Semester Programs
Academics
Villa Le Balze’s semester undergraduate program offers students long-term exposure to contemporary life in Italy, through a carefully designed balance of academic coursework, co-curricular programming, and independent exploration and experience-building, underpinned by opportunities for continuous reflection.
Students may choose from a selection of English-taught courses, grounded in liberal arts disciplines and thematically linked around topics in Italian history, culture, and politics. Students engage in experiential learning as part of the Villa’s focus on cultural immersion and engagement with contemporary Italian society. At least one course per semester is taught by a visiting Main Campus faculty member in residence.
Courses offered at Villa Le Balze during the semester are Georgetown courses, and are taught to the same rigorous standard as any course offered on the Main Campus. Students planning to study at Villa Le Balze should come prepared with appropriate expectations and commitment to the academic obligations expected of them at Villa Le Balze.
All credits and grades earned at Villa Le Balze are automatically recorded on a student’s transcript and are factored into the student’s Georgetown GPA. Non-Georgetown participants are issued a GU transcript with grades and a semester GPA.
More information can be found on the Villa Le Balze program brochure page and/or speaking with the Office of Global Education (OGE) advisor for Villa Le Balze programs.
Field-Based Learning
Each semester the Villa organizes several academic field trips that align with the curriculum being taught that semester. Participation in these trips is mandatory. Additionally, many courses feature visits to local museums, monuments, markets and other nearby sites of interest. Field trips and on-site lectures are an integral part of the Villa experience and may include travel to points of interest in and around Florence, as well as to other cities in Italy.