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Summer 2025 in Italy

Summer 2025 Study Abroad in Montepulciano, Italy

Study geography abroad in Montepulciano, Italy, a beautiful, historic Tuscan hill town, in Summer 2025 through the KSU Italy program! I'll be teaching two geography courses (GEOG 1101 Introduction to Human Geography and GEOG 3312 Geography of Europe) at KSU's facility, a refurbished fortezza, in Montepulciano (in the Tuscany Region of Italy) during Session I of the KSU in Italy Summer 2025 education abroad program in Montepulciano, Italy. 

Geography Italy Study Abroad Summer 2025

Program Details, Courses, and Faculty

Located in the picturesque, historic region of Tuscany, the Montepulciano, Italy Summer Study Abroad Program allows students an opportunity to take lower and upper-division coursework offered from a wide variety of disciplines. Italy's unique history and geography offer a special perspective for all fields of study, with its Etruscan and Roman origins, important Renaissance past, and thriving present-day culture set within the Mediterranean basin. Students will live like locals in traditional Italian apartments throughout the small town. Classes are taken at the Fortezza which is a medieval fortress where KSU Italy is housed. In addition to living and studying within the medieval-walled, hilltop town of Montepulciano, the program takes advantage of its central location through field trips twice each week to Rome, Florence, Bologna, Orvieto, Pisa, and other locations where students will visit masterpieces of art, history, architecture, and nature. On the weekends, students are free to independently explore the wonders of the Italian Peninsula where activities include relaxing on Mediterranean beaches, hiking the Alps, or tasting the creations of this culinary capital, all of which are accessible by bus and train. Survival Italian Language lessons are also provided in the program.

Kennesaw State University has overseen this study abroad program, a consortium among Georgia College & State University, Georgia Southern University, Valdosta State University, and Kennesaw State University since 1999.

The program is conducted in English by faculty from KSU and other USG institutions. Each class meets for 2.5 hours for two days each week. There will also be full-day field trips with your classes and the full program group to other places two days each week. Weekends (Friday to Sunday) are free for you to explore the region around Montepulciano or to travel in Italy on your own. A variety of lower-division (general education) and upper-division courses from different subjects are offered during Session I and Session II, so it's possible to mix and match two courses in two different disciplines within the same session. 

Session I (May 22-June 26, 2025)

Select one course from Block A and one course from Block B.

Block A Courses

  • GEOG 3312: Geography of Europe – Peoples, Cultures, and Environments of Europe with an Italian Twist

    Europe has profoundly shaped our modern world! We’ll explore concepts about the regional geography of Europe as they occur on the landscapes of Italy. We’ll examine the physical setting and environment, population and migration, languages and religions, cultures, towns and cities, and geopolitical organization. We’ll consider these concepts within the framework of the European Union and broader global processes restructuring local social, cultural, economic, and political landscapes in Italy. While in Italy, we’ll observe concepts as they occur on the Italian landscape, allowing us to compare and contrast these patterns with our home culture. 3 credit hours. Satisfies an upper-division elective/related studies credit for many majors. Instructor: Dr. Paul N. McDaniel.

  • PSYC 4490: Psychology of Creativity - Understanding and Developing Your Creative Side

    There are many theories of creativity, from divergent thinking, conceptual blending, flow, entropy,
    to even that creativity doesn’t exist. We will explore these theories and more through
    articles/books, podcasts, and videos. Even better, we will visit and observe incredible works of
    creativity in Tuscany and around Italy, from art to architecture, food to fashion, and poetry to
    plays. This course is designed to assist you in understanding your creative self and learning how
    to make the most of it by trying your hand at creativity in an area of your choosing. Instructor: Sandra Scheier.

