Eligibility
- 18 years of age or above
- Good academic and disciplinary standing at Penn State
- 2.75 cumulative GPA or better at the time of application review
- Sophomore standing or above at the start of the program
Program Description
The ISI Florence General Studies Program is widely recognized for its diversity and excellence. All students are required to take Italian language for a total of four credits. The General Studies Program is ISI Florence’s most popular program, allowing students the greatest degree of latitude in course selection. A number of elective courses taught in English (three credits each) are available in various subject areas. The Biology Track is available to all Penn State majors with the proper prerequisites (BIOL 110 and/or CHEM 210) by the start of their spring semester abroad.
Dates
Fall: mid August - early December
Spring: early January - early May
Refer to the program website for the specific dates, if available.
Location
What better place to find inspiration than the birthplace of the Renaissance? Florence has cultivated the ideas and inventions of visionaries like Galileo, Leonardo, and Machiavelli. It enabled talents such as Brunelleschi, Dante and Donatello to emerge to fame. More recently, designers like Cavalli, Gucci, and Ferragamo call Florence home. There is something in the air of this central Italian city that sparks creativity. Discover your muse in Florence, where you can study art history while gazing at Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, build your artistic portfolio in the city of Michelangelo, be wowed by high-end fashion as you walk down the street, and satisfy your every foodie-and-oenophile dream as you slip into your own Florentine life.
Education Abroad in Countries with a Penn State Restricted Travel Designation
In order to comply with Penn State’s International Travel Policy, students interested in studying abroad in countries that Penn State has designated as “restricted” for travel, a petition for a waiver must be submitted. Once a petition is complete, and if the student is approved for study on the program in question, the student may be asked to meet with the Director of Education Abroad and the petition will be reviewed by the Penn State International Restricted Travel Committee (IRTC). The necessary petition will be included in the online application process for this program. To see if your program is taking place in a restricted travel country, please visit the Penn State Global website.