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Reggio Calabria is located on the eastern coast of the Strait of Messina. It is Calabria's most famous city, thanks to its glorious past and present cultural importance. The city was founded around 743 B.C., and throughout history its strategic position on the Ionian Sea has attracted the attention of the most powerful empires. At the crossroads of the Mediterranean Sea, the city was occupied by the Greeks, the Romans, the Normans, the Spaniards, and the French. All of these foreign contacts and influences have contributed enormously to the city's cultural heritage and forever shaped the mentality of its inhabitants.

Completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1908, the city today is a splendid modern and elegant urban area with many educational and cultural opportunities for its inhabitants. The local music conservatory and opera house, Teatro Francesco Cilea, provides an opportunity to study and enjoy music. The local museum houses the Bronzi di Riace, two ancient Greek statues that were discovered by a scuba diver in 1972. These ancient, larger-than-life bronze statues were en route to an unknown destination when the ship that carried them sank off the coast of Riace 2,500 years ago. The Bronzi, restored by local experts, have attracted millions of visitors to the Museo Civico.

The city's mild climate and natural attractions make Reggio a popular destination for tourists all year round. The road along its seafront, Via Marina, was described by Gabriele d’Annunzio, one of Italy's most famous poets, as the most beautiful kilometer in the country. From here, visitors can enjoy the wonderful view of the Strait of Messina; the island of Sicily; and Mount Etna, the most active volcano in Europe.

The Via Marina is the center of the city's social life. At night the area offers a variety of activities — such as concerts, art exhibits, and fashion shows — and many famous restaurants feature local culinary specialties.

Classes will be held at the Universita' degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria - Facolta' di Ingegneria. The courses will include field-study excursions to the main cities and cultural centers in Calabria and Sicily. Each student will enroll in one Italian course at the appropriate level, and all the students will enroll in the culture course.

Courses Offered

All the students will register for IT 299 (3 credits). Each student must also choose one of the Italian language courses listed below.

Italian language courses:
IT 002 Elementary Italian II (4 credits)
Grammar and reading continued; oral and aural phrases progressively increased; composition.

IT 003 Intermediate Italian (4 credits)
Advanced grammar; oral and written composition; reading of modern authors; Italian life and culture.

IT 399 Advanced Italian (3 credits)

Italian culture course:
IT 299 Southern Italian Culture (3 credits)

Eligibility

The program is open to all Penn State students and students from other institutions with a minimum 2.5 grade-point average. Applicants are considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Students are encouraged to apply early, as enrollment is limited.

Faculty

Vincenzo Gatto is an instructor in Italian at Penn State. A native of Italy with extensive international experience, he has studied at universities in Italy (Florence and Siena), Spain (University of Salamanca), and Ecuador (Universidad Católica de Quito), and has directed various programs in Mexico and Italy. He will teach both Italian language and the culture course.

Fiona M. Stewart is a lecturer in Italian at Penn State. Originally from Scotland, she graduated with a PhD in Italian from the University of Glasgow in 2007. While an undergraduate, she studied at the Università di Roma, La Sapienza, for a year and then spent a semester at the Università della Tuscia in Viterbo. She has traveled widely in Italy both for fun and for research. She will teach IT 002, IT 003, and IT 299.

 

Expenses

The total program fee includes two components: tuition (6 or 7 credits) and a class fee (based on activities and location). All the students will pay the in-state tuition rate for 2012 Summer Abroad programs.

Expenses NOT covered are (American dollars; estimated):

• passport
• personal expenses
• optional excursions
• round-trip airfare (approximately $1,200 plus tax)
• meals
• textbooks and supplies 

Please note: Students must arrive in Rome on or before the morning of May 9, and cannot leave Reggio until the morning of June 16.

For passport information, visit www.travel.state.gov/passport.

Estimated Tuition (6 or 7 credits)

Out-of-state students will be charged the out-of-state tuition rate until the first day of the program. At that time, the students' bursar account will be adjusted to reflect the in-state tuition rate of $681 per credit.

In-state students will pay tuition according to their standing and the Penn State tuition schedule.

Tuition (6 credits): $4,086 in-state/out-of-state
Tuition (7 credits): $4,767 in-state/out-of-state

The University reserves the right to revise the schedule of tuition and charges without further notice. For more information on tuition, visit http://tuition.psu.edu.

Published rates are effective for fall 2011 and spring 2012.

Class Fee

The class fee of $2,695 includes insurance, housing, all transportation within Italy, museum visits, and administrative costs.

Estimated Total Program Fee

The estimated program fee ($1,000 nonrefundable deposit applies to class fee) includes tuition as well as the class fee.

Total program fee (6 credits): $6,781
Total program fee (7 credits): $7,462

Information Technology Fee: 1 to 4.5 credits, $82; 5 to 8.5 credits, $180; 9 or more credits, $240

Financial Aid

For alternative grant, loan, and minority scholarship information, visit the Education Abroad Financial Aid and Scholarships web page.

Refunds

All cancellations must be received by the planner, in writing, by mail or fax. Do not use eLion; it does not remove you from the course, and you will be held responsible for all fees. Full refunds minus the nonrefundable $1,000 application fee will be made for cancellations received at least thirty days prior to the first day of the program. Refund requests made after that time will not be honored, and the participant or sponsoring organization will be responsible for the fees.

How to Apply

Students are limited to one application in the Summer Education Abroad registration database; however, if dates allow, applicants may participate in more than one program. 

If you are interested in having your application "copied" to additional programs, please email summerabroad@outreach.psu.edu. The $1,000 nonrefundable deposit must be submitted for each program in order for the applications to be complete. The deposits are later credited to the class fee or refunded if the student is not accepted. Please email summerabroad@outreach.psu.edu if you have any questions.

Submit your online application through Penn State Education Abroad.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 17, 2012

Deposit: The $1,000 nonrefundable deposit must be submitted to complete an application. If the student is not accepted, the deposit is refunded. Otherwise, the deposit is applied to the class fee.

Cancellation: The University may cancel or postpone any course or activity because of insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If a program is canceled or postponed, the University will refund registration fees but cannot be held responsible for any related costs, charges, or expenses, including cancellation/change charges assessed by airlines or travel agencies.

Access: Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing special accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the planner at 814-865-4591.

Space may be available after the application deadline. Please contact the planner to determine availability and/or to be added to the waiting list.

Contact Us

Regarding program content
Vincenzo Gatto
Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese
The Pennsylvania State University
237 Burrowes Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-0104
Fax: 814-863-7944
Email: vxg10@psu.edu

Regarding application process
Judy Meder, Program Planner
The Pennsylvania State University
240 Outreach Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-5143
Fax: 814-865-3749
Email: SummerAbroad@outreach.psu.edu

Regarding financial aid
Office of Student Aid
The Pennsylvania State University
314 Shields Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-6301

For alternative grant, loan, and minority scholarship information, visit the Education Abroad Financial Aid and Scholarships web page.