  • ART 1107: Arts in Society

    This lecture/discussion course will introduce students to the world of global art in all its varied expressions. Montepulciano is only a few hours away from some of the finest collections of world art, and some of the most important examples of Western architecture from antiquity through the present, enabling students to gain firsthand experience of masterpieces and monuments of Western Art from antiquity through the Renaissance and beyond. Through PowerPoint lectures, field trips, and hands-on experience, students will learn about the media, the techniques, the history, and the ideas behind key monuments of global art. The focus will be on works that we will be able to see in Rome, Florence and Tuscany, but we will cover other European and some non-Western developments in the visual arts as necessary for context and a fuller understanding of major styles and artistic periods. This interactive course provides an understanding of the creative process and develops skills in creativity and critical analysis. Heightened perceptual abilities will be developed through class experiences and field trips. Instructor: Matt Haffner.

  • POLS 2250: Introduction to International Relations

    This discussion-intensive class introduces you to the study of international relations and the
    international political system—history, concepts, and major issues. We will study these things
    within the European context and will frequently refer to Italy—its recent history, system of
    government, political parties, and major international challenges, like immigration, that it faces. Instructor: Dr. Steven Elliott Gower.

Block B Courses

  • GEOG 1101: Introduction to Human Geography – Discovering Cultural, Economic, and Political Globalization in Italy (social science gen ed)

    We live in a dynamic world! Geography and Geospatial Sciences equip us with the perspectives, skills, and tools to apply knowledge to better understand the world and its many diverse physical and human processes, and to contribute to sound decision-making about those processes, from the local to the global scale. Geography and maps are a fundamental language for understanding the world. They provide a framework for organizing and communicating our knowledge. Increasingly geography is used in virtually every field of human endeavor, providing a universal language for understanding, communicating ideas, and providing insights. Geography asks the big questions—Where? How? Why? What if?—and gives you the perspective to answer them with advanced technology and a solid knowledge of the world in which we all live. Through this human geography course, we’ll explore global geographic patterns of resources, population, culture, economic, political, and urban systems and their local level impacts while being immersed in a foreign culture and landscape. We will explore defining concepts in geography by focusing on the stories of real people, global trends, topics that transcend borders, and how these patterns affect local places. In essence, how do global patterns shape local lives, near and far? While in Italy, we’ll observe broader concepts as they occur on the Italian landscape, allowing us to compare and contrast these patterns with our home culture. 3 credit hours. Satisfies a Social Science general education requirement. Instructor: Dr. Paul N. McDaniel.

  • PSYC 2258: Psychology of Adjustment - Adapting to and Thriving in the World Around Us

    How will you adapt to being in a foreign country with a different language, culture, food, and not
    sleeping in the bed you are used to? This course is designed to assist you in learning how to
    adjust and cope in a life of continuous change, challenge, and opportunity, like studying abroad in
    Italy. We will learn what psychological research says about improving adjustment and overall
    quality of life. Factors affecting adjustment include gender, culture, personality, self-esteem,
    ability to communicate effectively, health, stress, and coping. Factors also include things like
    social influence and pressure, relationships, and work. The desired outcome is for you to use this
    knowledge to actively take charge of your life, effectively adjusting to an everchanging world. As an assignment, you will apply a chosen coping or relaxation technique and keep a daily journal
    of your overall well-being. Instructor: Sandra Scheier.

  • ART 4490: Documentary Photography

    This course is an introduction to documentary photography and its basic practices for fine art application. This course explores various methods of photographic image-making in contemporary art and its interpretations. Assignments and class critiques will emphasize the development of a visual vocabulary and explore the possibilities of photography as a visual arts medium. Instructor: Matt Haffner. 

  • POLS 4456: Global Perspectives: Climate Politics

    In this class, we will examine the causes, sources, effects and, most importantly, responses to
    the climate crisis. We will examine responses (mitigation and adaptation) at various political
    levels (supranational, international, national, and subnational). We will examine climate issues
    within European Union, Italian, and Tuscan contexts. Instructor: Dr. Steven Elliott Gower.

Session II (June 26-July 31, 2025)

Select one course from Block A and one course from Block B.

Block A Courses

  • ANTH 4490: Death in the Mediterranean

    This course exposes students to the anthropological study of death in the Mediterranean, with a specific focus on Italy. We will use class discussions, projects, fieldtrips to archaeological sites and museums to learn how death has been dealt with in the past and how it is incorporated into modern Italian and Mediterranean life. This class will take an anthropological approach to this broad topic of death and readings will include academic and popular articles. Instructor: Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick Smith.

