Accademia Italiana | FA/SP Individualized

APPLICATION DEADLINES: For FALL TERM is APRIL 1, for SPRING TERM is OCTOBER 15, and for SUMMER TERM is MARCH 1

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ACADEMICS ELIGIBILITY COST NEXT STEPS

ACADEMICS

Other majors may be eligible.

GOOD FIT FOR

Graphic Design, Illustration (Surface Design), Photography, Product Design, Spatial Experience Design

Other majors may be eligible.

HOST INSTITUTION

Accademia Italiana in Florence, Italy

Note: A maximum of 15 credits can be transferred back to ArtCenter.

CREDIT

12-16 units of transfer credit for Fall or Spring and 6 units of transfer credit for Summer.

Note: A maximum of 15 credits can be transferred back to ArtCenter.

Spring Term: Mid-January - Mid-May

SCHEDULE

Fall Term: Early Sept - Mid-December

Spring Term: Mid-January - Mid-May

ELIGIBILITY

1) Must have at least two terms completed at the time of application

2) GPA: 2.5 or higher preferred, but admissions decisions are made on a case-by-case basis

3) Must have at least one term remaining upon return to ArtCenter

4) Must not be on academic or disciplinary probation at the time of the application

5) Must satisfy all course prerequisites

6) Must not have participated in another individualized program

If you do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements you still may be able to apply.

Please contact studyaway@artcenter.edu.

COST

PROGRAM FEE

Students participating in Accademia Italiana program are responsible for fees which cover tuition, orientation, study trips, 24/7 support, and other related costs. Follow this link and scroll down to the Program Fees section for a full breakdown of these fees and what they cover.

All program fees will be paid to Accademia Italiana and not through ArtCenter tuition. If you wish to receive transfer credit (credit that counts toward your graduation but not toward your grade point average) and federal financial aid for your term abroad, you must complete ArtCenter’s Individualized Study Abroad Authorization process and pay a $200 processing fee.

NOTE

All program fees will be paid to Accademia Italiana and not through ArtCenter tuition. If you wish to receive transfer credit (credit that counts toward your graduation but not toward your grade point average) and federal financial aid for your term abroad, you must complete ArtCenter’s Individualized Study Abroad Authorization process and pay a $200 processing fee.

Costs that you will be responsible for that are NOT included in the program fee include: Housing ($2,500-$3,800), a passport ($135), a visa (if required), round-trip airfare LAX-Florence (~$800-$1200), and daily personal expenses—food, toiletries, supplies, souvenirs, cell phone, etc. ($50-$60 / day).

ADDITIONAL

Costs that you will be responsible for that are NOT included in the program fee include: Housing ($2,500-$3,800), a passport ($135), a visa (if required), round-trip airfare LAX-Florence (~$800-$1200), and daily personal expenses—food, toiletries, supplies, souvenirs, cell phone, etc. ($50-$60 / day).

FINANCIAL AID

On Individualized Programs, students can utilize their state and federal aid but ArtCenter aid is not available. Oftentimes, program fees include room and board and can end up costing less than a term at ArtCenter, even after you account for the loss of ArtCenter aid. ESA staff can help you do a cost comparison to find the right program for your budget!

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

https://www.artcenterstudyaway.com/pay-for-study-away

NEXT STEPS

To start your application, click the Apply Now button below. If a button is not visible, the application is not yet available.

For more details on your application process, visit this page.

1) Review Accademia Italiana's Program page, including the eligibility criteria in the Apply to Study Abroad Section.

2) At least one week prior to Accademia Italiana application deadline, email Exchange and Study Away at studyaway@artcenter.edu to let us know you are applying.

3) Application materials should be emailed to studyabroad@accademiaitaliana.it. Materials include the application form, statement of purpose, 1 academic or professional reference, transcripts from all colleges attended, electronic portfolio.

3) Upon review of the Application, Accademia Italiana will email you to confirm if you have been accepted in 2-4 weeks. Note that they accept on a rolling basis, so the earlier you apply, the better.

4) Once accepted by Accademia Italiana, complete ArtCenter paperwork by Friday of Week 12, the term prior to your study abroad term.

Location: Hillside, Board Room (#256) and on Zoom

INFO SESSIONS

Study Away 101 - General Info Session: Tuesday, September 17 (Week 2) at 1pm

Location: Hillside, Board Room (#256) and on Zoom

Study Away 101 - General Info Session: Thursday, September 19 (Week 2) at 1pm

Location: South Campus, 1111 Room 402 and on Zoom

Check our Inside Page for zoom info

Can't make it to an info session?

Sign up for a 1-on-1 advising meeting with the Exchange and Study Away office to learn more about the program.

