SRISA Accredited Year

The Benefits of a Study Abroad Year at SRISA

Studying abroad for a year is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, taking students out of their comfort zone and into a world of new experiences. All students will have the chance to fully immerse themselves by meeting new people, learning a new language, and encountering different cultures while living like a local in the beautiful city of Florence. This experience will enhance students’ college education and life skills while empowering them to be global citizens.

Studying abroad for an accredited year at SRISA allows students to pursue their major or minor or take time to try something they are passionate about.

Semesters and Courses

The year-long program starts in September and finishes in April. It includes the Fall semester, which runs from September to December, and the Spring semester, running from January to April. Both semesters are worth 12-16 credits, for a total of 24-32 credits throughout the entire year’s program.

There are many different courses you can take during your year abroad. Being a world-renowned art school, some of our most popular courses are in our Studio Arts and Design departments, which include Painting and Drawing, Printmaking, Book Arts, Photography, Sculpture, Communication Design, Fashion Design, and Interior Design. We also offer humanities and social science courses within our Liberal Arts department, including Art History, Communications, Gender Studies, History, Italian Language (all levels), Italian Studies, Literature and Writing, Marketing and Business, Political Science and Economics, Psychology, and Sociology.

SRISA’s dedicated staff and faculty provide support to help students adapt to their life in Florence, Italy, during their semester abroad. We help all students feel at home and create life-long connections.

Program Overview

SRISA offers American University-level undergraduate courses. All classes, except Italian language, are taught in English. While most students choose to study for one semester due to their degree plan, some have the incredible opportunity to study for two semesters. Fall and Spring semesters are 15 weeks long and students enroll in 12-16 credit hours per semester.

Fall and Spring Semesters

Each semester lasts 15 weeks with 12-16 total credit hours
Fall (September-December)
Spring (January-April)

Classroom Structure & Instruction

Academic Lecture Classes

Lecture classes meet twice a week, totaling 3 contact hours per week. Classes combine in-class lectures, discussions, and on-site visits and instruction. Most academic courses are reading- and writing-intensive and require a minimum of 6-9 hours of work outside of regular class time.

Studio Classes

These hands-on courses meet twice a week, totaling 6 contact hours per week. Studio courses combine practical lessons, in-class demonstrations, and slide presentations. Students go on-site to work or visit exhibits and museums relevant to the topic. Each course requires outside work and in-class critiques, both group and individual. Advanced studio courses may require written assignments and many ask students to keep a sketchbook.

You can find information about courses here.

Registering for Courses

Complete the Course Registration Form.
Italian Language is not required but is highly encouraged for the enriching cultural benefit.
Students may enroll in a maximum of four (4) Studio courses per semester.
Students must provide alternatives to their first-choice courses, due to potential conflicts, or their course registration will be considered incomplete.