UGA Cortona - Science Maymester

The courses offered on this program are designed for undergraduate students with career goals in medicine, dentristry, pharmacy, nursing, veterinary medicine, biological and biomedical sciences, exercise science, nutrition, research, and teaching. 

The setting for the University of Georgia's Cortona Studies Abroad Program is the small, quiet, walled hilltown of Cortona, Italy. Centrally located within the Tuscany region on the crest of Mont S. Egidio overlooking the vast Val di Chiana, Cortona is surrounded by beautiful olive groves, vineyards, rich valley farmland and immense history.

The town of Cortona is a veritable museum that offers the student a rich artistic and historical environment that reveals itself through fine examples of Etruscan, Roman, Romanesque, and Renaissance art and architecture. Since 1970, the small community of Cortona and the University have shared a mutual tradition of goodwill and respect where the local government and citizens provide generous support and encouragement to the Studies Abroad Program and its students.

In this idyllic environment, the UGA Cortona - Italy Studies Abroad Program provides a challenging opportunity for the serious student who wishes to combine international travel with an intensive period of classroom work while merging with the lifestyle and culture of a typical Italian community. Students live in a newly renovated 15th century monastery that provides premium studio spaces and living quarters with historic surroundings. 
 

Program Director and Course Leaders

Ben Reynolds - Science Program Coordinator
Chris Robinson - Program Director
Kristine Schramer - Associate Director
Enza Valente - Office Manager, Cortona
Mary VanNus - Administrative Specialist
Sydney Nettles-Coates - Administrative Associate

Academic Program

UGA Cortona - Science Maymester

Course Offerings:

BCMB 3433: Biology for Medicine. 4 credit hours.
Prerequisite: BIOL 1107 or equvalent.
This course covers an array of current topics in biochemistry, genetics, molecular and cellular biology, physiology, pathophysiology, and biotechnology, and consists of lectures and discussion sections each day. Students will write a short essays on selected topics. 

ARHI 2121, Introduction to Italian Art. 3 credit hours. 
Students will learn how to appreciate, analyze, and think critically about original works of art in situations unlike the traditional art appreciation or art history classes. The emphasis will be on seeing and discussing actual works of art in their cultural settings, not reproductions trhough digital images. Each student will be given a specific work that they will prepare in advance in order to present to the class on site. 

2016 Tentative Program Itinerary

May
 
11 Wed           All participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from Italy.  In order to arrive in Rome on May 12 for the beginning of the program, this is the last possible day to depart the United States for Rome.
 
 
12  Thurs         Arrive Rome. Bus to Cortona from Fiumicino Airport.
                        Dorm orientation upon arrival to Cortona
                        Orientation to town
                        Dinner at Toninos
 
13 Fri               ARHI  Cortona
                        Tour of Cortona/Piazza
                        Lunchtime
                        Afternoon activities in Cortona
 
14 Sat             Science
 
15 Sun            Science
 
16 Mon           Science
 
17 Tues.         ARHI Siena
                       9:00    Bus departs Cortona
                       Museum visits
                       Lunchtime
                       Events in piazza
                       5:00   depart for Cortona
 
 
18 Wed.          Science
 
19 Thurs         Science
 
20 Fri              Science –class in the morning/afternoon free.
 
21 Sat             Free
 
22 Sun            Free

23 Mon           ARHI Florence
                       Chapel visits
                       Lunchtime
                       Museum visits   
 
24 Tues          ARHI  Florence
                       Museum visits
                       Lunchtime
                       Basilica visits
 
25 Wed           8:00-12:00 ARHI Florence
                       Bus to Cortona
                       3:00- 6:30 Science
 
26 Thurs         Science
                       
27 Fri              Science
 
28 Sat             Science
 
29 Sun            Science
 
30 Mon           Science
 
31 Tues          ARHI Orvieto/Rome
                       7:00AM   Depart Cortona
                        Lunchtime
                       3:30 Depart Orvieto
 
 
June
 
1 Wed             Breakfast at hotel
                       ARHI Rome
                       Lunchtime
                       Site visits 
                       Dinner at hotel
 
 
 
2 Thurs          Breakfast at hotel
                      ARHI Rome
                      Lunchtime
                      Site visits
                      Dinner at hotel
 
 
3 Fri                Breakfast at hotel
                       Final meeting and presentation at hotel
                       Dinner at hotel
 
4 Sat.               Official end of program
 

Housing and Meals

Breakfast:
A continental breakfast is served every morning at the Kehoe Building. Continental breakfast consists of bread, jam, fruit juice and coffee or tea. Students who want or need additional food for breakfast may buy groceries and keep them in the student refrigerator.

