Harvard Summer Program in Abruzzo (Chieti and Vasto), Italy
Faculty: Elvira G. Di Fabio and guest lecturers
(8 units: UN, GR) Limited enrollment
Program dates: June 11–July 17
Application deadline: March 1
Program cost: $7,000
Deposit due: April 15
Full payment due: May 15
This program provides a unique opportunity to study intensive Italian with Harvard faculty while staying in the charming city of Vasto, southeast of Chieti, in Italy's Abruzzo region—the land of hermits, mystics, and poets. Students enjoy the wonders of the natural setting, from the majestic beauty of the Apennine mountains to the sparkling waters of the Adriatic coast.
The program includes excursions to nearby points of interest, such as the Maiella National Park, the famous confetti factory in Sulmona, and the Cascella Art Museum in Pescara. Abruzzo is centrally located with easy access to the nation's transportation system, so students can conveniently explore the history and beauty of Italy on their own. Cultural events abound in the summer—from traditional festivals to popular music concerts—and the attractive piazza in Vasto Centro comes alive every night as locals enjoy their evening passeggiata, the breathtaking coastline, and the refreshing sea breeze from Vasto Marina.
Course of Study
The course includes a daily average of 5 hours of class time at least five days a week supplemented by special seminars with renowned scholars and experts in the language arts and in the history of modern Italy. Applicants may be asked to take a placement test before being accepted into the program.
ITAL S-52 Study Abroad in Italy: Mapping the Cultures of Italy—Food for Thought (31824)
Sapore, which means "taste" in Italian, shares the same root as sapere, which means "to know." This course gives students a taste of the knowledge that is found in the language of food, what we have coined glottogastronomia. Abruzzo, at Villa Santa Maria, is home to one of the premier cooking schools in Italy. And Fara San Martino, also in Abruzzo, is the home of the best pasta in Italy. With such gastronomic resources at hand, Abruzzo is the perfect setting for this sort of study. A complete, intensive grammar review is coupled with a dossier of readings including Dante and Tabucchi, covering literary comestibles and excerpts on the history (Artusi) and sociology (Il Galateo) of Italian cuisine. Regional differences are emphasized through hands-on research. As a course project, students' cultural, linguistic, and culinary discoveries are digitally documented with software that allows for the visualization of data. If only data could be tasted. Prerequisite: At least two semesters of college-level Italian, or the equivalent.
Course Credit
Harvard College Credit. For Harvard College students, this program counts as 8 units (one full-year course) of Harvard College degree credit, at least one of which may be counted for concentration credit, pending approval of the concentration's undergraduate advisor.
Harvard Summer School courses and credits are accepted toward degrees at most colleges and universities. Since degree requirements vary at different schools, students are advised to obtain transfer credit approval from their home institutions before registering for Harvard Summer School courses.
Faculty
Instructor and Program Director Elvira G. Di Fabio is Senior Preceptor and Coordinator of Italian Language Instruction in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at Harvard University. She is also the Undergraduate Advisor in Italian and the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies. She has directed the Harvard Summer Program in Abruzzo since 2002.
This program is offered in collaboration with the faculty at Università degli Studi G. d'Annunzio (Ud'A Chieti), in Abruzzo. Other sponsoring organizations include the Consortium of Italian Teachers Teaching Abroad (CITTA) and the De Rada Italian Institute.
Guest lecturers to be announced.
Application
Students should submit the Harvard Summer Program in Abruzzo (Chieti and Vasto), Italy application form*, official transcripts, a $50 nonrefundable application fee, and a supplementary statement describing their coursework in Italian, travel experience abroad (not a prerequisite), and the reasons for their interest in the program to Dr. Elvira G. Di Fabio, The Harvard Summer Program in Abruzzo (Chieti and Vasto), Italy, Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, Boylston Hall 321, Harvard University, Cambridge MA 02138 USA. Students must have official transcripts sent directly from their schools to Dr. Di Fabio; unofficial copies of transcripts will not be accepted. Students must be 18 years of age or older. All application materials must be received by March 1.
Students will be notified of admissions decisions by mid-March.
* Application forms may be downloaded from this website. (To download PDFs students must have Adobe's Acrobat Reader installed on their computers.)
Cost
The cost of the program is $7,000. In addition to the program fee, students are responsible for a $110 health insurance fee (which is waived if students have US insurance coverage) and for their transportation to and from Abruzzo. The program fee covers:
- tuition
- room and some meals
- course materials
- excursions (including meals when appropriate)
A nonrefundable deposit of $700 must be received by April 15 to ensure the admitted student's place in the program. Payment in full is due by May 15. A $100 late fee will be charged for payments received after this date.
Students who do not purchase health insurance through the Harvard Summer School should confirm that their insurance provider offers coverage outside the United States.
Harvard College students are eligible for financial assistance through the Harvard Office for International Programs (OIP). Students may download a study abroad scholarship information sheet or contact the OIP for more information. Other Harvard students may be eligible for financial assistance through their Harvard financial aid offices. Students enrolled at other institutions should consult their respective financial aid offices.
Accommodations
Students are housed in a hotel in Vasto Marina. Rooms are double occupancy, are comfortably furnished, have private bathrooms with showers, and have secure entrances. Single rooms are available upon request for an additional fee. Students have access to the Internet and various research opportunities both in Vasto proper and at the Chieti campus of Ud'A.
Additional Information
Contact Dr. Elvira G. Di Fabio, The Harvard Summer Program in Abruzzo (Chieti and Vasto), Italy, Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, Boylston Hall 321, Harvard University, Cambridge MA 02138 USA; edifabio@fas.harvard.edu; (617) 495-5478; fax (617) 496-4682.
For information about accommodations, students with disabilities should contact Joanne Eno, Disability Services Coordinator, at (617) 495-0977 or (617) 495-9419 (TTY) as soon as possible. Request for accommodation forms and supporting diagnostic documentation must be submitted by April 29, 2006. See Disability Services.
The Harvard Summer School is aware of the risks associated with international travel. Should the US Department of State issue a travel warning for any of the countries in which a study abroad program is planned, the program in that country may be cancelled.