academics

Spring 2025: Thursday, January 9 - Saturday, May 3, 2025 (16 weeks inc. 1 week break)

Students take 2 core courses and 2 electives for a total of 13 credits.

CORE courses:

• ITA 101or ITA 102: Italian Language in context (4 credits; ITAL 101 or ITAL 102)

• OCL 210: Sustainable Rome (3 credits; ITAL 390; UP 1--)

Electives:

• GLI 201: Italian Food and Culture (3 credits; FSHN 1--)

• HRL 201: Contemporary Italy: Culture & Society (3 credits; SOC 2--; ITAL 270)

• TMD 301:  Communicating Culture (3 credits; CMN 2--; MACS 2--)

• INT 101: Academic Internship - 80h.  (3 credits; course equivalency pending Home college and internship placement)

For course descriptions and further information visit: https://borromini-institute.com/programs/spring-2025-rome-program/

Summer 2025: Friday, May 23 - Saturday, July 19, 2025 (8 weeks)

Students take 3 core courses for a total of 10 credits. 

CORE courses:

• ITA 101 or ITA 102: Italian Language (4 credits; ITAL 101 or ITAL 102)

• INT 101: Academic Internship - 80h.  (3 credits; course equivalency pending Home college and internship placement)

• OCL 220: Sustainable Roman Urbanism and Agriculture (3 credits; ITAL 2--, UP 1--)

For course descriptions and further information visit: https://borromini-institute.com/programs/summer-2025-rome-program/

Fall 2025 Semester: Friday, September 5 - Saturday, December 13, 2025 (14 weeks)

Students take 2 core courses and 2 electives for a total of 13 credits.

CORE courses:

• ITA 101 or ITA 102: Italian Language (4 credits; ITAL 101 or 102)

• OCL 210: Sustainable Rome (3 credits; ITAL 390; UP 1--)

Electives:

• GLI 299:  Food Production: Olive Oil & Wine (3 credits; FSHN 1--)

• HRL 101:  Social Justice in Italy (3 credits; course equivalency pending)

• TMD 301:  Communicating Culture  (3 credits; CMN 2--; MACS 2--)

• INT 101: Academic Internship - 80h.  (3 credits; course equivalency pending Home college and internship placement)

For course descriptions, see https://borromini-institute.com/programs/fall-2025-rome-program-2/

Note: Courses offered in the Food Systems & Sustainability: Study & Intern in Rome are currently under review for articulation for Illinois credit. Please check back here soon for updated course descriptions and information on Illinois credit equivalencies. 

Students will be busy the first weekend for required orientation activities including: 

• Meeting with the Academic Director regarding classes

• Meeting the Borromini Institute staff and faculty

• Appointment for your residency permit application

• Cultural orientation

• Safety and security orientation

• Icebreaker activities to help you get acquainted with each other and with the city of Rome

• First Italian class

• Housing Orientation

• Orientation sessions that are identity & inclusion-specific (focusing on LGBTQIA+, women, students of color, etc.) 

• Walking tour to get acquainted with the area near housing

• Walking tour near school premises

As per Borromini Institute policy and in compliance with the policies of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, students with a documented disability are required to communicate their academic accommodations and subsequently provide official written documentation. They are entitled to, and will receive, reasonable academic accommodations to ensure their ability to successfully participate in and complete their courses. Such students must make an appointment during office hours to discuss any disability with the instructor, and are responsible for bringing to the instructor’s attention any accommodation needs prior to or early in the term. 

If you have any questions about what documentation to send, please contact Elena Broscritto (elenab3@illinois.edu). You may also consult with Illinois Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES): https://www.disability.illinois.edu/academic-supports/accommodations/study-abroad

If you need to discuss your academic accommodations before you depart for the program, you may email Borromini Institute staff at programs@borromini.institute.

During the semester, students are encouraged to talk with their instructors or with Borromini Institute staff about any concerns related to their coursework and their progress. 

Attendance and Participation

Being a student in Rome is a wonderful experience but prioritizing all courses is a must. 

Attendance is required and will be taken at the beginning of lectures and site visits. This includes program excursions which are all mandatory. Much of the course will take place on-site with thematic visits to parts of the city where the themes discussed in the lectures and readings can be observed. 

Students are allowed no more than two unexcused absences; after the third absence, the grade will decrease by 1/2 letter grade or 5% per absence. Students should communicate expected absences to the instructor and the Borromini Institute staff.

In the case of remote participation, students are required to have access to a laptop/computer with audio capabilities and a functional webcam. Participants are required to have reliable access to the internet/WiFi.

Communication

The professor is always available during and after class to answer questions and can be contacted by email for additional feedback or clarification. Emails will be answered within 24 hours, and usually more quickly, unless otherwise indicated. To request an appointment to speak in person or video conference send an email indicating the issue and possible times. At any time students may also reach out to the Learning Facilitator to discuss general matters related to the course (also by email). 

First Amendment Protection

The Borromini Institute supports and upholds the First Amendment protection of freedom of speech and the principle of academic freedom in order to foster a learning environment where open inquiry and the vigorous debate of a diversity of ideas are encouraged. Students will not be penalized for the content or viewpoints of their speech as long as student expression in a class context is germane to the subject matter of the class and conveyed in an appropriate manner. 

Non-Discrimination, and Anti-Harassment Policy

The Borromini Institute is committed to a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity; discrimination and harassment of any form are strictly prohibited, as better explained in the Student Handbook.

Plagiarism 

Plagiarism is a serious academic violation and should be taken seriously. One is responsible for plagiarism when: the exact words of another writer are used without using quotation marks and indicating the source of the words; the words of another are summarized or paraphrased without giving the credit that is due; the ideas from another writer are borrowed without properly documenting their source.