London & Florence Program

About the program: Arts in context ... London ... Florence ... maps & links

Field trips: London ... Florence & Italy

Courses in spring 2009

Living arrangements

Faculty & staff

Academic information: Course sequence ... eligibility ... credit & grades ... costs ... how to apply

Contact: Campus program advisors ... ACM office

Above: In Florence, a statue of Laocoon and his sons being killed by snakes. (Photo courtesy of Dorothy Rand)

Left: Trafalgar Square in London.

While both London and Florence are Renaissance capitals, their evolution and history have produced dramatically different styles. By studying in and exploring the two cities, students learn how architecture, painting and sculpture reflect and influence cultural and political values. Each city becomes a living laboratory, a text for the courses.

Students spend eight weeks in each city, with a one-week break between the two segments of the program for independent travel.

Below: Along the River Arno in Florence.

London and Florence are contrasting cities in the pace at which they move, the way they feel and what they have to offer. The program’s courses reflect those contrasts in how they are taught, the kind of work required, and how they use the environment.

At the two sites, students explore the arts in lively and differing approaches, and profit from embracing the varied styles of learning that the cities present.

The courses offered in each city reflect the special interests and expertise of the instructors, and are designed to make full use of the unique cultural strengths of the local environment.

Since classroom instruction is closely integrated with a variety of out-of-class activities, students must participate in all courses.

Left: On a field trip to Bath, England. (Photo courtesy of Scharlemann Eaton)