Global Business Institute: Florence - Semester

 

Welcome to the Global Business Institute (GBI), your opportunity to study and practice business at one of three international campuses. GBI prepares you for the business world through coursework that advances your degree, offers out-of-the-classroom experiences that expand cultural competence, and internship opportunities that provide you with transferable workplace skills.

Along with being an important Italian business hub for human resources, fashion marketing, and tourism management, Florence is also a beautiful, historic city. 

Want to learn more? Check out the Pitt Business To the World student blog and this video. 

 

What You'll Accomplish: 

As an engaged and active participant in this program, you will have the opportunity to : 

  • Fulfull major elective course(s) and general elective course requirements. 
  • Develop global competency skills through coursework, internship opportunities and cultural experiences. 
  • Gain transferrable skills towards your professional and personal development by participating in an optional internship. 

 

Florence, Italy is the capital city of the Firenze province and Tuscany region. It is surrounded by the picturesque rolling hills of Tuscany. Florence is a majestic city that is visually stunning, culturally rich and has a storied past. Florence was founded as a Roman Military colony around the 1st Century BC. The city’s population began to grow due to its location in the fertile, farmable hills. Its location also was perfect for economic development in the region. Florence became a haven for an ever-growing immigrant population that still exists today. Florence has its strong Italian roots, but is also very much a multi-cultural city.

Due to the growing economy and influx of immigrants it became the perfect location for merchants and artists. This in part, led to the Renaissance period in the 14th to 16th centuries. Many of the most influential artists of that time period flocked to the city to work on their art including Michelangelo, Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Leonardo da Vinci. They left behind masterpieces in the forms frescoes, sculptures, paintings and architecture that are still visible throughout the city today. Students will have the opportunity to spend a full-semester taking 12-15 credits while still have to explore the city which feels like a living, breathing museum of Italian Renaissance masterpieces. Florence is a major tourist destination, but the authentic-Italian experience is easy to discover.

Temperatures and precipitation vary based on the season. In the Fall Semester as the season change, the temperatures can average 75 degrees Fahrenheit at the beginning of the semester to 45 degrees Fahrenheit by the end. As the seasons change and head towards winter, you will see more cloudy and rainy days. The beginning of the Spring Semester can be chilly, cloudy and rainy with temperature averaging around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. As winter transitions to spring, the temperatures will begin to rise and average 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The old stone buildings across the city are designed to make sure they are never too hot, nor too cold. 

 

Where You'll Live: 

Students will live like a Florentine during their semester abroad. The accommodations for this program are city apartments, located within a 40-minute commute to the CEA CAPA Center along the Piazza della Repubblica. Like the streets of Florence, no two apartments on the Pitt in Florence program are alike in terms of design, but all will give you a comfortable place to call home in Italy. The city is a very flat, pedestrian friendly, and walkable city. 

You can expect the following at your accommodations:

  • Shared bedrooms (typically two students/bedroom, sometimes more)
  • Up to six students in each apartment (sometimes more), with a common living space
  • A fully equipped kitchen
  • En-suite bathroom (generally, one for each two students)
  • Washing machine(s) in the building (Italian apartments typically do not have dryers)
  • Meals aren’t included, so plan on learning to cook with local ingredients or budget money to eat out
  • There is no local transportation pass included in this program, but a bus pass can be purchased locally if desired
  • A/C is not common and when available is regulated. Likewise, heat is also regulated. Plan for your apartment to not always be as warm or as cool as you might be used to.  

We do our best to provide the most accurate information about housing and amenities but due to the nature of the locations in which we offer programs and limited availability, these items are subject to change. Contact your program manager with any questions. 

What You'll Study: 

Most courses on GBI: Florence are 3 credits, and you can take 12-18 credits. Courses you select may fulfill your major courses, business core courses, or general education requirements.

If you are considering this program in order to fulfill the study abroad requirement for the Global Management major or the Certificate Program in International Business, please note that you must participate in the part-time internship option in order for this experience to count toward your degree and/or certificate requirement. More information on the internship can be found under the 'Experiential Learning' tab.

