History
Loyola University Maryland in Rome is run in conjunction with the Catholic University of America. The "Eternal City"
offers unique opportunities for our students to be fully immersed in the Italian culture and language, in European history and in the history of the Catholic Church. Rome is one of the world’s major capitals with a population of 3 million. The program is located in downtown Rome in the Prati neighborhood. Language courses are taught by Italiaidea, a successful and dynamic Italian language institute. Dr. David Dawson Vasquez, a theology professor from Catholic University and a Rome resident, is our on-site program director.
This program is an intensive full immersion program. Students take Italian language courses and live with Italian host families. Students use public transportation to get from their homes to the school, and generally will adjust to living an Italian lifestyle. Courses are based on Italy and Rome, and the city becomes your classroom as professors will conduct courses at various onsite locations.
Criteria for Acceptance
- Typically sophomores with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 may apply.
- There are 30 spots available each semester.
- Students must fit the 5 courses offered in Rome in their Loyola degree program.
- Students must not be on disciplinary probation nor have a history of serious disciplinary problems.
Academics
- Students are required to take two 3-credit Italian language courses. The first course is done intensively during the first month, meeting three hours per day, Monday through Friday. The second course meets three days per week for 1 ½ hours per session for the rest of the semester. No Italian background is required. The courses count as electives. You must have two free electives for this to work with your degree program. You can also use 200-level courses towards the Italian studies minor if you are able to place into them.
- Students take three other courses with American professors. All courses are based on Italy or Rome. Courses are available for some upper-level core courses, and are very limited. We usually run five courses per semester in addition to the Italian courses.
- Please see the link for course offerings at the top of the page.
Facilities
- The "school" is in a building owned and renovated by St. John's University.
- The program is not affiliated with an Italian university, and is made up entirely of Loyola and CUA students (maximum 45 students total).
- The school is located in the Prati neighborhood, about a 20 minute walk from the Vatican or the Spanish steps.
- The building is wireless and contains classrooms, a student lounge, a small library, and a small computer lab.
- The language courses are taught by Italiaidea, which is located near the Spanish Steps.
Length of Stay
- This program is for one semester: fall or spring.
- The fall runs from late August to mid-December. The spring runs from the beginning of January to mid-May.
Housing
- All students participate in home-stays (includes breakfasts five days a week and four dinners per week, and a city bus/metro pass). Students will have their own or may share a private bedroom with Italian families selected by Italiaidea staff in neighborhoods surrounding downtown Rome.
- Most host families do not have internet.
- Students will likely have to commute to school and/or Italiaidea. The commute can take 30-60 minutes on public transportation (bus/metro). All host families are within five miles of the Historic Center of Rome.
Cost
- Loyola tuition (see benefits listed below);
- Loyola in Rome program fee (inclusive of room & board as well as other benefits listed below);
- Reduced comprehensive fee; and
- Students are eligible for consideration for all forms of federal, state, institutional and private sources of aid, except the federal work-study program. Students studying abroad for a semester or full academic year will forfeit the value of a federal work-study assignment.
Benefits
This is a fully packaged program with:
- Round-trip airfare;
- On-site orientation;
- Home stay with an Italian family includes breakfast five days a week and dinner four days a week
- Private room with heat (after November 1st) and utilities;
- Tuition for 15 Loyola credits;
- Local public transportation pass for the semester;
- Excursions around the city;
- Two 3-day guided field trips (course-related visits) around Italy;
- Medical insurance;
- Evacuation insurance; and
- International Student ID card.
Application Requirements
- Completed online application form and an academic advisor acknowledgement form must be submitted by Dec. 1 for the fall or spring.
- Advisor's signature is required.