UA Rome

The course concentrates on the main challenges posed by economic development and growth to our environment. Students will learn both market-based and institutional-based responses to environmental problems. Case studies will be extensively used to evaluate alternative policies to sustainability. In the first part of the course, students will learn market-based approaches to environmental problems through a number of case studies showing why markets fail to produce environmentally sustainable economies. Students will learn to evaluate different approaches to environmental problems. Students will learn about the green GPD; transition models to green economies; problems and solutions posed by population growth, agriculture, fisheries and forests, water management and international trade.

This course discusses the material remains of North Africa from Morocco to Libya and from the foundation of Carthage around 800 BC until the conquest of the same city by the Arabs in 698 AD. Special attention will be paid to the cultural interactions of native and foreign populations that shaped its identity: Numidians, Phoenicians, Romans, Berbers, Vandals, Byzantines and Arabs. Major themes that will be treated are: religion, economy, urban culture, art and architecture and the administration of the territory.

This course approaches violence as an inherent and constitutive experience of contemporary societies, in the United States and beyond. The course investigates the concrete experience and the cultural framework of the communities where violence is present (e.g., direct military conflict between states; civil conflict; starvation; state propaganda and limits to freedom of speech and expression; targeting/excluding specific communities from the social, political, and economic life; economic sanctions; unlawful detentions and interrogations techniques; torture). Drawing insights from multiple academic disciplines, the course sheds light on how endless violence reshapes collective mindsets and individual lives: i) absorbing and re-distributing resources across economic systems; ii) recasting the relationship between rulers, citizens and military structures; iii) impacting on human security (including food security, energy security and environmental security). The ultimate goal of the course is to raise a critical and scientifically-informed awareness of the social and cultural significance of violence beyond the purely military and geopolitical dimensions, preparing students to envision a future of peace, understood as the absence of physical, psychological and structural violence. 3 credit hours. Pre-requisites: IA 100 and SOC 100 or ANT 100 or equivalent or permission of the instructor.

ON-SITE. This course is a practicum course that allows students to experience archaeological research, survey, and excavation first hand and to receive credit for it. Instructor consent required.

This introductory course surveys the history of conservation and restoration, and addresses current ethical dilemmas faced by curators, art historians, scientists, and archaeologists. Students will debate the various issues involved in the care of cultural heritage with reference to professional organizations, special interest groups, cultural identity and economic development. Present and past use of an artifact, whether as a functional object, as a cultural symbol, as an historical record, or as a domestic space, requires that the conservator understand both the tangible and intangible nature of object. Particular reference will be made to the art and archaeology of Rome.

This course is offered at undergraduate and graduate level. It provides an interdisciplinary exploration of the role of culture and heritage in tourism at the local, regional, national and international levels. Emphasis is placed on developing theoretical and practical insights into heritage related to place, community, ethnicity and identity, as well as the stakeholders in the local and global tourism industry. Students will develop practical skills in developing and managing cultural destinations and heritage sites, based on applied readings and hands-on learning through on-site visits. Particular emphasis will be placed on factors affecting the impact on host communities, the visitor experience and developing tourism in a way that is both ethical and sustainable in the long term. 3 credit hours. Pre-requisites: Senior standing or permission of the instructor

This introductory course in cultural heritage explores major contemporary issues such as how heritage is threatened and how organizations try to protect it. The course also explores relations between heritage organizations and indigenous groups and investigates how heritage can stimulate economic development. Using case studies from all over the world, the course critically analyses how and why heritage has become an important expression of identity and a potential source of conflict.

This course in archaeological techniques introduces students to the principles of survey, excavation, post-excavation analysis, scientific testing and heritage through a mixture of on-site visits, classroom lectures, practical classes and fieldwork. The course will begin with a consideration of the 'idea' of the past and examine the historical development of archaeology. The course will then explore the key fieldwork techniques used to survey, excavate and record sites and monuments before considering how scientific techniques can date and analyze artifacts and environmental evidence. Contemporary issues of heritage practice, with particular reference to Rome, will be addressed in conjunction with a group project. The course will make use of ongoing excavation and research in Rome and Italy, and it is possible that this will necessitate some weekend fieldwork.

On-site. This is an introductory on-site course exploring the archaeological sites and ancient monuments of Rome. The course will begin with the evidence for the earliest settlement in Rome and continue through the development of the Republic, the empire and the transition to early Christian Rome. The course will focus on placing the archaeological and architectural evidence in its topographical context.
3 credit hours. Students are responsible for all entry fees.

This course is designed for advanced students in Archaeology and Classics to explore a particular topic (time period, theme, theoretical approach, author etc.) in a discussion-based seminar setting. Students should expect to complete extensive readings of primary and secondary sources (100+ pages per week), and compile their research into a substantial written output (8000+ words over the course of the semester). Topics will be selected based on current trends in Archaeology and Classics, as well as student and faculty interest. The course may include one or more required field trips.

This course explores the principles and practices of art gallery management. Topics include the history of art galleries, artist and client relations, gallery space and design, collections management, staging an exhibition and art marketing. The role of the art dealer and all aspects of gallery management will be discussed in theoretical terms and in case study analyses and on-site visits to Rome's contemporary art galleries.

This is an advanced course with the aim to equip students with a set of transferable formal and conceptual tools for “making and communicating” in the field of Digital Design. These core skills will enable students to advance their practical studies in graphic design, and further use in advanced motion graphics, interface/app design, 3D modelling, game design, package design, and web design. Students will engage in group critiques, and will produce a portfolio of Digital Designs relevant to each area of study. This course can be repeated up to four times. Laboratory course fee Euro 75.

This is a hands-on, practical course that teaches students the aesthetic concepts of motion graphics by working with raster and vector image forms to create intermediate and advanced 2D animations using stop motion techniques, video editing, and basic digital compositing. Students will work exclusively with Adobe Creative Cloud Software (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, After Effects) to realize the potential of making static images come to life. Course fee Euro 75.

This is a hands-on, practical course that teaches students the aesthetic concepts of visual communication along with technical skills such as working with Macintosh-based software utilized to create various forms of visual media. The areas of computer art/image making, graphic design, typography, press-ready layout and four-color print processing will be covered. Practical foundations will be applied to design projects as developed through an increasing command of analyzing concepts of design, composition, color theory, and graphic communication. Course fee Euro 75.

The focus of this course is the drawing from the figure. Students will routinely draw from draped and undraped models in the studio. Emphasis will be placed upon learning basic anatomical terminology as it relates to the drawing process. Short, gestural studies comprise initial drawing sessions, followed by progressively longer, more intensive and elaborate poses and sessions. Students will explore all forms of mark making and drawing media techniques in the service of first recording and then working interpretively from the figure. Student articulation of drawing and design terminology in regular studio critiques will constitute an important component of the learning process. On-site visits to Roman venues staging exhibitions of drawings may be included. The course includes participation in a public exhibition of student work. Course fee (includes materials) Euro 75.

This is a drawing course for students interested in exploring figurative art, working from a live model, and learning the classical technical training artists received in the ateliers of Europe from the 15th to 19th centuries. Using primarily charcoal on large pads of paper (60 x 80 cm), students will observe a live nude model and learn how to build a drawing of a figure, starting with a “gesture” (a quick study meant to capture the general shape and scale), proceeding with a technique of straight lines and angles (“boxing”) and finishing with an application of light and shade. Duration of the model poses may vary, but on average the model will hold one pose for the duration of each three-hour lesson (with appropriate breaks). Course fee (includes materials) Euro 75.

