Courses

Choose a Curricular Concentration program track or undertake the General Studies Program, selecting three to four electives from a wide array of disciplines. All students are required to enroll in one Italian language course. 

Because there are so many ways to create a semester at ISI, we encourage you to work closely with your program advisor during the pre-departure period to determine a curricular focus that meets your goals and objectives.

• Please review your courses with your academic or study abroad advisor to ensure they will transfer back to your home school and that you are following your home school’s policies.
• Please be flexible—we can’t guarantee specific courses. If your participation in the program depends on a particular course, be sure to make a note on your online course form.

Choosing Your Courses

Refer to the ISI website for course choices and availability. 

when completing your course preferences form:

• Review all course information for the program carefully.
• Be sure to include any required courses, including Italian Language.
• Secure approval for at least 6 elective courses.
• Please list courses in order of preference.

General Studies - Build Your Own Program

• Students enroll in a minimum of 12 credits and a maximum of 17 credits.  General Studies course options are explained further here.
• You may take a mix of courses from across all of the available disciplines to build your perfect semester. 
• One Italian language course is required, and the courses are available from beginner through advanced. 

• Independent Research: You have the option of replacing one ISI Florence course with your own research project to complete with faculty support. An excellent achievement to add to a resume.  Contact your program advisor for more information.

Curricular Concentrations

• Architecture & Interior Design – design studies and architectural electives and Italian language. This concentration has a set curriculum.

• Food Studies & Sustainability – history, business, culture, media and gastronomy
•  STEM – biology, chemistry, and physics (computer science and math coming soon!)

Special Academic Options

• Independent Research options are available for 3-6 credits as part of the General Studies Scholars program. This is independent work under the supervision of a faculty member that you’ll plan for prior to departure.
• Community Engagement – practicums for credit will get you out in the local Florentine community to build your career readiness skills for life post-graduation.
• Global Leadership Program – develop and enhance leadership competencies by completing special activities under the guidance of a faculty mentor to earn a not-for-credit digital certificate from ISI.

Special Considerations

• Students must take at least one Italian language course. Your Italian language course will be finalized after a placement test during orientation.
• You cannot enroll in online courses: Arcadia University is unable to process credits of online courses offered at the ISI due to transcript & Title IV reporting constraints.

Enrollment Process

Students will source their courses from the ISI Florence course catalog and complete their Arcadia Abroad Academic Preferences Form (APF) as part of the admissions process. Arcadia will share this information with ISI, and students can make changes to that list until approximately two months prior to departure (ISI will confirm the date directly).

Approximately one month before departure, ISI will release the student’s schedule into their ISI portal. Students then have approximately two weeks to work directly with the ISI Florence Registrar to make changes to their course list and schedule during this formal add/drop period. At the end of that period, the student must confirm their schedule in their ISI portal. After the student has confirmed their schedule, the only changes that can be made is the dropping of classes (not recommended) or a minor adjustment to a language class based on level alone.

Other Information and Fees

Most courses use a textbook or a “reader,” a packet of information compiled by the professor. Books and readers will be available for purchase at the ISI or at local copy shops and bookstores. You will receive more information regarding locations and costs on arrival.

Your course may require academic excursions and other activities that have additional fees associated which are not included in your program fee. Please be sure to consult the ISI course pages to learn if your courses have associated lab fees.

Grade Scale

Grades will be reported exactly as they appear on the ISI Florence transcript.