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Academics
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences.
We offer unique courses in business, Italian language, and culture, along with a wide array of electives, taught by our world-class professors. Course options at prestigious local institutions enhance not just what you learn, but how you learn it, and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.
You must take 15-19 credits per semester, and all courses are worth 3 credit unless otherwise specified. Language courses are taught in Italian, and all other courses are taught in English or Italian.
Create your own academic experience by selecting from the following required and optional program components:
- IES Abroad Italian language course (required, 4 or 6 credits)
- English-taught IES Abroad area studies courses (optional, 3 credits each)
- Business-related courses (in English or Italian) at partner institutions (optional, credits vary)
- Internship and seminar (3 credits)
- Service learning placement and seminar (optional, 3 credits each)
- IES Abroad Italy Today Program elective courses (optional, 3 credits each)
Please note that some courses have prerequisites.
Courses
This is a full list of courses offered in Milan. After you are accepted, you will see a list of final course offerings for your term in your MyIESabroad account. The final course list for each term will depend on faculty availability, students interested in each course, and discipline diversity.
To learn more about IES Abroad’s innovative theoretical and pedagogical approaches to teaching language abroad, refer to the IES Abroad MAP for Language & Intercultural Communication.
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AH 325 - The State of The Art: Contemporary Italian Artists From 1945 to Present | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| AH 340 - Cracking the Code: Leonardo da Vinci and Renaissance Art in Milan, 1400-1550 | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AR/CM 260 - Multimedia and Interactive Communication for Art: Italian Case Studies | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AR/CM 260 - Multimedia and Interactive Communication for Art: Italian Case Studies | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| CM 215 - Multi-Platform Visual Storytelling | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| CM 325 - TV, Communication & Media in Milan | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| CM/IB 340 - Digital Marketing, E-Commerce and Communication | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CU/IT 370 - Italian Conversation: Culture and Cuisine of Italy | Fall, Spring | Italian | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| DS 223 - Italian Design: Theory and Practice | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ES/SO 330 - Social Innovation: Strategies of Social and Environmental Sustainability | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IB/ET 361 - Business Plan for Startups: Italian Case Studies | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FI 356 - International Financial Markets and Investments | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| FI 373 - Venture Capital and Entrepreneurial Finance | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FS 330 - The Golden Age of Italian Cinema: In Between Authors and Genres | Fall | English | 3 |
| GS/FS 325 - Gender in Italian Cinema from Fascism to the Third Millennium | Fall, Spring | Italian | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS/FS 325 - Gender in Italian Cinema from Fascism to the Third Millennium | Fall, Spring | Italian | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS 311 - The Great Age of Italian Cities from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance | Fall | English | 3 |
| HS 330 - Never Give In! Fascism, Anti-Semitism and Resistance in Italy, 1922-1948 | Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CM/IB 340 - Digital Marketing, E-Commerce and Communication | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| IB 326 - Principles of Marketing Management formerly IB 326 Marketing Management | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| IB 355 - Managing Fashion and Luxury Companies | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| IB 375 - Strategic Management | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| IB/ET 361 - Business Plan for Startups: Italian Case Studies | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| IR/IB 393 - Leading Across Cultures: Principles and Practice | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IN 395 - Internship Seminar | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IR/IB 393 - Leading Across Cultures: Principles and Practice | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT 311A - Literature and the City | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| LT 311B - Literature and the City (Italian-taught) | Fall, Spring | Italian | 3 |
| LT 328 - Investigating the Mafia in Literature, Cinema, and the Media | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS 350 - History of Italian Opera | Fall | English | 3 |
| MS 360 - Staging Italian Opera (formerly Tutti all'Opera) | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| MS 375 - Music Performance Workshop | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| MS 381 - Music Theory | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| MS 382 - Composition Seminar | Fall | English | 3 |
| MS 385 - Giuseppe Verdi: Melodrama and Italian Identity | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| MS 390 - Workshop in Practice and Performance for Strings | Spring | English | 4 |
| VO/MS 391 - Individual Performance Studies | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PG 300 - Photography: A Critical Introduction | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PO/SO 342 - The EU and the Process of European Integration | Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS 340 - Italian and American Approaches to Mental Health: A Comparative Study of the Bio-Psycho-Social Model | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| PS 360 - Transcultural Psychology: An International Perspective of Clinical and Diagnostic Challenges in the Assessment and Treatment of Culturally Diverse Patients | Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SL 395 - Service Learning Seminar | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ES/SO 330 - Social Innovation: Strategies of Social and Environmental Sustainability | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| PO/SO 342 - The EU and the Process of European Integration | Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| VO/MS 391 - Individual Performance Studies | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
Partner Institution(s)
Enrolling in a partner institution course is a great way to meet Italians and experience the Italian education system first-hand. As a student in the Business Studies program, two business-related partner institution courses are included in the program cost, provided that you meet the institution's requirements. Any additional enrollments after the first two courses or non-business-related enrollments will carry an additional fee.
