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
- Sophomore standing or above at the start of the program
Program Description
The Business & Economics of Italian Food & Wine Program is ideal for Business, Economics, Agribusiness, Environmental Studies, Political Science, and Agricultural Economics majors, as well as any student with an academic or professional interest in local and organic food and wine in Italy.
Tuscany will be your classroom. Can you picture visiting Italian organic cheese production facilities, utilizing case studies from local wineries, and having lunch with the owners of an independent farm? Our courses take advantage of the region’s many resources that will help you understand key concepts of the food business in Tuscany which you'll apply to your future career - wherever in the world it may be.
Dates
Fall: early September - early December
Spring: mid January - Mid April
Refer to the program website for the specific dates, if available.
Location
The intersection of culture and cuisine is taken to the next level in Tuscany, where traditional food and wine are not only a large part of the cultural identity, but also a primary economic contributor.
You will live in the welcoming city of Siena, home to many specialty foods, including hand-rolled pici pasta, crostini with chicken liver, and panforte nut and fruit cake crafted by local, quality-driven producers. It’s here that you’ll enroll in four courses for a total of 12 credits where you will explore how business and economic concepts are woven into the fabric of the Italian food industry. Imagine exploring global marketing strategies one day and visiting a local Brunello wine producer with international distribution the next. How about studying EU agriculture policy and then talking to the owner of an agriturismo farm about how these policies impact his business? Welcome to study abroad!
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.