  • ART 1150 or 4151: Sketching Italy: Art Exploration through People, Places, and Masterpieces

    Immerse yourself in Italian art and architecture with our exceptional study abroad program. Through regular practice and field trips to view world-renowned museum masterpieces, you'll explore image-making's technical and creative dimensions and develop your skills in drawing architecture, people, and places. Field trips to international museums & galleries and historical sites will inspire your creative development and help you explore your artistic processes. You'll capture your journey in your sketchbook, reflecting and creating original artwork. Our course schedule includes visits to Florence to places like the Uffizi Gallery and Boboli Gardens, Santa Maria del Fiore and Duomo, as well as trips to Rome and the Vatican City. Charming Montepulciano and nearby towns are additional places we will visit for their medieval to Renaissance art and architecture. You will showcase your work in a final art exhibit at the end of the program. Enjoy this opportunity to experience Italian art, architecture, and culture while expanding your creativity! Instructor: Valerie Aranda.

  • WRIT 3130: Travel Writing in Montepulciano: Storytelling and Place

    Have you dreamed of traveling and sharing that experience with others? Have you dreamed of cataloging your own travel experiences in unique ways? Where better to write than in Italy? We engage in nonfiction writing and revisions, workshop discussion, and readings of mentor texts as we explore Italy and take a deep dive telling the story of our experiences. You will learn methods for making your travels come to life for others, develop friendships within your writing group, and take back more than memories – you will take back developed stories that will captivate your friends and family! This course is a study and practice of selected genres of literary nonfiction. The course features
    extensive nonfiction writing and revision, workshop discussion, and readings in major authors of literary nonfiction. This section, situated within the Montepulciano, Italy study abroad program invites students to engage in the study and production of travel writing based on their experiences within the Italy program. Instructor: Dr. Jennfier Dail.

  • SCI 1102: Science, Society, and the Environment

    This course is the second in a two-part sequence that fulfills the general science requirement. Using the context of Italian environmental issues, it introduces students to the basic skills and scientific understandings needed by educated citizens to make informed decisions about scientific issues. Topics covered may include: water consumption, population growth, food chain supply, agriculture and sustainability, pollution, and healthcare disparities. Instructor: Dr. Marcia Hesser.

Block B Courses

  • ANTH 1102: Introduction to Anthropology

    Introduction to Anthropology is a survey of all 4 major subfields of Anthropology: cultural, biological, linguistic, and archaeological. We will approach each of these subfields using Italy as our primary example. You will be able to engage in anthropology through field trips, museum visits, and by living in Italy. Anthropology is unique in that it attempts to study biological and cultural aspects of humans from all over the world and from all time periods. This holistic approach defines anthropology and sets it apart from other disciplines. We will be discussing the four major subfields, stressing a biocultural approach to anthropology in Italy. Instructor: Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick Smith.

  • ART 1107: Artistic Odyssey: Exploring Italian Art and Culture

    This course offers students a unique opportunity to explore the country of Italy and learn about the influence of Italian art on design, film, fashion, and culture. Students will develop visual literacy and art appreciation skills through various topics, including the aims and intentions of art, formal elements of design, themes in art, and the artistic process. The course will take students to visit important creative and cultural sites in Rome, including St. Peter's Basilica and Sistine Chapel, the Borghese Gallery, to view masterworks by Caravaggio and tour the Roman Colosseum and Forum. Trips to Florence will include visits to inspirational sites like Santa Maria del Fiore, the Uffizi Gallery, and Galleria dell' Accademia to study Michelangelo's David. In this course, students will learn the language of art and gain a deeper understanding of the role of art in their everyday contemporary life. These cultural and site visits will help students understand how museum collections tell the story of a country's past and present. The course also includes hands-on art-making projects that allow students to explore their creativity, learn art techniques, and create artwork for a final group exhibition. This course fulfills core requirements or electives and offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore Italy's rich artistic and cultural heritage. Instructor: Valerie Aranda.

