Carolyn Seefer has been teaching for over 19 years and has been a full-time business professor at DVC since 1996. She earned her BBA in Industrial Relations from the University of Georgia in 1984 and her MBA in Financial Management from JFK University in 1996. In addition to teaching, she is extremely active on campus, where she serves as Faculty Advisor for the DVC Business Club, is a member of the Scholarship Committee, and chairs the Distance Learning Task Force. She is also a textbook author, with several published textbooks and teaching materials in the business communications and business English areas.

In addition to her love of business, Carolyn is passionate about art, history, literature, and culture. She plans to integrate all of these areas into her business classes in Florence to ensure that students get a full and rich experience. She is especially excited that business students have been given the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, where they will gain the skills necessary to be strong and effective business leaders in the global marketplace. For more information, see http://voyager.dvc.edu/~cseefer/dvc-in-italy.htm

This course provides an overview of the theories and practices of modern international businesses in the areas of marketing, finance and management, as well as the political, social, economic and cultural factors that help shape and influence today's international business environment. We will compare Italy’s business climate with the climates of other countries around the world, including the makeup of Italy’s GDP, key Italian industries, and Italy’s major trading partners. Other topics will include business ethics, social responsibility, and the economic challenges Italy and other countries face in the 21st century, including international terrorism, an aging population, and a shift to a global information society. We will take several field trips, including a trip to Milan, the financial capital of Italy and one of the premier business centers in the world. In Milan we will visit the Italy Stock Exchange, the Fiero Milano (the largest trade fair complex in the world), Luigi Bocconi University (a leading business and economics university), Pirelli Tower (the tallest skyscraper in Italy), and major Italian companies, such as Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace, Telecom Italia, Alpha Romeo, and Mediaset. Special emphasis throughout the course will be given to the Italian Renaissance and its influence on today’s business environment, including the roles of the Medici and of Luca Pacioli, the "Father of Accounting,"

This course will help you develop the skills necessary to communicate effectively in a professional business environment, both orally and in writing. You will learn how to prepare a variety of business documents, to use technology to communicate, and to conduct a successful job search. Most importantly, you will learn and practice the skills you’ll need to communicate when conducting business internationally. We will study proper business communication in Italy, including communication styles, nonverbal communication, business etiquette, proper business attire, punctuality, meeting protocol, decision-making processes, negotiation, gender issues, date, time, and currency formats, common phrases, acceptable and unacceptable topics of conversation, business social functions, gift giving, and communication technology. We will compare and contrast the Italian business culture with the American business culture, as well as business cultures in other parts of the world. We will take field trips to local businesses to observe the culture, take part in business meals at local restaurants, and visit the homes of local businesspeople to learn how to act professionally in social situations. Having the opportunity to experience these cultural differences in a business setting will give you the skills you will need to compete globally.

Antonia (Toni) Fannin is a full-time faculty member at Diablo Valley College. She has taught literature, composition, and critical thinking for twenty years, four of those years at DVC. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe and speaks both Italian and Spanish, having taught ESL for two years at a language institute in Madrid. As a student at U.C. Berkeley, she majored in English literature and Italian, spending her junior year abroad at the Universita di Padova., a year she considers transformative. Since then she has looked forward to the opportunity to return to Italy with a group of students who are motivated to study and enjoy the life, culture and language of Italy. Her courses, particularly Creative Writing, Shakespeare, and Critical Thinking, will provide students with extensive opportunities for observing, interacting with, understanding and making their own meaning of Italian culture.

This course will require students to complete three significant writing projects, each of them based on the local environment: an observation/analysis of Italian life; an analysis/application of a full-length work of non-fiction set in Florence and a project which will allow students to research Florence and Tuscany and interview Florentines as they seek an answer to a self-directed question. Over the course of the semester, students will learn essential critical thinking skills (e.g., identifying their own thinking biases, understanding the differences between fact and inference, identifying and correcting logical fallacies and shaping arguments with appropriate premises and support), and will use those skills to better understand themselves and their environment.

This course will focus on several plays set in Italy, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing. In addition to studying Shakespeare’s world and his art, we will consider several film adaptations of the plays and may take class field trips to relevant sites. The course will leave students with a thorough understanding of Shakespeare as well as a sense for the Elizabethan understanding of Italy which inspired him to set so many of his greatest works there.

Students will have the opportunity to study creative writing in one of the most creative and stimulating environments in the world. Students will practice the creative writing process by producing work in the genres of poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction and memoir. Students will analyze literary models (professional writings in each genre), and study and apply literary techniques. We will use our location, Florence and Tuscany, as a basis to explore creativity; students will be encouraged to incorporate the social, cultural, historic, artistic, and religious aspects of Italy into their writing, drawing from their unique personal experiences as they explore the country and its customs. Course requirements include weekly entries in a creative writing journal. Students will compile a portfolio of creative work in each of the genres, with revision of two pieces. The course also involves reading, peer review of students' work, and feedback from the instructor to guide students in revising their work.

