Not running in Summer 2009

Sponsored by the School of Planning, Design and Construction in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

This study abroad program has been developed to familiarize students of Construction Management and students interested in historic buildings and preservation management with current construction management, preservation management and development practices in Italy. The four-week program will be offered during June 2006 and will utilize the University of Trento, located in Northern Italy, as an operating base.

The program is focused on construction and preservation management practices for major restoration works, new buildings and significant infrastructure projects. Students will gain exposure to both new and old construction technologies, project management practices architectural history and the importance of construction logistics while working in architecturally significant environments.

The program will begin with approximately 20 hours of classroom instruction at Michigan State University campus prior to departure for Italy. This class time will focus on program orientation, introduction to class topics and provide base information for classes.

Students will travel individually and meet in Milan on the first scheduled day of the program. After arriving at Malpensa Airport in Milano, students will travel to the University of Trento, located in northern Italy's Trentino Valley. In Trento, students will receive an orientation to Italian culture, the city of Trento and the University of Trento.

Students will attend classes conducted by MSU program faculty. Class activities will include lectures on construction and historic preservation management approaches and field trips appropriate to student major to various restoration, construction, and development projects including visits with restoration contractors, new building contractors, infrastructure projects and historic buildings.

Other program activities will involve traveling to various cities including Venezia, Vicenza, Firenze, Pisa, Roma, and Milano. Plans include visiting a variety of restoration projects, Filippo Brunelleschi's dome in Florence, the Campo del Miracoli in Pisa. Site visits in Roma include the Colosseum, Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna, Pantheon and the Vatican. In Milano the focus is on contemporary construction with visits to contemporary projects.

What can I study?

The learning objectives of this program are to expose students to:

• Construction, restoration, development and revitalization practices for major restoration works, new buildings, infrastructure and development projects in Italy
• Current and historic Italian/European construction methods and technologies.
• The unique problems of renovation and restoration of historical buildings of architectural significance in concentrated urban zones
• Historical buildings of architectural significance in Italy
• Facility management of historic buildings
• Italian culture

The instructional model consists of lecture/discussion and lab/field visits. Approximately 40 lecture/discussion hours and 30 to 40 hours of lab/field visits time, exclusive of intercity travel time, is planned for the program.

The program includes an orientation involving both MSU and University of Trento faculty followed by classroom instruction and field visits within the Trento area. After completion of the classroom sessions, the program focus is on field study of Venezia, Firenze, Pisa, Roma, and Milano. Preservation students may visit additional historic cities.

Students are required to enroll for a minimum of three (3) credits and a maximum of six (6) credits from any of the following courses, as appropriate to their program, with approval of the department. In some instances students may be allowed to enroll for more than three credits with joint approval of both the Construction Management and Preservation Management faculty.

This course is open to BCM graduate students only

CMP 898 Students will be required to develop a related master's level Plan B project proposal with approval of the student's major professor prior to enrollment.

* CMP 436 Commercial Capstone is available for seniors and graduate students only.

LANGUAGE: Students will not be required to have a background in Italian; however, students who have prior courses in Italian or Spanish will have opportunities to improve those skills. The program does not qualify as a foreign language class. Students will learn basic survival words and phrases.

What are the requirements?

All students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 3.25 at the time of application. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission. (Students enrolling in CMP 436 must have a 3.25 GPA in 200 and 300 level CMP/BCM courses.)

Students must be of sophomore, junior, senior or graduate level in Construction Management or Interior Design. Students of junior level or above in related fields such as Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture and Art History will be accepted with approval. Construction Management sophomores with approval are invited to participate, but would not be approved for CMP 436.

Students must also submit 1) letter of endorsement and, 2) a statement of interest ("Why do I want to study in Trento ?") with their application.

Applicants' participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

While in Trento, students and faculty will stay in University of Trento housing, youth hotels or in hotels adjacent to the university in the town of Trento. Housing costs are included in the program fee.

While on overnight field trips, students will stay in hotels.

Travel between major cities will generally be by train or charter bus and supplemented by metro trains or bus to final destinations. Intercity travel costs are included in the program fee.

Medical facilities normally found in urban centers are generally available for medical emergencies; however pharmacies are not similar to those in the United States. Few shelf-stocked or over-counter medications are available.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Tim Mrozowski, School of Planning, Design and Construction
Construction Management Program
212 Farrall Hall
Phone: (517) 353-0781

Paul Streng, School of Planning, Design and Construction
Construction Management Program
207 Farrall Hall
Phone: (517) 355-9649

David Lawrence, Visiting Lecturer
Interior Design and Facilities Management, UK

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States. If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date. If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of five to six weeks are usually required for processing. During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required. Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices. They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose. The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early. It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program's itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

See the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook for further health information and recommendations.

How much does it cost?

The program fee is $3,500 and includes the following:

• application fee ($100)
• deposit ($200)
• pre-departure orientation
• accommodations
• site visit admissions
• in-country travel
• accident and sickness insurance
• field trips

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

• MSU tuition and fees*
• airfare
• meals
• books and supplies
• passport application fee ($100)
• visa application fees (if applicable)
• pre-departure doctor visits
• pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
• personal spending money

Students may request a cost sheet which estimates these additional expenses not included in the program fee by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

Approximately two months before the program's departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee. Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses. (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate, regardless of state of residence.

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU's Office of Financial Aid.

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing. This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university. If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships. Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need. Requirements are listed in the scholarship application. The deadlines to apply for these scholarships are February 1st for spring break programs, March 1st for summer, academic year and fall semester programs, and October 15th for winter break and spring semester programs.

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources also offers its students special study abroad scholarships. Check with Rhonda Crackel for further details. Construction Management students are also eligible for scholarships from the Construction Management Program.

Construction Management students are also eligible to apply for scholarships from the Construction Management Program.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by March 1st for summer programs. However, students are strongly encouraged to apply by February 1st to ensure housing availability.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year. Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required. Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program. Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.