ITA 199 (4 credits)
No prior language experience is required.
Course fulfills USM International Core Requirement

SUMMER TRAVEL COURSE

Travel Dates: May 18 – June 7, 2025

An intensive Italian language course and cultural immersion in the South of Italy, on the beautiful Amalfi Coast. Participants experience the Sea, History, Art, Music, Ceramics, Cooking and enjoy the beautiful beaches and harbors of Amalfi and Cilento Coasts in a traditional and real-life Italian setting.

Students will be placed in language courses which run daily from 9 am to 12:30 pm, Monday through Friday. When not in class, students will enjoy on-site guided tours in the medieval Salerno city center, beautiful excursions to the Amalfi Coast and visit famous archaeological sites such as Pompei, Pasteum (Greek Temples). There will also be special visits to Mozzarella and Lemoncello Factories, special Italian cooking lesson s and a variety of dinners and recreational activities.

Students will be housed with host families all within walking distance from the school and city center.

Faculty

Anna Rein

Anna Rein is a Senior Lecturer in Italian at Bowdoin College and an adjunct faculty at USM where she teaches language and culture courses. Born and raised in Italy, Anna pursued her studies at the University of Pisa and the University Ca’ Foscari in Venice. Her professional interest focuses on applied linguistics and teaching methodology.  She is also an ACTFL-certified consultant for OPI (Oral Proficiency Interviews) in Italian, bringing extensive expertise to language education and assessment.

Malinda Haslett, DMA
Associate Professor of Music, Osher Opera Theatre Artistic Director, Osher School of Music

Malinda Haslett, soprano first move to Rome as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar.  There, she studied at the prestigious Accademia Internazionale delle Arti, won numerous voice competitions, and made her European debut.  She was recently the Gladys Delman Krieble Foundation Fellow for Venetian Research, where she studied and performed the works of Elsa Respighi.  She is a frequent guest teacher in music conservatories in Gallarate (Milan), Parma, and Brescia.

Tuition and Fees

The approximate program fee is expected to range between $4750 and $4900. Tuition and fees at the in-state rate are in addition to the program fee. All participants on USM travel programs receive the in-state tuition rate regardless of residency.

The program fee includes:  accommodation, airfare, ground transportation in country, breakfast and dinner, books and academic materials, academic site visits and entrance fees

Not included in the program fee: cost of tuition, fees, lunches, and other personal expenses.

An additional 2 credit Independent Study may be added to the 4 credit Italian class, at the discretion of the instructor and in conjunction with the Honors advisor which would allow students to apply for summer financial aid.

Application

The application deadline is March 10, 2025. Pre-requisites for the course are: at least 12 college credits hours and a minimum GPA of 2.0 or instructor permission.

A complete application includes all of the following:

  1. Submit the program application form
    • We recommend looking over the application before completing it so you have all parts ready, as unfortunately you cannot save as you go.
  2. A letter of recommendation from a faculty member or academic advisor
  3. Copy of academic transcript
    • Information regarding requesting a transcript can be found here (It’s probably easiest to either follow the steps for “Electronic Delivery” or “Unofficial Transcript via Classic MaineStreet” and either way, send to Kimberly Sinclair (ksinc@maine.edu)

Once the application committee has reviewed applications, you will be notified of acceptance via email. At that time, all students accepted to the program will be asked to submit a $500 nonrefundable deposit and will be enrolled in the course in MaineStreet by Kaoru Phillips in the Office of International Programs.