First-Year Honors Program in Italy
First-year students admitted with honors to Whitworth are invited to apply for an extraordinary study abroad opportunity in Italy over Jan Term 2025. This off-campus program provides a unique opportunity to live, learn and explore in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Art historian Meredith Shimizu and photographer Toshi Shimizu will lead the program. Students will complete two courses that benefit from this unique Jan Term location and format, both of which meet graduation, as well as honors, requirements.
The current itinerary includes Rome, Florence, Venice and possible day trips to Pisa and Milan. In Rome, we will visit the Roman Forum and Colosseum, Pantheon, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museum and the Borghese Gallery. In Florence we will visit the Duomo, the Accademia, Uffizi Gallery, Casa Buonarotti and Bargello. Sites visited in Venice will include Piazza San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, Chiesa dei Frari and Galleria dell’Accademia.
This is an experience you won’t want to miss! The priority application deadline is March 15, 2024. Applications will be accepted after this deadline on a space-available basis.
Students must submit their enrollment deposit to Whitworth before applying to this study away opportunity. Please note that it can take up to two business days for your deposit to process in our system before you can submit your trip application. Students will need their Whitworth username and password to apply for this program. If you are having issues accessing the application/logging in, please contact the help desk at 509.777.3911 or helpdesk@whitworth.edu.
Academic Programs
Students will have the opportunity to complete requirements for two shared curriculum courses that also satisfy two lower-division honors requirements.
History of Renaissance and Baroque Art in Italy (3-credit course in Italy)
Shared curriculum credits: Historical Analysis or Cultural Studies (Culture IG)
In the history of the Renaissance, one country stands out as the paragon of innovation and excellence: Italy. Traveling through Rome, Florence and Venice, students will see some of the world’s most famous works of art and architecture. Instead of being just tourists, however, we will be discussing the meaning and significance of these artistic monuments. Students will explore how the artworks both reflected and influenced political, social and religious discourse at the time they were made and in the centuries that followed.
Travel Photography (2-credit course in Italy)
Shared curriculum credits: Fine Arts (Expressive IG)
Since the discovery of photography, people have used cameras to capture images of their travels and create visual travelogues for friends, family or even a wider public. In this course, students will participate in that long tradition – first, learning the essential techniques for taking truly good photographs to capture sites and experiences, and then exploring ways to tell the story of their Italian travels. No fancy camera needed.
Domain of the Arts in Italy (1-credit prep course in fall)
Shared curriculum credits: Fine Arts (Expressive IG)
During a one-credit prep course in the fall, we will lay the groundwork for the courses in Italy. Students will not only develop a framework for understanding the development of Renaissance and Baroque art, but also read about and discuss specific artworks we will see in Italy. Along the way, we will survey how professional and amateur photographers have approached travel photography in the past.
Program Highlights
Students will explore three of Italy’s most fascinating cities. The program begins in the Rome, Italy’s capital and one of the most visited cities in the world. It then moves to beautiful Florence, celebrated as the birthplace of the Renaissance. The final few days will be enjoyed in the island city of Venice.
Program Cost
Students are responsible for $4,300 to cover round-trip airfare, travel expenses in Italy, room and most meals, and other program expenses. In addition, the standard $385 Jan Term fee applies.
Whitworth offers a limited number of off-campus programs travel grants ($500) to support students who may need financial assistance in order to study abroad/away. Students who have signed up and deposited for the Honors Program in Italy by May 1, 2024, will automatically be considered for a grant, and grants will be offered based on financial need.
Contact Information
Questions? Contact the Whitworth Admissions Office at admissions@whitworth.edu or 509.777.4786.