Sorrento, Italy

This course examines the culture of Italy in a summer program in Sorrento, Southern Italy. Through academic and first-hand field experiences, students explore the values and characteristics unique to the Italians, make comparisons and contrasts with their own culture, and thereby increase their own intercultural competency. Learning involves class discussions, lectures, and a final research project. More specifically, field experiences help students gain an understanding and personal appreciation for the diversity of the Italian culture; the final research project will be a reflection paper pointing out how their own culture compares with the Italian one.

This course focuses on the importance of all communication in the workplace. Students assess their own career goals, strengths, and weaknesses by exploring principles of effective professional communication with assignments on business style writing and by delivering presentations. This section of BUS COMM emphasizes cultural communication with this travel component to Italy.

The estimated cost is $8,700 per student.

Program cost includes:

• Two courses/six credits
• Airline tickets
• Transfer transportation from/to Naples Airport and Sorrento, as well as transfer to/from amazing places like the Caserta Royal Palace, Pompeii Ruins, Capri Island, Naples, Positano, and Villa Rufolo, with private guided tours and site visits at small businesses for gelato, coffee, olive oil, cheeses, and a four-hour authentic Italian cooking class.
• Welcome lunch and farewell dinner and two meals a day
• Apartment housing in historic section of Sorrento with fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, washing machine, wifi, air conditioning, bedding and towels, and weekly cleaning. All apartments are within walking distance to school, restaurants, beaches, and numerous attractions.
• Spectacular site visits to: Naples, Amalfi, Positano, Ravello, Capri, and Palace of Caserta
• All fees for WNE and Sant’Anna Institute
• If selected for travel, a down payment of $2,000 is due by October 28, 2026; applied to overall cost of trip. Full payment ($8,700) is due April 26, 2027. During the spring semester, students meet weekly to prepare for the courses and travel.
• Business COMM 340 and Italian Culture courses fulfill WNE education requirements.

• Walking tour of Sorrento on the first day of classes
• Amalfi Coast
• Naples
• Olive Oil Farm and Factory tour and tasting
• Gelato Laboratory—class and tasting
• Italian Farm with lemon trees and cheese factory with tasting
• Pompeii Ruins
• Villa Rufolo
• Capri Island
• Ravello
• Positano
• Caserta Royal Palace
• Authentic Italian Cooking class and tasting (our dinner for that night!)
• Specialty coffee factory and tasting

Students must be in good academic standing to participate in study abroad opportunities. Students participating in year-long or semester-long study abroad programs must satisfy the specific grade point average required by the foreign university they will be attending.

“This trip taught me how to navigate life in a different way while teaching me responsibility and passion. I have grown in ways I would have never expected: emotionally, mentally, and physically. I’ve seen a huge change in not only my physical health but my mental health as well. I will forever be grateful for this experience as I have learned so much about myself, and taking a huge risk in life can have a great outcome.” – Sophia Dobek

“This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity unlocked something in me and brought out a version of myself I didn’t know existed. I am way more outgoing, confident, and seek out the ability to help others. The relationships I built during this trip are more valuable than any site visit or tangible item, and they are what made my trip so memorable. The Sorrento experience is something I wouldn’t trade for anything, and truly was the best 3 weeks of my life.” – Drew Lanzilli

“Our study abroad journey in Sorrento, Italy, offered more than just breathtaking views—it was a deep dive into cultural awareness, communication styles, and international business perspectives. From hands-on experiences like gelato making, cheese, coffee, and olive oil tasting to visiting iconic places like Naples, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, Capri Island, and the Royal Palace of Caserta, every interaction taught us how culture shapes communication.” – Hirou Berazi

“I think that this trip is a great opportunity for students who want to travel and learn about a different culture but don’t know where to start. These three weeks abroad have helped me to get more in touch with who I really am and have made me become a better person. Even though it was hard being away from home for so long, it was very rewarding because I got to explore my independence and see what the world is like on my own.” – Sophia Sampson

For more information, contact:

Dr. Marcus Davis
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Director of the Study Abroad Program
Email: marcus.davis@wne.edu

Brenda Garton-Sjoberg
Email: bgarton@wne.edu

Jessica Carlson
Email: jcarlson@wne.edu