Torino Courses – 2025 Spring

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Studying abroad can be a more meaningful and invigorating learning experience than at home—both inside and outside of the classroom. You may be more curious and alert than you usually are so use this heightened energy to enhance your studies as well as your cultural and geographical explorations. You may also encounter different teaching styles and course processes; be prepared to adapt and to learn.

Academics

Students may enroll in 12 to 18 credits per semester comprised of Italian language plus electives in business, international management, politics, and cultural studies. At least one Italian language course is required. Course availability is contingent upon student enrollment and is subject to change.

Click the course title to view course details, description, and availability.

Italian Language Studies

All students are required to spend the beginning of the fall and spring semesters taking an intensive six-week Italian language course, which allows for rapid acquisition of language and culture. Language courses generally have a maximum enrollment of 15 students each, but may vary by level. All language courses focus on the skills of speaking, reading, writing, and listening. The following courses are offered during the intensive period:

• Elementary Italian I

  Spring

  Italian 100-level 4 credits Taught in Italian

  This course is designed to help learners of Italian develop basic communicative competence and critical thinking skills. It offers an intensive study and practice of the productive and receptive language skills in the oral and written modes.

• Intermediate Italian I

  Spring

  Italian 200-level 3 credits Taught in Italian

  Students will learn to narrate in the main timeframes and use the subjunctive mood in the correct contexts. This course will focus on writing, familiarizing the student with the conventions of different types of written genres, such as descriptions, narrations in emails, blogs or journal articles, formal and informal letters, and expository academic essays.

  Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level Italian, or equivalent

After the intensive period, semester students have the option to take one additional language course. You may choose from the following:

• Elementary Italian II

  Spring

  Italian 100-level 4 credits Taught in Italian

  This course is designed to help learners of Italian develop basic communicative competence and critical thinking skills. It offers an intensive study and practice of the productive and receptive language skills in the oral and written modes. The main emphasis of this course is on communication

  Prerequisite: one semester of college-level Italian, or equivalent

• Intermediate Italian II

  Spring

  Italian 200-level 3 credits Taught in Italian

  Students will learn to narrate in the main timeframes and use the subjunctive mood in the correct contexts. This course will focus on writing, familiarizing the student with the conventions of different types of written genres, such as descriptions, narrations in emails, blogs or journal articles, formal and informal letters, and expository academic essays.

  Prerequisite: three semesters of college-level Italian, or equivalent

Spring Semester

International Business, Politics, Architecture, and Italian Studies

• Business Leadership, Management and Teamwork

  Spring

  General Business Management 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  The course presents leadership, management, and teamwork concepts and models that have emerged in recent years. It is conceived as a behavioral course, aiming to challenge students to apply these concepts and models through in-class exercises, simulations, role-plays, etc. in a dynamic and participative way.

  Prerequisite: one semester of college-level business, or equivalent

• Comparative Government and World Politics

  Spring

  Political Science 200-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This introductory course offers an overview of the concepts and methods that allow for the systematic comparison of political phenomena across countries, including government structures, political institutions, ideologies, parties and party systems, elections, and political behavior. Using six case studies -Mexico, Italy, UK, Iran, Russia, and Nigeria- will allow students to examine in depth the political life of each of these countries.

• Economic and Political Institutions of the European Union

  Spring

  Economics History Political Science 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course will analyze the past, present, and future of European integration based on historical, social, political, and economic factors. The process of European integration and its effects will be assessed at the international level considering the EU as well as examining key differences among European member states.

  The main objective of this class is to gain understanding of how the European Union works and what it means for the millions of people who live under its jurisdiction. Our goal is to provide students with an objective understanding of the concept of European market integration within the present framework of globalization, trade liberalization and regionalism.

• Human Resource Management

  Spring

  Management 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course exposes students to the study and practice of Human Resource Management. The goal is to provide a conceptual and practical understanding of the HRM function and its importance to the effectiveness on an organization. Theoretical concepts and practical approaches relevant to the management systems and processes; recruitment, training, appraisal, compensation and labor relations will be analyzed as well as emphasis on legal constraints and international management.

• Intercultural Communication

  Spring

  Speech Communications 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course focuses on developing the skills necessary to build and maintain positive communication and relationships across cultures. Students will explore the definitions, nature and manifestation of culture while examining their own values, traditions and beliefs.

• International Human Rights: International Law and Politics Topics

  Spring

  Political Science 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  The concept of human rights, since the end of World War II, has become an integral part of modern consciousness and dominates the narrative in both foreign and national policymaking. Human rights norms and institutions deeply inform the practice as well as the rhetoric of international law and politics. This course will cover topics in international law, and encourage students analyse the architecture, powers, functions, and processes of international human rights organizations. Students are encouraged to discuss topics such as free speech, right to education, discrimination against ethnic minorities, and right to healthcare.

