Courses in Florence

Students choose from semester-long courses in linguistics, literature, history, art and other disciplines at the Middlebury Sede, and from course offerings at the Università degli Studi di Firenze. After consultation with the director, students define their course of study and decide on a specialization. Students must fulfill the distribution requirements indicated for the specialization that they have chosen.

Courses at the Middlebury Sede Capponi

Courses at the Sede Capponi are organized by Middlebury College for its own students. Students select courses based on their specializations in either the M.A. in Italian or the M.A. in Applied Languages in Italian.  All students are required to take a Writing and Research Methods class offered in their first semester at the School in Italy and a research paper in the following semester. 

Courses at the Università degli Studi di Firenze

Courses at the Università degli Studi di Firenze deepen students’ intellectual and linguistic growth while providing additional opportunities for social immersion. Each course requires approximately six contact hours per week.

Students are subject to both the privileges and restrictions established by the university administration. 

A course in an Italian university is usually a series of lectures or seminars to guide students in their study and preparation for a final comprehensive oral examination. Certain courses may also require a paper or a written exam prior to the oral examination.

Courses at the university involve classroom instruction as well as independent preparation of critical readings, texts, etc. assigned by the docente. Classroom instruction is only one aspect of the examination.