Program Description
This interdisciplinary program studies Proto-Renaissance, Renaissance and Post-Renaissance history, humanism and cultural advancement. The three disciplines will give a comprehensive view of how and why the art, architecture, culture and human condition developed during this time period and how these sensibilities permanently changed our view of the modern world. The course will explore how the development of linear perspective brought about a radical change in how people viewed the world and how humans navigated this radical change to usher in the modern world. The program imparts a broad understanding that is unavailable from a single discipline. Learning objectives will include studies in architectural and artistic advancements as well as health and nutrition changes due to the economic vitality of the Florentine ruling families. Also, views of how the human form and body image were impacted due to the introduction of humanism. Other learning objectives will encompass the Italian culture and language, navigation of several forms of Italian public transportation, living in an Italian community, grocery shopping, studies of Mediterranean food and the arts of wine, olive oil and balsamic vinegar production.
Location: Florence, Italy and surrounding cities
Health and Safety
Students registering for programs agree to the following: I understand that UCA does not control requirements of vendors, universities, and other stakeholders for study abroad programing. Should a vendor or organization require masks, vaccinations, quarantine, or other measures regarding COVID 19, I agree to follow these requirements. While UCA and its partners will work to update students, it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to take measures to protect themselves from the spread of disease.
Students must attend one health and safety meeting in the spring semester. Meeting dates will be announced after the program deadlines.
Participants will be enrolled in comprehensive international insurance for the duration of programming. It is the student’s responsibility to extend insurance cover if they extend the UCA program dates abroad.
Course Offerings
Dr. Ann Ballard Bryan, Clinical Instructor, Art & Design Department
HBST 1377 Education Abroad Seminar – for diversity in world cultures CORE credit
IDSN 4300 Internship
IDSN 4V60 Renaissance Studies
IDSN 3340 History of Architecture, Interiors and Furnishings I
IDSN 3341 History of Architecture, Interiors and Furnishings II
IDSN 3355 Introduction to Historic Preservation
HONORS 3310 Honors seminar (with the permission of Dr. Smith)
Dr. Nina Roofe, Associate Professor & Chair, Nutrition & Family Sciences
NUTR 4336 Nutrition for Life
HONORS 3310 Honors seminar (with the permission of Dr. Smith)
FACS 4335 Body Image and Culture
Important Dates
Travel Dates: May 16 – June 3, 2023
Program Application Open Date: September 15, 2022
Application and Deposit Deadline: February 3, 2023
Faculty Leaders
Dr. Ann Ballard Bryan, Interior Design Instructor
Dr. Ann Ballard Bryan has led ten education abroad programs with UCA and been involved in two education abroad programs for high school. She has traveled to Germany, Austria, Spain, the UK, France, Italy, Switzerland, Monaco, Mexico and Canada. Her focus is on history, art, architecture, and decorative arts of the Renaissance and the impact it has made on contemporary society.
Dr. Ann Ballard Bryan • abryan@uca.edu • Department of Art & Design
Dr. Nina Roofe, Department Chair, Associate Professor of Nutrition
Dr. Nina Roofe has taught dietetics students for twenty years and is currently an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Nutrition and Family Sciences. Her research interests include service-learning and interprofessional education. Dr. Roofe first led students to Italy in summer 2019.
Dr. Nina Roofe • McAlister 100 • Department of Nutrition and Family Sciences
Program Cost
The 2023 program cost for UCA in Florence: NFS & Interior Design can be found here.
For information about international insurance coverage: https://uca.edu/globalstudy/health-and-safety/
Learn Basic Italian
Practice some Italian before your trip with our Basic Italian Translations cheat sheet. Also, check out Mango Languages, a language learning resource free for UCA students.