Wintersession in Florence, Italy – January 3, 2026 – January 17th, 2026
Italian Language and Culture – IT 198
This flexible hybrid course will combine online synchronous instruction during the five weeks of the Intersession 2026 with a two-week cultural immersion from January 3 to January 17, 2026* in the majestic city of Florence, the cradle of Italian Renaissance and the showcase of Tuscan cuisine.
Students of all levels of Italian are encouraged to enroll. Student-centered instruction will be offered at both first and second semester levels. Participants who enroll only in the online portion of the course will earn 3 credits, equivalent of IT 162 or IT 164..
An additional credit will be earned by those who choose to travel to Florence for two weeks, for the total of 4 credits that will fulfill the language requirement and Global Diversity Competency.
Those who are only interested in the travel portion of the program may enroll and earn 1 credit.
Please contact the faculty leaders, Professor Patrizia Farina (farinap@wcsu.edu) and the Chairperson of WLC Dr. Galina Bakhtiarova (bakhtiarovag@wcsu.edu), for additional information.
The five-week online portion of the program will start at the beginning of the Intersession before departing on a two-week trip to Italy. While in Florence, participants will continue taking online classes and will have daily cultural activities in Florence, the capital of Tuscany region. Florence is the cradle of Italian Renaissance where such giants as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Donatello lived and worked. It was here that Dante penned the great work of Italian literature, the Divine Comedy . The city offers a plethora of historical and artistic landmarks, such as the Medici Palace, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Galleria degli Uffizi and Michelangelo’s David, making it an ideal location to explore Italian language and culture.
In addition to language classes, the program offers immersion in Italian culture through multiple visits and field trips to places of interest in Florence and surrounding medieval towns. A hands-on Italian cooking class, our students’ favorite, is one of the staples of the program.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis AFTER August 25, 2025, and before September 19, 2025.
The travel fee is $3000.00** (at this point still subject to change).
The travel fee does not include WCSU tuition and fees. Participants may choose 1, 3 or 4 credits. Please consult the WCSU web site for the updated cost and fees for academic credits during the Intersession 2025/2026. https://www.wcsu.edu/cashiers/tuition-2/
The travel fee is due in two installments:
- Pay $1500* by September 19, 2025. Applications are due on this date as well.
- Pay $1500* by October 16, 2025.
* amounts are subject to change.
The Travel Fee Includes:
airfare and transfers from WCSU campus to the airport;
mandatory health insurance;
lodging in double rooms at Sanctuary Firenze, (a single room is possible for additional fee);
12 excursions and cultural visits, and more.
Travel Fee does not include: meals, incidental expenses, local transportation (Florence is a walkable city, you will mostly be walking everywhere), WCSU tuition and fees for 1, 3 or 4 CSU credits.
In order to apply, please download the PDF Application and bring it to
International Services Coordinator Ms. Donna Warner,
(203) 837-3270
warnerd@wcsu.edu
181 White Street
Danbury, CT 06810
Midtown Student Center, Room 207
Be sure to fill out all sections completely. The deadline for Application is September 19, 2025; however, students are encouraged to apply early as space is limited to 10 participants and applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first served basis. A non-refundable deposit will be required with the application.
Non-WCSU students and non-matriculated adults are invited to apply. However, due to the limited number of spaces, current WCSU students will be given priority.
*(These dates are provisional now and will depend on the availability of affordable airfare.)
**Travel fee may be reduced if participants choose to make their own travel arrangements and buy their own airfare.