This introductory course traces the history of "art as a healing agent", introducing the key concepts of art therapy and defining its field of action. The historical debate about "process" (art as therapy) versus "product" (art in therapy) in the evolution of this practice will be discussed. A brief theoretical introduction for students who want to experiment with art as a powerful tool in self-knowledge and personal growth and for students who want to explore the possibilities of art therapy as a profession. Art Studio fee (includes materials) Euro 75.

From print media to Snapchat and Instagram, 21st century culture is primarily visual. This course helps students to theorise the role of visual culture within their daily lives, exploring a range of media from renaissance painting to TV, magazines, internet media, gaming and infographics. This course mixes theory with class discussion and practical exercises so as to help the student gain a working knowledge of the centrality of visual culture to business, political and leisure culture. Areas covered include: visual media analysis; the evolution of visual codes; the impact of changing technologies; media literacy; information graphics literacy; meme and viral culture.

This introductory course introduces students to the techniques of painting in water-based and /or oil-based colors. The complexity of the artist’s craft will be introduced through a series of gradually scaled exercises; for example, students will learn how to make preparatory drawings for transfer to the canvas. Other projects include an introduction to imprimaturas, the function of grisaille and skill of working with glazes. The course culminates in participation in a public exhibition of student work. Course fee (includes materials) Euro 75.

An intermediate-level course in the craft of oil painting techniques that explores the difference between direct and indirect painting. Projects include working from the model, working with a limited palette, an investigation how to paint flesh, consideration of complex compositions and looking at paintings from earlier artists to better understand their techniques. Attention will be given to the formal vocabulary of painting. The course includes participation in a public exhibition of student work. Art Studio fee (includes materials) Euro 75.

This is an advanced course in painting techniques, which may include other media, such as photography and printmaking as research aids. Students will further develop and explore personal concepts in the painting medium to produce a coherent body of work. Group discussions and critiques will be intrinsic to this course. Reference will be made to the work of both the traditional canon and contemporary artists across the globe to broaden the students’ range of personal reference. The course includes participation in a public exhibition of student work. This course can be repeated up to four times. Art Studio fee (includes materials) Euro 75.

Using Rome as our canvas space/playground, students will engage weekly with the city (on-site) to understand the complexities of: composition, exposure, aperture, speed, and light to fully realize and capture the beauty of this monumental city. Students will learn to shoot using a variety of techniques and lenses, while also learning the fundamentals of the exposure triangle, composition, and post-production to produce aesthetically pleasing photographs of Rome. Photographs will be presented (online) locally and internationally. Course fee Euro 75. Bring your own camera. If you want to have the ability to control all the aspects of photography, a DSLR camera is highly recommended, or a Mirrorless camera.

This course introduces students to a selection of printmaking techniques: linoleum prints, dry-point engraving and monoprints in black and white and in color. Students will experiment with several plates to create a multi-colored print. Through the experimentation process students will learn composition and a sense of color. Through the sketching and planning stages of their projects, students will learn to think critically and strategically. The course will culminate in an individual project and participation in a public exhibition of student work. Course fee (includes materials) Euro 75.

Students will continue to expand their printmaking techniques from level I with an emphasis on experimentation in different materials and media. Techniques will include dry-point, monoprints and multiblock woodblock printing in a variety of combinations that introduce new visual patterns and imagery. The course includes participation in a public exhibition of student work. Course fee (includes materials) Euro 75.

This is an advanced course in printmaking techniques. Students will further develop and explore personal concepts in the printmaking medium to produce a coherent body of work. Group discussions and critiques will be intrinsic to this course. Reference will be made to the work of both the traditional canon and contemporary artists across the globe to broaden the students’ range of personal reference. The course includes participation in a public exhibition of student work. This course can be repeated up to four times. Art Studio fee (includes materials) Euro 75.

Roman Sketchbook is an introductory course in drawing. On-site classes will provide landscape views, architectural forms, paintings and three-dimensional sculpture as subject matter, using pencil, pen, charcoal and sanguigna (red chalk) as drawing techniques. The course includes individual drawing projects and a written component related to the experience of sketching on location. The aim is to develop confidence and visual awareness in creating representations of the vast selection of art that the city of Rome has to offer.

Since antiquity mosaics have been appreciated for their unique characteristics: the polychromous “stone carpets” in luxurious Roman villas, the shimmering of light on the golden background of Byzantine churches, the colorful patchwork of Gaudi’s imaginative architecture. This course gives an overview on the history and iconography of mosaics, in their different styles and contexts. It also aims at introducing students to the main techniques and materials used for creating mosaics, with a focus on traditional approaches. The practical laboratory work plays an important role in the course, and students will create their own mosaic, using traditional materials such as lime, stone dust, brick dust and tesserae of various types. Techniques for the conservation and restoration of mosaics will also be covered through relevant case-studies. Course fee (includes materials) Euro 75.

The course explores a thousand years in the development of Art (painting, sculpture and architecture) in the western Europe (from the early medieval period to the Baroque). The focus of the course is on the artistic heritage of the city of Rome and Italy, which will be studies and interpreted within the broader context of the Mediterranean and European/Western art. Major artworks and periods, elements of style and protagonists, will be examined from various perspectives, considering their historical and social context, artistic influences and literary sources. The course is taught primarily on-site. Students are responsible for all entry fees.

On-site. Art of Rome is an introductory course in the history of art. The course focuses on Rome, from its origin to contemporary times. Masterpieces of painting, sculpture, architecture and urban planning are examined within their historical contexts. Most of the classes are held on site. The course hones a method of description, critical analysis and interpretation of art and builds an understanding of traditional forms and cultural themes useful in the comprehension of all western art. Students are responsible for all entry fees.

This course will investigate the intersection of visual culture, art, architecture and urban planning, with political power: art as propaganda for modern regimes. The seminar-style investigation will approach themes of art and propaganda as they were developed in a limited range of 20th-century political climates, particularly Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, with connections to related historical and political examples. This seminar will venture beyond the traditional boundaries of Art Historical study by bringing into discussion the current state of research in nationalism and ritual studies on a theoretical foundation in aesthetics. The goal of the course is to advance superior argumentation, evaluate and employ primary historical source material (in translation) and apply current theoretical approaches to art historical research.

On-site. Arts of Renaissance and Baroque is an introductory course that surveys the development of painting, sculpture and architecture in Italy from the 14th to the mid-18th centuries, focusing on Rome but exploring also the artistic and cultural developments in Florence and Venice in the relevant period. Most classes are held on-site, in the museums, churches and palaces of Rome. The course hones a method of description, critical analysis and interpretation and enables students to learn about the main aspects of the Italian Renaissance and Baroque. Students are responsible for all entry fees.

Berlin is re-emerging as a cultural capital of Europe, and its museums showcase that. This excursion course to Berlin will review its history of collecting art and antiquities, examine the buildings designed to house them, and analyze the cultural conditions inflected by their changing political contexts, from the 18th century to the present. Conflicting issues of a past of cultural nationalism and imperialism and a present driven by historical conscience and revisionism will be discussed on a case by case basis. We will exercise analytical skills relevant to visual culture within complex historical contexts, with comparative material drawn from our experience of Rome and its museums. This course is run over a three-day weekend excursion.

