Viterbo Courses – 2026 Fall

USAC Course Descriptions

Click the course title to view course details, description and availability. To request a course syllabus: syllabus@usac.edu

• Advanced Italian I

  Fall

  Italian 400-level 3 credits Taught in Italian

  Spring

  Italian 400-level 3 credits Taught in Italian

  This course is designed to help students obtain advanced competency in the Italian language. It offers an intensive study and practice of the skills of a language: listening, speaking, interacting, reading, and writing.

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

• AI and the Arts

  Spring

  Art Artificial Intelligence 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  We’re excited to introduce this new course option as course details are being finalized. Please check back after 1/15 for full course details.

• Art Crime: Looting and Restitution in Italy

  Fall

  Art History 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Art History 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course explores the fascinating and often illicit world of Italian art theft and restitution. Through a critical examination of historical case studies, students will investigate the theft, smuggling, and recovery of Italy’s priceless cultural artifacts. The course will explore the impact of these crimes on cultural heritage, the legal frameworks for restitution, and the ongoing challenges faced by art historians, legal professionals, and governments in the protection and repatriation of stolen art.

  While class discussions and lectures will provide the framework of the course, a series of field trips will offer us the chance to observe the preservation, display, and safeguarding of a range of Etruscan antiquities. In fact, the area around Viterbo is rich with necropoli, archaeological museums, and ongoing excavations. Assessments will include practical research exercises, several small projects, and short, independent research essays using primary sources.

• Contemporary Italian Cinema

  Fall

  Art Film Italian 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course will identify some of the essential themes and pivotal moments in contemporary Italian cinema since the 1940s. Students will develop a robust theoretical foundation to evaluate various films, including contemporary Italian films, not only identifying their significance as aesthetically valued works, but also as they bear witness to the past.

  Prerequisite: one semester of college-level English composition recommended

• Documentary Photography

  Spring

  Art Historic Preservation Journalism 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Documentary photography serves to preserve the memory of an object and make it visible, even in its absence. The photographer has the task of documenting cultural heritage and assets in a fair and objective way while also creating new perspectives that provide a better understanding of the work. Each image, without distinction, is more effective for our personal memory than the word, making images a fundamental tool for the documentation of cultural assets.

  In this course, we will analyze the visual paths that have created our collective identity. Through the study of the "culture of the gaze,” students will analyze and study a variety of historic monuments - including sculpture and architecture - learning their history, style, origin, author(s), and concepts of restoration as well as the “visual language” of cultural heritage and the use of contemporary tools of image creation such as DSLRs, smartphones and tablets.

  To attend the course, you will need a digital camera that allows full manual control of the functions (all DSRL or mirrorless models) with wide-angle and normal lens (18-55 basic lens), and a basic laptop with image software processing (like photoshop, camera raw, lightroom, etc...). Smartphones able to control ISOs, Aperture and Shutter Speed are also allowed.

• Economic and Political Institutions of the European Union

  Spring

  Economics 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.

• Elementary Italian I

  Fall

  Italian 100-level 4 credits Taught in Italian

  Spring

  Italian 100-level 4 credits Taught in Italian

  This course is designed to help students acquire basic communicative competence by providing opportunities to develop the basic skills of a language: listening, speaking, interacting, reading, and writing

• Elementary Italian II

  Fall

  Italian 100-level 4 credits Taught in Italian

  Spring

  Italian 100-level 4 credits Taught in Italian

  This course is designed to help students acquire basic communicative competence by providing opportunities to develop the basic skills of a language: listening, speaking, interacting, reading, and writing.

  Prerequisite: one semester of college Italian, or equivalent

• Gender and the Arts

  Fall

  Art Women's Studies / Gender Studies 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Art Women's Studies / Gender Studies 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course will cover various art-historical topics in ways that reveal the gender inequality that has influenced the art profession throughout history. Students will develop the theoretical and historical foundation to evaluate the gender imbalance in the arts effectively. This course will present neglected artists based on gender and encourage students to develop ideas for creating a more inclusive environment in the art community.

• Government and Politics in Italy

  Fall

  Political Science 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course will explore critical issues related to Italian politics and its evolution in the European and global context from the end of the World War II until today, including Italian power dynamics in foreign policy and Italy’s role in the European integration process; the Italian constitutional framework and the role and evolution of Italian political parties; elections, the transformation of the political system after 1989, and representation through cinema and media; significant policies put forth by Italian governments, their evolution in Italian society, and their impact on the Italian people and representations in the media; and Italian foreign policy with a comparison to US policy.

• Intermediate Italian I

  Fall

  Italian 200-level 3 credits Taught in Italian

  Spring

  Italian 200-level 3 credits Taught in Italian

  This course offers an intensive study and practice of productive and receptive language skills in the oral and written modes. The course will allow students to improve their knowledge of grammar, increase their vocabulary, and their understanding of cultural and social aspects of Italian life.