  • ENGL 2110: Following the Hero's Path through Italy: Connecting the World and the Self

    A survey of important works in world literature. We will couple this course with place-based learning
    grounded in our travels through Italy. We will use the Hero’s Journey coupled with cultural studies to
    frame our readings of texts, to make connections to ancient and modern Italy, and to make connections to ourselves. Where do we find parallels between literature and the hero’s journey,
    between literature ancient and modern Italy, and between literature and our own lives? Purpose and rationale: Do you want to make literature and ideas in books come alive? Do you long to experience books as lived experiences? We will read, reflect, and respond to texts and experiences, making deliberate connections across texts and to our lives. We will map the journeys of heroes and consider them in light of our own life journeys. Are we all living a hero’s journey in some form? We will equip our journeys with site visits and Italy, recorded through Reading Fieldnote Journals. Finally, we will create a map of hero’s we are reading about and intersect it with our journeys. Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Dail.

  • BIOL 4490: Human Anatomy through Art in Italy
    Students will explore the fundamental principles of human anatomy displayed through art history while traveling abroad in Italy. Students will be introduced to different artistic pieces found in renowned Italian museums while integrating Italian culture with the history of anatomy and physiology. Topics include the relationship between form and function and its depiction in art, realism in art, history of vivisection, the effect of dissection on art, finding hidden anatomical meanings in art, and analyzing various artistic interpretations and media choice. Instructor: Dr. Marcia Hesser. 

How to apply for this program?

To learn more about the specific details (program details, cost, application process, health and safety, and scholarships) and to apply to this program, please visit the official KSU Education Abroad Office program webpage and the official program pages below:

Montepulciano Summer 2025 Session I

Montepulciano Summer 2025 Session II

Geography and Anthropology Italy Study Abroad Summer 2025 Detailed

Why go?

In addition to completing courses in an amazing location, this is your opportunity to visit many famous bucket list places in Italy. Field trips to many prominent cities and sights within them are included as part of the program, including: Rome, Florence, Orvieto, Pisa, Bologna, and more (final itinerary is subject to change).  You'll also have weekends (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) free to explore on your own! You might choose to remain in Montepulciano, explore some of the other nearby Tuscan hill towns and countryside of Tuscany, or travel further afield to places such as Milan, Venice, Genoa, Naples (and Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast), the Italian Lake District (including Lake Como and Lake Garda), the Italian Alps and Dolomites, the Italian Riviera (including Cinque Terre)...there are so many fascinating places to visit in Italy! 

Learn more about KSU Italy programs here.

More reasons to go?

  • Enhance your global awareness
  • Enhance your academic learning
  • Develop your leadership skills
  • Advance your career
  • Experience personal growth
  • Learn another language
  • Immerse yourself in a new culture
  • Learn through experience while earning credit hours
  • Explore the actual geographic landscapes you're learning about in class
  • Experience first-hand masterpieces of art, architecture, and great historic venues
  • Build your resume
  • Make new friends
  • The opportunity to study abroad is a life-changing experience! Check out these testimonials from KSU students who have participated in previous KSU Italy and other education abroad programs! 
  • For even more reasons, see Why Should I Participate in an Education Abroad Program from the KSU Education Abroad Office

Where is Montepulciano?

  • Montepulciano is a medieval and renaissance hill town in the Italian province of Siena, in the southern Tuscany region, about 1 hour south of Florence and about 2 hours north of Rome. The town sits high on a limestone ridge (1,985 ft.) overlooking the surrounding region. Check out this Google Map (be sure to view the accompanying photos) and Google Earth link!
  • Where is the Fortezza di Montepulciano (our classroom building)? Here it is on a Google Map (be sure to check out the Street View and accompanying photos) and Google Earth!
  • Overview of Montepulciano from KSU Italy.
  • Life in Italy from KSU Italy.

More Information about Italy

Videos about Montepulciano, Tuscany, and Italy

The following video was produced by a KSU student participating in the Summer 2019 KSU in Italy program in Montepulciano:

The following are episodes about Montepulciano, Tuscany, and other areas of Italy from Rick Steves' Europe. 

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