This course introduces upper-division students to the field of museum studies, both as a career option and a scholarly field by considering the ways in which museums can explore the relationships between the cultural contexts of viewer, object, and other public and private stakeholders. The course will cover the basics of museum acquisitions, collections, exhibitions, and installations across a variety of museums, with a particular focus on art and archaeology museums based in Rome. Additional rotating issues and case studies may explore themes of gallery management, cultural heritage, the business of art, fakes and forgeries, decolonialization, curation, and auction houses. The course may include site visits, internships at museums, and the production of an original exhibition show on campus as a final student project. 3 credit hours. Pre-requisites: Any 200-level Humanities course. Students must pay their own entrance fees when required.

Italian Design surveys the art of industrial production in Italy over the last two centuries focusing on furniture, decorative arts and interior design, fashion, textiles and jewelry, household appliance and automotive design. The role of wider European and American influences in Italian production is examined. Classroom presentations are augmented by special visits to design firms and showrooms in Rome. The goal of the course is to understand the role of artistic expression in industrial production and to develop skills to comprehend the art of everyday objects.

On-site. The course explores main ideas behind the sacral space on the example of sacral architecture of Rome, from the ancient times to the postmodern. The course maximizes the opportunity of onsite teaching in Rome; most of the classes are held in the real surrounding, which best illustrates particular topics of the course. Students will have the opportunity to learn about different religious traditions, various religious ideas and practices (including the ancient Roman religion, early Christianity, Roman Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Protestantism, as well as the main elements of religion and sacred spaces of ancient Judaism and Islam). Students will have the opportunity to experience a variety of sacred spaces and learn about the broader cultural and historical context in which they appeared. Short study trips outside of Rome may also take place.

This course explores the complicated relationship between Art and War. The course traces the depiction of the combatants on and off the battlefield from the classical period until the modern era; that is, before and after the introduction of gunpowder and firearms. Students will study the depiction of the soldier/hero; battlefield scenes and modes of commemorating the fallen. Literary sources will be used to complement the visual records.

This course introduces students to material culture through the lens of the domestic interior and a consideration of objects utilized in the feminine sphere. Through a series of case studies, students will consider the larger context of an object’s creation and function in the classical, Renaissance and early modern eras. The course will also introduce students to a selection of feminist historiography. Topics will address the function of interior space and themes including but not limited to: the mirror, the bedroom, hair and jewellery. The course may include on-site museum visits in Rome.

This course explores the unique artistic culture of Renaissance Rome. It covers the period from the return of the papacy to Rome after the Council of Constance (1420) to the Sack of Rome by Imperial troops in 1527 and its immediate aftermath. This is the period when Bramante was completing his designs for the new Basilica of saint Peter’s; Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel; and Raphael and his studio were working nearby in the papal apartments. Students will be introduced to key themes in papal patronage within the larger context of Italian and European politics. Most of the teaching will be conducted on-site.

This course provides the student with an overview of the impact of legal, ethical and regulatory considerations on the business organization. Although introductory in nature, the course provides substantive analysis of the topics addressed. Specific topics considered include: legal theory, legal forums and institutions, contract law, business forms, employment regulation, anti-competitive practices and intellectual property. Although the focus of this course is primarily from a USA domestic law perspective, consideration is given to international and comparative legal issues.

This course will introduce students to an array of software applications commonly used in business. Students will explore software solutions that enable them to solve problems at the business operational level, using concepts of word processing, electronic spreadsheets, database management, web design and online marketing (social media and e-marketing campaigns). Students gain hands-on experience with the Microsoft Office Suite and introduction to WordPress.

Italian businesses are famous worldwide for their innovative approach to the fields that represent the country’s comparative advantage: food, fashion and design. In this course, students will gain direct experience with each one of the leading business sectors of Italy and “take to the road” to explore Italian business approaches first-hand. Students will meet with the entrepreneurs involved in developing the innovative concepts, dealing with the unique challenges and designing the creative solutions that have allowed these businesses to thrive – and survive even in the current recession, the worst economic crisis of the post-WWII period. Students will learn about the foundations of what has become known as “the Italian miracle” and the ways in which Il Bel Paese has been able to weather even the most difficult of times with a flexible approach to entrepreneurship.

The focus is on accounting as an essential element of the decision-making process, basic standards and principles of accounting, and how accounting information is accumulated and used in decision-making. Topics covered: processing accounting information, merchandising transactions, inventories, internal control, control of cash, receivables and payables, plant and equipment, payroll accounting theory, and partnerships.

Designed to be a bridge from the Principles of Marketing course to upper‐level marketing courses, such as Advertising, this course introduces students to IMC, an innovative approach to marketing communications (the Promotion P of the Marketing Mix). Smart marketers today no longer manage the various promotional tools separately but rather first develop Integrated Marketing Communications Strategies that ensure that their many promotional efforts are unified. The IMC approach ensures a single, clear, concise, coherent message that is supported by each of the promotional tools. Students explore these tools (Advertising, Public Relations, Sales Promotion, Personal Selling, Direct Marketing and Alternative Marketing), while honing creative and decision‐making skills.

This course is designed for students who have a basic understanding of macroeconomics and want to deepen their knowledge of the subject. Students will learn how to formally analyze monetary and fiscal policies in relation to different phases of the business cycle. The course will address the following questions: how are interest rates determined? What is the effect of interest rates on saving and investments decisions? Under what conditions public spending is sustainable? What combination of policies can foster economic development? How different policies will impact the labor market? Through lectures, discussions, and real-world examples, students will learn how to apply these formal models to analyze the problems of our fast-changing society such as rapid technological change, increasing inequality and climate change. By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of macroeconomic policy and the ability to critically evaluate policy decisions and their impact on the economy. Pre-requisites: ECO 211 and ECO 212, MTH 103 or MTH 200.

International Finance opens with an overview of the global financial environment, including a history of exchange rate regimes: Gold Standard, Bretton Woods, and the present system of managed and floating exchange rates. Students then analyze the factors affecting determination of exchange rates. With that knowledge, they turn to an analysis of international foreign currency exposure of multinational businesses, and the financial derivatives available to hedge these exposures. Students will explore the role of international institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization, as well as topics related to past and present financial crises, specifically, Russia, East Asia, and Latin America.

This course provides an introduction to the environmental and operational aspects of international business. Topics include international business background, comparative environmental frameworks, theories and institutions of trade and investment, world financial environment, dynamics of international business, governmental relationships, corporate policy and strategy, functional management, operations and related concerns.

In this course students learn how investment banks and investment bankers operate. Public offerings, M&A, venture capital, sales and trading, merchant banking, debt financing, institutional research, among numerous other aspects of the investment banking field, are studied, analyzed, and discussed. Emphasis is on developing analytical tools and social skills necessary to succeed in the world of Wall Street finance. The role of a successful analyst operating in such settings, and working on such transactions will be emphasized in particular.

