Costs

$2595* (after $400 stipend is applied to SRU Student—subject to change) which includes roundtrip airfare from Pittsburgh airport and all ground transportation in Italy (buses, trains), hotels, most breakfasts, and selected site/ museum visits.

*Tuition, university fees, and the application fee are not included. The airfare and other costs may change may change depending on fuel prices and other costs outside of SRU’s control. As we get closer to the departure the trip costs will be finalized.

 

FAQ’s
1.Can non-English majors go?
Absolutely! Some of our most successful students on the trip have been from outside the English department.

 

2. I can’t speak Italian? Will this ruin the trip for me?
Definitely not. Most Europeans speak multiple languages, with English usually at the top of the list. Italians are very used to having visitors, especially in the larger cities and all Italians have to take English in school. Plus we’ll teach you some basic survival Italian to help you get around. Non hai paura! (Don’t worry!).

 

3. Can I bring a friend who’s in college, but not an SRU student?
Yes, but they must meet briefly with either Dr. Permenter or Dr. O’Connor, get a letter of recommendation, and enroll in one of the classes.

 

4. What will I learn?
What won’t you learn? You see one of the most beautiful countries on earth, eat food like you’ve never imagined (lavender gelato, saffron rissotto, anyone?), see breathtaking art and architecture, and learn the incredible difference between ice cream and gelato, among a thousand other things. And earn at least three (3) SRU course credits. Bene? Si, molto, molto bene!

 

 

Sign-up in two (2) easy steps:
1. Visit the university’s online application site an complete the form for our Italy class here.
2. Bring a check for $125 to the Office for Global Engagement to hold your place.

If you need more info please visit or contact Dr. Permenter or Dr. O’Connor in the English Department (316 Spotts) or the Office for Global Engagement

 

• Dr. Permenter (316D Spotts) | 724.738.2358 |  rachela.permenter@sru.edu
• Dr. O’Connor (317E Spotts)    | 724.738.2358 | mark.oconnor@sru.edu
• Office for Global Engagement (002 Spotts)

14 days in Italy
2 days in Rome; 6-7 days in Florence (w/optional day in Venice); 1 day in Poppi; 2 days in Bologna; 2 days in Milan

 

 

Engl 298: Dante and Our Journeys*
3 credits (Dr. Permenter)

Open to all majors!
This course will focus on The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri and its importance to the Italian Renaissance, the arc of Western thought, and transatlantic democracy. Most importantly, it will highlight how this relates to one’s own journey through life. While traveling through Dante’s Italy, students will literally and figuratively walk in the footsteps of one who helped change for the Western world what it means to be human, focusing on the capacity in each of us to add beauty and truth to the journey.

 

*Students may petition to have this course substitute for World Literature (English 402)

 

Engl 338 Creative Nonfiction: Food/Travel Writing*
3 credits (Dr. O’Connor)

Open to all majors!
This creative writing class is a full-immersion course focusing on food and travel writing in Italy! Alongside readings by contemporary food and travel writers, students will practice creative nonfiction essays, journaling, and short write-ups, emphasizing the food and culture of Italy. As part of the immersion experience, students will participate in a cooking lesson with a renowned Italian chef.

 

*Students may petition to have this course substitute for English Special Topics (English 298)