Immerse yourself in the political landscape of Italy, in a historical and philosophical sense, with exposure to contemporary Italian politics and the relationship between Italy and the European Union. The beautiful Tuscan city of Siena will provide a backdrop for the course, which will be supplemented with a visit to Florence. Several excursions to other cities and towns in Tuscany, and elsewhere, are an integral part of this program.
Politics in Italy
Language Requirement: None
Academic Standing by Program Start: Third-Term Freshman or Above
Location: Europe, Italy
GPA: 2.5
Program Overview
Dates and Deadlines
| Term | Year | Deadline | Arrival Date | Departure Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Quarter | 2026 | 12/15/2025 | 03/26/2026 | 06/06/2026 |
This program is less than 90 days. Students with a US passport will be traveling to Italy under the Schengen Visa waiver program and do not require a travel visa for this program, and GEO is unable to assist U.S. citizens in obtaining a visa. If you are not a U.S. Citizen: Notify your GEO Advisor. Students who are not U.S. citizens should contact the Italian consulate in their country of residence about visa requirements, no matter the duration of the program of study.
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Academic Details
This program will explore the historical and modern landscape of Italian politics. All students will enroll in 4 - 5 courses for a total of 16 - 22 quarter credits. The political science courses count toward the major or minor in Political Science at the University of Oregon. For other majors or universities, please check with your departmental advisor for more information.
Spring 2026 Required Courses:
- PS 388: Politics in Modern Italy (5 credits)
- PS 388: Machiavelli's Italy (5 credits)
- GLBL 388: Cross-Cultural Communications/Cross-Cultural Perspectives (2 credits)
- At least one elective course from:
- HIST 388: Wine in Italy and the Western World (4 credits)
- ITAL 101; ITAL 103; ITAL 203: Italian Language - Beginner or Intermediate (5 credits)
- ARH 388: Women in Art: From Inspiration to Creation (5 credits)
Optional Service Learning Placement:
The service learning experiences are not offered for credit, but are an optional extracurricular activity of the Cross-Cultural Communications/Cross-Cultural Perspectives course.An optional service learning placement is an exciting opportunity for students studying in Siena to become more immersed into Italian culture and give back to the local community. As part of the Cross-Cultural Perspectives course, you will design a project in partnership with your organization host, conducting a needs and skills assessment. Over the course of the term, you will continue to develop your project while reflecting on your involvement and the cross-cultural context in which you are participating. At the conclusion of the program, you will present a portfolio of reflection papers, resumé, and project analysis. If you opt for the service learning placement, you will be making both a personal and a professional commitment. A service learning placement requires flexibility and commitment to the schedule and entailed responsibilities. Because of the time commitment required, you may sometimes have to forgo a program activity or excursion in order to fulfill your responsibilities to the organization. Placements vary by term. In the past students have volunteered at local pre-school and elementary schools, retirement homes, ceramic arts programs for community members with disabilities, and rescue and social services.
Course Equivalencies
UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.
Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.
Housing Description
Experience life as part of an authentic Italian neighborhood, living within the medieval city walls of Siena. Residences are spread out within the city center. All are within easy walking distance (~15 min) of the GEO Center, and you will have small local grocers, restaurants, and cafés nearby.
You have two housing options, each with its own perks. You will be able to provide your preference, though we cannot guarantee that we can accommodate everyone in their first choice.
Apartments: Apartments are fully furnished with beds, desks and a kitchen table and chairs. No two apartments are the same. Generally, there are 2-3 rooms per apartment, and you can expect to share a bedroom with one or two other GEO students. The kitchens are equipped with utensils, plates, glasses, cookware, an electronic oven and a gas stove. You will also receive two sets of linens and each apartment has access to a washing machine and drying rack (dryers are very uncommon in Italy).
Student Residence: You can live in a residence with other international and Italian students, fully immersing yourself into the community. The student residence has single and double rooms, some with ensuite bathrooms and some with shared bathrooms (no more than 3 people/bathroom). Each room has a TV, fridge/freezer, safe, desks, nightstand, and sink. Kitchen and living areas are shared with your floor (~8 people/kitchen, students often enjoy cooking together or share meals with each other). Linens and towels are provided, and your rooms are cleaned weekly.
Budget and Price
Politics in Italy
2026 Spring Quarter
| UO Study Abroad Fee* | $500 |
| Program Tuition | $10,915 |
| Housing | $2,331 |
| Local Transportation | $39 |
| Insurance | $215 |
| Estimated airfare from Eugene | $1,200 |
| Estimated additional meals | $1,700 |
| Estimated cellphone expenses | $100 |
| Estimated travel clinic & pre-departure physical | $50 |
| Estimated cost of acquiring a passport | $150 |
| Estimated additional living expenses | $1,750 |
| Total estimated cost of attendance | $18,950 |
Cancellation Policy
| Cancellation Date | Cancellation Penalty |
|---|---|
| Upon acceptance to the program | Student agrees to $500 non-refundable program deposit |
| Cancelling 8 weeks - 1 day before program start date | Student is responsible for 50% of total GEO program fees |
| Cancelling on or after program start date | Student is responsible for 100% of total GEO program fees |