Italy: Rome

  • Roman Colosseum

The Colosseum. Photo by DAVID ILIFF License CC-BY-SA 3.0

January Term Study Abroad Program

Experience the history and beauty of Rome. Choose between a course in ancient Roman architecture and society (CLAS 510J: Building Rome, Fine & Performing Arts Discovery credit) or a course on Medieval and Modern Italy (ITAL 510J: Rome: The Eternal City in Italian culture, World Cultures Discovery credit) taught by UNH faculty in Rome. Both courses include 10 days of study in-country including two days in Pompeii. A five-day online component prepares students for the on-site portion so that they will be ready to soak in Rome’s past and present. While in Rome, students stay at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies.

Apply Now!

Program Dates

Jan. 5-16 2024

Information Session

Wednesday, April 12th at 5 PM, Murkland 104

Thursday, April 20th, at 4 PM by Zoom

Application Deadline

Early Application to Guarantee a Spot and choice of program (ITAL or CLAS): May 1st, 2023

Deposit Deadline

October 1, 20223

How to apply Financial Aid/scholarships

Contacts

R. Scott Smith
Professor of Classics
Rome Program Director
Email: scott.smith@unh.edu
Phone: (603) 862-2388 (voice mail only)

Nicole Gercke
Lecturer of Classics, Humanities, and Italian Studies 
Email: nicole.gercke@unh.edu
Phone: (603) 862-0599

 

At the time of application, all students are expected to meet the following criteria:

  • At least 12 credits earned at UNH
    • Freshmen students not meeting the 12-credit requirement may be allowed to participate in the program. Approval is needed from both the Program Faculty Director. Contact the COLA Center for Study Abroad for guidance.
  • A declared major
  • A minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
    • Students who do not have a declared major or who have an established GPA between 2.0 and 2.5 may still apply. Admission will be at the discretion of the program faculty director.
  • Good standing with the Student Conduct System
    • A student who is on probation, regardless of the underlying violation, must successfully petition through the Academic Standards and Advising Committee (ASAC) for permission to participate. Students who have had a past violation will also be required to petition. Please contact your Dean’s Office for more guidance and the petition form, if needed.

The program involves intensive walking at historic sites that may feature challenging terrain or lack accessibility standards common in the United States. Contact the faculty director with any questions.

The UNH Rome Program is a short-term study abroad experience that allows a select group of to students study under the guidance of UNH faculty in Rome over the January Term. Program benefits include:

  • Earn 4 credits over the J-Term
  • Satisfy either the World Cultures or the Fine and Performning Arts Discovery Requirement
  • Online preparation prior to departure (aka, class in pajamas!)
  • Discover first-hand Rome's impressive heritage
  • No language or course pre-requisites: all students with an interest in Rome and Italian culture are encouraged to apply!
  • On-site lectures on Rome's greatest monuments and history by expert faculty with lots of experience abroad
Rome study abroad students

 

Students earn 4 UNH credits by enrolling in one of two tracks. Each course gives students an exhaustive introduction to the beauty and history of Rome, but has a unique focus.

1) Ancient Rome Track:
Experience the history, architecture and art history of the ancient Romans the way they did—in Rome itself! This course will give students a sense of the majesty and miracle that was the ancient Roman empire. Both online and on-site coursework will be conducted by a UNH Classics Studies faculty member. In 2024, the course will be taught by Prof. R. Scott Smith. Students earn 4 credits and satisfy the Fine and Performning Arts Discovery Category. Below is the full course description:

CLAS 510 - Building Rome

An introduction to the buildings and structures for which the Romans remain famous, such as the Pantheon, the Colosseum, and the aqueducts that allowed Rome to become a metropolis. A major focus is the connection between the changes in Roman society and the development of Roman architecture. A week-long online component prepares students for the on-site portion, which consists of eight to ten days in the field in Rome, Herculaneum, and Pompeii, so that they will be ready to soak in the monuments of the past. In Rome, the instructor(s) will lecture at major monuments and museums, and students will be asked to perform on-site investigations. All readings are in English. No prior knowledge of the ancient world required.

