Spring Break March 5-14, 2027
Price: $5,000 (subject to change)
First payment due November 10, 2026
Second payment due December 10, 2026
Third payment due January 10, 2027
PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.
Students should apply to the Center for Italian Culture (CIC) Scholarship in Academic Works in October 2026. Students will find out if they received the scholarship and the amount before the first payment due date.
Pending financial aid does not cover study abroad payments. Please call Student Accounts for more details at 978.665.4126.
EDUC 3065 PreK-12 Education in Italy
Class Dates: TBD
Class Time/Format: TBD
General Education Requirements: IHIP and AIA
Through this study abroad program, students will develop their understanding of the structure of PreK-12 schools in Italy as well as the practices that inform the design and delivery of instruction. Italy serves as a model for other countries in the implementation of inclusive practices in public PreK -12 school settings. This program will provide students with the opportunity to identify practices present within Italian schools that effectively support all learners. Students will reflect on how knowledge gained during this experience can be applied in classroom and clinical settings within the United States.
Learn more from the info session slideshow
Working Itinerary (subject to change)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Fri., March 5 | Depart Boston on an overnight flight to Italy. |
| Sat., March 6 | Arrive in Rome. Meet guides at airport for private bus transfer to accommodation. Attend a Health & Safety and Culture Orientation. Take an Art History Walking Tour of Rome, including Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps. In the evening, enjoy a Group Welcome Dinner. |
| Sun., March 7 | Enjoy a free morning. In the afternoon, tour the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. |
| Mon., March 8 | In the morning, walk to the Italian State School and shadow classes. In the afternoon attend an Overview of the Italian Inclusive Education System. |
| Tues., March 9 | In the morning, shadow classes. In the afternoon, attend a panel discussion on Inclusive Policies and Practices within the Italian Education System. In the evening, enjoy an Italian cooking class! |
| Wed., March 10 | In the morning, shadow classes. In the afternoon, travel Tivoli and visit Villa d’Este and Villa Adriana. |
| Thurs., March 11 | In the morning, shadow classes. In the afternoon, attend second panel discussion on Inclusive Education Practices. |
| Fri., March 12 | Enjoy a free morning in Rome. In the afternoon, tour the Vatican Museums. |
| Sat., March 13 | Free day in Rome! Gather for a Group Farwell Dinner. |
| Sun., March 14 | Depart Rome. Arrive in Boston in the afternoon. |
During the experience, students will conduct site visits at schools that serve as models for effective inclusive practices as well as meet with local teachers. Students will be immersed in Italian culture during this study abroad experience. They will have the opportunity to participate in cultural activities which include visits to historical sites, such as the Colosseum, and tours of local monuments including the Trevi Fountain. Join other students for this immersive learning experience in Rome.
Students will be shadowing classrooms in Rome. Although many concepts will be translated, students should learn/practice Italian as much as possible prior to this program in March 2025. The OIE recommends sites like Duolingo or Babbel.
Student Quotes
"My goals were to understand the culture of community and inclusion within the school system. My goals were definitely met. I was able to speak with the inclusion director of the school and that was my biggest lesson/ take away. From speaking with her, I was able to take in new ideas and ways of thinking that will positively impact my teaching and pedagogy as a SPED educator."
"Dr. DeAngelis also has a very welcoming personality so I was able to come to her with any issues I had. My initial goal for going abroad was to learn aspects of Italy's education system while also learning a new culture. These goals were met every day I was there. I learned problem solving within language barriers and also how to improve my teaching instruction to include more students of different learning levels."
"I was able to practice the basics of a new language, learn about Italian culture, and to learn about how Italian culture interacts with Italian education. I had many structured and unstructured opportunities to engage with the culture, and the school visits provided great insight into the interactions between school culture and community culture."
"Every student, every need" this is a quote from our inclusion director and the Regina Margharita school. It is in reference to meeting all students need regardless of ability, race, gender, etc. It truly spoke to not only the school but Rome's community and my beliefs as a future educator.
“Seeing schools in a non-native language forces you to notice the other ways that teachers and students communicate with each other beyond words, like tone of voice, posture, gestures, physical touch, and routines. It helps a future teacher to consider what they do to help students be their best, and how to notice when students need support without asking.”