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

• Intermediate Italian II

  Fall

  Italian 200-level 3 credits Taught in Italian

  Spring

  Italian 200-level 3 credits Taught in Italian

  This course offers an intensive study and practice of productive and receptive language skills in the oral and written modes. The course will allow students to improve their knowledge of grammar, increase their vocabulary, and their understanding of cultural and social aspects of Italian life.

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

• Internship

  Fall

  Internships 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  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

• Italian Art: Etruscan and Roman Art

  Fall

  Art 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  The course offers an overview of Italian Art through the Etruscan and Roman culture from the early Iron Age (c. 1000 BC) to Late Antiquity (c. 400 AD). Lectures are thematically organized as well as chronologically progressive. The program also provides first-hand knowledge of the art and architecture of this period through on-site visits to archaeological sites, monuments, and museums in Etruria and Rome.

• Italian Art: Italy in the Renaissance

  Spring

  Art 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course will examine the development of Italian art and architecture from the late 14th to the 16th century, focusing on the major artists and architects of the Renaissance in central Italy. Renaissance Italy produced some of the greatest artists in world history, including Donatello, Piero Della Francesca, Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Students will study the artwork in its physical and cultural context with visits in and around Viterbo as well as in Rome giving students the opportunity to experience first-hand what is covered in class.

• Italian Composition I

  Fall

  Italian 300-level 3 credits Taught in Italian

  Spring

  Italian 300-level 3 credits Taught in Italian

  This course focuses on developing students’ writing and reading abilities through the analysis and production of different types of texts. In addition, several grammatical topics will be reviewed to enhance and refine students’ grammatical competence as well as oral productive and receptive language skills.

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

• Italian Conversation

  Fall

  Italian 300-level 3 credits Taught in Italian

  Spring

  Italian 300-level 3 credits Taught in Italian

  This course facilitates the language acquisition necessary to express oneself in daily situations and more challenging contexts. Therefore, it will help students become more confident about taking part in conversations in Italian either in everyday life or on a wide range of topics.

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

• Italian Cuisine

  Fall

  Spring

  Each session will begin with a brief introduction to the day's recipes and ingredients, followed by plenty of time to dive into cooking and food preparation. Together, we’ll learn to create classic and modern Italian dishes, including antipasti, pasta, pizza, main courses with veggie sides, and desserts.

  Our focus will be on enjoying the experience, with attention to traditional Italian dining customs. Sharing meals together will be one of the best parts of the workshop!

  Please note: This workshop is not suitable for students on a gluten-free or vegan diet, as many recipes will feature traditional dishes from all the Regions of Italy.

  This workshop has an additional fee.

  This workshop requires a minimum enrollment of 9 students to run.

• Italian Culture and Society

  Fall

  Italian Studies 200-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Fall

  Italian Studies 300-level 3 credits Taught in Italian

  Spring

  Italian Studies 200-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Italian Studies 300-level 3 credits Taught in Italian

  This course offers a holistic view of Italian culture and society while focusing on important aspects of Italian culture, including food, music, religion, and family, among others. Analyzing these topics will provide students with the necessary tools and concepts to understand Italy as a complex, post-modern society.

• Italian History: Italy in the Medieval Era

  Spring

  History 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course will cover topics related to Italian and European Medieval history, from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Renaissance. Students will develop a solid theoretical and historical foundation to effectively analyze the cultures, traditions, social and religious structures that evolved into modern Europe. This course will challenge students to evaluate political, social, cultural, demographic, and economic transformations during the Middle Ages in its various facets in Italy, Europe, and around the Mediterranean. Field trips and firsthand experience include visits to Rome, Tuscania, Viterbo, and other cities.

• Italian History: Italy in the Renaissance

  Fall

  History 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  The Renaissance was a period of great transformation across Europe and the world. Born from the ashes of the devastating plagues of the 14th century, a new era started emerging in the early 15th century. Guiding this transformation were the rediscovery of classical culture, new religious trends, systems of patronage and technological innovations. The rise of a new ‘humanistic’ culture quickly transformed the ways in which society and individuals saw themselves and thought of their relationship with the world. This course examines the changes that Italy underwent from roughly 1350 to 1600, exploring the relationship between a culture that was dismissing its medieval dress to embrace modernity, while social and political struggles still troubled the history of the peninsula, Europe, and the Mediterranean. We will study the origins of social and economic structures, ideas, and mentalities from Renaissance Italy and how these ideas connect to modern western culture. Specific attention will be given to the political and intellectual life in the Renaissance to utilize literary and artistic works as historical sources. The course will also refer to archive documents, architecture, and artworks that are available around Viterbo, between Lazio and Tuscany.

