Semester in Perugia is housed at the Umbra Institute, which offers courses in a wide variety of subjects, including art history, food studies, history, Italian studies, international business, literature, marketing, political science, studio art, and more. There are 4 distinct program options: the General Studies Program, the Intensive Italian Language and Culture Program, the Independent Research Program, and direct enrollment at the University of Perugia.
All instruction is in English except in clearly designated advanced Italian courses. You’ll be living in Italy, so you must enroll in a 4 or 6 credit Italian language course (prior study of Italian is not required) and also choose from elective courses for a minimum of 12 credits per semester. The Umbra Institute is now offering credit bearing and non credit bearing internships for students in the General Studies program. Credit bearing internship will be an "Academic Internship" course that you may choose as one of your electives. As part of this course, you will work with a company or organization in the Umbria area and will complete relevant coursework. Non credit bearing internships are available as extracurricular opportunities.
GPA Required: 2.75. If you find your GPA is lower than the requirement, do not despair! Use the "Contact An Advisor" button on this page or call us to let us know your situation. We'll do all we can to find the right program for you.
How to choose your courses
Now for the fun part! As part of the application process you will be required to complete the CISabroad Course Selection Worksheet found in the CISabroad Application Page. The following instructions will guide you through the steps of choosing your courses.
Course load: 4–5 classes (12–18 credits) depending on the program you choose Course approval: Before you go abroad, it is best to get 7–8 classes approved for your semester program. This gives you some flexibility in setting up your class schedule. Think about courses required for your major, but also courses that fulfill your elective requirements.
Please note that you will not be registered for your courses at the Umbra Institute until you arrive in Italy and go through the registration process in orientation. You will, however, be pre-approved for your course choices and will be informed if any of your courses will be unavailable for any reason.
Course descriptions and catalog:
Fall course descriptions: click here
Spring course descriptions: click here
Unique program opportunities Independent Research Program
The Independent Research Program is designed to let you work on a thesis or senior project while studying in Italy. You are required to take a 4 or 6 credit Italian language course, a 3-credit Research Methods course, and a 6-credit Field Study Research course. You’ll have regular one-on-one consultations with a preassigned instructor who will assist you and guide you through your thesis. You can also work with instructors from your home institution, if approved. If you like, take one or two additional courses for a minimum of 15 and maximum of 18 semester credits. This program is open to all students. (details)
Honors Courses Each semester the Umbra Institute offers several designated Honors courses. These courses were developed by Institute professors in response to students’ tremendous enthusiasm for continued and in-depth study. Honors courses are distinguished by higher academic standards; extensive study in the subject; additional course hours, assignments, and contact with instructors; and an exclusive student body with exceptional academic credentials. (details)
Food Science Program The Food Studies Program applies an interdisciplinary approach to the study of food - history, sociology, cultural studies, business practices, literature, politics, science, agriculture, and sustainability - to discover how the individual, the community and society relate to food in Italy, America and elsewhere. (details)
Italian Language and Culture Program—Full Immersion This program is exclusively dedicated to the Italian language and Italian studies. Students are enrolled at the Università per Stranieri di Perugia in one of four Italian-language levels. The program is conducted entirely in Italian but is open to students of all language abilities. Level 1 for example, is designed for beginners and assumes little or no prior study of Italian. Level 4 is designed for advanced students and offers courses in a variety of subjects related to Italian studies. This program is open to all students and offers 16 US credits in Italian language and Italian studies.(details)
Direct Enrollment at the University of Perugia The Direct Enrollment track at the Umbra Institute offers you a truly immersive experience in Italian culture and in the European style of education. You will take courses with Italian and international students at both of Perugia’s prestigious universities—the Università per Stranieri and the Università degli Studi di Perugia. This program is only available to students with advanced proficiency in Italian. (details)
Students will receive a US college or university transcript from an accredited US institution for academic work completed on this program.