The cultural achievements of ancient, medieval, and renaissance Italy have a central place in the study of western civilization, and the city of Venice, the site of the longest-lived European republic, played a pivotal role in that history. The Venice Study Group is open to students who have a strong interest in Italy's cultural heritage and in its position within the world of modern culture. The interdisciplinary program of study is designed to give students direct experience with Italy's cultural past and a critical look at its present. Students will have the opportunity to study at first hand archaeological sites and museums, the art and architecture of Venice, historical collections and archives etc.  By participating in the study group, students should acquire a deeper sense of the temporal developments of western civilization as well as a better understanding of contemporary Italy.

Program Structure and Course Credits:  All courses are staffed by the director or specialists residing in Italy and are open to study group students only.  Instruction is in English except for the language component. Colgate's affiliation with the University of Venice gives students access to the University’s dining halls and libraries. In addition, several other excellent libraries in Venice are open to students. The study group is also affiliated with the Venice Institute where it rents classroom space.

Students are required to register for the four study group courses and are not permitted to exercise the satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading option.  All students will take Italian language at the appropriate level, as described below.

Italian Language (Italian 102Y, 201Y or 202Y) These language courses are designed to improve students' ability to understand, speak, read, and write Italian. Considerable emphasis on conversational practice. Readings on selected aspects of contemporary life in Italy. Italian 202Y includes literary readings as well. Offered every year.

The Art of Venice During the Golden Age (Art History 311Y) A study of the cultural achievements of Venice, especially architecture and painting from 1400-1700. Weekly visits to churches, museums, and other monuments in the area.  Concentration credit in Art History.

The Archaeology of Italy (Classics 234Y) A study of Italian archaeology and the basic concepts and methods that archaeologists use to investigate the past. A weeklong field trip to Sicily and southern Italy and a second one to Pompeii and Rome, as well as other shorter trips, will be taken in conjunction with this course. Concentration credit in Classics.

In, Around, and Beyond the Augustus Age (Latin 224Y) A survey of the literature and culture of Rome as it moved from Republic to Empire. Readings include Vergil, Ovid, Livy, Petronius, Suetonius, and others. The fieldtrips to Sicily and southern Italy and to Rome and Pompeii provide a broader context for appreciating the history and literature studied in the course.

Field Trips:  Courses in the Venice Study Group meet at various historical and cultural locations as a matter of routine. There will be some day-trips as well as at least two longer field trips in support of the courses.

Calendar: Basically following the Colgate calendar, the term will run from the end of August to late December 2004.  Two vacation breaks will be built into the calendar.

Cultural Life and Extracurricular Activities: The city of Venice, a virtual living museum, has a rich cultural life and inexhaustible opportunities for exploration.  The autumn season is particularly active with artistic exhibits, film festivals, theatrical productions, operas, and concerts.  The nearby cities of Padua and Verona also have an extensive cultural life.

There are several athletic clubs in Venice (including that of the student association of the University of Venice).  Colgate will subsidize fees up to $100 for any athletic club.  Students may also join local choral groups.

Living Arrangements: Housing arrangements will be made by the director before the arrival of the students, who will live in furnished apartments with other Colgate students.  They will be responsible for their own meals, except for occasional group meals on the field trips.  They may cook in their apartments, eat at the University cafeteria, or at any of the various eateries in the city.