All partner institution courses are worth 3 credits. Specific course listings and descriptions are not available on the institutions' websites until shortly before the beginning of the term and may be updated frequently. The IES Abroad staff will assist you with the partner institution enrollment process.
Choose from the following partner institutions in Milan:
- Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi
- Milano Fashion Institute (MFI)
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
- Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca
- Istituto di Moda Burgo
Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi
Business, Economics & Management
http://www.unibocconi.eu/
Voted “number one worldwide in the specific category of value for money” by Forbes, Università Bocconi is one of the most prestigious European schools of business, economics, and finance. The Università Bocconi also has AACSB and EQUIS accreditations. Università Bocconi offers a wide range of English- and Italian-taught business, economics, finance and management courses, which are taught on a semester basis
After acceptance to IES Abroad, you must complete additional steps to be eligible to enroll in courses at Bocconi:
- Bring an official, sealed transcript, issued by your home university, to Milan.
- Complete an online application for Bocconi prior to arrival in Milan. Course selection can still be modified once on-site. This application is released in mid-July for fall students and early to mid-November for spring students.
Milano Fashion Institute (MFI)
Fashion (spring only)
http://www.milanofashioninstitute.com/
For students interested in pursuing options in Fashion, a limited number of courses are available at the Milano Fashion Institute, an inter-university consortium founded by three Italian Universities: Università Bocconi, Politecnico di Milano and Università Cattolica. While the Politecnico faculty teach classes that explore the design, style and materials-related aspects of the fashion industry, the Bocconi faculty teach classes that study the marketing, economics, branding, financial aspects of the fashion business and the Cattolica faculty focus on the sociological as well as communication trends connected to all fashion-related phenomena.
Courses are taught in English and are offered in the spring semester only. Course topics include fabrics & materials, product design, experience & store design, buying and visual merchandising, and fashion press & PR.
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Liberal Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
www.unicattolica.it
FFounded in 1921, the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore is located in the old city center in the former ancient monastery of Saint Ambrose. It is also one of the largest private universities in Europe. It is also a short walk from Santa Maria delle Grazie, the church where Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” is located. The surrounding neighborhood of winding, narrow streets blends with the Renaissance architecture of the Cattolica and its charming courtyards. The Cattolica campus is a short 5-minute walk from the IES Abroad Milan Center.
A variety of English-taught courses are offered in the international department. For a sample course listing, please see the Cattolica website. Please note that course offerings will change each semester.
Italian-taught courses are available in the following disciplines:
- Accounting, Business, Economics, Finance & Insurance
- Art History
- Communications
- Language & Literature
- Education Sciences and Sociology (Educational Sociology)
- Foreign Languages and Literature
- Humanities & Philosophy
- International Economy and Relations
- Law & Political Science
- Psychology
- Social Sciences & Social Services
Most courses in the departments of Foreign Languages, Literature, Philosophy, Economics, Psychology and Education Sciences are semester courses. Most courses in the departments of Law, Sociology, and Political Science are offered on an academic-year basis.
Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca
Natural Sciences, Physics & Math
www.unimib.it/go/102/Home/English
Located in the northern part of the city, the Bicocca is a state university that was officially created in 1998 as a sciences-oriented part of the original Università degli Studi di Milano. Courses in Italian and English are available to students with a major or minor in Natural Sciences, Physics, or Math. Furthermore, eligible students can take part in science lab research teams (together with Italian graduate students), supervised by a graduate Italian researcher. Past students have assisted in the departments of Biology, Microbiology, and Experimental Medicine. In addition to serving as a lab assistant for 10 hours each week, you conduct independent research that is supervised by a member of the lab. You receive 3 credits for the combined research and independent study. Students with advanced Italian can take courses in the Natural and Social Sciences.
Istituto di Moda Burgo
Fashion & Design
http://www.imb.it/en/courses/short.html
Students interested in pursuing options in fashion may enroll in a limited number of courses at the Istituto di Moda Burgo, a local and well-known school of fashion. Courses are taught in both Italian and English on a semester or academic year basis. You may select from courses in two categories:
- Fashion Design - Jewelry Design, Men’s Wear, Women’s Wear, Children’s Wear, Beach Wear, Underwear, Theater Costume, Accessories and Shoe Design
- Pattern Making - Computer Cad-Cam, Pattern Making, Men’s Wear, Women’s Wear, Children’s Wear, Beachwear, Underwear, Wedding Dress
Internships
Interning while you study in Milan gives you a rewarding job experience with a wealth of long-lasting career benefits. You will:
- Gain a better understanding of the real-life, everyday culture of your host country
- Add global work experience to your resume or your application for graduate school
- Improve your confidence
All of our internships are supervised and earn IES Abroad credit. You participate in a 3-credit seminar to complement the practical experience you gain during the internship.
Personalized Placements
Once you indicate your interest in an internship, we work with you to find the ideal internship placement that fulfills your academic and career goals. We've placed students with a wide variety of organizations and businesses. If we don’t currently work with a business or organization in your field of interest, we will search out a placement that's right for you.
Placement Fields
Past students have interned in the following fields. Don’t see your field listed here? Just talk to your IES Abroad Advisor—new internships are always being added.
- Accounting
- Business
- E-Commerce
- Fashion
- Finance
- Government
- Human Resources
- Law
- Marketing
- Media
- Not-For-Profit Organizations
- Public Relations
Service Learning
Participating in a service learning experience in Milan is one of the best ways to gain a deeper understanding of the city’s culture and society. Working alongside local people toward a common goal, you experience first-hand some of the social issues that affect Milan, while contributing your skills toward a community-driven solution.
A service learning placement consists of time spent with a local organization, accompanied by a weekly academic, for-credit service learning seminar. Through the seminar, you have structured time for reflection, discussion, and research on the issues of your host community.
IES Abroad Milan partners with the local city government’s immigration department to provide a range of service learning opportunities from working to grant asylum to immigrants to developing job-training programs.
Field Trips & Events
Even though your adventure starts in Milan, our field trips take you beyond the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country. You share a portion of the cost with IES Abroad. Here are a few possible destinations:
Sicily
3 Days | Fall
Experience the cradle of Western Civilization, the home of Magna Grecia, a unique place full of art, archaeology, myth, history, folklore, and breathtaking scenery. Visit baroque Catania; Europe’s highest active volcano, Etna; and the magical mountaintop town of Taormina.
Tuscany
3 Days | Fall
Tour the Tuscany countryside and visit the medieval towns of Pisa, Siena, and Montalcino. Hear the Gregorian chant of the monks of Sant’Antimo Abbey and savor unique wine and cheese while admiring the Tuscan countryside.
Alps Ski Trip
3 Days | Spring
A charming town in the Alps is your destination for skiing in Europe’s highest mountain range.