2) Italian Culture Track:
Experience contemporary Rome through the lens of its richly layered history. This course will give students a sense of the important role the city’s history, and the myths and reality it has spawned, from the Popes to Mussolini to La Dolce Vita, influence the way modern Romans live their lives. Both online and on-site coursework will be conducted by a UNH Italian Studies faculty member. In 2020, the course will be taught by Prof. Nicole Gercke. Students earn 4 credits and satisfy the World Cultures Discovery Category. Below is the full course description:

ITAL 510J - Rome: The Eternal City in Italian Culture

This course is designed as an interdisciplinary introduction to the history, myth and representation of Rome from the Middle Ages to the present day. Students will have about a week-long mini course on-line, aimed at preparing them for the on-site portion, which consists of nine days in Italy. In the on-line portion of the course, students will read historical and literary texts, look at images such as paintings and maps, and watch films. On-site, the group will explore Rome’s different neighborhoods where the instructors will lecture at major monuments, churches, museums, and other important sites. Students will be asked to perform on-site investigations as well. All readings are in English. No prior knowledge of Italian language or culture required.

Rome study abroad students

 

Nicknamed the "Eternal City", Rome is one of Europe's most beautiful and historically significant capitals. Its impressive history stretches back over 2500 years when a group of small settlements along the Tiber River joined together to form the foundation of what would become the Roman Republic and then Empire. The immense power and wealth of Ancient Rome transformed the city into the biggest urban center of the ancient world and left behind structures which still inspire us today. Students on the program will visit many of these iconic vestiges of Ancient Rome including the Colosseum, the Forum, and the Pantheon. But Rome is not only a city of the past. With a population of nearly 3 million, it remains one of Europe's most exciting destinations. In their free time, students can enjoy some of the world's best art museums, explore enchanting cobblestoned neigborhoods like Trastevere, camp out at a famous cafe, or seek out the city's best pizza or gelato. 

Helpful Links

Piazza del Popolo Rome

 

January Term tuition and course fee will cover instruction, excursions, housing, breakfasts and dinners. Students also pay a study abroad administration fee and a mandatory international health insurance fee to UNH. In addition to these fees, you will need funds for all personal and incidental expenses and travel to and from Rome, and for a few meals in Pompeii. All costs below are subject to change.

2020 Estimated Costs Payable to UNH (subject to change) 

  NH Residents Non-NH Residents
UNH J-Term Tuition (4 credits) $1,836 $2,024
Program Fee $1,250 $1,250
UNH Technology & Registration Fees $46 $46
UNH Study Abroad Administrative Fee $100 $100
UNH International Health Insurance Fee $35 $35
Total Cost $3,267 $3,455

Housing and Meals

Students pre-pay for their housing and most meals as part of the Rome Program Fee. In Rome students will be staying at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies (ICCS), located at 19 Via Alessandro Algardi. The facility is located in the Gianicolo Hill neighborhood, a quiet and very safe residential just next to Trastevere - one of Rome's most picturesque neighborhoods. Students stay in single, double, or triple rooms as assigned by the ICCS on arrival. Sheets, blankets, pillows , beds, desks, lighting, and heat are provided, as are towels. Pay-per-use laundry facilities are also available on site. The Centro has a small computer room, but students are encouraged to bring their own laptops. Wireless internet is available throughout the facility. Students will stay for two nights at a hotel in Pompeii (triple rooms).

With the exception of a few lunches, meals will be provided by ICCS or arranged on-site during excursions. Meals are cooked at the Centro and served family-style. Three meals a day are provided Monday through Friday (breakfast at 8:00 am, where a bag lunch will be provided for the day, dinner at 7:30 pm). Weekend meals are not served; students will be responsible for their meals on the weekend (though the program usually organizes and pays for at least one group weekend meal). We can give you advice how to eat inexpensively.

Other Inclusions

Not Included

  • Airfare to and from Rome
  • Some weekend meals
  • Italian phone plan (required)
  • Personal spending and travel expenses

Payment Information

Accepted students must submit a $200 non-refundable program deposit.

View study abroad payment deadlines, cancellation and refund policy

While we cannot guarantee complete security abroad (just like on campus in Durham) the University of New Hampshire and the College of Liberal Arts (COLA) make every effort to facilitate safe international student experiences. Please find below important information on health and safety-related resources, policies, and procedures. If you have additional questions, please contact the program faculty director or the COLA Center for Study Abroad.

Travel to Italy

UNH Global health and safety information