The Critical Studies on Food in Italy Summer Program in Rome (CSFI) combines a multi-cultural exchange with educational, full-immersion trips.

Enrolling in this program means you will be participating in courses with a focus on the Italian food culture from a historical, political, economic and social perspective, such as the history of agriculture and food; food production such as wine, including exclusive visits to vineyards; nutritional lessons; and a study of Italian cultural anthropology and philosophy.

 

2013 CRITICAL STUDIES ON FOOD IN ITALY (CSFI) Summer Program in Rome,

designed, promoted and managed by the GUSTOLAB INSTITUTE CENTER FOR FOOD AND CULTURE and University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Language Courses provider: Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Rome.

 

DURATION: 5-WEEK Full Immersion Summer Program
WHEN: 20 MAY 2013 – 22 JUNE 2013
WHERE: ROME, ITALY

 

OPEN TO ALL MAJORS. *Also open to non-UMass students*

 

Why study abroad with Gustolab Institute?

Gustolab Institute is the first Academic Center for Food and Culture Studies in Italy and study abroad programs in this field. Our headquarters and classrooms are located in the historic center of Rome, steps away from Piazza Navona. Gustolab Institute academic programs include: lectures on cultural, social and economic aspects of food in Italy; hands-on workshops with chefs, TV directors, journalists, nutrition experts; guided visits to farms, vineyards, artisanal workshops, fishing boats, coffee shops, TV studios, Food Channel TV studio, Food Magazine headquarters, Web and Advertising agencies, and more…. lots of fun! For a critical investigation of food, culture and media communication in Italy, it is not enough to read about it, you must live it.

The Critical Studies on Food in Italy Summer Program. The Critical Studies on Food in Italy Summer Program in Rome and the South is both academic and experiential. It challenges students to grow on an academic, professional and personal level. The program is taught by faculty with international experience and expertise across a wide range of food and communication fields. The 5-week program in Rome introduces our students to one of Europe’s most vibrant capitals, its multicultural and yet inherently European environment through the lens of food culture. The result is a life-enriching experience abroad that offers our students invaluable personal, academic and professional opportunities.

 

List of available courses:

1. Critical Studies on Food Culture (3 credits) COURSE

Course taught in English at Gustolab Institute Center for Food and Culture. This course combines traditional lectures and discussion meetings with hands-on co-curricular activities and field trips in and around Rome, as well as in the Lazio region and Cilento’s seaside. The course presents food in all its complex connections with culture, nutrition, environment, society, economics and politics. All course topics are accompanied by practical activities, ranging from classes in professional kitchens to food and wine pairing and tasting workshops. The lecture series is delivered by prestigious experts for each specific course topic, thus providing a dynamic learning environment with an interdisciplinary approach. Practical assignments allow students to explore and experience first-hand food culture in the streets of Rome to use and improve their Italian and make the most of their summer abroad. No prerequisites.

Activities included:

• Cooking classes

• 1 educational dinner

• Wine tasting and Food & Wine pairing workshop

• Eating Inside and Out tour and coffee tasting in Rome

• Food street market and food shopping workshop

 

2. Food media, communication and trends (3 credits) COURSE

Course taught in English at Gustolab Institute Center for Food and Culture. This course focuses on the intersection between food and media, a connection that has elicited much interest in communication studies over the past few years. Food has become a hot topic on TV, the internet and printed media. The goal of this course is to enhance the students’ competence both on the subject matter and in the practical skills necessary to produce good communication about food and wine. Students will be able to take advantage of hands-on practice with different kinds of media, including digital video. This multi-faceted course gives students a solid foundation in understanding Italy’s unique media environment as well as the opportunity to utilize Rome (and Italy) as a living laboratory for producing a final portfolio of journalistic writings. Students will also complete an original video research project (Documentary production) customized to team interests. Guest lecturers include local and international journalists, writers and bloggers. No prerequisites.

Activities included:

• Food and wine blogs / Workshop and creation of students’ blogs

• “EATainment” workshop

• TV STUDIO/CHANNEL visit

• Food & culture documentary production (15 hours hands-on classes: Camera, framing and shooting technique, shooting, editing, final public presentation)

 

3. Food, Nutrition and Culture in Italy ( 3 credits) COURSE

NUTRITION – NUTR 497ST (Food, Nutrition and Culture in Italy)

This course will focus on how culture and ethnicity affect dietary practices, with particular emphasis on Italy as compared to the U.S. The influence of politics on food availability and food practices will be discussed. Emphasis will also be on cross-cultural communication processes to address nutrition and cultural issues. This course is intended to provide a forum for discussion based on presentations, readings, and personal experiences.  Classes will include lectures presenting new material, but will also heavily focus on in-class discussion, field experiences and synthesis of topics. Students will meet with professionals, chefs, historians, doctors and experts in the field. They will work together on research projects.