Culture & Cuisine of Northern Italy
3 Days | Spring
Dive into the music, culture, and cuisine of Northern Italy with guided tours of Cremona and its violin makers, Parma and its parmesan cheese factory, and a family run agriturismo for dinner.
Secrets of Hidden Lombardy
1 Day | Spring
Explore the Romanesque and Gothic heritage of Lombardy by visiting abbeys and castles located in the Lombardy region.
IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.
Course-Related Trips
We organize course-related trips that complement IES Abroad courses and contribute to a better understanding of the Italian culture and society. Possible course-related trips may include:
- Sit in on IES Abroad Milan’s prestigious guest lecture series with noted local scholars and public figures.
- Study the works and projects of Leonardo da Vinci, then see his painting, “The Last Supper.”
- Visit the headquarters of Italian daily newspapers (Corriere della Sera and Gazzetta dello Sport) and attend a TV show taping (Mediaset).
Daily Life
Part of making you feel at home in Milan is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it is an orientation program that prepares you, housing that is well-located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services. This is just one of the things we’re known for.
Orientation
The program begins with a short orientation to help you become familiar with the IES Abroad Milan staff, your fellow students, and the city of Milan. Topics such as academics, housing, transportation, and health and safety are covered during orientation.
After orientation, you participate in a three-week intensive language program designed to help you gain practical language skills and to acclimate you to the local environment. IES Abroad schedules several excursions and tours to introduce you to the history, culture, and districts of Milan.
Additionally, CORE™, IES Abroad’s Comprehensive Orientation & Re-entry Experience, begins during orientation and continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home.
Housing
We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Milan, it will feel like home.
Homestays
Placements are available in Milanese homes throughout the city. This is a priceless opportunity to learn about Italian families first-hand and engage directly with Italian culture.
You have a private or shared room at your homestay and receive breakfast and dinner daily. Enjoy your other meals at university cafeterias bars, or restaurants. Commuting time from a typical homestay to the IES Abroad Milan Center can range from five to 40 minutes.
Apartments
Share a furnished apartment located in a safe and lively district with three to six IES Abroad students. These apartments are single-sex, and you generally share a bedroom with another student. Single rooms in an apartment carry an additional fee.
Some apartments are also shared with a live-in Italian roommate called a Community Assistant (CA). These assistants can help you improve your Italian language skills, get to know the city of Milan, and integrate more fully into the local culture. The Italian CAs also spend time at the IES Abroad Center answering questions and working for the program. If improving your Italian is your priority, you may request to live in an Italian-language only apartment.
Meals are not included, so you normally eat lunch at a local café or a university cafeteria, and prepare your own breakfast and dinner at home. Located on main public transportation routes near the Center, apartments offer fully-equipped kitchens, Internet access, a dishwasher, and a washing machine.
Collegio di Milano - Residence Hall
This residence for Italian and international honors students offers single rooms with private bathrooms and balconies. The facilities include a computer room, library, small gym, cafeteria, private park, security system, kitchenette, and an auditorium for special cultural programs.
Breakfast and dinner are provided daily and lunch is available on weekends. Space is limited and students are chosen by the Collegio based on academic merit. Because of the extra amenities, this option carries an additional fee.
Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events
Redefine the way you live and learn in Milan through cultural events, such as:
- Attending business-related guest lectures and excursions
- Participating in language exchange with native Italian speakers
- Attending performances at Teatro Alla Scala Opera House
- Going to soccer games
- Visiting museums, sporting events, and local fairs sponsored by Italian peers
- Taking cooking lessons
Get to Know Your New City
After you’ve explored this spectacular Gothic cathedral, make your way to the top of the Dome for the best views of the city.
Make friends with Community Assistants, local university students who help you get to know Milan.
Happy hour in Milan means, when you buy a drink, you get dinner for free!
Catch a professional football match at San Siro stadium.
Embrace Milan’s central location with weekend trips to nearby destinations.
Program Cost
Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.
Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs
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