Modern Italian History
- Prerequisite: 3 semesters of college level Italian or the equivalent
- 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 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 & Intercultural Literacy
- Oral and/or Signed Communication
- 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:
Housing & Student Services
- 1 student per household, 2 occasionally.
- Students will have a private bedroom with shared bathroom and living spaces.
- Kitchen available for occasional use with permission from host.
- Partial board included - four dinners with host family per week, breakfast included. All other meals are paid for by the student, out of pocket.
- 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
- Summer Term: Early June to mid-July
Application Timeline
This program follows rolling admissions and may fill before the official deadline.
Summer Semester
- Applications Open December 1
- Applications Deadline March 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
- Summer 2024 Tuition & Fees: $9,795
Cost includes tuition, housing, partial board, field trips, overseas medical insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage. - Estimated program budget, including cost of living expenses, for Summer 2024
- Grants and Scholarships available
- BU Study Abroad arranges a trans-Atlantic group flight that is not included in the program fee. We recommend that students take this flight.
