Italy

Dates: June 3-20, 2024

Scholarships & Funding

Program Brochure

Contact the Program Director

Lindsey Pedersen

Art Department
P: 480-461-7530
Office: AC Office #1
lindsey.pedersen@mesacc.edu

Coliseum

Program Location

Color map of Italy's regions.

Explore art history and intercultural communication in Italy – the heart of the Roman Empire, the cradle of the Renaissance and Baroque, and a global center for art, fashion, food, and design! The buildings, piazzas, and museums of Florence, Bologna, Siena, and Venice* will be your classroom as you experience the rich art and culture of Italy.

The program begins in Florence, where participants stay in shared apartments near the CEA CAPA Florence Study Center.  As part of this art-intensive program, you will visit the major museums, architecture, and piazzas of the city, including the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia, Boboli Gardens, Pitti Palace, Medici Chapels, and Basilica and Museum of San Marco. Through CEA CAPA’s program, you will also have access to intercultural learning activities with local students and scholars. 

From Florence, you will visit the Tuscan town of Siena and the university city of Bologna.  Finally, you may visit Venice*, a city with a rich, multicultural heritage dating back to the medieval period. Highlights include the Piazza San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, the Rialto, and modern and contemporary art at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.  

*Venice is an optional excursion

Italy Program Excursions

*UNESCO World Heritage Site

Summer Courses You Will Take During Program

  • 6 credit program - Registration for courses will begin on March 4 for current MCC students and on March 18 for all other students.
  • REQUIRED hybrid coursework begins prior to departure:  Tentative dates: May 15-30, 2024
  • ARH102: Renaissance through Contemporary Art (3 cr) [H, HU]
  • COM263 15058 Elements of Intercultural Communication (3 cr) [C, G, SB]
  • Mandatory study abroad orientation on Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 9 am - 2 pm at MCC.

Italy Program Details

Program includes:

  • Welcome meal at a local restaurant
  • Historical walking tour of Florence
  • Farewell dinner or cultural event to mark the end of the program
  • Florence bus pass
  • Optional day trip to Venice for an additional $145

Student Housing

  • Student apartments will include a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, television, Wi-Fi, and utilities.
  • There are typically 4-6 students per apartment.   Student room arrangements are typically doubles and triples.

Did You Know??

  • The Venice Film Festival was founded in 1932 and is the oldest international film festival in the world.
  • Italians refer to one another by their city of origin (Milanese, Roman, Florentine, etc.).
  • Italy surrounds two independent nations: San Marino and Vatican City (Holy See).
  • In 1986, when McDonald’s opened in Rome, protestors against the fast-food chain stood outside the restaurant and handed out free pasta.
  • Currency used is the euro (symbol: ; code: EUR)
  • Read more detailed cultural information on Italy provided by CultureGrams™ Italy (2023). CultureGrams Online Edition. ProQuest.
  • Diversity Abroad Italy Destination Guide

Estimated Program Costs & Deadlines

Expense Type Estimated Cost Deadline

Program Fee
Includes lodging, academic facilities, cultural excursions, in-country ground transportation, secondary medical insurance.

$3,329

Program Fee Due: Friday, February 16, 2024

$250 Confirmation Deposit Due (towards total program fee): upon acceptance to program

Registration Fee

Tuition: 6 credits
In-state: $97 per credit hour
Out-of-state: $217 per credit hour ($1,317 incl registration fee)

$   15
$ 582

Airfare (estimated cost) $1,800

Your program director will provide you with instructions on purchasing airfare for your program. Only after you have received these instructions should you purchase airfare.

Ground transportation that is not included in program fee $ 20  

Meals

$ 350 Not needed until you land in Italy!
TOTAL Estimated Costs $6,096 (program fee, tuition, airfare and meals)
 
ADDITIONAL COSTS    
Optional day trip to Venice $145 Estimated cost for roundtrip transportation, vaporetto pass, Peggy Guggenheim Collection entrance
Textbooks N/A No textbooks required.
Passport

Passport Info Here

Your passport must be valid at least 6 months beyond the date of your return to the USA.

$165/130
(new/renewal)

  • Be sure to allow at least 14-18 weeks of processing time for first time applicants and renewals.
  • Visit the U.S. Department of State Students Abroad website for current fees and processing times.

ETIAS travel authorisation (scheduled to go into effect in 2025)

Entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of these 30 European countries. Linked to a traveller’s passport, it is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation.  Cost will be 7 euros which is estimated to be about $8.

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/what-etias_en

$8

Must have passport first!

Most applications are processed within minutes.

It is possible however that your application may take longer to process. If so, you will receive a decision within four days. Please note that this period could be extended by up to 14 days if you are requested to provide additional information or documentation, or up to 30 days if you are invited to an interview. This is why you should apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation well in advance of your planned journey.

Program Application Deadline

Space is limited.
Apply early to reserve your place!

  • Application Deadline:  February 2, 2024
  • Currently at waitlist capacity!
  • Complete online application.
  • Late applications will be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
  • Applications are reviewed/approved on a rolling basis.

Scholarships and Funding Your Program

Title Date(s) More Information

International Education
Scholarship

IE Study Abroad Scholarship

  • Does NOT require FAFSA but helps!
  • Award Range: $250-$900
  • If you are receiving financial aid from another MCCCD college, please share your FAFSA with MCC (school code 001077) two weeks prior to scholarship deadline.
  • Students applying for the International Education Scholarship will also be considered for the Maricopa Grant, if applicable.

