Rome: Art and Culture through a Traveler’s Eye
A Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program sponsored by the Spiegel Center for
Global and International Programs and the School of Education
Rome Information Session: September 16, 2015/ 4-5pm/ SED, room 63
Rome Program Dates:
May 17-June 4, 2016
Faculty Leaders:
Susan Pasquarelli, Ed.D. and Kate Mele, Ph.D.
Description of Program:
The art in Rome is so much a part of the culture, in order to understand the culture and
write about it (the people, the perspectives, the sense of bella figura), one must have a
basic understanding of the art. To that end, we have designed the first course, From Myth
to Art, to give students a broad overview of the literature that inspired the art and the
effect the art has on the culture. With this information, students have the knowledge they
need in order to produce travel narratives for the second course. The second course, The
Art of the Travel Narrative, familiarizes students with the travel narrative genre and
gives them experience with writing and revising their own narratives.
The Rome 2016 program will begin at RWU during spring semester, and end in Rome,
Italy on June 4, 2016. The explanation of coursework is included on page 2 of this fact
sheet.
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For the Education major, the benefits of this abroad program are many. Students will
have the opportunity to gain:
• A classical education by studying the intersection between western literature
and art;
• Knowledge of a new writing genre and transfer that knowledge to teaching the
genre to K-12 students;
• Enhanced skill of reading and interpreting the narrative genre and using that
skill to improve their own written narrative abilities;
• Recognition of their strengths and weaknesses as writers; and
• Insight into how to “read” a culture that will help them understand students of
different backgrounds.
The Academic Program
EDU 380: From Myth to Art, Parts I and II
Part I (1 credit course taken at RWU, two Saturdays:)
In Part I, students will be introduced to the art of story-telling by reading and interpreting
selected works by renowned writers of Greek and Roman mythology (i.e. Ovid,
Sophocles, Euripedes). The purpose of this introductory course is to enable students to
interpret the writers’ influence on Renaissance and Early Baroque art in Rome. Students
will demonstrate understanding of several Greek and Roman myths as well as basic
Pagan and Christian stories that helped shape the art and culture of Rome. (This course is
paid as part of students’ regular semester tuition.)
Part II ( 2 credits taken in Rome, Italy, May 17-June 4)
In Part II, students examine the masterpieces of Bernini and Michaelangelo, and several
other well known artists, and focus on the artist’s interpretation of the literature from
which it was inspired. For example, in Part I of the course, students read and interpret the
myth of Daphne and Apollo and in Part II view the Bernini sculpture that depicts
Daphne’s metamorphosis into a tree. During Part II, students maintain a travel journal
that is a record of their connections between the literature and the art. As the course
evolves, students discuss and record the natural connections that exist between the art and
culture of Rome.
CAS 330: The Art of the Travel Narrative, Parts I and II
Part I (1 credit course taken at RWU, two Saturdays)
In this course, students become familiar with the travel narrative genre. Reading a
variety of travel narratives, they study how rhetorical situation, purpose, and audience
come into play in this form of storytelling, and they consider the challenges travel writers
face, particularly how to balance the narrator’s personal transformations and ethical
representation of place. (This course is paid as part of students’ regular semester tuition.)
Part II (2 credits taken in Rome, Italy, May 17-June 4, 2016)
While viewing the art on-site in Rome, students must maintain a detailed journal of their
interpretations of how the art, literature, and culture are connected. In this course,
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students experience the art of travel journaling and then learn how to translate those
journal entries into narrative form. They practice the revision and editing strategies
writers employ to create concise, lively prose. Students will be expected to exhibit the
genre and rhetorical knowledge gained in Part I of this course.
The Rome program includes museum/site visits* to:
•
The Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel;
•
The Galleria Borghese that includes works by Bernini, Michaelangelo, Titian,
Caravaggio, and other artists from the Renaissance to early Baroque periods;
•
The Capitoline Museums with a magnificent display of art inspired by Greek and
Roman mythology;
•
Villa Farnesina to view Raphael’s famous frescoes;
•
A day-long field trip to Florence, Italy to visit the Uffizzi Gallery and the Accademia to
view Michelangelo’s famous sculpture of David.