No previous Italian experience is necessary, but you are required to take an Italian language course on this program. Due to the nature of this requirement, students with some previous Italian language experience (i.e. those in ITAL 0102, 0103, and 0110) may have very small classes with a personalized experience. 

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Looking to complete the Certificate in International Business? Take the following courses to fulfill nearly all of the CPIB requirements! Course descriptions are listed in the general course list below. Please note that you will still need to meet the language requirement to receive the certificate. 

CPIB Track 

  • BUSORG 1655 - International Dimensions of Organization Behavior 

  • BUSECON 1508 - Key Issues in International Economics for Managers  

Major Elective (choose 1) 

  • BUSFIN 1341 - International Finance 

  • BUSMKT 1461 - International Marketing 

  • BUSHRM 1670 - Global Workforce Management 

  • BUSSCM 1730: Managing Global Supply Chains 

CBA Elective 

  • BUS 1910 -  International Internship For Credit  

 

Fall 2024 course list:

Consulting Field Project (BUS0600)

Management consulting will continue to be a significant and popular career option, as it provides an opportunity for challenging work, continued self-development, access to important social and professional networks, traveling, and financial rewards.  In this course, you will explore the art of using expertise in a field to advise client organizations on high-level strategic issues and provide them with management counsel. Throughout the course, you will experience the opportunity to work on solving executive-level problems and simulate consulting project activities and situations by working on business cases, exercises, and a team assignment based on real-life consulting challenges.

GBI Florence: point of distinction and focus is Manufacturing and trade for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

GBI London:  point of distinction and focus is Business Finance

GBI Sydney:  point of distinction and focus is Environmental Sustainability

 

Business International Internship (BUS1910)

This is a part-time internship (20 hours per week). In addition, you will attend weekly discussion-led sessions that include educational support and mentoring in a classroom environment, develop personal and professional skills, and learn to contextualize your internship experience socially and culturally. You will receive 3 credits for this course.
Please note internships are available for students who have successfully completed three semesters of coursework at Pitt or a transfer university as a degree-seeking student. 

Key Issues in International Economics for Managers (BUSECN1508)

Fulfills a requirement for the CPIB/ Global Management major. 
The objective of this course is to examine theoretical analysis of international trade and commercial policy. Students will look at the pure theory of international trade as exemplified by comparative advantage and gains from trade in the classical and neoclassical models and explore alternative explanations of trade and development. The theory of customs unions and modern day explanations of preferential trading arrangements will be explored and some of the principal unresolved theoretical and practical problems of free trade will be examined.

International Finance (BUSFIN1341)

This course fulfills a finance major elective for Pitt Business students. 
This course will examine the structure and principal operations of the international financial economy. It will examine operations and their impact in terms of trade, the trading of financial assets and capital movements. It will also assess risk management techniques used by governments, corporations and other entities operating internationally and the global regulatory challenges posed by these developments. The course covers topics such as the historical development of money and capital markets, the role of major central banks, the maintenance of price stability, the control of interest rates, the management of monetary policy and the management of global systemic risk.

Global Workforce Management and Change (BUSHRM1670)

Fulfills an HR major elective and a global management major required course for Pitt Business students.
This course provides an integrative framework for understanding the business and legal challenges that are associated with effective workforce management around the world. As more and more companies try to leverage the benefits of a global labor market, it is critical to understand the challenges that managers must deal with as they try to coordinate work practices across country settings and prepare individuals for international assignments. Toward that end, we will examine how labor markets in the Americas, Europe and Asia compare in terms of labor costs, labor supply, workplace culture, and employment law. High-profile news events from developed and emerging economies will be used to illustrate the complex cultural and regulatory environment that multinational firms face in such areas as talent management, performance management, offshore outsourcing, downsizing and industrial relations. The last segment of the course will focus on the individual and organizational factors that promote successful expatriate assignments and globally-oriented careers.

International Marketing (BUSMKT1461)

Fulfills a marketing major elective for Pitt Business students.
This course reflects the increasing amount of international marketing carried out by a wide and diverse range of organizations. Starting with why organizations may wish to expand their activities across national boundaries, students develop knowledge to identify which markets to enter, the methods of market entry available, and the management and control implications. The student will be encouraged to perceive the role of a global marketing manager, and to make decisions that could affect the outcome of a global marketing plan. This includes the international marketing environment and the international marketing mix, namely product, pricing, distribution and promotion, as well as emerging issues in international trade such as trading blocs, trade barriers, and the standardization versus customization dilemma.

International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior (BUSORG1655)

This course fulfills a core requirement for the Certificate in International Business and the global management major. This course also fulfills the human resources major elective.
Provides an introduction to organizational behavior in a global context. Emphasis is on applying core organizational behavior concepts such as leadership, motivation, and group processes, as well as more contemporary topics such as cultural diversity and expatriation, to workers in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Develops an understanding of culture and cross-cultural differences and an awareness of the key skills needed to interact effectively in cross-cultural settings.

Managing Global Supply Chains (BUSSCM1730)

Fulfills a marketing major elective, a supply chain major required course, a Certificate in Supply Chain Management required course, a core requirement for the global management major, a Certificate in International Business elective, and an elective for the Certificate Program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Writing the City-Florence (ENGWRT1200)

This course is a creative writing workshop designed to explore the experience of traveling and living abroad in Florence in both verse and prose. Along with the workshop we will also read and discuss texts that focus on Italy in general and Florence specifically from both the native and foreign perspectives, noting particularly the literary techniques and strategies that various writers have used to verbally map out the territory of the city and to express their own place and experiences within its walls. The texts will provide us with a forum for discussing each author’s relationship to and the literary expression of place. The texts will also provide us with models for weekly writing exercises.  I believe that we can use our unique position as sojourners abroad to begin to chart our own internal and imaginative landscapes. Our ultimate goal will be to produce a finalized, substantial text—or series of short texts—suitable for performance and/or publication in the literary world beyond this class.

 

Italian Renaissance Art History (HAA0302)

This course introduces students to painting, sculpture, and architecture in Florence in the Renaissance. Beginning with the great projects of the Middle Ages that defined the religious and political centers of the city, attention focuses on major monuments of the Renaissance. Discussion will center on how works of art were made, their style, and how they communicate intellectual meaning. Sub-themes that intersect with the most recent research in the field of art history are interwoven into each class period. Topics for discussion include the cross-cultural fertilization of artistic ideas, how women, the poor, and children were depicted in Renaissance art, conflicting ideas regarding patronage, and how works of art construct religious, political, gender, and class identities. This course analyzes the interrelationship between people's creative achievements and their society. In other words, students must understand a work of art in the social, artistic, and historical context of medieval and renaissance Florence.

For Italian majors or minors, this course is also cross-listed as ITAL 0183. 

Interculture and Migration (ITAL1084)

Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Specific Geographic Region,  Diversity  General Education Requirement

Italy has long been a nation of emigrants, but only in the last few decades has become a nation receiving large numbers of immigrants. The fall of communism in Eastern Europe, and wars and violence in the Balkans, across Africa and the Middle East, have spurred new migrants towards the West in search of safety and economic prosperity. The unique position of the Italian peninsula in the Mediterranean has made it a key territory of arrival in these modern-day migrations, but to what advantage and to what cost? This course will explore the complexities of cultural identity and migration, and the impact they have on intercultural conflict and cooperation. There will be a particular focus on migration in Italy and on the marginalized communities of contemporary Italy, such as migrants, their Italianborn non-citizen children, and the Roma. We will examine the fluidity of cultural boundaries across time and space, and how ingroup and outgroup dynamics contribute to the manufacturing of fear and prejudice among populations. During their semester abroad, students will reflect on the various elements that define a culture while gaining an increased understanding of how culture shapes individuals and how our cultural identities interact in shared social spaces such as the piazze of Florence. 

Syllabus:
Medieval and Renaissance Literature - Florence (ITAL1085)
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Literature General Education Requirement
 
The course will introduce students to the history of Italian Literature, focusing on great masterpieces (in English translation) from the 14th to the 16th century. A multidisciplinary approach, dealing with social, political, historical and philosophical implications will provide further understanding by placing literary works in a comprehensive cultural context. Special emphasis will be placed on the impact of Italian literature in European culture in pre-modern age, stressing the broad influence of Dante's Comedy, Boccaccio's Decameron and Ariosto's Orlando Enraged. Students will be provided with the basic operational tools to help them recognize different literary genres and understand why certain forms of artistic expression are peculiar to certain ages, at times to the exclusion of others. Literary issues such as the great divide between high and low literature, the question of language, the relation between classical, Christian and chivalric epics, the concept of originality in the Middle Ages, the circulation of books and the development of a reading public will be thoroughly investigated. Students will be able to follow the formation and the evolution of the mainstream literary tradition, and appreciate the innovative charge, both in form and content, of the works selected. They will also learn to practice a close reading of the texts, and will be encouraged to form their own critical opinion on the writings analyzed for their oral presentations. The first lessons will be devoted to a general overview of the 13th and the 14th centuries both from a historical and a more specifically literary perspective. Then the focus will shift onto the role of Dante in shaping the vernacular literature as a means to bridge the gap between academic and popular culture, to Boccaccio's ground-breaking work in restyling storytelling into an art of conversation and therefore a collective enterprise, and finally to Ariostol's humorous contemplation of human vanity and foolishness. Each lecture introducing a new author will be preceded by a brief outline of his life and literary output, and will then proceed with the description and analysis of his major work.

 

Contemporary Italian Cinema (ITAL0086)
The objective of this course is to give students the opportunity to comprehend contemporary Italian society through the screen images that Italian filmmakers have presented of the cultural, political and working environment they live in. Using a multidisciplinary approach for history, film theory, and social contextualization, this course will explore how contemporary Italian cinema has followed, mirrored, and sometimes even anticipated cultural and social transformations in Italian society. Up to twenty Italian films released between the late '90s to the present will be examined from the point of view of 20th and 21st Century Italian social, political, and cultural history in order to understand the various social and ethical concerns exemplified by the movies.

 

Italian: Here and Now (4 credits) (ITAL0101)

An introduction to the Italian language, including basic grammar, vocabulary and speech patterns. Primary goal is to achieve competence in the spoken language, along with basic skills in reading and writing. Face-to-face lesson meetings consist of communicative activities in which students practiced learned structures and vocabulary.  Students will watch/listen/read lectures, complete exercises related to grammar and vocabulary. This instructional approach is designed to allow for maximum interaction in the classroom environment, so that students can receive extensive feedback on their progress. 

Modern Italy: Firenze Popolare (ITAL0110)

This course, taught in Italian, is designed for students who are beyond the ITAL 0103 level.

In this course, students will continue to build on socio-linguistic competencies through the lens of the People’s Florence. We will immerse ourselves in mass culture and non-elite knowledge by studying a variety of Florentine expression: stories, songs, flyers, menus, websites, social media pages and YouTube videos. Class will be held at times in the circoli and case del popolo, with visits to other spaces important to the Florentine community. Avanti popolo!

Depending upon enrollment, students in this course may be combined with students in ITAL 0103 with differentiated instruction. Generally, though, class sizes are very small. 

Cross Cultural Psychology in Florence (PSY0186)

This course will explore the field of cross-cultural psychology through a focus on a specific country and its inhabitants: Italy. Aspects of cross-cultural analysis from the field of cross-cultural psychology (as well as interdisciplinary elements from sociology, anthropology, biology and ecology) will be discussed, including: cultural influence on human behavior, attitudes, values, communication and societal organization. Special topics of ethnocentrism, individual vs. collective societies, plural societies, cultural views on mental health, and intercultural communication are highlighted. Methodological issues of cross-cultural research will be reviewed, and students will have the opportunity to conduct a cross-cultural interview and be participant-observers of their own experience here in Italy. The city of Florence and its inhabitants become the classroom through various excursions and field work. Participants are encouraged to reflect on their own cultural origins in regards to behaviors, communication, attitudes and values, as well as their acculturation experiences while studying in Italy.

 

Syllabus:
Foundation Painting (SA0120)
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Creative Work General Education Requirement
 
Investigate concepts of color, form, line, composition, volume, space, and the use of oil paint as a medium. Beginning or intermediate levels accepted. This course is structured to introduce oil painting starting from the basic techniques and introducing new approaches and ideas. Students should take advantage of open studio hours to complete their assignments. At the beginning of each new topic and project students will be asked to list the techniques acquired in the previous lessons before moving on to a new exercise. Students will be expected to complete at least 4 paintings to successfully complete the course in addition to completing the weekly assignments.

 

Syllabus:
Foundation Drawing (SA0130)
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Creative Work  General Education Requirement
 
A studio arts drawing course for beginning and intermediate students that explores an essential aspect of artistic self-expression and the techniques necessary to learn to draw what you see. The course will examine Florentine artists' drawing techniques that raised the level of this medium during the Renaissance period from preliminary studies to that of true works of art. Visual perception is a way of seeing that differs from our typical way of seeing. The objective is that of teaching students how to transmit what they see, an artistic perception which will permit them to explore their personal mode of expression. The course will concentrate upon the component parts of drawing, the necessary aspects self-awareness and general creativity, learning to draw what is out there and self expression.

 

Sculpture - Figure and Portrait (SA1440)
Figurative sculpture is a basic studio course designed for beginners and intermediate students. It explores the skills and techniques necessary to approach clay modelling. Students are invited to take advantage of class activities as much as possible since it is through constant commitment and exercise that they will achieve the technical mastery of the medium. At the same time, it is necessary for students to acquire a certain theoretical awareness. Stimuli provided by projections, workshop and site visits to the most important sculptures in Florence are integral to the course. Students will visit these works during the week. Students will have a sketchbook in order to document at least one work per visit.

 

Syllabus:
Analyzing and Exploring the Global City - Florence (URBNST0408)

Florence is a global heritage city: millions of people every day crowd into its small streets admiring the ancient buildings and its artistic heritage, which creates revenue as well as issues. For this reason, contemporary Florence and its inhabitants are less well-known by visitors. Florence today has an ethnically diverse population with complex socio-cultural dynamics that shape the identity of this fascinating city. Although migration to the city has intensified over the last few decades, ‘multiculturalism’ is not a recent phenomenon: over the centuries the city has celebrated diversity, with different ethnic groups, different nationalities and various religious groups who have contributed to Florence’s social and cultural wealth. Even the briefest of walks can unveil this wealth to the eyes of the attentive observer – and it is precisely this ‘below the surface’ understanding that this course provides. Florence is, and always has been, a ‘global’ city. We will analyze the complex dynamics that shape the identity of Florence by applying a critical perspective to the notion of globalization and by analyzing the socio-cultural forces at play both historically and presently. Students will learn to analyze the cultural variety present in the city, examining which ethnic communities live in Florence today, and gaining insight into their lives through scholarly sources and direct observation. Throughout the course we will discuss the relativity of cultural values; we will analyze how multicultural aspects of Florence’s identity have been discursively constructed and by which social actors; we will review which policies the local and national administration have put into effect to deal with these issues.

 

Experiential Learning Description: 

A part-time internship is an optional component of the GBI: Florence experience, which you may choose to participate in alongside your coursework. Internship placements are based on your previous professional experiences, academic and professional goals, and availability of positions. You'll get support outside the office through an internship seminar, where you'll meet with peers and faculty to help you get the most out of the experience.

An internship placement is never guaranteed, especially in Florence as English-language positions are subject to availability. You can apply for an internship regardless of major, but placements in certain fields may be difficult to arrange; you should have an open mind regarding internship placement opportunities. Other things to keep in mind:

  • Internships are 20 hours per week, excluding commuting time
  • Internships are always unpaid, always for three credits, and always pass/fail
  • In order to participate, students must be in the 2nd semester of sophomore year or higher

More about the placement process

You can apply as a part of the application process with CEA CAPA. Please know that the internship is a serious commitment: if you decide to drop the internship within 70 days of departure, you will incur a $500 cancellation fee from CEA CAPA.

CEA CAPA's career advising team will begin working with you on your placement shortly after you commit to the GBI: Florence program. The placement process is thorough, and you can expect to receive your placement information 14 days before departure. While this may seem like a long time to wait, keep in mind that our partners are searching for an internship just for you. Your past experiences, coursework, and desired placement areas are all taken into account. For more information about CEA CAPA's internship placement process, click here.

 

The University of Pittsburgh partners with CEA CAPA for this program. For more than 45 years CEA CAPA has worked with institutions of higher education to build programs that meet their goals for learning abroad. CEA CAPA operates education centers in Global Cities and have developed distinct academic offerings, support frameworks, and oversight structures for students and visiting faculty.
 
The CAPA Florence Center is housed in Palazzo Galli-Tassi, a 15th-century palace in the Santa Croce neighborhood. The CAPA Florence team is available throughout your program to assist and support you 24/7 with any urgent situations.
 

Your Pitt Study Abroad Contacts: 

Dr. Philip Hnatkovich

Hi I'm Phil Hnatkovich and I'm a Global Experiences Manager in the College of Business Administration. I've worked in higher education for nearly two decades, both as a lecturer and as a study abroad manager. I came to the field of international education after years of international study, beginning with language and cultural studies in Acadie, then historical research in French, Cornish, and English port communities and pirate havens, and finally as a co-founder of an international digital educational program aimed at transcribing historical documents from the 17th century. I'm thrilled to help students find their own paths from travel to professional opportunity!
 

Schedule an appointment

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  • Select a day, find my name and find time that works best for you!

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Your In-Country Contacts: 

Jenny McCord

Jenny McCord is our on-site Pitt faculty in Florence and teaches sections of ITAL 0101 Here and Now, ITAL 0110 Firenze Popolare and ITAL 1084 Interculture and Migration. Jenny moved to Florence in 2015 after a decade in Pittsburgh teaching for the Department of French & Italian and working with study abroad summer programs in Bologna, Rome and Florence. She holds an MA in Italian Literature and an MT in Foreign Language Education from the University of Virginia, as well as a Master in Intercultural Studies from the University of Padova.

COSTS LISTED ARE FOR SPRING 2024 ONLY. FALL 2024 COSTS WILL BE POSTED IN THE SPRING SEMESTER.

Items Billed by Pitt

SPRING 2024 ONLY In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $10,077.00 $19,260.00
Program Cost $8,622.00 $8,622.00
Study Abroad Fee $400 $400
Total Billed by Pitt $19,099 $28,282.00

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs

Airfare $1,800
Personal Expenses and Meals $3,000 - $5,000
Local Cell Phone or Cell Phone Plan $100-$500
Visa ~$70
Passport ~$165

The above estimates are only estimates. Remember that your lifestyle and spending choices can greatly affect the amount of money you'll need while abroad. Visit our Budgeting page for more information.

There is no local transportation pass included in this program, but a bus pass can be purchased locally if desired.

 

What's Included: 

As a part of your GBI: Florence fee, the following are included:

  • Tuition for 12-18 credits
  • On-Site Orientation
  • Housing 
  • Welcome and farewell dinner
  • Health Insurance
  • One-day excursion to Siena and San Gimignano
  • My Global City activities and events through CEA CAPA
When You'll Go: 

This program runs for a full semester. See sidebar for exact dates. 
 

What Else You Need to Know: 
  • As part of your Global Business Institute application, you are required to meet with Pitt Business Global Experiences staff to discuss program requirements.  You can fulfill this requirement by scheduling a meeting with the Program Manager or by stopping in to the Pitt Business Global Experiences suite for a drop-in appointment with a Global Ambassador.
  • For scholarship opportunities, be sure to check out the Pitt Global Experiences page. Pitt Business students may also apply for additional scholarships through the Pitt Business Global Experiences Scholarships here, as well as crowdfund using the Pitt Business Fund My Travel page. Please note that the application deadline for the Pitt Business International Scholarship is the same as the program application deadline. 
  • Florence does experience seasons/change in temperature. Be aware that both heat and A/C (when available) are regulated - heat will not be as warm as you are used to and A/C (when available) will not be as cold as you are used to.
  • Local bus passes are not included, but can be purchased once in-country if desired.