ECU Tuscany Classes

All classes are 3 credit hours each. Students may select 12 to 18 hours. We may offer more or less classes, depending on student demand so contact the director if you do not see classes that will fit into your degree requirements! Classes offer GENERAL COLLEGE CREDITS in HUMANITIES, FINE ARTS, SCIENCE, SOCIAL SCIENCE, FOREIGN LANGUAGE, and KINESIOLOGY–from our own ECU catalog– taught by ECU teachers!!

Italian Language –

ITAL 1001. Italian Level I (3) (5 week immersive)

ITAL 1002. Italian Level II (3) (5 week immersive)

(Both Italian 1 and Italian 2 can be taken during the same semester)

In these intensive classes, students benefit from an immersive approach to learning language and gain an improved ability to engage with the Italian people. Small groups and activities ensure this class provides practical knowledge that will enhance the study abroad experience. Living in Italy will make learning Italian much easier, and, learning Italian will add richness to the study abroad experience. All students on the program may participate in an introductory “survival Italian” class, even if they are not enrolled in the Italian classes for credit. Because both Italian 1 and Italian 2 are taken during the same semester, the classes are intensive and require more in-class hours than our other academic offerings.

Italian Literature – Boccaccio – (the class and book, THE DECAMERON, is in ENGLISH)

ITAL 2220. (3) (FC:HU) (general college humanities credits)

Boccaccio, wrote the Decameron: a collection of 100 short tales called “novelle” divided into 10 days. Each day presents a different theme: sad love, happy love, funny tricks, etc. An initial frame story tells of seven young women and three young men who, wishing to escape from the plague in 1348, seek refuge in the countryside and tell stories to each other to spend their time in a pleasant and useful way. All the stories are a point of departure to discover everyday life of the Middle Ages, with the values of the emerging merchant class and typical manners of the era. These tales will be an exciting way to reflect on human behavior, differences between ancient and contemporary life, justice, intelligence, love relationships and other topics giving a general idea of what is most important in life. This is a discussion based class with our local Italian teacher, Leonardo Lastilla who offers his unique Italian perspective in engaging class discussions!

Special Topics – Foreign Authors and the Italian Scene

ENGL 1000 or INTL 2100. (3) (FC:HU) (general college humanities credits)

This discussion based course will introduce students to representative works of fiction and travel writing by foreign authors that have Italian settings. The main purpose is to prove that one’s exploration of the world through travel is invested with the purpose of self-exploration and self-growth. Through both fictional and non-fictional texts, we will explore how travel has been, and is, a key means for self reflection and confrontation.. By reading and discussing works by foreign writers who have traveled to Italy, we will consider how these works depict and make use of the Italian scene and how the Italian scene influences foreign characters, their imagination and how they respond to Italy. This class is not only a wonderful opportunity for reflection about your own life experiences and personal values, but you will have the unique experience of learning from our local Italian teacher, Leonardo Lastilla, as he prompts the discussions, contrasting his own experiences growing up and living in Italy to yours in the USA. If you like discussion -based classes, you will enjoy this one.

History of Ancient Rome (753 BCE – 476 CE)

HIST 3410: (offers foundation Social Science Credits)

The rise and fall of ancient Rome is a story central to understanding the structure of the western world. In this class we will learn about Rome from its beginnings as a monarchy, to its growth and turbulence as a Republic, and finally to its grandiose and sometimes scandalous splendor as an Empire until it’s inevitable collapse. No previous knowledge of Roman history is necessary; this is a lecture-based class with the intention of being accessible, entertaining, and enlightening. We will be visiting the Roman Coliseum, Palatine Hill, Pompeii and more and the stories you will hear in this class will help you picture it more clearly!

Dynamic Earth – Geology in Tuscany

GEOL 1500 and GEOL 1501 – 3 credit class with a 1 credit lab= 4 credits – (general college science credits with a lab)

This class is offered asynchronously, online, by one of our favorite teachers, who taught for us on the ECU Tuscany program in Italy a few years ago. If you like doing class work at your own pace, with less in class hours while in ITALY, this will be a great way to earn your required 4 science credits. This introductory course will help students understand why geology matters and how it impacts their lives. Students will cover the fundamental concepts of geology as they pace themselves through the various readings and quizzes, moving through the class units independently during the semester.

Photography (NOTE: CAMERA EQUIPMENT REQUIRED)

Art 1250 (Digital Photography for non-art majors) FC:FA (foundation fine arts credits for non-art majors) Art 2220 (Photography (for art majors))

This class will introduce students to photography through the use of a digital camera and photo editing software. Students will make photographs learning to technically control the camera along with learning how to compose images. The unique opportunity of a Tuscan landscape, culture, and history will be our jumping off point for assignments that will incorporate ALL that we are seeing and learning. You will need a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera (DSLR) that can focus and zoom manually, can meter manually, can set aperture and shutter speeds manually and set white balance and ISO manually. You will also need a laptop computer with digital editing software. Details will be sent in the class syllabus.

Art History and Art Appreciation Art 1910 –

Art Appreciation (FC:FA) (general college fine arts credits for non art majors) Arth 3915 – Art of the Middle Ages (FC:FA) (3)(art and non-art majors)-(not offered as WI )

Museums, cathedrals, and architecture in Tuscany will take us beyond our classroom as we study the amazing collections of artworks in Tuscany. This onsite class will take place in museums, cathedrals and monuments in: San Gimignano, Volterra, Siena, and Florence, and also Rome, Pompeii, and Venice. The Art 1910 class will count as fine arts foundation credits for non-art majors and Art 3915 counts as required art history credits for art majors (it can be taken out of sequence). The goal is to investigate the rich artistic output of Italy from the Dark Ages to the Renaissance.. This overview is not confined to works of art but includes the historical, social, cultural, political and patronage issues that affected the style of Italy’s most important artists.

Book Arts or Color and Design

Art 3002 (counts as an art elective for art majors)

Art 3004-(pre-requisite-Art 3002) – (counts as an art elective for art majors)

Art 1001: for non-art majors. FC:FA (3) (fine arts general college credits for non art majors)

Your semester in Italy is a once in a lifetime experience, and in this course, we will use the idea of journaling and making books to record your memories in unique ways. In addition to traditional book binding fundamentals- pop-ups, dioramas, tunnel book structures, or stilted structures made from a variety of materials can all be engineered with platforms, pull tabs and spinning mechanisms. We will learn how to effectively incorporate two- dimensional printed imagery collected from your travels into our structures that explore new ideas for the book as serious play, curiosity and adventure.

Lifetime Health and Fitness

KINE 1000 (1 credit hour) Lifetime Physical Activity and Fitness Lab (required general college class)

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the importance of lifetime physical activity and fitness. We will explore the various aspects of total fitness including physical fitness, diet, weight control, exercise, flexibility, motor skills, and stress reduction. Emphasis will be placed on various exercise platforms as the physical activity component, allowing students to experience multiple workouts and how each might fit into their own lifestyle, (such as interval training, yoga, pilates, walking, and running.)

Jewelry and Metals

Art 2300 – Jewelry survey –

Art majors or non- art majors – but be aware that this fine arts class NOT offer general college fine arts credits to non-art majors like photo does. This class is an introduction to Jewelry design using copper, brass and or sterling silver. Basic joining and soldering techniques will allow you to create rings, pendants, earrings etc.