Advanced Track

This track emphasizes acquisition of language skills and intellectual development through a curriculum of content-driven language and cultural study exclusively in Italian under the Middlebury Language Pledge®. We strongly urge all students to enroll in the program for the full academic year; compared to a shorter stay, the linguistic, academic, and personal benefits of a ten-month stay are incalculable.

Students will enroll in three courses for a total of four units of Middlebury credit, including a Writing and Research Methods course at the Middlebury Sede and a full-semester course at either the Università degli Studi di Firenze or the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze (enrollment is possible only in the spring semester for spring semester and academic year students).  Students will then select their third course from among others offered at the Sede or a half-semester course at the Università degli Studi di Firenze. The program director will guide you toward courses most appropriate for interests. 

To prepare for their immersive experience in Italy, students may wish to visit the School in Italy’s Pre-Immersion website for language practice, music, book, and movie recommendations, and student testimonials about studying under the Middlebury Language Pledge®.

Track Structure

1. Middlebury Sede Writing and Research Methods Course
2. Full-semester course at the Università degli Studi di Firenze or the Accademia di Belle Arti (enrollment is possible only in the spring semester for spring semester and academic year students)
3. Elective course in Italian Studies at the Middlebury Sede or a half-semester course at the Università degli Studi di Firenze

Middlebury Sede Courses

Area studies courses offered by Middlebury Sede vary from semester to semester. For the most recent examples of courses offered, please visit the Sede website here: https://sites.middlebury.edu/middleburyschoolabroaditaly/sede-course-descriptions-ug-adv-2/