Lunches: 
Lunch while in Cortona and on field trips will be on your own. In Cortona, there are many options for an inexpensive quick lunch at local grocery stores and bars, as well as numerous full-service restaurants.? For lunch, sandwiches are available at most bars and grocery stores in town. A "toast" in Italy is a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, and most bars will offer other choices as well. Any of the grocery stores in town will prepare a sandwich made to your specifications or you can buy your own fruit, cheese and bread. The range of restaurants in Cortona varies from first-class full menu restaurants to more inexpensive places where you can order a pizza or a plate of pasta.?If you would like to go to a full-service restaurant for lunch, the prices will generally be higher and you will pay for service. A cover charge is automatically added to your bill and you are also expected to tip your waiter. Sitting down in a restaurant means possible waiting times, as food in Italy is cooked only after you order it. In Cortona, smaller family-run restaurants are usually fairly inexpensive and provide an opportunity to make friends with the Cortonese.

Dinners:
Evening meals are shared as a group 3 nights a week during the Spring and Fall semesters and 5 nights a week (Monday-Friday) during Maymester and Summer semesters. Spring and Fall students will also receive a voucher 1 night a week, redeemable from one of many restaurant options in Cortona (conditions/terms apply). When taken with the group, meals are typical Tuscan fare prepared and served at Tonino's Ristorante, one of the most well-known and respected restaurants in the region. The University of Georgia group gathers for dinner at 7:30 pm. The dining room seats approximately 100 people and is serviced by the professional staff of Tonino’s. The restaurant has a balcony with a bar on the upper level providing a spectacular view of the Val di Chiana and is a relaxing place for a before or after dinner coffee or aperitif. Students are responsible for their weekend dinners and can choose to prepare their meals or eat at one of the many restaurants in Cortona.? Dinner at Tonino's consists of three courses: the first course (primo piatto) is usually pasta or rice, the second course (secondo piatto) is usually meat or fish and a selection of salad or vegetables, and dessert (dolce) is usually fruit or cake or pastry. A different second course is served to those who are vegetarians.
 

Program Costs

The basic cost of the program is estimated at $3416. Tuition is not included in this cost. See bursar.uga.edu for tuition rates. The cost of the program includes:

• Application fee (due at time of application) - refunded if you are not accepted, applied towards total program cost if you are accepted
• International Health Insurance (UGA requirement)
• Charter bus transportation on any planned field trips
• Charter bus transportation from beginning cities to Cortona, and from Cortona to program ending sity
• Shared hotel accommodations when traveling and dorm in Cortona
• Breakfast and dinner while traveling with the program group
• Dinner 5 days a week while in Cortona
• Breakfast 7 days a week while in Cortona
• Program t-shirt

Students who are not residents of Georgia or do not attend a University System of Georgia University or College pay an additional $250.00.  

Accommodation Statement

UGA education abroad programs strive to provide reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.  Areas of disability include, but are not limited to visual, hearing, learning, psychological, medical, and mobility impairments. If you receive disability-related accommodations at UGA or at your home university, or if you anticipate needing accommodations at your overseas site, you will arrange for them with your study abroad program director and the staff in the Disability Resource Center. Examples of accommodations include note taking assistance, extended test time, a quiet testing location, alternative text/media, and accessible housing. Please provide information about your accommodation needs at least 4 weeks prior to departure in order to allow time to arrange for accommodations. Students are asked to disclose disability-related needs prior to the start of the program to help ensure that there are no delays in accommodations and that the student can enjoy the full study abroad experience.