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UW in Florence

The many tan, brick buildings with reddish-brown roofs of the city of Florence, including the tall, domed Duomo, are illuminated by the setting sun.

Please note: You are responsible for obtaining the visa prior to departure. IAP will provide guidance regarding this process. The visa application process requires a lot of paperwork and multiple steps. A valid passport is required in order to begin the visa application process.  If you need to apply for a new passport or renew your current passport, please do so. You will begin the visa application process shortly after being accepted to the program.

Italy, Florence

Limited Capacity Program: This program can accept a limited number of students each term. In the past we have received more qualified applications than available spots. Review of applicants is based on these criteria. You may only have one application per term, however, please have an alternate program in mind in the event that you are not accepted to this program.

Italy is one of those unique locations where in-class and out-of-class experiences merge, providing a living museum to great cultural traditions and historical monuments. Based in the beautiful city of Florence, this program is your opportunity to combine academics and immersion in taking advantage of the local environment. This spring semester program brings together a group of students and a UW-Madison professor to live la dolce vita in Florence.  
UW works closely with CET Academic Programs, located in the heart of historical Florence. Courses are geared toward providing you with a grounding in Italian language, and both an understanding of Italy in a cultural and historical perspective, connecting it to greater European and global issues. The cultural and historical riches of Florence create a unique and vibrant academic environment. This program is ideal if you’re looking for an academically rich study abroad experience with an introduction to Italian language.

In Florence, the renowned history of Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael, Medici, and Boticelli will become part of your daily experience.

Learning Objectives

We have overall Goals and Expectations for Study Abroad Participants, covering the personal, academic and professional aspects of study abroad. Additionally on this program, you can:

  • Gain competence with the Italian language; knowledge of Italian history, culture, and the arts
  • Integrate into the academic and social environment of CET Florence
  • Engage with fellow UW students and faculty 
  • Develop a literacy in day-to-day life in Florence
  • Achieve personal development and the ability to adapt to a new culture

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Sustainability

We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.

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Eligibility

  • 2.0 cumulative GPA

  • Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • At the time of participation, students must have completed one semester at a US college or university.
  • Open to UW-Madison degree-seeking students only
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing
  • At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution

Advising Location

Program Structure

UW Signature

Subjects

Arts, business, humanities, social sciences, Italian language

Classroom Language

English

Housing

Apartments, Local Hosts

Program Duration

Spring: Mid-January - Early May

Application Deadline(s)

Spring 2026-27 8/7/2026 Cost Details

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

APPLY NOW

 

The foundational academic focus for this program is art history, Italian and European studies from a multi-disciplinary perspective. Course listings vary each semester and can range from areas in arts, business, humanities, Italian language, and social sciences.

All courses are taught through the CET Florence Center with other program participants and students attending the CET Florence Center from other U.S. universities. Courses are taught in English, with the exception of Italian language classes. Class sizes vary and can be anywhere from 1-20+ students depending on enrollment. Typically, a UW-Madison Professor will offer two courses in their area of teaching. Italian language faculty and other course faculty will be professors of the CET Florence program.

You will take 13-16 credits on the program. This is the required curriculum:

  • Italian language course offered at the beginner/intermediate level (4 credits)
  • 1 UW Professor course (3 credits)
  • 2-3 CET electives (3 credits each)

If you’ve taken beyond 4th semester Italian language, the Italian language course requirement will be waived.

Your academics will extend beyond the classroom with relevant field trips within the local area. For example, an art history course will likely visit the Uffizi Gallery. Italian language courses may venture to local markets and stores for practice in daily life conversations. Students studying management may visit a local factory to learn from and see a business in action. The city of Florence will be your living classroom.

UW in Florence Faculty Courses for Spring 2027

UW Professor Patrick Rumble (Department of French & Italian) will teach two courses for Spring 2027. Students must take one of the two courses:

History of Italian Cinema
UW Equivalent: Italian 460 or Communication Arts 460
3 credits

A survey of the history of Italian cinema from the Second World War up to today, examining the work of key filmmakers in the Italian art cinema tradition, including Rossellini, De Sica, Fellini, Antonioni, Pasolini, Bertolucci, Marazzi, Moretti, Gioli, and Rohrwacher. Students will be introduced to important film movements and trends including Futurism, Neorealism, the Commedia all'italiana, Auteurist cinema, Feminist filmmaking, Avant-Garde film and Environmental cinema.

The Modern Italian Novel
UW Equivalent: Litterature in Translation 254
3 credits

A general introduction to the modern Italian novel (in translation) in philosophical, artistic, and socio-historical contexts.  Students will be introduced to several of the most significant literary authors and movements in Italy during the 20th – 21st Centuries, and they will gain a broad understanding of modern Italian culture, history, and society. Central themes of the course include: modernism and postmodernism, immigration and nationalism, Futurism and Italian avant-gardes, fascism and anti-fascism, Feminism and gender in Italy, terrorism and political extremism, Mafia and anti-Mafia, colonialism and post-colonialism, and the impact of European unification and globalization on contemporary Italy.

Course offerings and descriptions for CET courses are listed below under Foreign Courses.

Program Web Pages

CET in Florence

Foreign Courses

CET Academic Programs Course Descriptions

Course Equivalents

Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance. View Course Equivalents

Program Leader

Program leader photo placeholder

Patrick Rumble

Spring 2027 UW in Florence Program Leader, Department of French & Italian