Siena Academics

Curriculum Overview
The CET Siena program is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of Italy's art heritage and unique culture. The program takes advantage of the rich artistic treasures of the region--Italian studies courses incorporate excursions to local sites and the program's core course, Italian Cultural History, takes fall and spring students on a traveling seminar. The program welcomes not only art history and Italian studies majors but also non-majors interested in exploring Italy's art history, language, politics and culture.

There is no language prerequisite for this program and all levels of Italian are offered. Upper-level language learners are easily accommodated by the program's two literature electives taught in Italian. See the Course Listings page for more information.

Fall and Spring Terms
During the 15-week fall and spring semesters, students enroll in Italian language, Italian Cultural History (which includes a traveling seminar) and two elective courses. Students begin the semester with three weeks of Italian language training and a condensed area studies course schedule. Beginning in the fourth week, area studies courses receive greater emphasis and students continue their Italian language study at a less intensive pace. In total, students receive 105 hours of Italian language instruction and 45 hours of instruction for each area studies course. For more information about courses, see the Course Listings page.

Summer Term
During the six-week summer term, students take Italian language and one area studies elective. Students receive 60 hours of Italian language instruction and 45 hours of instruction for their chosen elective. For more information about courses, see the Course Listings page.

Also in the summer term, Siena's renowned horse race, the exciting Palio, becomes a central focus of the program. While tourists flock to Siena to witness this annual tradition, CET students have the opportunity to learn about the Palio first-hand through coursework and extracurricular activities.

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Credit and Transcripts
Upon written request, CET and the Università per Stranieri di Siena issue official transcripts listing each course taken and the number of hours attended. While CET recommends credits for each of its courses, actual credit for the program must be requested from the student's home institution and is granted at the institution's discretion. CET students generally receive a full semester's worth of credit for their semester abroad. Click here for more information about CET's transcripts and credit recommendation system.

Advisory Board
The Italy Programs Advisory Board plays a significant role in helping CET develop its programs in Siena and Sicily. The Board offers expertise in the areas of curriculum design and the maintenance academic standards. Current Advisory Board members are: