Contact: Naomi Githae, ngithae@loyola.edu / 410-617-2920
School:  Fairfield University

• Course Equivalencies  

Apply to this Program

History

Loyola students have the opportunity to study abroad in Florence through Fairfield University. The Loyola and Fairfield affiliation is new beginning in Fall 2015.  Students will attend the Florence University of Arts, established in 1997. The university has 7 campus locations located throughout Florence city center. All  facilities are equipped with free internet access. All courses are taught in English (except for Italian course) and are taught by both local and international faculty.

Criteria for Applying

• Loyola students must meet the Loyola cumulative QPA requirement of 2.8 to be considered for the affiliation;
• Students must be admitted by Fairfield University. Each student must submit an online application, an official transcript, copy of your driver's license and a copy of your passport. You must also pay an application fee;
• Disciplinary records will be taken into account when determining eligibility;
• Students interested in applying to the Fairfield Florence program must submit a study abroad application by Wednesday after Thanksgiving to the Office of International Programs at Loyola to receive approval to apply directly to Fairfield University;
• Once your Loyola application has been reviewed, you will receive a clearance letter from the office of international programs giving you permission to apply directly to Fairfield;
• Fairfield will review all of the admission materials before rendering a decision;
• Students who have not declared a major will not be cleared to use this affiliation; and
• You must have your major declared before applying to study abroad. 

Criteria for Remaining in the Program

Studying abroad is a privilege that students have to earn by receiving and maintaining the required cumulative GPA of 2.800 to be accepted into the Florence program. Students must also demonstrate through their disciplinary record (on and off campus) to the Office of International Programs they are able to represent Loyola University Maryland and the United States by displaying such characteristics as honesty, integrity and personal responsibility for self and others by making wise choices and avoiding risky and/or harmful behavior that could jeopardize their privilege to study abroad.

Therefore, once you are accepted into the Florence program, it is also YOUR responsibility to keep your spot in the program. This includes your academic and disciplinary records at Loyola, which the Office of International Programs will review a second time.

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.800 (no rounding up) by the end of the semester prior to going abroad. Not maintaining the cumulative GPA of 2.800 could result in removal from the program. Summer (at Loyola or away) school will not be considered as an appeal to remain in the Florence program. Students will be financially responsible for any bills incurred by Fairfield University on the student’s behalf.

In addition to maintaining the academic requirement to study abroad, a student must also maintain the disciplinary requirement and not get into ANY disciplinary trouble after being accepted into the program. When a student gets into disciplinary trouble AFTER receiving his/her acceptance, this strongly indicates to the Office of International Programs the student is not taking the opportunity he/she has been given to study abroad seriously, and it could also be an indicator of potential behavioral problems while abroad.  If a student receives any disciplinary sanctions after being accepted into the Florence program, he/she can be removed from the program and the student will be financially responsible for any payments made on his/her behalf. The student will be billed for these items.

Academics

• Students typically take five courses (5-3 credit courses) in Florence;
• All students must take a 3-credit Italian language course;
• Previous knowledge of Italian is not required;
• Fairfield offers courses in humanities, social sciences, and business courses;
• There are a number of core courses approved on the Fairfield Program;
• The program is good for most majors;
• Internships are allowed for academic credit;
• Students cannot take courses as pass/fail;
• Students can apply for either the fall or spring semester; and 
• The fall semester runs from late August to mid-December, and the spring semester runs from late January to mid May.

Housing

• Students live in comfortable, furnished apartments in the historic center of Florence; 
• The apartments are double occupancy with one to four bedrooms;
• The apartments are 20 minutes walk to school;
• Students can request a roommate; and
• Homestay is available at an additional cost.

Cost/Financial Aid

• Students pay the Fairfield tuition and program fee (not Loyola) for the semester they are abroad;
• Payments are made directly to Fairfield;
• Institutionally-controlled forms of financial aid including academic/athletic scholarships, need-based grants, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Supplemental Grants, and Federal Work-Study cannot be used to assist with educational expenses incurred on this program;
• Federal aid and some state aid can be used on this affiliation. Contact our financial aid office for specific information;
• Students must pay an application fee to apply and submit a study abroad deposit to hold their place in the program after being accepted;
• Students are also financially responsible for their flights to and from Italy and must book through STA travel agent.  Information will be provided by Fairfield.
• Meals are not included;
• Students will have to pay for student visa; and 
• CISI health insurance and Residence permit fees are included in the program fee.

Requirements for the Program

• Students must have at least a 2.8 QPA or higher to be cleared by Loyola;
• Students interested in studying abroad either in the fall or spring semester must apply to Loyola by 11:59 pm on the second Wednesday after Thanksgiving break, of sophomore year;
• Students must apply to Loyola first. Once you apply to Loyola, you will receive the clearance letter to apply to Fairfield;
• Students must be able to find a minimum of four courses/12 credits that work in their degree program; and
• All students studying abroad must have a comprehensive U.S. health insurance plan, including hospitalization, for abroad.

Course Equivalencies

•  Course Equivalency list

This is a working list of the course equivalencies for the Loyola-Florence affiliation with Fairfield University.

The course approvals and equivalencies provided are the most current for the Office of International Programs. Once accepted to a study abroad program, students will have an academic interview with the appropriate director and will be advised on their course selection.

Please be advised: All students are solely responsible for informing themselves about the status of these courses. Course approvals and equivalencies may change at a moments notice. This means you should confirm if the following courses are approved, or if the courses have been removed.

If there are other courses you desire to take, and they are not on the course equivalency list; you must get written course approval by the department chair. The courses that you choose should fit into your degree audit and enable you to graduate on time.

Apply to this Program