 

4. Elementary Italian Language UMASS ITAL 110 (3 credits) COURSE and Intensive Elementary Italian Language UMASS ITAL 126 (6 credits)*

Both courses are applicable toward UMass Amherst’s language requirement. Gustolab Institute Center for food and culture collaborates with the Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Rome to provide the Italian Language courses. Higher levels of Italian language and Italian Conversation courses are available at Scuola Leonardo da Vinci. Please contact us to receive more information on this. No prerequisites.

*minimum of 8 participants must be enrolled for the INTENSIVE course

 

5. ITALIAN LEXICON FOR FOOD STUDIES ( 3 credits) COURSE

This course will be for students without any knowledge of the Italian language.

This course aims to teach:

- technical terms,

- vocabulary, and

- words used in the specialized field of study and research of the Food Studies.

Students will be able to analyze product packaging, advertising campaigns, but also scientific resources in Italian language. The teacher will help the students to identify the Italian words used in the field of Food Studies. This course will also include basic knowledge and skills of grammar, to help students to easily interact with native speakers.

 

 

CREDITS

6 or 9 credit options. Academic credits for Critical Studies on Food in Italy Summer Program (CSFI) are transferred back through UMass Amherst and are widely transferable to colleges and universities across the country.

 

 

 

 

Program supervisors

Roberto Ludovico (Italian Studies Program Coordinator, UMass Amherst) – CSFI Program Supervisor at UMASS

Sonia Massari (Gustolab Institute Director) – CSFI Program Coordinator in Rome

Elena Carbone (UMASS Amherst) Food & Nutrition Course – Professor and Advisor

 

All Gustolab Institute instructors and professors are specialized in literature, arts, social studies, food, Italian culture, history, nutrition, media studies and communication. Gustolab Institute is the first Center for food and culture in Italy dedicated to short and long term US programs.

 

Final Program Fees for students

PROGRAM FEE (all students pay a program fee)	COURSE FEES (added to program fee per course chosen)
2,649 euro PROGRAM FEE includes: Accommodation 3-day Excursion Rome Public Transportation card Prepaid mobile phone with Italian SIM card and private number On-site Services 2 Dinners Wine Tasting event 24-hour on-site Support 2-day Excursions Textbooks and materials Co-curricular activities Transfer from/to airport	CRITICAL STUDIES ON FOOD IN ITALY – 703 euro
	FOOD MEDIA COMMUNICATION AND TRENDS – 854 euro
	FOOD, NUTRITION AND CULTURE IN ITALY – 514 euro
	ITALIAN LEXICON FOR FOOD STUDIES – 369 euro
	ITALIAN CLASS ELEMENTARY   - 369 euro

What is included in the Program?

PRE-DEPARTURE SERVICES

• Advising
• Orientation Materials & Support
• Social Networking (Connecting with past participants: Facebook, Gustolab.com networking)

ON-SITE SERVICES

• Transfer to/from airport to apartments & residence
• Orientation – 1st day
• Academic Program Director
• Emergency On-Site Facilitator
• Staff and support
• Gustolab Institute Classrooms & Office in the center of Rome
• Welcome & Farewell dinners
• Rome public transportation card for full duration of stay (1 month + 2 weeks)
• Accommodation in shared apartments (double rooms)
• Social & cultural activities (including a 3-day Food and Culture excursion in Cilento – South of Italy)
• Prepaid mobile phone with Italian SIM card and private number

RE-ENTRY SERVICES

• Re-entry Materials & Support
• Post-Program Evaluation
• Transcript
• Development Opportunities

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

• All students are offered social and cultural activities including: co-curricular activities with specialized tutoring for 5 weeks and a 3-day excursion in the South of Italy to the Cilento region with accommodation and meals included. All entrance fees related to program visits are included. Students will also enjoy welcome and farewell group lunches/dinners.

 

HOW TO APPLY TO THE CRITICAL STUDIES ON FOOD IN ITALY SUMMER PROGRAM

• Final deadline: April 1
• The Program often fills up before the deadline; therefore, students are encouraged to apply early for the best chance of joining the program of their choice.
• More information is available on our website at WWW.GUSTOLAB.COM or by emailing  info@gustolab.com
• Students can apply through UMass International Programs Office (IPO) www.ipo.umass.edu.

 

 

WWW.GUSTOLAB.COM