• Museum Studies

  Fall

  Art History 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Art History 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course explores critical debates on museums in society and the core functions of museum practice. This course will take several approaches to studying museums as an interdisciplinary course. Readings and lectures will provide perspectives on such topics as the history and philosophy of museums, types of museums, exhibit design, collections acquisition and management, the staffing and financing of museums, educational programs, and more.

• Music and Identity in Italy

  Fall

  Anthropology Music 200-level 3 credits Taught in English

  We’re excited to introduce this new course option as course details are being finalized. Please check back after 1/15 for full course details.

• Roman Civilization

  Fall

  History 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  History 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  In this course, students will study the civilization of ancient Rome as manifested in its history and cultural achievements. Knowledge of the Roman experience is essential for anyone who desires to participate as a self-conscious actor in contemporary Western civilization. Roman history marked a real turning point for the history of the entire Western world, strongly influencing every aspect of life: from society to the economy, from architecture to art, from verbal to figurative language. We owe ancient Rome fundamental models of characters (such as Caesar or Augustus) and entire architectural classes (such as amphitheaters, which have now become stadiums, or basilicas). It is to Rome's credit to have created an impressive social melting pot that has produced today's abundant cultural Western world.

• Sacred Steps: Pilgrimage and Spiritual Walking in Italy

  Fall

  History Religious Studies 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  History Religious Studies 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course explores pilgrimage as a dynamic religious and cultural practice from late antiquity to the present. While rooted in faith and ritual, contemporary pilgrimage often reflects secular motivations such as seeking well-being or inner balance, connecting with nature, engaging in cultural tourism or physical challenge, and pursuing spiritual reflection outside traditional religion. Students will also engage with debates on authenticity, heritage tourism, gender, and the secularization of pilgrimage, gaining insight into a living tradition that continues to link past and present, body and spirit, place and meaning.

• Spirituality and Architecture in Italy

  Spring

  Architecture History Religious Studies 200-level 3 credits Taught in English

  We’re excited to introduce this new course option as course details are being finalized. Please check back after 1/15 for full course details.

• Survey of Italian Literature I

  Fall

  Italian 300-level 3 credits Taught in Italian

  Spring

  Italian 300-level 3 credits Taught in Italian

  This course introduces some of the great writers and thinkers who have shaped Italian literature and culture over a thousand years of history. The selected texts will contribute to an understanding of Italian history, society, and culture through the analysis of the literary movements and the comparison of the most important authors and genres of each period.

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

• The Science of the Mediterranean Diet

  Fall

  Nutrition 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Nutrition 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course explores the Mediterranean Diet from a scientific perspective, integrating nutritional biochemistry, food technology, and public health with the cultural and culinary traditions of the Mediterranean region. Students examine the composition, processing, and health benefits of key Mediterranean foods—such as grains, olive oil, legumes, cheese, meat, fruits, vegetables, and wine—while considering how culture, environment, and lifestyle contribute to one of the world’s most balanced and health-promoting diets.Combining academic study with hands-on experiences, the course takes advantage of the Tuscia region’s rich agricultural heritage and sustainable food systems to connect scientific knowledge with local traditions and practices.

• Travel Photography

  Fall

  Art 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Photographers, like any other artists, have the responsibility of mediating reality for those who will view their pictures. Travel photography is the quintessential mediation of reality, since people looking at a travel reportage will probably never get to visit the places depicted. The job of travel photographers is then to show their own impressions of a place, representing what caught their attention and what they deemed important, rather than showing famous landmarks.

  This course will help you to capture memories, learn to tell a story with images, and give your own impression of a place through photographic expression. In particular, the course will go through the basics of exposure management, getting to know the main features of your camera, managing studio lighting, and understanding composition. The course will also go through the work of the masters of travel photography to encourage students to find their own style of visual expression.

• Viterbo Sketchbook: Drawing Italy

  Fall

  Art 100-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Art 100-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course is centered on the sketchbook as an instrument for developing drawing and painting techniques and for learning how to observe and understand visual information. Students will use a variety of materials to document historic sites, building up a unique and personal record of the world around them. Individual and group instruction will be provided throughout, and attention will be paid to the progress and needs of each student as they learn the fundamental techniques of perspective and proportion and gain an understanding of the methods that can be used to reproduce a three-dimensional world onto a two-dimensional surface. The course will be structured with in-class activities and outside workshops during which the medieval city of Viterbo will offer a treasure of architecture and artwork that will serve as inspiration.

  This course has an additional fee

Host University Courses

Want to experience an Italian classroom? Auditing a course at the Università degli Studi della Tuscia is a great way to meet local students and expand your academic experience abroad. Academic credit may be possible with home university approval. Speak with your Enrollment Specialist for details.