SUMMER 2010 SESSION
Urbino: June 3rd – Return July 2nd
Download an informative brochure here
THE PROGRAM:
Join a team of media professionals creating a web documentary on the town of Urbino, Italy, and get a taste of being a foreign correspondent. You'll earn 3 communication/journalism credits that you can transfer back to your home campus. During this four-week program, you'll learn
- How to write for the web
- How to take great digital photos
- How to shoot and edit quality video
- How to design sharp web pages
- The ins and outs of intercultural communication
- How to work as part of a production team
We'll also provide basic language classes and interpreters for field work. You'll work in assigned production teams, using computers, digital cameras, and video cameras that we provide. Our classroom and lab set up will be in the College Tridente. You'll be housed in single rooms with shared bathrooms. There is free wi-fi access in the residence hall, so bring your laptops. Three meals a day are included in your program price, and the cafeteria is adjacent to the residence. Program offices will be in the residence. Interpreters will be provided while doing field work. There are plenty of extracurricular activities: swimming, hiking, biking, etc. Three-day weekends for independent travel are built into the program; the daily public bus service can take you to nearby cities, the train station, and the Adriatic beaches.
2009 FACULTY (2010 Faculty TBA):
Project Director:
Rachele Kanigel, San Francisco State University
Intercultural/Journaling:
Bren Ortega Murphy, Loyola Univesity, Chicago
Patricia Geist-Martin, San Diego State University
Storytelling:
Bob Marshall, New Orleans Times-Picayune
Rachele Kanigel
Photography:
Dennis Chamberlin, Iowa State University
Video:
Gretchen Macchiarella Biasotti, University of California, Santa Barbara
Web:
Jesse Garnier, San Francisco State University
Technology:
Jennifer Ward, Fresno Bee
Student Life:
Marie Gould, Tulane
Italian language and culture/Interpreter Supervisor:
Francesca Carducci, University of Urbino
THE REGION:
Le Marche is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. It is located in the central area of the country, bordering Emilia-Romagna (the culinary capital of Italy) and the republic of San marino to the north, Tuscany to the north-west, Umbria to the west, Abruzzo and Lazio to the south and the Adriatic Sea to the east. Except for river valleys and the often very narrow coastal strip, the land is hilly. In the nineteenth century, a railway from Bologna to Brindisi linked the Marche along the coastline of the entire territory. Inland, the mountainous nature of the region, even today, allows little communication north and south, except by rough roads over the passes.
THE UNIVERSITY:
The University of Urbino is situated in a Renaissance hill-town in the north-eastern part of central Italy. The university was founded in 1506, and currently has about 20,000 students, many of whom are from overseas. The university has no central campus as such, and instead occupies numerous buildings throughout the town and in the surrounding countryside. The University of Urbino has traditionally given precedence to studies in the humanities, and is especially renowned for its courses in Italian language.
THE TOWN:
Urbino is a picturesque Renaissance hill town and the capital of the Marche region of central Italy. Although Urbino was a Roman and medieval city, its peak came during the 15th century when Duke Federico da Montefeltro established one of Europe's most illustrious courts. Its impressive Ducal Palace houses one of the most important collections of Renaissance paintings in Italy. Urbino’s university is a center for maiolica ceramics, art, and culture. Urbino's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
LOCATION:
Urbino is in the northern part of central Italy's Marche Region, one of the more remote and least touristy regions of Italy. Urbino is about 30km from the Adriatic coast.
TRANSPORTATION:
There are no train lines going to Urbino but Urbino can easily be reached by bus. The closest train stations are Pesaro and Fano on the coast. From the stations there are buses to Urbino. Daily except Sunday, there are four buses connecting Rome-Tiburtina to Urbino. Buses from Urbino serve many smaller towns in the region. The bus station is in Borgo Meratale by Porta Valbona. The closest airports are Ancona and Rimini.
URBINO FESTIVALS:
Urbino holds a Festival of Ancient Music in July. The Festa del Duca, usually the third weekend of August, is a celebration of Urbino's famous duke with processions, street performers, and a jousting tournament.
URBINO ATTRACTIONS:
- Ducal Palace - Urbino's huge Ducal Palace, Palazzo Ducale, is one of the most impressive (and also the first) in Italy. The Ducal Palace was built in the second half of the fifteenth century. Top sites are the impressive Courtyard of Honor, the Duke's study with stunning trompe l'oeil inlaid woodwork panels, and the vast network of kitchens, laundry rooms, cellars, and stables. It's easy to spend several hours wandering through the palace and two museums, the National Gallery and the Archaeological Museum.
- Marche National Gallery - Inside the Ducal Palace, the National Art Gallery of the Marche, Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, has one of the most important collections of Renaissance paintings in the world.
- Duomo - The Duomo or cathedral was constructed on top of a sixth century religious building. Completed in 1604, it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1789 and then rebuilt. The duomo now has a neo-classical appearance and houses several important art works, including a painting of the Last Supper by Federico Barocci. The Museo Diocesano has a collection of glass, ceramics, and religious items.
- Piazza Rinascmento, Piazza della Republica, and Piazza Duca Federico - The center of Urbino is formed by these two squares. Here you'll find cafes, shops, and lots of people.
- Raphael's House - The Renaissance painter Raphael was born in Urbino (in 1483) and his family's house is now a museum.
- Oratorio di San Giuseppe - This medieval church on Via Barocci is known for its presepio, or nativity scene. Nearby is the Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista with beautiful 15th century frescoes.
- Albornz Fortress - The small fortress at the top of Urbino is a great place for views of the town and surrounding hills. It was built in the fourteenth century and was the defensive point for the walls, built in the sixteenth century. It's now a library and public park.
- Botanical Garden - The small orto botanico is nicely laid out with labeled plants, ponds, and pathways. Entrance is free.
