The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University will expand a popular two-week summer study abroad experience into a full semester program beginning during 2001 fall semester.
"Semester in Florence" is an offshoot of "The Tones of Florence," a two-week program that will be offered for the fourth time in May of 2001 in Italy. That program was developed and directed by Carl Bleyle, professor of music, and offers students an opportunity to examine paintings of such masters as Leonardo da Vinci, observe sculptures by Michelangelo, hear Gregorian chants sung by the monks of San Miniato, and visit cathedrals and palazzi designed by Brunelleschi.
"We keep adding things to the two-week program," Bleyle said, "We always ask in our evaluations what we should cut out but we never had a student list anything. They all say they wished we had had more time to see other things in Florence. They want to be able to stay for a few days instead of a few hours (at each location)."
Beginning in the fall of 2001, students will get that opportunity. Although designed primarily for students in LAS, the new "Semester in Florence" is open to all students enrolled at Iowa State.
To participate, students must be of sophomore standing when they begin in the program and have a grade point average of 3.0. Selection will be based on a review from an application form, transcript, references and a personal interview. Deadline for applications for the fall 2001 semester is March 30, 2001, and participants are limited to 15.
The cost of the program is approximately $6,800 plus airfare and meals. The price includes tuition, fees, housing and a semester bus pass. Information on the program can be obtained from Bleyle or at the Study Abroad Resource Center in Hamilton Hall.
"The 'Semester in Florence' will be the 'crown jewel' in our (LAS') efforts within the humanities and interdisciplinary studies for a study abroad experience," said Zora Zimmerman, associate dean. "We think that this is the first, semester-length study abroad program for LAS and we think there will be a great interest among our students and students across thecampus."
Bleyle has developed courses that will be offered to students in the Florence study program. Courses in natural sciences and mathematical disciplines, social sciences, and arts and humanities are being designed specifically for Iowa State students. The entire curriculum will be integrated and centered on persons and topics associated with Florence and Tuscany.
"We wanted to design courses that will enable our students to go over there and not lose any time toward graduation at Iowa State," Bleyle said. "All the courses will be Iowa State courses and will count towards their academic progress. We will offer a solid curriculum."
Courses will be taught by Bleyle and faculty chosen from the British Institute of Florence. Students will be housed in two historic buildings in Florence. Students will also be required to take a four-credit Italian course. All courses will be taught in English however. Bleyle estimates most students will take 13 hours during the semester they are in Florence.
Bleyle believes there is no better place in the world for Iowa State to have a study abroad program.
"Florence is an ideal city for the land grant university student," he said. "It was founded by agriculturists whose nobility was acquired by the strength of their hands. I think much of our Western civilization is based on Florence during the Renaissance. You can hardly walk a step in that city without history screaming out to you."
