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Study Abroad in Sorrento, Italy

June 3-June 23, 2023

Are you interested in…
Italian Culture?
Life-changing experiences?
Studying in Europe and fulfilling 6 credits toward your degree at WNE?
Then consider joining us for Study Abroad at the Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento, Italy!

This is the sixth trip to Sorrento, along the world-famous Amalfi Coast. The WNE faculty-led program fills up quickly. If you are interested, make a down payment of $1,000 to hold your seat. All down payments (applied to overall cost of trip, which is due May 1, 2023) are due by November 1, 2022. Enrollment is based on first come-first served, with other considerations, including possible interviews, academic record, leadership/service on campus, and disciplinary incident reports. All majors are welcome.

During the spring semester (traditionally Wednesdays 5:00–6:00 p.m.) we meet to prepare you for the courses and travel.

We hope to see you in Italy!

Students interested in participating should contact Professor Brenda Garton-Sjoberg at bgarton@wne.edu or Professor Jason Seacat at jason.seacat@wne.edu for information.

PLEASE NOTE: Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required both for international travel and entrance to Sant'Anna Institute. 

Courses Offered

Italian Culture Course

This course will examine the culture of Italy in a summer program in Sorrento, Southern Italy. Through academic and first-hand field experiences, students will search out the values and characteristics perhaps unique to the Italians, make comparisons and contrasts with their own culture, and thereby increase their own intercultural competency. Learning will involve class discussions, lectures, and a final research project. More specifically, field experiences will 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.

COMM 340: Business Communication

This course focuses on the importance of all communication in the workplace. Students will 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 has emphasis on cultural communication with this travel component to Italy.

Start Packing: Here’s What You Need To Know

What will the trip cost?

The estimated cost is $6,500, but is subject to change.

Cost Includes:

  • Two courses/six credits
  • Airline tickets
  • Transfer transportation from/to Naples Airport & Sorrento, as well as transportation to amazing places like the Caserta Royal Palace, Pompeii Ruins, and Villa Rufolo, with private guided tours and tastings at small businesses for gelato, coffee, olive oil, and cheeses as well as an authentic Italian cooking class!
  • Welcome lunch and farewell dinner, as well as two meals a day for three weeks (breakfast and dinner at Sorrento restaurants).
  • Apartment or dorm housing for three weeks in Sorrento in double or triple rooms with fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, washing machine, wifi, air conditioning, bedding and towels, and weekly cleaning. Walking distance to school and Sorrento City Tax.
  • Spectacular site visits to: Naples (first trip-jetfoil, second-private bus) Amalfi, Positano, Ravello, Capri
  • All administration fees for WNE and SAI

Space is limited. For more information, contact: Professor Brenda Garton-Sjoberg at bgarton@wne.edu or Professor Jason Seacat at jason.seacat@wne.edu

What will I see in Italy?

Excursions in Sorrento include:

  • Amalfi Coast
  • Naples and Sorrento
  • Olive Oil Factory tour
  • Gelato Laboratory
  • Pompeii ruins
  • Villa Rufolo
  • Capri
  • Ravello
  • Positano
  • Caserta Royal Palace
  • Italian Cooking class

How can I participate?

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.

Here's What Our Past Participants Have to Say

Sarah Dubuque
Actuarial Science major

“This trip was a truly life-changing experience, opening my eyes to a different culture and language; something that I am privileged to be able to say so early in my life. I am proud to be representing Western New England University here in Sorrento.  

“Along with the breathtaking site visits, studying at the Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento has been a highlight of this trip. Meeting students and professors from all over the world and sharing stories of our travels here in Italy has been remarkable.

Mackenzie Douglas
Human Resource Management major 

“Being able to explore and study in a new country is highly rewarding and is an eye-opening experience. Many do not know how different the United States is from other countries and do not have the chance to travel abroad. Being able to study abroad while attending WNE is such a special experience because I was able to explore the world, meet lifelong friends, and receive academic credits. As a commuter student, this trip has allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and try something new. 

“I will be eternally grateful for this opportunity and will remember it for the rest of my life.”

Alex Smith
Business Management major

“Seeing the site visits with our tour guide, Paolo, was incredible, but being able to connect everything in class and seeing the references that Paolo mentioned was truly amazing. 

“Being taught Roman history back in the United States was helpful, however, living in the culture and being a part of it is an entirely different story. Giving us a chance to learn more about where we are and how impactful the history was to contemporary Italy is something I will never forget.”

Anthony Cavallo
Sport Management major

“Being able to travel is an eye-opening experience. It allows us, as students, to fully immerse ourselves into a completely different culture, which may be outside of our comfort zone. Doing this gives us a contrasting perspective of daily life as we know it. Throughout our time here, we were able to visit a handful of historic sites with many tales to project the evolution of civilization. These sites consisted of the beautiful city of Naples/Napoli and the breathtaking Amalfi Coastline, where you will find other villages with amazing scenic views, such as Positano and Ruvello. Our host university did a phenomenal job with our Italian Cultures course and taught us all of the precedent events to give context to all of our site visits. Seeing a gorgeous cathedral and all of the art through the frescos on the walls is one thing, but understanding what they are depicting and the stories behind them make you appreciate it much more.

“Not only was the culture, education, and history eye-opening, but the bonds and friendships that were made among classmates is something truly remarkable. It was the adventure of a lifetime.”

Want to Learn More?

For more information, contact:

Dr. Marcus Davis, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Director of the Study Abroad Program
Phone: 413-782-1444
Email: marcus.davis@wne.edu

Got Your Passport? Don’t forget to apply now for your passport to be ready to take advantage of this unique educational/travel opportunity.