What is The Urbino Project?
It’s a four-week multimedia study-abroad program co-sponsored by San Francisco State University and ieiMedia. Students study Web design, photography, videography and reporting, as well as intercultural communication and Italian language, and work in teams to create a Web site about the community. You can see the work of students from summer 2009 at InUrbino.net.
What is ieiMedia?
The Institute for Education in International Media was founded by Andrew Ciofalo, a professor of communication and journalism at Loyola University Maryland who has been leading summer study-abroad programs since 2002. Past programs have been based in Cagli (2002-2008), Camerano (2006) and Urbino, Italy (2009); and Armagh, Northern Ireland (2007, 2009). More than 250 students have participated in these programs.
In 2009, ieiMedia formed a partnership with San Francisco State University’s Journalism Department and College of Extended Learning. SFSU provides university credit for the programs.
Where, exactly, is Urbino?
Urbino is a walled city in the Marche region of Italy, about 23 miles southwest of Pesaro and about 80 miles north of Assisi. Urbino's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its impressive Ducal Palace houses one of the most important collections of Renaissance paintings in Italy. The city is home to the University of Urbino, founded in 1506, and so it has a lively student nightlife.
Rome is accessible by bus (about 4 hours each way) and train/bus. The nearest train stations are Pesaro and Fano, both accessible by bus. From there you can catch trains to Florence, Venice, Bologna and other cities in Italy.
Are there opportunities to travel?
Students will have two weekends (the second and third weekends of the program) free to explore the area around Urbino or to travel elsewhere in Italy. Those who want to tour extensively should plan travel time before or after the program.
How many students participate in the program?
The program will have between 20 and 28 students who will work in teams of four.
Will equipment be provided?
The program will provide one digital still camera, one laptop computer and one digital video camera to each team of four. Students are encouraged to bring their own equipment as well.
Who are the faculty?
Our faculty come from leading universities and news organizations. Each module (Reporting, Photography, Video, Italian Language and Culture, Intercultural Communication and Web Design) will be taught by a faculty member with extensive professional experience. Bob Marshall, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the New Orleans Times Picayune, will teach Reporting for the third year in a row. Francesca Carducci, who teaches English at the University of Urbino, will teach Italian Language and Culture. Other faculty will be announced on the ieiMedia Web site as they are hired.
What kind of credit will I get?
Students will earn 3 transferable, upper-division journalism units from the SFSU College of Extended Learning. The course is called JOUR 677 Multimedia Study Abroad.
Do I have to have to be a journalism major?
No. Most of our students are majoring in communications or journalism but we’ve had English majors, French majors, political science majors, even math majors, participate in the program.
Where do students come from?
Students from many universities have participated, including the University of Maryland, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, Temple University, Gonzaga University, Loyola University Maryland, San Jose State University, Humboldt State University, Marquette University, San Diego State University, Rice University and Baylor University. In the past we’ve also had students from Japan, the United Kingdom, Puerto Rico and Trinidad.
Do I need to speak Italian?
No. You will be working with University of Urbino students, who will act as interpreters. You will have daily instruction in “survival” Italian.
Can I participate if I’m graduating?
Yes. The program is open to recent graduates as well as undergraduate and graduate students.
Where will I live?
Students will live in a newly renovated University of Urbino dorm and will eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in the student cafeteria. Sheets and towels will be provided. Students will share a room with one other student and will have access to communal bathrooms.
What’s the food like? Are there options for vegetarians?
Nearly everyone agrees that Italian dorm food is much better than American! You’ll have a choice of several tasty options. Breakfast includes eggs made to order, fruit, rolls, sliced meats, cappuccino and yogurt. At lunch and dinner you’ll have a choice of pastas and a soup, two or three main courses, vegetables, salads and fruits. There are always vegetarian options and usually a few vegan options.
Students are welcome to eat out on their own. Urbino has an excellent selection of mid-priced pizzerias and restaurants. And you’ll certainly want to sample the gelato!
What’s the weather like?
June in Urbino is generally pleasant and warm, with highs in the 70s to mid-80s. It’s usually sunny, but there may be some rain.
What clothing should I bring?
Bring casual clothes for hot weather, including a bathing suit, but also bring a pair of dress shoes and clothes for more formal occasions. Nights can get cool so bring a sweater or jacket. Pack as lightly as possible, particularly if you plan to travel before or after the program.
Should I bring traveler’s checks or credit cards?
It is recommended that each student have a credit card, or credit card/ATM. This will enable you to obtain money through ATM machines in Italy. There are several ATM machines in Urbino. Be sure to bring your pin number for the ATM and/or credit card. The exchange rate is usually fair and there are minimal surcharges per transaction. Though a credit card or credit card/ATM is the most convenient way to get cash, you may also bring traveler’s checks.
What travel documents will I need?
No visa is required. You will need to have a current passport. If you do not have a passport, you can obtain an application at AAA, county courthouses, post offices, or directly form the Federal Passport Agency. The Federal Passport Agency can take up to six weeks to process your application and issue you a passport, so please plan accordingly.
How much does the program cost?
The cost is $4,900 plus airfare. Students who apply by Jan. 15, 2010 will get a $200 discount once accepted. There is an additional $100 discount if the tuition is paid by check or money order.
Are there scholarships or financial aid?
Scholarships are available to SFSU journalism majors only. Financial aid is generally not available for summer programs. Some students take out personal loans to help finance the program.
How do I apply?
Applications will be available on this web site by Nov. 15. Students must fill out an application and submit one letter of recommendation, along with a $500 deposit. Deposits will be refunded only if a student is not accepted into the program.
Where can I learn more?
Address questions to UbinoProject@gmail.com or call ieiMedia Executive Director Rachele Kanigel at 415 338-3134.
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