• International Marketing

  Spring

  International Business Marketing 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  The course is designed to enable students to develop marketing strategies and plans in and across a range of different international market environments. While extending students' marketing and strategic skills obtained in earlier courses into a global context, students also develop knowledge and skills in international marketing processes.

  Prerequisite: one semester of college-level marketing or business administration

• International Sports Business

  Spring

  General Business 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  The course focuses on the new challenges and possibilities globalization brought into the world of sport and sport business. Special attention will be paid the commercial management of sport events and organizations. The course will also discuss, as essential aspects of international sports management: sponsorship, broadcasting revenues, marketing, economics and finance of international sports, human resource management, leadership strategy in a global market, governance of sports organization, branding and retail, social media in international sport business, tourism, facilities, governing bodies and legal aspects. The course will also incorporate the role differing cultures plays in sport.

• Italian Cinema in English Translation: Twentieth-Century Italy Through the Lens of the Cinema

  Spring

  Art Film Italian 200-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This film course serves as a key to understanding Italian society through a wide-ranging historical look at Italian cinema. The course introduces the history of Italian film and its major genres, studies the relationship of film to literature and the performing arts, and examines films currently released in the commercial and the film festival circuits. Torino, birthplace of Italian cinema, is the ideal site for the course – also for the National Cinema Museum.

• Italian Cuisine

  Spring

  200-level 1 credit Taught in English

  Students are given the opportunity to learn, observe and participate first-hand in the art of preparing Italian foods, as well as to study the relationship between food and culture. USAC provides instruction and facilities for this cooking class. This course is based on the principle that cooking is a way to learn the culture, and learning the culture is a way to better appreciate the cooking. As such, the course has both a theoretical and a practical side. An introductory lecture is needed to understand Italian cooking. Its peculiarity is highlighted by a knowledge of history, geography and other social customs; knowing these allows the students to better appreciate this rich aspect of Italian life.

  The course will include actual cooking and learning how to prepare Italian meals: antipasti, first courses, second courses with vegetable side dishes, desserts - and of course, how to make a good pizza. After learning how to prepare each meal, the class will enjoy eating the meal together.

  This course has an additional fee

• Italian Culture

  Spring

  Anthropology Italian 200-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course analyzes various aspects of Italian culture through lectures, readings, discussions, and observation research projects. Students will develop an understanding of contemporary Italy, encompassing its recent history, regional differences, social institutions, and contemporary issues. Students will also reflect on their cultural upbringings and beliefs, and to share their Italian culture experiences in class. Students are encouraged to break down commonly held stereotypes and experience the realities of contemporary Italian life.

• Modern Architecture

  Spring

  Architecture Art 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  The course intends to provide all students with an introduction to contemporary architecture, with special interest in the contemporary city. It will focus on the major trends, events, key figures and works in architectural and urban history. Major architectural and urban trends and perspectives will be discussed on an international scale, from the late 19th century to the present.

  Lectures and class discussions will provide the framework of the course. Walking tours and visits to selected parts of the city will be scheduled. Selected readings will be assigned in advance, in view of the lectures and visits. Two in-class tests will be scheduled on the topics of the architectural lectures and of the visits, to make the discussion fruitful. Additional assignments may be announced at the discretion of the professor.

• Supply Chain Management

  Spring

  Management Supply Chain Management 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  In this course, students will learn the concepts and techniques of supply chain management across all activities of an organization. This course covers topics related to methods of analysis that support the organizational decision-making around supply chain decisions and strategies. Students will evaluate and apply the appropriate analytical technique for a variety of scenarios, perform quantitative analyses, and develop conclusions regarding effective management of supply chains in manufacturing and service environments.

  Prerequisite: Introductory coursework in business management

To request a course syllabus: syllabus@usac.edu

Internships

For eligibility requirements and application information, see the USAC internship page.

For more information about placement options, see the Torino internship page.

• Internship

  Spring

  Internships 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  USAC skills-based internships abroad are designed to complement a student’s program of study while providing a structured work or field experience under the direction of a professional supervisor and with the oversight and support of an on-site USAC internship coordinator.

  USAC internships facilitate the academic and professional development of students through:

  1) the practical application of knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to a professional work environment.

  2) the further development of practical competencies essential to the ongoing work of the placement site.

  3) the cultivation of a network of professional contacts.

  USAC internships will expose students to the workplace culture, norms, and expectations of their respective placement site and host country, deepening cross-cultural understanding and helping students develop intercultural communication and language skills in an internationally focused organization or other professional work setting.

  Through the consistent participation in the processes and practices of a professional field, students will acquire a working knowledge of that field and will apply that learning to their own career and academic choices and goals.

  This course has an additional fee

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