The course covers accounting aspects in corporations (formation, administration, classes of stock, capital, retained earnings, dividends, treasury stock, bonds, investments and consolidated financial statements) , statement of changes in financial position, cash flow statement, analysis and interpretation of financial statements, cost accounting (job order and process cost systems, variable costing, standard costs), responsibility accounting (budgeting and capital budgeting), cost volume analysis, and short‐term decision‐making.

Designed to provide a working knowledge of significant financial topics and an awareness of how managerial finance affects business operations, this course covers financial analysis, planning and control, working capital management, investment decisions, cost of capital and valuation, and long-term financing decisions.

In this course, students explore the role of marketing research in the overall marketing effort, the research process, and the most common approaches/techniques used. Marketing research is critical to helping marketers make decisions. Students explore the information needs of marketeers, develop the research process, and discuss sampling techniques and data collection methods of primary data. Particular emphasis is placed on communicating the research results to different audiences. During the course, a full range of data sources, such as the Internet are also carefully evaluated. Students analyze company cases to evaluate if, when and how to use marketing research tools and work in groups to complete a marketing research project.

In this course, students discuss the importance of global trends in creating the future environment for commerce. They explore the real-world complexities associated with cross-cultural business negotiations, global economic and financial integration and the new challenges they present to governments and businesses alike.

Macroeconomic principles introduce students to the economist’s world view. It focuses on the national economy by looking at gross domestic product, aggregate supply demand, unemployment, economic growth, business cycles, multipliers, and monetary and fiscal policies. It introduces the different policy perspectives of the Keynesian and monetarist Schools.

A comprehensive introduction to management theory and practice, organized according to a traditional functional/process framework. Students explore issues related to organizing and managing human resources, communicating, motivating and leading, management control and operations management. The course integrates classical and modern concepts with an array of real-world cases.

Microeconomic principles expand the student’s exposure to the economist’s worldview through such concepts as opportunity cost, marginal decision making, efficiency and the benefits of trade. It focuses on topics that concern the “micro” elements of the economy: the consumer, the producer, and their interaction in the market. These topics include supply and demand analysis, elasticity, efficiency and market failure, taxation and market regulation, production and costs, pricing and output decisions under a variety of industrial organizations, and factor markets.

Mythology is the study of the legends about the origins and history of a people, their deities, ancestors and heroes. The stories of the gods and legendary heroes of the Greco-Roman tradition have provided the fountainhead for literature and the arts in the service of religious and political imagery down to the present. While the emphasis will be primarily literary, with extensive readings of such writers as Homer and Vergil (noting, in passing, the influence upon later literature). The visual depiction of these myths will also be studied. A field trip to a museum in Rome may be required.

This interdisciplinary course focuses on communication as an exercise of power in the context of Rome and Italy throughout their history. The course explores the role played by media and communications as tools for political and cultural hegemony throughout two thousand years of Italian History. From the acta diurna and the Aeneid in the age of Imperial Rome to the use of the Internet and social media by populist parties in the last decade, we will explore Italian History the interplay of the development of media technologies with propaganda, control, activism, and information wars. Topics covered include the role of communications during the passage from the Rome of the consuls to the Rome of the emperors; the ascent of the temporal authority of the Catholic Church; the use of newspapers and cinema as instruments of propaganda by Mussolini's fascist regime; the rise and decline of political leader and media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi. Ultimately, the course assesses the influence that the Italian experience had on global dynamics, ranging from modern imperialism to the populisms of the 21st century.

From the Zapatista uprising in the early 1990s to Black Lives Matter, the Internet has become a central tool for social change, insomuch as the logics of online networks and social movements are now often considered as inseparable. Mixing theoretical perspectives and a case-study approach, this course focuses on the relationship between the use of social and mobile platforms, the development of social movements, and dynamics of political and cultural change. It highlights the tension between commercially driven technological design and the ideals and values of online communities; the correlation between online engagement and offline protest; and, ultimately, the potential that digital media hold for democracy and participation.

The study of intercultural communication is an attempt to understand communication among peoples when cultural identifications affect the message. One approach is to learn the barriers one needs to overcome such as ethnocentrism, stereotyping, nonverbal misunderstandings, and translation difficulties. Students will learn how to recognize and overcome these barriers, and how to understand and relate to other cultures.

Focusing on effective communication in business and the professions, this course looks at communication within organizations and between organizations and their external environment; the effects of globalization on communication within and between organizations across national and cultural barriers; image making; and writing for and about organizations. 3 credit hours. Pre-requisites: ENG 102 and Junior or Senior standing or permission of the instructor.

This course provides a theoretical background of research in political communication, with a focus on the historical development of the research field, from classical rhetoric to online campaigning. The course is divided in six sections. The first section focuses on the theoretical background, history, structure, and diversity of political communication research. The second section considers studies about framing processes of political message, from classical rhetorical modes and propaganda to political advertising and debates. The third section concentrates on the relationship between politics and media. The fourth will illustrate issues about news media coverage, public opinion and the audiences. Section Five offers international perspectives on political communication, with the inclusion of European and Asian approaches. The final Part provides an account on the ever-developing relationship between new technologies, campaigning, and activism.

This course defines public relations, familiarizes students with its theoretical concepts and helps them to grasp the significance of the historical trends of public relations in America. The course will help students recognize, understand and critically evaluate the functions of public relations in various organizational settings, and the key elements of the public relations process. It will also help the student to become aware of the ethical and legal dimensions of public relations practice.

A transmedia narrative represents the integration of meaning-making experiences across a range of different media platforms; it takes one story and expands it across platforms. This course covers essential elements of transmedia storytelling from its history and key proponents to the critical examination and evaluation of key case studies and trending examples. Students will become familiar with multiple types of transmedia storytelling; analyze its multiple cohesive narratives; assess both commercial and grassroots extensions, and the impact on audiences (engagement, interaction, immersion, and co-creation).

This course examines Italy and its impact on British and American writers, investigating the complicated ways Italy figures in the Anglo-American imagination. Selected readings, discussion and analysis from the writings of Hawthorne, James, Wharton, Forster, Lawrence, Pound and others will be discussed.

This course is designed to be an overview in literary editing for publication and assumes students have an advanced level of writing skills. We will explore in-depth the published industry—the history, current trends, future possibilities—for both writers and editors. Students will develop many skills related to the publishing industry, such as copyediting, revision, query letters, literary critique and analysis, and submitting and reviewing work.

This introductory level literature class is designed to help students acquire the skills for reading, appreciating, and critically analyzing poetry. This course intends to introduce the students to some basic concepts about literary technique and innovation with the scope of honing their critical thinking skills. Students will not only be guided through the inspiring world of poetry, but they will also be steered towards a deeper and more insightful analysis of its purpose. While being introduced to the origins of poetry from its solely alliterative nature through to its varied structural development, students will learn to appreciate and interpret meaning, analytically and emotionally. Individual and distinctive interpretation by each student will be the basis of stimulating discussions and debates.

This course surveys the major writers of England from the Romantic and Victorian periods and through the twentieth century. The course emphasizes historical and cultural influences on writers such as Blake, Coleridge, Wordsworth, Keats, Dickens, Arnold, Browning, Joyce, Eliot, and Woolf.

This course teaches students how to write well and successfully in a business environment. Students learn to research and write presentations, reports, memos, business letters, press releases, newsletters, brochures and pitch letters and print ads.

