Fall:  16 weeks (August 26 - December 12, 2009)
Spring: 16 weeks (January 13 - May 9, 2010)
Academic Year

Spring Semester 2010 closed

Sponsored by the College of Arts & Letters, the Eli Broad College of Business, the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, and the College of Social Science

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

Located in the center of Rome, Italy, John Cabot University (JCU) is an American college.  It is committed to providing an educational experience that is rooted in the American liberal arts tradition and solidly international in orientation.  Within this framework, the college strives to develop in students the skills and habits required of responsible leaders in an increasingly interdependent world while enabling them to participate in, and contribute to, the richness and diversity of other cultures.  International faculty and staff and a student population representing over thirty countries combine to create an unparalleled learning environment in which students are enabled to acquire the academic preparation needed for life-long learning and personal fulfillment.

Students will have the opportunity to take classes in a variety of arts and letters fields as well as business classes.  An important focus of the experience is on Rome itself—Rome as a center of international business as well as a focal point of ancient, Renaissance and modern history and art.  Students will experience first-hand the Eternal City’s treasures and wealth of knowledge and will participate in Italian culture.

What can I study?

In addition to Italian Language, students should select courses from the class list available on the John Cabot University Web site.

Students are required to take a four-credit Italian language course appropriate to their level of Italian proficiency. All other courses carry three (3) credits and students must enroll in a minimum of 13 credits and a maximum of 17 credits.

This is a co-sponsored program. Credit may be awarded for certain courses as regular MSU credit rather than transfer credit.  These courses will be listed on your official MSU transcript and will include the title of the course abroad, the number of credits and the grade earned. For further details see co-sponsored programs.

To find out what courses other students have taken on the program and what MSU courses they might replace, visit Transfer MSU and Office of the Registrar - Co-Sponsored Study Abroad Programs. Courses listed may not be offered every semester, and additional courses may be available during the semester you plan to participate.

Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details.

What are the requirements?

All students must be of at least junior status and in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.75 at the time of application.  Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.  It should be noted that the admission process for this program very competitive and students majoring in the colleges that sponsor this program (Arts &Letters, Business, Communication Arts & Sciences, and Social Science) will be given priority.

Additionally, students will be required to submit an essay and letter of recommendation from an MSU faculty member.  The essay should indicate the student’s interest in this program and in particular, what aspects of Rome are appealing.  The essay should demonstrate the student’s understanding and ability to manage cultural differences as well as their maturity in being an ambassador for MSU and the college they represent. The letter of recommendation should be from an MSU professor or instructor.

Students may also be asked to participate in a selection interview.

This program is open to MSU students only.

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?

Students are housed in furnished apartments at the Residenza Medaglie d’Oro that they share with two to six other JCU students.  The JCU housing coordinator arranges these rentals in advance.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Arts & Letters majors:
Bethany Judge
College of Arts & Letters
200 Linton Hall
Phone: (517) 355-6519

Eli Broad College of Business majors:
Jayne Braverman
Eli Broad College of Business
Undergraduate Academic Services
402A Eppley Center
Phone: (517) 355-7605

Dwight Handspike
Eli Broad College of Business
Undergraduate Academic Services
402A Eppley Center
Phone: (517) 355-7605

Communication Arts and Sciences majors:
Jennifer New
College of Communication Arts and Sciences
189 Communication Arts and Sciences Building
Phone: (517) 355-8988

Social Science majors:
Oumatie Marajh
College of Social Science
201C Berkey Hall
Phone: (517) 353-9202

For other majors or on-site issues:
Lynn Aguado
Office of Study Abroad
109 International Center
Phone: (517) 432-1168

You can also log-on to JCU’s Web site.

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 eight to ten weeks is 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.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

A valid passport and student visa are required for participation in this program.  Information about the requirements for this visa can be found at Italconsdetroit.org-Visas.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

If you will be staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, you will need to contact the consulate(s) of your host country(ies) for advice on visas.

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.

For further health information and recommendations visit the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook.

How much does it cost?

The program fee in Spring 2010 is $13,086 and includes the following:

• application fee ($100)
• deposit ($200)
• pre-departure orientation
• onsite support
• accommodations
• tuition and fees (13-17 credits)
• accident and sickness insurance

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

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

These additional costs are estimated at $6,782 (SS10).  Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses 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. 

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.

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 March 1st for academic year and fall semester programs and October 15th for 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.

Eligible residents of the western half of the state of Michigan and who are majoring in business, engineering or economics may also apply directly to John Cabot University for one of JCU’s own Secchia Scholars II awards.   For more information, contact John Cabot University’s U.S. office directly at:

John Cabot University, U.S. Office
International Education Division
105 Student Services Bldg.
1 Campus Drive
Allendale, MI 49401
Phone: (866) 227-0112
E-mail: usoffice@johncabot.edu

How do I apply?

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by October 15th for spring semester programs and by March 1st for fall and academic year programs.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to these deadlines. 

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).

What's next?
Come to a study abroad fair
Talk with a Peer Adviser
Read program evaluations
Attend an info meeting
Apply online
Additional Resources...
Office of Financial Aid	252 Student Services http://www.finaid.msu.edu
MSU Travel Clinic	East Circle Drive http://travelclinic.msu.edu
Academic Advisers	http://www.msu.edu/common/academic/units.html
Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities	120 Bessey Hall http://www.rcpd.msu.edu
Area Studies Centers	International Center http://www.isp.msu.edu
MSU Global Access	Information about the world -- its regions and peoples and important international issues International Center http://www.msuglobalaccess.net/
OSA contact info:	Office of Study Abroad Michigan State University 109 International Center East Lansing, MI 48824-1035 Phone: (517) 353-8920 Fax: (517) 432-2082 Email: studyabroad@osa.msu.edu