More Classes Offered at the U of A Rome Center

Nestled in the heart of Rome, the University of Arkansas’s Rome Center is the perfect study abroad opportunity, especially for rising sophomores. Anchoring this study abroad program is its rich curriculum. Established in 1989, the U of A Rome Center has been a haven for arts and architecture study, but last summer the University expanded the curriculum to feature a variety of U of A core class offerings as well as upper level electives in Italian culture, language, art, interior design and history.  With recent business core course additions of Principles of Macroeconomics and Principles of Microeconomics, this program is sure to have something to offer no matter what college you're in! To see a full course list and to apply for this summer, just visit http://studyabroad.uark.edu/romecampus.

The U of A Rome Center is conveniently located in one of the most important palaces in Rome – Palazzo Taverna.  Not far from Piazza Navona, Palazzo Taverna first belonged to the Orsini Family, and in 1328 the site took the name of Mount Giordano, in tribute to Giordano Orsini a Roman Senator in 1341. The palace was referred to by Dante in his literary masterpiece The Divine Comedy (Inferno, Canto XVIII). In 1688, after five hundred years of uninterrupted ownership, Flavio Orsini, burdened by debts, was obliged to sell the property to the Gabrielli Family, a very old and noble Roman family. Since 1888, however, the Earls Taverna of Milan have owned the palazzo.  

Today, the buildings in the Palazzo house many different activities from private residential apartments to banqueting halls, diplomatic residences and artist studios.  Palazzo Taverna has a Baroque wing and an Empire wing -- each featuring frescoes from the turn of the 19^th century by painter Coccetti. The U of A Rome Center is housed in the Empire wing of the Palazzo where the most important architects of the 20^th century met to discuss their ideas.

It is in this prestigious setting that the U of A Rome Center offers classes during the first summer session. This five-week terms closely aligns with Fayetteville’s summer session. Faculty members from the Fayetteville campus join with Italian instructors, who have extensive knowledge of Italian language, art, business, interior design, architecture, and culture. Students enroll in two U of A courses, for a total of six credit hours.

The U of A Rome Center offers an educational experience that replaces the traditional classroom with a didactic, hands-on approach. The ‘Roman Razorbacks’ use this ancient city as a laboratory to examine historical and contemporary Rome through numerous local site visits and museum tours.  Students see the Colosseum, Vatican City and its Sistine Chapel as well as the works of Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Bernini, and Borromini which are scattered throughout the city.

Regional site visits make the program more dynamic. To that end, students take day trips to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Villa Adriana, the home and governmental seat of 2^nd century Roman Emperor Hadrian. Additionally, students visit Villa d’Este which is famous for its captivating fountains and gardens as well as for being the final resting place for many of the ruins of Villa Adriana.  Students also explore Villa Farnese in Caprarola and Villa Lante in Bagnaia, two magnificent Renaissance villas in the area.  A weekend trip to Florence, the jewel of Renaissance Italy, is another unique highlight of this program.

“Everything about the program flows well together. Classes were Monday through Thursday, and Friday to Sunday was always different. There were mandatory site trips, free weekends, and optional out of town trips. The teaching method was very different, because we were able to go to the site that we studied. This rarity is what made the study abroad so special. My ‘textbook’ was not pages bound together. It was churches that were hundreds of years old, villas that belonged to important families, and important public architecture. Even our school, Palazzo Taverna, has a rich history behind it. Being able to experience the architecture and then learn from our experience with it made learning not only fun, but also tangible,” said one student.

Students are housed in apartments which are located in traditional, well-established neighborhoods either within walking distance of the U of A Rome Center or conveniently located next to public transit routes for easy access to the Center.  

“I like the simplicity of Italy; I didn’t realize how diverse & beautiful the land and people of Italy are….I learned I can navigate a huge city all on my own,” said one student. 

This summer, students have the opportunity to take U of A courses like Basic Art Lecture, U.S. History, Italian Language, Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics, Art and Culture in Italy, Living in Rome – From Antiquity to Modern Life, Drawing, Power through Art, and Western European History….all from an Italian perspective and with Rome as a backdrop. For more information and to apply, visit http://studyabroad.uark.edu/romecampus but hurry, space is filling quickly!