Often called la cittá ideale (the ideal city) of the Renaissance, Urbino itself is a harmonious architectural work of art, a unity of city and landscape recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. During its great cultural flowering under Federico da’Montefeltro from 1444 to 1482, Urbino attracted some of the best Renaissance scholars and artists from Italy and beyond. It is the birthplace of the great Renaissance artist Raphael, and the house he was born in, featuring a childhood fresco by the young Raphael, is still standing. The Palazzo Ducale, itself the architectural centerpiece of the town, houses a remarkable art collection of medieval and Renaissance art, including paintings by Raphael and Piero della Francesca.

Today, Urbino remains a lively center of Italian life and culture with a population of around 15,000. The city is home to the University of Urbino, founded in 1506, with a current enrollment of around 20,000 students.

Classes

Weekdays and possibly some Saturdays from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. classes will alternate between the study of Italian Renaissance art and the beginning instruction in Italian language. Weekdays and possibly some Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., students will study the literature and philosophy of the Italian Renaissance. Classes will be held in university classrooms in the old part of the city (il centro). See below for options for course credits.

Housing and Food

Students will be housed in one of the University of Urbino’s residence halls in the Colle dei Cappuccini, a true university village surrounded by the hills on the outskirts of Urbino. This
complex includes a full-service dining hall. The city center is within reach on foot (a 25-minute walk approximately) or by regular public transport. Students will receive a dining hall card with enough credit to cover one full meal each day.

Guided Tours

The program will include numerous guided tours in Urbino and the surrounding areas, screenings of Italian art films, as well as full-day trips to Ravenna, Gubbio, and Florence.

Program Costs

The actual program cost is around $4,000 per student, but due to the generosity of many donors, the cost to you will be
$3,000. On a limited basis, students may apply for a scholarship based on need (EFC score) and fit for the program. The program cost includes airfare, housing, breakfast and one full meal each day, guided tours and excursions, insurance, wi-fi, and most classroom materials. The program cost does not include tuition and fees.

Scholarship for Tuition and Fees

In the past, qualified students have been eligible for an International Education Fee Scholarship. This scholarship has normally been $1,000. This scholarship is applied to tuition and fees for the courses. That scholarship will likely be available for 2024, but the Honors College does not administer it and cannot guarantee its availability.

Course Credit Options

Students may sign up for either three or six hours of honors credit. Nota bene: Although there are choices for course credit, everyone studies the same thing—the literature, philosophy, art, architecture, culture, and history of the Italian Renaissance, as well as 20 hours of Italian language. Some upper-level credit options involve additional class requirements.

PHIL 1301: Introduction to Philosophy (counts for humanities core)
ENGL 2350: Backgrounds of Western Literature (counts for humanities core)
ARTS 1301: Art Appreciation (counts for fine arts core)
ENGL 3341: Cultural Studies: The Italian Renaissance
HIST 4350: Special Topics: The Italian Renaissance
ARTS 4385: Art Seminar: Art of the Italian Renaissance
HNRS 3385: The Italian Renaissance

Note: Presidential Honors Scholars may sign up for HNRS 3385 in order to complete the requirement for the junior level honors seminar and Honors Degree Program Students can sign up for three of HNRS 3385 that will count toward University Honors.

Application Forms

Application forms are available in the Tarleton Study Abroad Portal (https://www.tarleton.edu/studyabroad/). Students must submit the Tarleton General Study Abroad Application as well as the Honors College Study Abroad Form. The form will be assigned to you in the portal after we receive your general application. By submitting these applications, you will be considered for admission to the program. Spaces are limited, and program leaders will admit students based on their fit for the program. A $500 deposit must be submitted with the application. This deposit is refundable only if a student is not selected for participation in the program.

Payment

A payment of fifty percent of the total cost of the program must be made by January 31; the remainder is due by April 1.
These payments are non- refundable with the exception of those costs that are recoverable by the Honors College minus any fees or penalties assessed for withdrawal from the program.

Orientation Meeting During the Spring Semester

During the spring semester, all participants are required to attend six orientation sessions to prepare for the trip. Once the list of participants is finalized, we’ll find a time when everyone is available, probably in the evening.

Italian Lessons

The Honor College may provide several beginning Italian lessons to participants. These lessons are not mandatory but highly recommended.

Urbino, Italy Study Abroad Photo Gallery