•
Castel San Angelo
•
The Roman Forum and Colosseum
•
A day-long field trip to Tivoli Gardens
*With a minimum of 10 participants.
Housing – Rome
Students and faculty are grouped into four apartments in one building in Piazza delle
Coppelle, which is in Rome’s Historic Center (Centro Storico). The piazza is a safe, central
location, with many good restaurants and a farmer’s market every morning.
Meals
The tuition does not cover meals. Students may choose to eat out at one of the many
restaurants in the surrounding neighborhoods. Pizza and sandwiches are inexpensive in
Italy. Possibilities exist for students to eat a hearty lunch for about $7.00 and dinner for
about $15. Since each residence has an efficiency kitchen, students may choose to cook for
themselves.
Faculty
Two Roger Williams University faculty members, Dr. Susan Pasquarelli and Dr. Kate Mele
are the professors for the two spring courses at RWU and in Rome. Both professors are
seasoned travelers and have successfully led many study abroad programs.
Student Eligibility
Acceptance in the School of Education; pre-requisite coursework: Edu 200, 202; junior
standing as of May, 2016; 2.5 minimum GPA; and no serious disciplinary infractions at RWU.
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Tuition
•
The tuition for the 2016 program is approximately $3,534. plus airfare ($1100$1300 estimate).
•
A $500. non-refundable deposit is due by October 1, 2015, or until the program is
full, to reserve a student’s place in the program. The check must be written to
Roger Williams University and hand-delivered to Dr. Pasquarelli with the
completed program application (Office # 84, School of Education).
•
After the deposit and application are submitted, a student’s application will be
considered. Once a student is accepted, the $500. deposit check is delivered to the
bursar.
•
The remaining tuition is due on April 1, 2016 (after scholarships are awarded). This
final payment must be made directly to the Roger Williams University Bursar.
Rome Tuition includes:
•
4 credits for the Rome coursework: From Myth to Art, Part II; and The Art of the
Travel Narrative, Part II;
•
Roundtrip transportation from Rome airport to resident apartments;
•
Apartment accommodations for 17 days/nights;
•
Entrance fees to all museums listed on the syllabus and more.
Scholarship Opportunities:
The RWU Spiegel Center for Global and International Programs is offering $5001,500. scholarships for this program. See the RWU study abroad website for
more information on the “Bridging the World” scholarships. Note: In the past,
every student applicant to this program received a scholarship.
Questions? Contact Dr. Susan Pasquarelli at [email protected]; 401-254-3074 or
Dr. Kate Mele at [email protected]; 401-254-3434.
Important Dates
October 1, 2015: Approximate final date applications accepted
April 1, 2016: Remaining tuition due
April-May, 2016: Two 1-credit courses at RWU (4 Saturdays)
May 17, 2016: Flight to Italy (Arrive in Rome on May 18)
June 4, 2016: Flight from Rome to USA
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School of Education
Preliminary Application for
Rome Study Abroad Program 2016
In order to apply to this program, this form must be accompanied by a $500. Deposit (check) written
to Roger Williams University. If the applicant is not accepted into the program, the deposit is
returned. Otherwise the deposit is non-refundable and is intended to hold the applicant’s place in the
program.
Today’s Date ___________________ Time _______________ (e.g. 4pm)
Name
___________________________________________________________________
Birthdate_______________________
USA citizen? Circle: YES
NO
Current Passport? YES NO
Student ID Number _________________________________
RWU email address
___________________________________________________________________
Cell phone number
___________________________________________________________________
Education Program Circle:
Current Standing Circle:
Elementary
Freshman
Soph
Secondary
Ed Studies
Junior
Senior
Current GPA (estimate) _____________________
Have you ever had a disciplinary infraction at RWU? Circle: YES
NO
If YES, explain on the back of this application.
NOTE: All student applicants will be vetted through the RWU Disciplinary Office.
DELIVER APPLICATION AND $500. CHECK (WRITTEN TO RWU)
TO DR. PASQUARELLI, OFFICE #84, SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
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