This course is a seminar on the principles of effective expository writing with a focus on the critical perspectives and theories that enliven contemporary literary, art, and cultural studies. Through an historical survey of critical theory, including an introduction to relevant terminology, the course will cover various types of arguments, appropriate to different concerns and cultural contexts. The theory addressed in this course spans theories of race, class, gender and national identity, postmodern and poststructuralist perspectives, Marxist critique, and psychoanalytic approaches. Writing assignments will provide students with the opportunity to apply these theories to literary works, film, painting, and built space.

The Mediterranean has captivated and inspired writers for centuries. This course aims to introduce students to Mediterranean landscapes and cityscapes, and serves as a map for possible journeys, inspiring works—poetry, fiction and nonfiction—by students. As a starting historical point, the course explores the idea of Mediterraneaness, and its contemporary politics, society, culture, identities and languages. By reading the most exciting and best-known literary works inspired by major Mediterranean cities (Marseilles, Venice, Dubrovnik, Alexandria, Thessaloniki, Istanbul etc.) students will attain an awareness of the richness and complexity of the region, while exploring their voice and vision, and becoming active and engaged writers. 3 credit hours. Pre-requisites: ENG 102

Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary study that includes both applied and theoretical aspects of human impact on the world. In this course, an overview is given of the specific concerns of overpopulation, the energy crisis, and general results of the overstress on the environment, including pollution, poor agricultural practices, and the depletion of natural resources. An inquiry-based laboratory component is designed to support students in constructing a meaningful, conceptual foundation of the environmental sciences. Activities and experiments will help students experience Earth and environmental sciences as the dynamic system of patterns it embodies.

Figuring out what makes consumers tick lies at the core of much of modern marketing. This course enables students to gain an understanding of the psychological and sociological theories that form the basis of consumer behavior studies, how they relate to the real world and how these theories are applied in business practice. This is an area of study that is of interest not only to students of marketing, but also to potential public policy makers, consumer advocates and, perhaps most importantly, consumers.

This course examines the history of Italy’s fashion industry in order to understand how it gained strength and importance in Italian culture. The course will analyze how fashion has been effective historically as a communication system that has represented the development of Italian national identity and in turn has had considerable impact on Italian society and culture. Interdisciplinary in nature, the course makes use of novels, periodicals and films from the late 19th century post-unification period to the present and will highlight the close connection between the massive presence of art in Italy and its influence on the development of a collective sense of aesthetics that finds confirmation in fashion. The course will also address contemporary issues relating to the fashion industry, such as black market fashion production and the search for a humanitarian and ethically responsible fashion practices.

We live in a consumer-centric world and the fashion industry is one of the main drivers of consumer purchases around the globe. In this course students are introduced to core marketing activities surrounding the world of fashion. These activities include but are not limited to market segmentation, market research, consumer motivation, product strategy, pricing, promotions and retail distribution. Fashion marketing will explore the terminology and fundamentals of the fashion industry while examining the development of fashion products from concept to consumer. Marketing principles, practices, and policies used by fashion manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers will be explored. A global perspective of fashion marketing will also be discussed.

Various methods for turning an idea into the foundation for a motion picture via story development will be explored. Students will develop an advanced understanding of the ins and outs of screenwriting from concept development, the writing (and re-writing) process, and finally pitching and marketing the final product. 3 credit hours. Pre-requisites: FLM 214.

This course is a survey of the history and theories of the international avant-garde cinema, with lectures and technical labs to acquaint students with experimental film history, theory and production techniques. Students will collaborate in groups to use their theoretical knowledge to create a 3-5 minute experimental video. 3 credit hours. Pre-requisites: FDM 202 or permission of the instructor. Course fee Euro 7.

This is a course offered every semester with rotating content. Students will produce three projects during the semester either as group or individual projects. The purpose of the class is to allow creativity for the students in using all of the skills they have learned in the first two years of the program. Projects will include: short fiction, documentary, music video, advertisement, essay, experimental, mockumentary, short fiction web series, short comedy sketch, etc. Students will be encouraged to develop and workshop their ideas for their capstone senior projects in the course. Students may take the class more than once (but must produce completely new and original work each semester). Course fee Euro 75.

Since the birth of motion pictures, special and visual effects have always represented a fundamental creative element of filmmaking, defining it in more ways than one. After all, “cinema” in and of itself is literally a “special effect”. The course intends to explore the history of the development of this art form since the very beginning – just photographic tricks to fool the eye – all the way to the most sophisticated and highly spectacular digital special effects dominating the world of cinema today. It is a comprehensive journey detailing all the steps, in some cases giant leaps, that have influenced the way motion pictures have been made, expanding the creative opportunities of writers and directors to almost limitless horizons. 3 credits. Pre-requisites: Junior or Senior standing. Course fee Euro 75.

This is a course will teach the fundamentals of fiction filmmaking to students with little to no experience. Students will learn to create film story ideas, plan them for shooting, operate video cameras for shooting, as well as basic video editing for post-production. Specific topics include: understanding the formal foundations of cinematic storytelling, basic technical skills and concepts of video camera and lens operations, scene pre-visualization using blocking and shooting diagrams, the basic skills of shooting on location, as well as the basic techniques of film editing. The class consists of a mixture of lectures and analysis workshops, as well as hand-on shooting and editing exercises. Laboratory course fee Euro 75.

This course teaches students to become fluent in the visual language of fiction film directing at a beginner level. The focus of the class is to develop the conceptual and technical skills needed to shoot coverage of simple, silent fiction film scenes using the paradigm of the continuity system. This includes: understanding the formal foundations of cinematic storytelling (with an in‐depth exploration of film‐shot typology), basic technical skills and concepts of video camera and lens operations, scene pre‐visualization using blocking and shooting diagrams, the basic skills of shooting on location, and also understanding the relationship between shooting and editing. The class consists of a mixture of lectures and analysis workshops, as well as hands‐on shooting exercises. Course fee Euro 75.

The course addresses the key environmental and sustainability challenges faced by our contemporary food system, from production to processing, marketing, consumption and disposing of food. It reviews the historical developments of the agro‐food system and the identified challenges, framed through evidence and debates of the scientific communities and of civil society. The psychological, social, ethical and cultural factors influencing food consumption patterns and practices will also be examined. The potential solutions for more sustainable food production and consumption will be reviewed through the study of selected policies and regulatory frameworks at international and national levels. The course may include a field‐trip.

This weekend field trip course presents students with a different view of Sicily and of the mafia in Sicily, providing them with an understanding of the emergence of a new Sicilian culture and society based on the fight against the mafia, on pacifistic expression and on the creation of a culture of legality. The course will allow students the opportunity to visit sites of historical, social and cultural interest that document resistance to the local Mafia and encounter local civic associations, community service and solidarity networks that are active in the Sicilian context. Students will meet and exchange ideas with young Sicilians and thereby learn from direct experience an example of social activism in the Italian context. An understanding of the mafia in Sicily will be supported by readings from Sicilian writers such as Luigi Pirandello, Leonardo Sciascia and Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa and through the viewing of Italian films such as “I Cento Passi”.

