The American University of Rome's Summer II session runs from 26 June to 23 July 2024.

AUR Summer Schools offer you an educational, social, and cultural experience you’ll never forget. Immerse yourself in engaging classroom discussions, intensive language study, and in-depth courses with professors and students from around the world. Earn credits towards your degree or pursue a personal interest while exploring Rome's culture, history, and food through this unique, thought-provoking, international experience.


For 2024, we have a great range of courses available. Scroll through and find the courses that fascinate you, or use these links to jump directly to a subject theme. You could select to do two courses under a single theme or mix and match courses that interest you.

Archaeology   |   Art   |   Art History   |   Business   |   Communication   |   Italian Language & Culture   |  


Archaeology

ARC 101 ROMAN ARCHAEOLOGY ON-SITE

Monday - Thursday
9:00-11:20
Off-campus
3 credits

An introductory off-campus 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. Students are responsible for all entry fees.

Course Code: ARC 101 - Download sample syllabus

 

 

Art

ART 101 ROMAN SKETCHBOOK

Monday - Thursday
9:00-11:20
Off-campus
3 credits

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.

Course Code: ART 101 - Download sample syllabus

 

ART 100 COLOR AND COMPOSITION

Monday - Thursday
15:40-18:00
Some classes off-campus
3 credits

This foundation course introduces students to the basic vocabulary and principles of design through a variety of short-term projects. Students will create sophisticated compositions in two dimensions, and work in a variety of media, including water-based painting techniques and pastels. Special attention is given to color theory and its various applications. Analysis of selected works by past artists will enhance comprehension of visual balance and composition. Routine critiques of works in progress and finished works will be conducted.

Course Code: ART 100 - Download sample syllabus

 

 

 

Art History

AH 100 ART OF ROME

Monday - Thursday
9:00-11:20
Most classes off-campus
3 credits

Art of Rome is an introductory course in art history. 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 off-campus. 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 comprehending all western art.

Course Code: AH 100 - Download sample syllabus

 

AHRE 106 SACRED SPACE: RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE OF ROME

Monday - Thursday
15:40-18:00
Most classes off-campus
3 credits

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 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.

Course Code: AHRE 106 - Download sample syllabus

 

 

Business

BUS 300 INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Monday - Thursday
12:30-14:40
Some classes off-campus
3 credits

This course introduces international business's environmental and operational aspects. 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.

Pre-requisites: Junior or Senior standing or permission of the instructor.

Course Code: BUS 300 - Download sample syllabus

 

 

Communication

COM 219 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Monday - Thursday
15:40 - 18:00
Some classes off-campus
3 credits

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.

Course Code: COM 219 - Download sample syllabus

 

 

Italian Language & Culture

ITL 100 INTRODUCTION TO ITALIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Monday - Thursday
15:40 - 18:00
Some classes off-campus
3 credits

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, restaurants, accommodation, and 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.

Course Code: ITL 100 - Download sample syllabus

IS 212 ITALIAN FOOD AND CULTURE

Monday - Thursday
9:00 - 11:20
Some classes off-campus
3 credits

This interdisciplinary course will focus on the social and cultural aspects of food and eating in different geographical areas, emphasizing 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.

Course Code: IS 212 - Download sample syllabus