This is an introduction to Italian society and civilization through presentations by Italian guest lecturers and related field trips. Takes a social, historical, and cultural approach to the study of contemporary Italian society. Topics include government, political parties, Church-State relations, the Common Market and the Mafia, as well as literature, art, and general aspects of Italian life. Required for those students enrolled in the Semester in Florence whose AIFS applications are processed through Diablo Valley College.

Dr. Janet Black is a professor of art history at The College of San Mateo near San Francisco, California. She received her Ph.D. in art history from Boston University and her master's degree in art history at Ohio State University. She also has a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a Master's degree in Botany from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Prior to coming to CSM she taught at Boston University, the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and the University of Hartford. As a recipient of numerous research grants and awards, she has lived in France (and later in The Netherlands) and traveled extensively through out the rest of Europe, and especially to Italy. The study of art is her passion and she looks forward to sharing her knowledge and love of art with her students as they explore Florence and the surrounding cities of Italy. This will be her fourth study abroad program.

Art 101 will explore man's artistic expression from Prehistoric to late Medieval times. Focusing on the great examples of art and architecture to be seen in Italy, special emphasis will be placed on Prehistoric, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman, and Medieval art. The antiquities of Rome and the medieval architecture of Florence and the surrounding cities will provide examples of the genius of the artists of these periods. All will be discussed in relationship to the societies, values and ideals that stimulated their creation.

The content is the same as ART 101. This course is offered for students who will not be transferring as it does not meet any transfer requirements and is offered for Credit/No Credit grading only.

Art 102 traces the development of the visual arts from the Proto-Renaissance through the Baroque periods (14^th – 17^th centuries.) Chronologically introducing the great masterpieces of the period, it explores the relationship between them and the societies, values and ideals that stimulated their creation. As "The Birthplace of the Renaissance," the city of Florence sets the stage for the class to see and experience first hand the greatest masterpieces of the period, which include Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Michelangelo’s David, and the magnificent dome of Florence Cathedral by Brunelleschi.

The content is the same as ART 102. This course is offered for students who will not be transferring as it does not meet any transfer requirements and is offered for Credit/No Credit grading only.

Art history and art studio classes will be combined to introduce the aesthetics, materials and techniques of artists from the Renaissance through Baroque periods. Their innovations, presented in the context of their cultural and historical milieu, will provide the framework for students to learn how to paint in egg tempera and oils. Just as in the past, students will learn to paint like the old masters by studying their works in the museums of Florence.

The content is the same as ART 124. This course is offered for students who will not be transferring as it does not meet any transfer requirements and is offered for Credit/No Credit grading only.

This is an introduction to Italian society and civilization through presentations by Italian guest lecturers and related field trips. Takes a social, historical, and cultural approach to the study of contemporary Italian society. Topics include government, political parties, Church-State relations, the Common Market and the Mafia, as well as literature, art, and general aspects of Italian life. Required for those students enrolled in the Semester in Florence whose AIFS applications are processed through College of San Mateo.

Rebecca Alex, M.F.A., is a practicing artist and adjunct faculty member at The College of San Mateo and Cabrillo College. She teaches drawing and painting. Rebecca received her B.A. with distinction in English Lit. at Colby College, followed be a fellowship at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. She studied drawing and painting for 6 years at The N.Y. Art Students League and The National Academy of Design. She received her M.F.A. from John F. Kennedy University and has been teaching at the college level for ten years. She has lived in various countries in Europe and visited Florence many times. In Fall ’05, Rebecca taught the Study Abroad program in London, which was the experience of a lifetime! She loves to teach drawing and painting and is looking forward to working with students in such a culturally rich city.

Artists and art students from all ages have visited Florence, the "birthplace of the Renaissance." Florence is one of the major art capitals in the world, and we will be taking advantage of the many world-class art museums there to study masterpieces by visiting and copying them in museums, visiting locales around the city to draw, as well as working in the studio. We will be studying and drawing masterpieces in the Uffizi, Pitti Palace and Accademia, to name a few. This is a beginning drawing course designed to teach students how to render convincing two- and three-dimensional forms and to make interesting compositions. This course is a required pre-requisite for most upper division art classes. Drawings will be done in various dry media. Drawing proficiency is not required. Extra supplies (a drawing kit; list to be provided to registered students) will be needed.

This second semester of drawing focuses on realistic rendering of objects, color and composition. The use of color in drawing will be introduced with pastel and/or color pencils. We will continue to work from studying and copying major masterpieces in Florence art museums, as well as visiting various locales to draw landscapes and cityscapes along with working in the studio.

Lanny Hertzberg is a full-time faculty member in the Anthropology department at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento California. He attended (and took classes at) Diablo Valley College, California State University-Sacramento, University of San Francisco and University of La Verne. He has a BA in Social Science, an MA in Cultural Anthropology from CSUS, a credential in Educational Technology, and a credential for grades 6-12 in Social Science and Humanities. He has taught in high school (both standard and alternative ed), junior high, university, community college and at Folsom Prison (as a visitor, not inmate). He has taught in California, Malaysia and Singapore. Hertzberg’s specialty in Anthropology is religious belief systems, having a particular fascination with end-of-the-world movements. In 2005 he was the recipient of the Distinguished Teacher Award from the University of California-Santa Cruz.