This one-credit on-site course introduces students to the city of Naples through the eyes of the foreign ‘Grand Tour’ visitors. The course will focus on the history of the forming of important collections of ancient, Renaissance, and Baroque art, in particular the Archaeological Museum of Naples and the Capodimonte Museum, and the impact of the discovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Special attention will be given to the reactions of the visitors when confronted with the nude figure in Renaissance and ancient art and the ancient erotic art found at Pompeii and Herculaneum. The course meets on the AUR campus before a weekend long trip to Naples. Pre- or co-requisites: A 100-level introductory Art History course or permission of the instructor. Students arrange their own transportation to and accommodation in Naples. Students are responsible for all entry fees.

Geographical Information Science and Remote Sensing techniques can be used to explore archaeological landscapes. This course will analyze these techniques through case-studies from different archaeological periods and regions. The course will teach students to evaluate standard techniques and to map and analyze archaeological data. Students will also critically asses the contribution of GIS to the theoretical and methodological development of landscape archaeology.

This course introduces the physical elements and processes responsible for weather and climate, vegetation, soils, plate tectonics, landforms, their distributions, and their significance to humans. This special session of Physical Geography examines these processes as they are expressed in the context of the Italian Peninsula and the larger Mediterranean region.

This course is the continuation of Greek 101, the first semester of elementary ancient Greek. Course work will consist of readings in prose and poetry and the completion of the basic study of Greek grammar and syntax. Over the course of the semester students will advance from adapted passages to the original texts of classical Greek authors such as Plato and Sophocles. Readings on ancient Greek history and culture will also be assigned. 3 credit hours. Pre-requisites: GRK 101 or equivalent.

This is an introductory course for all majors; it provides substantive knowledge about the history of Italy from the Napoleonic period to the present day. The study concentrates on the centuries of political fragmentation and the efforts to develop an effective political system. In this respect, the course offers insights for the comparative study of different ‘paths to modernity’ in Western Europe.

Both before but particularly after September 11th, 2001, The Middle East has played a vital role in influencing the world we live in. In order to better understand the complexity of this region where major wars have been waged, it is necessary to equip students with an in‐depth understanding of the forces and influences that have historically shaped the region. This will be done by asking questions that analyze trends such as the growth of Nation States, of Arab Nationalism, the Arab‐Israeli Conflict, the tension between Secularism and Religion, as well as the growth of Muslim Fundamentalism among others. Most importantly various themes will be studied such as that of Continuity and Change. The course will start with the demise of the Ottoman Empire and the Post‐World War 1 Settlements and the rise of Nation‐States through to our times.

This course explores the Roman Republic and Empire, from the development of Italic culture in the Bronze Age through the dissolution of the empire in late antiquity. Via primary sources, students examine the development of political forms and ideas in the Mediterranean and their impact on Rome, the relationship of art and literature to society and politics, and developments in the areas of religion, science, and the economy. The course includes three required field trips to historical sites and museums in Rome and Ostia.

IN ITALIAN. This course focuses on strengthening the student’s knowledge and use of Italian at an advanced academic level while introducing student to major themes of Italian modern culture. Through the viewing of films and reading and analysis of literary texts and articles, the course explores topics relating to contemporary Italy, such as immigration and emigration and issues and challenges facing young Italians. The course enlarges the student’ perspectives on Italy today by exploring various interpretations of cultural phenomena, with particular attention to artistic, social and historical aspects. 

In this course students establish an introductory base in the Italian language in the four areas of language skills: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. At the successful completion of this course students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in everyday spoken Italian by performing the following functions: greet people and introduce themselves, give and follow simple directions, respond to and ask questions, describe their families and friends, order items in a café, discuss their life at school and hobbies, express likes and dislikes, and recount recent past actions. Students will be able to read simple written texts in Italian and write short paragraphs on familiar topics. Students will also have gained specific knowledge about contemporary Italy through cultural readings on topics such as family life, pastimes, and food and wine culture.

This course, open to students who have taken ITL 101 or equivalent or the appropriate placement examination, is a continuation of ITL 101, Elementary Italian I. The course focuses on vocabulary expansion and strengthening the four language skills of speaking, listening, writing, and reading in order to provide students with the ability to converse on familiar social situations related to school, recreation, and particular interests, provide oral descriptions in the major time frames (past, present, and future), read short written texts, and write short compositions on familiar topics

IN ITALIAN. This course is designed to improve Italian language skills at the intermediary level through an exploration of contemporary Italian film. This course is therefore designed to develop competency not only in grammatical structures but also strengthen listening and speaking skills and expand vocabulary acquisition. By watching and discussing clips from contemporary Italian movies, students will analyze idiomatic expressions, lexicon, grammatical structures, spoken and non‐verbal elements of language and Italian culture in order to gain linguistic competence and familiarize themselves with various aspects of contemporary Italian society.

This course is designed to improve Italian language skills at the upper‐intermediary level through an exploration of contemporary Italian music. This course is therefore designed to develop competency not only in grammatical structures but also strengthen listening and speaking skills and expand vocabulary acquisition. By listening to and discussing Italian songs, students will analyze idiomatic expressions, vocabulary, grammatical structures as well as explore aspects of Italian culture in order to gain linguistic and cultural competence. Conducted in Italian.

Open to students with no previous training in Italian, the course introduces features of the Italian language needed for interaction in everyday practical situations, such as the caffè, restaurant, accommodation and in shops. The course satisfies a limited number of immediate needs necessary for survival in the target language culture. Cultural topics, such as religion in Italy, Italian geography, and Italian families will also be studied through readings in English, in order to familiarize the student with certain aspects of contemporary Italian society and culture.

The focus of this course will be the city of Rome and selected literary works and films in which the city plays a prominent role. The course will examine literary and cinematic portrayals of the eternal city from classical to present times as a way of exploring certain periods of Rome’s history. Conducted in English.

This course explores the characteristics of Italian Contemporary Culture as viewed through cinema. It will focus on a selection of Italian films from World War II to the present in order to gain an overview of the dramatic economic, social and political changes in Italian society over the last 55 years. Clips from such emblematic films as The Bicycle Thief, Roma Città Aperta, la Dolce Vita, Una Giornata Particola, Cinema Paradiso, Caro Diario, la Meglio Gioventù, L’Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio, I Cento Passi, and others will provide students with insight into topics such as fascism, the Catholic church, evolving attitudes towards women, the years of economic boom, political instability, rural poverty, the “southern” question, the mafia, and immigration both to and from Italy. Class discussions will deal with relevant aspects of Italian society and history based on the films as well as the assigned readings. Films will be shown with English subtitles. Conducted in English.

This interdisciplinary course will focus on the social and cultural aspects of food and eating in different geographical areas with a special emphasis on Italy and its history. The course will be taught through a variety of readings, class discussions and presentations and there will also be some practical experiences. Please note that this is not a cooking course.

This course aims to explore representations of the Italian Mafia in literature and cinema, with reference also to the Italian-American context. Students will be introduced to the history of the Mafia, starting from its beginnings in Sicily, and follow its historical and geographical evolution within, and also outside, Italy. The course will make reference to Italian literary texts as well as Italian and Italian-American cinematic representations of the phenomenon.