Maricopa Grant

  • England/Scotland and Puerto Peñasco programs excluded

Deadline: Saturday, February 11, 2023

Spring 2024 deadline TBA

Get information on financial aid & grants, scholarships, and misc. resources for study abroad here.

PRIOR to applying for a scholarship, student must:

  • Be accepted into your study abroad program. Apply early!
  • Pay the program deposit of $250 online, at Cashier Services, or by calling 480.461.7400.
  • IE Study Abroad Scholarship awards will be announced via email in late February.
  • Maricopa Grants announced in mid-April-May when Summer financial aid begins awarding.

STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

Scholarship Portal

Keyword Search: Study Abroad Program at Mesa Community College

CashCourse
This free online resource is a great place to go for money management info, tips, calculators, articles, worksheets, and quizzes that can assist you in achieving financial success now and in the future.
Take advantage of this great resource for Mesa Community College students to help budget for your study abroad program!

How To Register For Your Free CashCourse Account

1. Go to https://www.cashcourse.org/

2. Click on "Register for a Free Account" under the Students circle.

3. Fill in all of the required information fields and click Register.

Be sure to check out the Financial Tools. The Budget Wizard is an easy-to-use tool to start tracking where your money is going.

Title Date(s) More Information

Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

Students apply through the college they are receiving financial aid from.

Gilman Scholarship Highlights

Maximum Award: $5,000

October Application Deadline
1st Thursday of October (awards announced by December)

March Application Deadline
1st Thursday of March (awards announced by May)

March 7, 2024
11:59 PM PST

Application NOW OPEN!

GILMAN SCHOLARSHIP WORKSHOP

Come learn how to write essays for the Gilman International Scholarship!

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Review information presented at workshop!

  • Must be a Pell Grant recipient.  Students apply indicating the school they are receiving their Pell Grant funding from. If you are not a receiving Pell Grant funding through MCC, you must apply for the Gilman through the school that you are receiving financial aid from.
  • Applications are reviewed holistically, with consideration of the following selection criteria. View Gilman Presentation here!
  • Review Gilman Essays Writing Tips.
  • Review Gilman Brainstorming Worksheet to help articulate ideas to frame your essays.
  • Review writing resources for ideas on crafting your Statement of Purpose:
  • Bring your draft to the Writing Center and get feedback on how to polish your "diamond in the rough"!
  • For application instructions, review this walkthrough video.
  • Watch videos of Gilman scholars abroad, alumni interviews, and tips from advisors and application reviewers on YouTube.
  • Note for Gilman application: For Program Administrator, select Mesa Community College

Gilman-McCain Scholarship

Gilman-McCain OverView

Maximum Award: $5,000

October Application Deadline
1st Thursday of October (awards announced by December)
11:59 PM PST

January Application Deadline

Thursday, January 4, 2024
11:59 pm PST

Application cycle NOW OPEN!

 
  • Must be a child dependent of an active/activated US military personnel during time of application.
  • Must be a Title IV federal financial aid recipient.  Title IV funds include:
    • Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans
    • Direct PLUS Loans
    • Federal Pell Grants
    • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOGs)
    • Federal Perkins Loans
  • Use the same Gilman application system as other Gilman Scholarship applicants.  Applicants will simply confirm that they are child dependent of an active duty military member of the U.S. Armed Forces (Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Space Force, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and USPHS Commissioned Corps).
  • If a student is receiving a Federal Pell Grant and is also a child dependent of an active duty military member, then the student is eligible for both Gilman scholarships and will automatically be considered for both but eligible to receive only one. If they are selected for the Gilman-McCain Scholarship, then they will no longer be considered for the Gilman Scholarship.
Title Date(s) More Information

A New Leaf Assets to Opportunity (ATO)

A match savings program designed to help individuals save their own money in a special savings account and have their money matched for tuition, textbooks, and some study abroad program expenses with an 8:1 match.

Deadline:
Contact A New Leaf

ATO@turnanewleaf.org

Eligibility:

  • Must have earned income
  • Be a resident of Arizona
  • Income must be at or below 200% of federal poverty line
  • Commit to saving $500 and saving for at least 3 months
  • Commit to making $30 deposits twice per month
  • Complete a financial wellness workshop and any other program requirements
  • Contact: ATO@turnanewleaf.org
Title Date(s) More Information
MCC Honors Program
Study Abroad Scholarship

Deadline:  2024 TBA

Maximum Award: $250-$500

If you are a current MCC Honors Program student in good standing, you can apply for up to a $500 study abroad scholarship!

For more information, call 480.461.7143.

Honors Program Study Abroad Scholarship Application

Information Sessions & Mandatory Orientation

Title Date(s) and Time More Information

Virtual

General Information Sessions

Playback of webinar on Nov. 18, 2022 during International Education Week

https://maricopa.webex.com/recordingservice/sites/maricopa/recording/ee8...

Recording Password: 5mE6StzU

For any questions, please contact studyabroad@mesacc.edu or the individual faculty program directors listed at: https://www.mesacc.edu/study-abroad/contact-us

Financial Aid Contact Information

Financial Aid FAQS

At Southern & Dobson, contact Adela Bob at 480.461.7436 or at adela.bob@mesacc.edu.

At Red Mountain, contact Tori Stanton in Financial Aid at 480.654.7760 or at tori.stanton@mesacc.edu.

Mandatory Orientation

Sat., April 13, 2024

9 am - 2 pm

Room LB145 in the Elsner Library at the Southern & Dobson campus.

You must attend the mandatory study abroad orientation!
There may be additional required meetings for your specific program. Contact the Program Director for details.