In his alternate job world Hertzberg has also taught computer science, primarily programming. He was an educational technology columnist for eight years in the national magazine "Electronic Learning". He and his wife, Jane Hansjergen, have their own educational technology consulting firm, operating since 1985.

His background in anthropology and technology provide him with an interesting outlook on things; causing him to ponder questions such as: Are online communities real sub-cultures? What happens when virtual reality becomes more real than actual reality? Does electronic communication make racial and religious divisions worse or better?

This course is an introduction to the varieties of customs and forms of social life of human beings, in both western and non-western peoples, with the aim of understanding the structure and functioning of societies. Also analyzed are multicultural customs and their usefulness in the societies in which they occur and how culture is flexible and adaptive in a variety of settings. Our focus will be: How can people cope with an ever changing group of rules and expectations, a culture that does not stay the same, leading to high stress and culture shock? How does an area like Florence maintain cultural integrity while also staying technologically current?

This is a cross-cultural study of the forms and functions of supernatural beliefs and associated rituals in various societies of Africa, Asia, aboriginal Australia, Oceania, South America, native North America and elsewhere. The emphasis of the course is on understanding beliefs and rituals within their social contexts, and on broad comparisons to derive insight into the general functions of beliefs and rituals in human life. A field trip may be included in the course activities. Our focus will be: What can we learn about being human from studying different religious belief systems? In what ways are we the same and in what ways different? Is there such a thing as magic and witchcraft; if not, why does a belief in it occur in virtually every single culture? What role do nontraditional "others" groups like gypsies play beliefs regarding magic and witchcraft…and is that religious?

This course is a survey of social problems in society. It will examine their causes and evaluate proposed solutions. A special emphasis will be placed on local issues. Our focus will be: What are the global forces which make the world seem to be coming closer together (as in the EU, various trade Associations, global businesses and the internet) at the same time as it is coming apart (as in civil wars, religious conflicts and genocides.)? What approaches are useful in solving the problems?

This is an introduction to Italian society and civilization through presentations by Italian guest lecturers and related field trips. Takes a social, historical, and cultural approach to the study of contemporary Italian society. Topics include government, political parties, Church-State relations, the Common Market and the Mafia, as well as literature, art, and general aspects of Italian life. Required for those students enrolled in the Semester in Florence whose AIFS applications are processed through Cosumnes River College.

Bob Duxbury, English instructor at SRJC since 1981 was educated in England and Wales, and has an M.A. in English from Leicester University, England. A playwright, his work has been performed on the West Coast and in New York. He has taught the semester abroad program in Paris on four previous occasions. He has traveled widely in Europe, including many visits to Italy. He firmly believes that museums, galleries and cathedrals can be truly fabulous classrooms and is looking forward to exploring and sharing the rich cultural experience of Florence with students who are perhaps overseas for the first time.

An introduction to literature that emphasizes critical reading, discussion and analytical writing about works representative of fiction, poetry, drama, and literary criticism. Poems, plays and short stories from an anthology and E.M. Forsters' novel A Room With View, a story set in Florence. Students will be expected to write essays upon each genre and take a final exam.

An introduction to the humanities focusing on the visual arts, drama, film, music, dance, literature, and philosophy/religion as forms of human expression. Emphasis will be on understanding and appreciating a variety of cultural expressions within their cultural context. This course will focus on the artistic and cultural history of Florence. Class will meet for one four-hour session per week. The first hour will be in the classroom and the remaining time will be spent visiting appropriate sites of cultural importance.

Introduction to the various styles of readers theatre. Scripting, arranging, programming, staging, and performing literature from all genres: poetry, prose, and drama. Theory and practice in the art and technique of oral interpretation for readers theatre productions. The oral presentation of selected poems, stories and plays. The class will focus upon interpretation of the material through voice, gesture and dramatic emphasis. The class final will be a public performance before an invited audience.

This is an introduction to Italian society and civilization through presentations by Italian guest lecturers and related field trips. Takes a social, historical, and cultural approach to the study of contemporary Italian society. Topics include government, political parties, Church-State relations, the Common Market and the Mafia, as well as literature, art, and general aspects of Italian life. Required for those students enrolled in the Semester in Florence whose AIFS applications are processed through Santa Rosa Junior College.

Intensive instruction in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing elementary Italian. Basic grammar, regular and some irregular verbs in indicative mood. Daily practice in speaking and writing. 2-hour lab. Basic Italian culture.

KEY

* Students must enroll in the Italian Life and Culture course offered by the college which processes their Study Abroad application.

# Transfer credit may be limited by UC or CSU or both.

@ Transfer credit is contingent on evaluation of course outline by UC campus.

SCHEDULE (DAYS AND CLASS TIMES)