The course provides an overview of the impact of the advert of digital media on society and its cultural, social, economic and political implications. The increased power and speed of the Internet, in terms of its capacity to deliver and manipulate content, has enabled a new culture to emerge, the culture of convergence whereby individuals can deliver content and news with potentially the same capacity as traditional centralized information producers. Furthermore, the decentralized production leads to processes with rapid interactive feedbacks resulting in changes in the social behavior when the information is consumed, repacked and recombined with other sources. According to Manuel Castells and other scholars, digital communication networks are transforming society as a whole. The ‘network’ is becoming the predominant form of organization advanced societies. This is evident in business, in patters of work, in identity and community, in politics and social movements. Bu what exactly is ‘Network Society’? And do we live in one? The course will critically engage with these developments and introduce some of the key debates and theoretical approaches concerning interactive digital applications and tools. We will investigate the implications of social technologies and new models of content production, discussing issues of identity, community, production and consumption, as well as campaigning and activism.

This course entails a series of workshops where, under professional guidance and through practical experience, students are trained in magazine writing and production. Students will be working on a well-established cultural events’ magazine, Wanted in Rome, covering a variety of roles - from writing and editing to social media content production (i.e. Instagram and podcasting) in both print and online versions. The course aims to foster journalistic skills such as idea development, research, outlining, interviewing, and copy editing - in addition to practice writing clear and concise sentences, paragraphs, blog posts, short explanatory pieces, descriptive passages, opinion and narratives. Laboratory course fee Euro 75.

This course develops basic concepts of probability and statistics with an emphasis on application.

This course is designed to have a more in-depth comprehension of the nature of data values presented in the major fields offered at AUR. This class will focus on inferential methods to make predictions on targeted populations. Students will learn how to collect sample data, how to classify these data into different variables, and how to place them in charts, contingency, and bivariate tables. Finally, students will learn, by the use of inferential Statistics, how to cross all these variables to determine whether a relationship exists among them in relation to potential populations. The goal of this class is to teach students how to support their research statistically. The final exam for this class will be a research paper in which students support their findings by analyzing a variety of data sets. Graphs and calculations will be presented by the use of the SPSS software.

This course is designed to introduce students to the basic techniques of creating a series of Podcasts and Vidcasts. Hands‐on training will be used to write, direct, produce, and edit both forms of New Media for broadcasting online. Students will learn the importance of broadcast media such as Podcasts and their powerful influence in the world of Marketing and Communications, while Vidcasts will introduce students to creation of web‐based content for informative and creative content. Students will use all of the necessary audio and video equipment to create weekly Podcasts and Vidcasts which will be streamed at AUR. Through the course of the semester, students will experience first‐hand all aspects of writing, production, speaking, and editing. Course fee Euro 75.

This course provides students with a deeper understanding of the significance of social networks and their impact on business. The course aims at exploring strategies of social media management for organizations and professionals. The course also delves into the successful deployment of these strategies and how social media is redefining the relationship between business and consumer. It focuses on communication practices with prospects and customers, and also on the internal processes necessary in order to enact strategic decisions.

This course covers the historical beginnings of Italian opera in the Renaissance period, as well as the development of opera from the Baroque period through the Romantic period. In addition. Students will attend live operatic performances at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Rome’s international opera theater.

An overview of the marketing function, its importance to strategic decision making in business, and its practical relation to other functions within the organization and in the external environment, the course is designed around the very easily accessible concept of “The Marketing Mix.” Students explore how marketers analyze and segment markets, select certain segments to “target” and then position their products to respond to the needs of those segments. They investigate the challenges involved in researching, creating, promoting, pricing and distributing products to target customers in both U.S. and international markets.

Why is it that more than 1 billion people across the world are struggling to eat, while others consume and dispose all sort of commodities at an unprecedented pace? Why economic opportunities concentrate in one place and seem so scare in others? What are the structural causes of inequality and, most importantly, what are the proposed solutions? Taking a multidisciplinary perspective, this course will introduce students to key issues in development studies looking at the economic, institutional and political development paths characterizing different world regions. Examples include East Asia transition from planned systems to markets, different forms of capitalism in the Global North, the legacy of colonization in Africa, resource-driven development in the Middle-East and Latin America, the transition from agricultural to industrial economies and the related processes of migration, urbanization and feminization of the labor force. Students will also learn about the key development role of informal institutions such as credit groups, local production networks and informal markets.

This course encompasses a wide range of issues including the historical and political backgrounds underlying the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its global policy implications. Modern bioethical topics such as cloning, euthanasia, abortion and the death penalty are extensively discussed. Special emphasis is placed on global, paradigmatic public health issues, such as the psychoactive drugs’ worldwide spread and the HIV/AIDS pandemic, whose social, political and economic impact is illustrated in the broader context of the struggle for Human Rights and respect for existing cultural diversities.

This course is an examination of leading works in political theory of the late 19th and the 20th centuries. Central themes cover attacks on the reaffirmation of liberal democratic thought, problems or order and violence, social and political revolutions and democratic processes. Readings are drawn from original works in political theory by Arendt, Dewey, Hayek, Lenin, Marx and Sorel.

The course is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the international humanitarian aid in countries affected by a crisis (conflict, natural disaster). It gives a firsthand understanding of what is like to work under pressure in difficult context. It is based on both theoretical and practical knowledge in order to make the experience and learning applicable to the realities of the humanitarian sector. Students will hear firsthand experiences from people who have been on humanitarian field missions. Practical learning is at the heart of the course. The course uses interactive tools and scenario‐based teaching (simulation exercises; role playing).

This course explores the functioning of international organizations in today´s world. It analyses 1) the meaning, the origins and the actors of global governance and the reasons why it is increasingly needed; 2) the centerpiece of global governance: the United Nations; and 3) the evolution, the role, the purposes and the impact of regional and sub‐regional organizations active in Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia and in the Middle East. The course will also address a number of cross‐cutting issues and challenges whose resolution require a global approach, and will, finally, discuss the role played by IOs in securing international peace and security.

This class is an introduction to the study of international political economy, a major sub-field of international relations, which studies the relationship between the global political and economic order. It builds on student’s understanding of theoretical international relations and current issues in international relations by examining the way that the global economy is governed and organized. It covers definitions of IPE, theories of IPE, the organization of the international economy in the pre and post-war periods, globalization, development, the politics of trade and finance, and global economic governance. The role of the European Union and United States in the international political economy are also reviewed.

This course complements empirical knowledge acquired by students in the IA 100 course. It consists of in‐depth study of main theories of international relations: realism, liberalism, Marxism, constructivism, feminism, and post‐structuralism as well as using these theories to explain political concepts and look at specific cases in contemporary politics. Beyond application of theoretical frameworks to current affairs students will learn how to criticize existing theories and how political science concepts evolve and change due to changing international context.

This course will provide students with a general introduction to the major concepts and themes of political science, drawing from the sub‐fields of political science: Comparative Politics, American politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. As a field, political science is interdisciplinary in nature, referring to a number of disciplines to understand and analyze the distribution of power and authority across a diversity of political systems around the world. The course will cover a number of topics: from competing forms of democracy, to the nature of economic development. More specifically, the course will explore, for instance: authoritarianism and democracy, unitary states and federalism, presidential and parliamentary systems. A number of contemporary issues will be addressed, including: political violence, competing economic systems, the focus of different policies – i.e. Foreign/Domestic/Economic/and Social policy. The course will show how the same political regime (e.g. democracy) might produce different political systems depending on the prevailing values and norms of two countries (e.g. in the East and in the West). The issue of universal standards and blueprints (e.g. human rights) over different cultural, religious, and social norms will be presented and discussed. The course satisfies information technology and oral presentation requirements.   