ABOUT ACADEMIA ITALIANA

Accademia Italiana is an international institute of art, fashion and design welcoming students from all over the world and from every region in Italy. It provides its diverse student population with unparalleled professional opportunities to advance in the fields of art and design. Study abroad students at their Florence Campus take classes alongside Italian and other international students who regularly attend the Accademia Italiana, where nearly 50% of the student body is Italian. The English speaking staff provides a well-established program that includes a comprehensive orientation, academic counseling, housing services and support. The program also features overnight and day trips to some of Italy’s most culturally and artistically significant places. Read more about this program here.

The Accademia Italiana’s international faculty are all prominent, well-connected designers, artists and scholars who are working professionals in their chosen fields. Faculty utilize the host city as a living classroom and incorporate into their lesson plans weekly visits to local museums, businesses, studios and centers of industry. With an average class size of 12 students, individual attention to student development is guaranteed.

Each spring design students present their best work to an international audience of over 2,500 invited guests and members of the press at the Annual International Fashion Show and Design Exhibition. The event is attended by renowned fashion designers and leaders in the art and design industries, such as Vivienne Westwood, Carla Fendi, Ottavio Missoni, Roberto Cavalli, Alberto Alessi, Evelyn Swarovski, Alessandro Mendini and more. Study abroad students during the spring term have the chance to experience this event.

Note that this is an Individualized Program option and not an ArtCenter program. You can learn more about that process here

FALL AND SPRING SEMESTER COURSES

Study abroad students are welcome to take design classes and to choose among an ample selection of Liberal Arts classes that focus on Italian language, culture and art. Classes are taught in English or Italian, but students do not need Italian language to study at Academia Italiana.

They offer study abroad programs in the summer, fall and spring semesters.

• H&S Courses

  Study abroad students have access to a variety of English taught liberal arts courses that can transfer back as H&S credit. Each class is worth 3 credits, except for Italian language, which is with 4 credits. Course descriptions can be found here. Examples include:

  FDTC390 History of 20th Century Fashion
  ITLN 101 Elementary Italian
  MSIC 310 Italian Cinema
  SASF 110: Sketching Florence

• Fashion Design Courses

  Students can choose from a combination of Fashion Design and Textile Design studio courses. Each course is worth 3 credits. Course descriptions can be found here. Examples include:

  FDPD 290: Pattern Design I & II
  FDMK 471: Marketing & Trends
  TDTP 190: Textile Printing

  During the course of study great attention is paid not only to the artistic and creative aspects of design, but also to the technical, with continuous reviews of students work throughout the design process.

• Interior + Product Design Courses

  Students can choose from a combination of Interior + Product Design studio courses. Each course is worth 3 credits. Course descriptions can be found here. Examples include:

  IDID 290-490: Industrial Design I, II, & III
  IDCC 290: Introduction to AutoCad
  IDMP 590: Materials and Industrial Planning

  Students will develop the capacity to design both individual objects and furnished spaces both on an industrial scale and "to measure." The major features the use of both traditional design instruments and the computer, with lessons and exercises using specific software.

• Graphic Design Courses

  Students can choose from a variety of graphic design courses. Each one is worth 3 credits. Course descriptions can be found here. Examples include:

  GDLT 290: Lettering
  GDIN 390: Advertising Design
  GDPD 390: Publishing Design

  In the Graphic Design program, students' creative potential will be developed in various directions (photography, use of the image and color theory) while they will also build a solid background in the fundamentals of advertising and market dynamics. This approach will help them to develop the flexibility and competence with which to excel in their professional endeavors.

• Photography + New Media Courses

  Students can choose from a variety of photography courses. Each one is worth 3 credits. Course descriptions can be found here. Examples include:

  PTFP 390: Fashion Photography
  PTLP 390: Landscape Photography
  PTPJ 490: Photojournalism

  The Bachelor's degree in Photography and New Media is an artistic course of study at the university level that offers practical experience as well as cultural and technical knowledge that students apply to various areas of photography, from fashion to still life and from photojournalism to photo shoots in the studio and outdoors.

HOUSING

Housing is arranged by Accademia Italiana and is not included in the program fee. Students are placed in fully-furnished student apartments and pay rent directly to the landlord.

ABOUT FLORENCE, ITALY

Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, is a city of art, with ever present cultural and historic richness around every corner. The city is easy to navigate and full of incredible sites like the Ponte Vecchio, Pitti Palace, Piazza della Signoria, Accademia and San Marco creating a wonderful backdrop. Walk along the Arno river, visit museums, art galleries, churches and theaters. Sit in a sidewalk cafe, shop the latest Italian fashions, or spend time sketching the city. Despite its small size, there is a large international student population in the city, so it’s easy to connect with other young artists and designers. Florence is centrally located, so it’s easy to take the train to Tuscany, Rome, or Milan.