Arcadia University: Study at the Mediterranean Center in Syracuse, Sicily

  Italy

• Sicily: 
Syracuse

Term: Fall, Spring 
Dates: Fall 2008 & Spring 2009

Description: The Mediterranean Center for Arts & Sciences (MCAS) offers a wide range of liberal arts courses every semester which, combined with academic fieldtrips (included in the program fee and an integral part of the program in Sicily) enable students to explore the diversity of the Mediterranean world from a unique perspective and experience the richly varied culture of this fascinating island.

Its faculty and their interests are international in scope. The five main discipline areas classical studies, environmental studies, history and political science, Italian studies, and studio and fine arts offer you a unique cultural and educational experience that fosters the positive expression of ideas and ideals.

Credits
Courses may be selected among various departments. You will earn the following hours of credit.
* Fall or spring semester: 14-17 credits.

Admission Requirements
GPA Requirements: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

You must be in good academic standing and not on disciplinary probation. You need to submit a complete application including a transcript, letter of recommendation, and an advisor's form before Arcadia's Center for Education Abroad will consider your application.

Highlights: A city with origins dating back thousands of years, Syracuse is located at the southeastern corner of Sicily. The city was named Sirako by the Greek colonists who first settled there.

The names of the five districts of the ancient Greek city still survive in the five areas of modern Syracuse: Ortigia, Acradina, Neapolis, Tyche, and Epipolis. The island of Ortigia, where the Mediterranean Center is located, is the city's historical heart.

The island of Ortigia is connected to the mainland by several bridges and ringed by ancient city walls, which are relics of the defenses designed by Archimedes. Students will find it to be a place where immersion in Italian life comes naturally. The city is best imagined as a marvelous labyrinth of intricately paved streets that open up into expansive, well-lit squares or 'piazze'. This intimate urban landscape naturally breaks down barriers between students and residents. Mediterranean Center students frequently join local Italian university students and language students for academic, social, and cultural events.

A sense of continuity from the period of antiquity and the mythological themes that dominated that epoch are two of the most evocative aspects of this otherwise modern city. Temples, castles, fountains, ampitheatres, piazzas, and palazzos, all awash in the light and air of the surrounding sea, paint history in bright and living color.   

Cost in US$: Inquire about specific costs.

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.