This course provides students with an understanding of the operation of the American political system. The primary focus will be on the structure and operations of federal governmental institutions (congress, the presidency and executive branch, and the judiciary) and their respective roles in formulating, implementing and adjudicating public policy. The course also examines the context of American politics, including the historical setting, the constitution, American political theory, the place of political parties, and public opinion and participation. The course will compare and evaluate major issues and debates in American politics (both domestic and foreign) – e.g. health care; the economy; the media; terrorism – showing the diverse perspectives, contending approaches and positions of minority groups and actors in the American political system (e.g. gender, ethnic, religious).

Scholars, government analysts and terrorism experts have examined the relationship between Islam and politics for years. Although this field of study is not recent, it became both dominant and essential since 9/11. This course intends to provide a comprehensive, analytical, and in‐depth examination of political Islam in an increasingly globalizing world. The purpose is thus to show the interaction of Islam and politics and the multiple and diverse roles of Islamic movements, as well as issues of: i) authoritarianism; ii) democratization; iii) religious extremism; and iv) terrorism. The first part of the course will give a general overview; the second part of the course will focus on case studies at the regional and global level.

The course provides an in-depth look at migration and anti-immigration in Europe. It provides students with a survey of different theoretical approaches used to theorise migration within and across Europe, examining the roots and socio-political impact of anti-immigration feelings, discourses and policies in different countries within the EU. Debates and critical analysis of migration policies and practices dealing with ethnic minorities, racism, xenophobia, human rights, deportation, border control and immigration make the bulk of the course. these are going to be addressed considering the difficulties posed by the recent migration and refugee crises and the systematic challenges of implementing a common European policy on migration.

This course will provide an overview of NATO’s role in international security since its establishment during the Cold War until Russia’s unprovoked aggression of Ukraine in 2022. Its aim is to introduce students to NATO’s structures, policies, and operations as well as to provide them with analytically informed and critical awareness of its role in international security and of the current issues facing the Alliance. Students will learn about the Alliance’s organization and structure, its decision-making process, strategy and defence planning, acquiring detailed knowledge of the Alliance’s three core tasks of collective defence, crisis management, and cooperative security. Issues, such as NATO’s nuclear policy and role in arms control, partnerships, eastern enlargement, relations with Russia and China, and emerging security threats in the energy, cyber, and climate domains will also be debated and addressed. 3 credit hours. Pre-requisites: IA 100, IA 202, or permission of the instructor.

Political violence has always been present. Sometimes it is expressed as a formal war between clearly defined combatants for clearly defined aims; more usually the aims are mixed and the methods and targets even more muddled. It is essential to understand these distinctions, moral, legal, political and practical in order to understand wider political practices both between nation states and within them. Since 1945, there have been almost no “wars” in the traditional sense of the word and very few which approximate to wars be–tween states. Present and future wars are more likely to be between ill-defined protagonists and since 11 September 2001 and the US's "war on terrorism", it has become even more important to understand the roots, aims, morals, ethics and techniques of political terrorism and all forms of political violence.

The course provides an analysis of the emergence of development of the European Union from the aftermath of World War II to the present. The forces, the events, and the individuals that have shaped the European Union (EU) up to now will be presented together with the strength and weakness of this project. The EU is the most interesting political entity in history beyond the nation-state trying to reconcile national and supranational interests and values – EU’s motto is: “Unity in diversity”, in varietate Concordia. The common currency and a common trade policy have not been met by a common foreign and security policy, or a common tax or immigration policy. The EU project is still in the making. The EU is a controversial political-economic entity facing challenges as showed by the events in its recent past: the failed constitutionalization process; the eurozone debt crisis; Brexit; and the immigration crisis. From the European Economic Community to the Single Market, from the Maastricht Treaty to the euro the course will show the evolution, the institutions, the interests, and the powers of the EU.

The goal of this course is to introduce the student into the scientific understanding of how human perception, cognition and action is influenced and shaped by the (real or imagined) presence of others. Themes that are discussed are: the self in a social context, perception of others, social identity, attitudes, attitude change and persuasion, group norms and conformity, group processes and decisions, attraction and close relationships, prosocial behavior, stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination, aggression and social conflict. 3 credit hours. Pre-requisites: PSY 101.

This course gives students an introductory exposure to various religions of the world as seen from the perspective of the academic study of religion. It takes an objective and non‐sectarian approach and is intended to inform rather than to persuade. The course assumes that students are capable of understanding worldviews and value systems different from their own and that sympathetic exposure to such alternatives is both an integral part of a university education and an essential component of functioning as a responsible citizen of the 21st century.

This course examines the religious foundation of the idea that human life is “sacred” and considers a wide range of historical and ethical issues associated with this central concept of Western thought. We will explore the meaning of the multi‐faceted phrase “sanctity of life,” including its implications for such ethical and legal concerns as conception, birth, and termination of life; human dignity and human rights; the quality of life; and social justice. Some of the issues considered will include bigotry and prejudice; economic and social injustice; euthanasia, infanticide, and suicide; genocide, holy war, jihad, terrorism, and violence; health care and health costs; human trafficking and slavery; martyrdom and self‐ martyrdom; social stratification; aging, death, disposal of the body; and the afterlife, especially in Dante’s Inferno. We will consider how “life” is defined and described in different cultures at different times in history, and how religions have influenced these matters.

This course examines the role of gender in different societies and helps to understand gendered dimensions of economic and social inequality, stratification, oppression, and power in global perspectives. Questions regarding sex and gender are going to be discussed in the context of complex social phenomena such as sex trafficking, pay-gap, machismo, immigration, development, poverty, marriage, and politics. Concepts such as democracy, human rights, freedom, emancipation, equality, and oppression are going to be critically evaluated through the careful analysis of gendered practices around the world

This course introduces students to the systematic study of human society from the perspective of sociology. The course begins with a presentation of classical sociological thinkers such as Marx, Durkheim and Weber and discusses sociology as a particular view on society connected to the sociological method. The course debates a series of classical topics within sociology with examples and case studies from modern day societies: deviance, class, social interaction, social stratification, marriage and family, gender, age, religion and population dynamics. Why societies have divergent norms, rules, and patterns and how do these rules form and why? The last part of the course will briefly introduce contemporary theories of modernity, post-modernity, or “liquid modernity”, and will open up toward a global perspective by debating sociology’s role in understanding contemporary globalization.

This course will give students the opportunity to actively explore the multiple dimensions of the City of Rome systematically and on the basis of a theoretical framework of urbanism, cultural studies and social theory. The students will examine how the city impacts its citizens, its businesses and social organizations.

An examination of Italian comedic and dramatic structure from the Renaissance to the present with particular emphasis on its influence on modern European and American literature and film. The course will cover the plays of Machiavelli, Carlo Goldoni, Luigi Pirandello and Dario Fo, as well as European playwrights such as Eugene Ionesco and Tom Stoppard. Focus will be placed on the comedic form and its modes of portraying the issues of identity, reality, truth, absurdity and art.