Abstract:

With growing parental concerns regarding studying abroad, yet the increasing needs for global knowledge and understanding, Robert Morris University (RMU) and Florence University of Arts (FUA) joined forces to create a very structured graphic design/photography program that introduced students to life in Italy from the perspective of a traveler, rather than a tourist or young college students lost and far from home. The program included 4 courses all focusing on a culminating project of producing a travel book on La Maremma, Italy. Prior to leaving the USA, students began a class at RMU that became an online course while abroad. It focused on preparing for the Italian lifestyle and on travel writing. While in Florence, students took 2 traditional classroom courses, and the final course was a field course where the students spent 5 intense days in La Maremma visiting historic sites, photographing the towns and meeting the people. Additionally, students met weekly with the faculty member from RMU who accompanied them abroad and worked closely with the publishing staff on overseeing the book. As a result of the structured coursework, the focused project, and accompanying faculty enrollment in the study abroad program increased over 500%. It also resulted in a richer, more culturally in-depth experience for the students as well as a real-world professional project.