Introduction

Offered in collaboration with Siena Italian Studies, the Arts & Humanities Semester in Tuscany is the semester-abroad program of the Tuscany Arts & Humanities Consortium, a group of universities and colleges in the Western part of the United States. The Arts & Humanities Semester in Tuscany is administratively housed at Montana State University.

The A&HST is based at the International Center for the Study of Italian Language and Culture in the heart of Siena, Italy.  It offers a unique program based on a combination of Italian language and culture, service learning, and academic courses in the arts and the humanities, taught in English.    The A&HST’s philosophy is that of full immersion in local language and culture.  The program offers Italian language classes for highly motivated beginners, as well as intermediate and advanced students, using a teaching method based on Full Immersion: Culture, Content, and Service (FICCS).

A gradual and gentle process of discovering a new culture through interactive language learning, this teaching method is designed for all types of students whose reasons for studying abroad may be based on a wide range of motivations, including acquiring a mastery of the Italian language, using the language in the study of Renaissance art and music, travelling throughout Italy, or working alongside the locals in a variety of service learning situations.

Whatever the motivation for studying in Italy may be, the Arts & Humanities Semester in Tuscany is guaranteed to provide each student with an unforgettable experience abroad.