What makes college such a transformative experience? For many students, the answer extends far beyond the classroom, lectures and textbooks. Higher education is often defined by experiences that challenge perspectives, foster independence and create lasting memories. For some, one of the most transformative of those experiences is studying abroad.
Studying abroad introduces students to new people, places and cultures while encouraging them to step outside their comfort zones and embrace unfamiliar ways of thinking and living. Recognizing the value of global learning, the College of Liberal Arts has recently launched the Global Humanities initiative, providing University students with opportunities to connect academic study with firsthand international exploration with the goal of fulfilling core requirements. For the inaugural trip, Core Humanities 202 (CH202), the Modern World, which fulfills Core Objective #5, history and culture, was chosen because it is needed by all students to graduate.
Just last month, Dean Casilde Isabelli and emeritus history professor Dennis Dworkin led the College’s first cohort of eight students to Rome, Italy, for the field component of the course. The three-week hybrid CH202 class began with two weeks of synchronous online instruction, during which students analyzed Europe’s legacy in shaping world ideas, institutions and cultures with a particular emphasis on modern Italy. Arriving in the Eternal City with a strong academic foundation, they were prepared to connect their studies to the physical landscapes that inspired them.
The week abroad immersed students in place-based learning, transforming Rome into a living classroom. The group explored historic streets, museums and neighborhoods, examining the city's layers of history firsthand. Walking lectures and site-based tours brought the lasting influence of Roman institutions to life in the very places where those histories unfolded.
As students moved through ancient ruins and modern streets, they encountered Rome as a living record of successive civilizations. Through direct engagement with its people, places and cultural landmarks, they explored how cultural memory, artistic expression and political power have shaped the city across centuries and continue to influence contemporary life. For the participating class, the experience exemplified what makes higher education distinctive: the opportunity to transform knowledge into experience and learning into discovery.
Students reflected on the ways this trip shaped their understanding and outlook.
"My favorite part of the trip was being able to see a completely different culture and being able to see the melting pot of people that are present in a different country. I feel like I was exposed to so many new and diverse means of access to resources, which was really a unique experience,” Sierra Bertone, a student studying philosophy within the College of Liberal Arts, said.
"I think my favorite part of this trip has been the memories, experiencing the culture here and how it’s vastly different from back home. I’ve made lifelong memories [on this trip]," Addie Levine, education and human development major, said.
The memories and connections these students speak of are an important part of the overall experience. Cohort dinners, informal conversations after museum visits and evening discussions overlooking the Italian coastline transformed classmates into collaborators and friends. The shared experience of learning together in both virtual and physical spaces created a sense of community that extended beyond the classroom.
Dean Isabelli described the program as a powerful blend of academic preparation and real-world discovery.
“Our goal is to make humanities learning active and accessible,” she said. “The hybrid model allows students to engage thoughtfully with course material online and then experience it firsthand through immersive, place-based learning. The international component opens doors to new cultures, ideas and perspectives, helping students understand not only the world around them, but also their place within it.”
This intensive week abroad program structure, hosted by , complements existing summer, semester and year-long study abroad programs, by serving students who may be unable to commit to a full semester abroad but still seek an intensive, faculty-mentored international experience. By combining rigorous academic preparation with immersive travel and direct engagement with European culture, the program offers a deeper understanding of global civilizations while demonstrating a core principle of the humanities. Some lessons are best learned not only through study, but through firsthand experience of the places where history unfolded.
Interested in experiencing the humanities beyond the classroom? Visit the Global Humanities webpage to explore international learning opportunities offered through the College of Liberal Arts, including our Wintermester study abroad program in Florence, Italy, from December 27, 2026, to January 10, 2027.
Led by Ned Schoolman (history) and Erica Westhoff (Italian), this immersive experience allows students to earn six units of credit while exploring more than 2,500 years of Italian history, culture and environmental change. Through HIST 120: Introduction to Environmental History: Climate, Crisis, and Contagion and ITAL 221: Italy and Its Culture, students engage with Italy's rich artistic traditions, historic landscapes, food cultures and literary heritage through classroom study, field-based learning and site visits throughout Florence and beyond. Successful completion of both courses fulfills CO9 and CO11 requirements. Whether you're interested in history, culture, sustainability or international travel, this program offers a unique opportunity to live, learn and experience one of the world's most inspiring cultural destinations.
