the american university of rome

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The AmericanUniversity of Rome

Preparing Students from around the world to live and work across cultures

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Letter from the President

Since 1969 The American University of Rome has had a tradition of pairing intellectual rigor with the unique opportunity to use Rome as its classroom. Its tradition of creativity and entrepreneurship owes a great deal to its exceptional location in the Eternal City.

AUR encourages its students to follow their passions and pursue their academic discoveries through an interdisciplinary approach that gives priority to real world experiences.

Our student body is international, consisting of about 500 students coming from over 40 countries. Classes are small and highly personable, where scholars teach essential modern skills – language, intercultural communication and critical thinking. In this uniquely historic setting, our students get exceptional training, preparing them to prosper in our fast changing world.

Richard HodgesP R E S I d E n T Contents

About ..................................................................... 2

Archaeology & Classics .............................................. 6

Art History ............................................................... 8

Business Administration ............................................. 10

Communication & English ........................................... 12

Film & digital Media .................................................. 14

Fine Arts ................................................................. 16

Interdisciplinary Studies ............................................ 18

International Relations & Global Politics ....................... 20

Italian Studies .......................................................... 22

Religious Studies ...................................................... 24

Graduate Studies ...................................................... 26

Career Services & Internships .................................... 30

Student Life ............................................................. 31

Application & Financial Aid ......................................... 32


Honorary degree recipients

2014 | Aurelio De Laurentis, Film Producer and Businessman

2014 | Mary Beard, Classicist and Scholar

2014 | Roger Waters, Singer, Song-Writer and Social Activist

2013 | Andrea Camilleri, Groundbreaking novelist, Screenwriter, and Director

2013 | Donna Shalala Former US Secretary of Health and Human Services

2012 | Francesco Guccini Award Winning Singer, Songwriter, and Author

2010 | Piero Angela, Writer and RAI Journalist

The American University of Rome is proud of its strong tradition of

awarding noteworthy individuals with Honoris Causa degrees, signifying

the dedication and impact the recipient has had on either state, society,

culture or the university.

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A Brief HistoryFounded in 1969, The American University of Rome is the oldest degree-granting American university in Rome. In its early years it served as an institution for study-abroad students run by its founder david Colin, an American journalist who settled in Rome after World War II. Colin was an important figure in Rome’s literary and artistic circles and was instrumental in fostering cultural exchange between young Americans and their Italian counterparts. Over the years, informal evening discussions at his home grew into more formal lectures eventually developing into official university-level courses held in AUR’s classrooms. The university has been at its current location since 1993 on the Janiculum hill, Rome’s highest and arguably most beautiful hill.

A Welcome from the ProvostWelcome to The American University of Rome where the academic programs provide students with an interdisciplinary education giving them the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century. Critical thinking, problem solving, writing and intercultural communication are central to our curriculum. AUR offers both American-accredited bachelor’s and master’s degrees, along with associate degrees and a wide range of secondary areas of specialization, including minors as part of the BA and BSc degrees, and high-profile masterclasses.

As the Chief Academic Officer I oversee our BA/BSc and MA programs, together with Maurizio Marmorstein, Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Maria Grazia Quieti, dean of Graduate Studies. We manage academic policies and activities throughout the university and assure the quality of the AUR educational experience. Our students are focused on success, and over forty percent of our graduates go on to postgraduate study while another forty percent go directly into the world of work. I hope that after looking through our viewbook you will be inspired to study in Rome and will want to learn more about The American University of Rome. It will be a pleasure to show you our campus.

Andrew ThompsonExecutive Vice President and Provost

BA, History and English, University of CambridgeMA, Linguistics, University of SurreyPhD, English Literature, University of Cardiff

Andrew Thompson is the Executive Vice President and Provost at AUR. Previously, he taught English Language and Literature at the University of Genoa in Italy before taking up a faculty position in English Literature at the University of Wales in the UK, where he went on to hold a number of senior administrative positions. His research interests are in nineteenth- and twentieth-century English and Italian literature. His published work includes George Eliot and Italy: literary, cultural and political influences from Dante to the Risorgimento and editions of two of Eliot’s working notebooks for her novels.

The American University of Rome prepares its students to live and work across cultures as skilled and knowledgeable citizens of an interconnected and rapidly changing world through AUR’s practical interdisciplinary academic programs. While using Rome as its classroom, AUR provides opportunities for learning through active exploration of historical, cultural and archaeological sites as well as through internships and travel.

An internationally recognized and accredited college, AUR is a private, independent, not-for-profit institution, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs to students from all over the world seeking an international learning experience. Its primary goal is the quality of its liberal arts and professional academic programs, taught by a highly qualified international faculty and supported by advanced learning resources and technology.

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An American DegreeAn American bachelor’s degree consists of at least 120 credits*, or roughly forty courses, broken up into three groups – general education, electives and courses relevant to the student’s major. Each course taken at an American university is generally worth three credits. On a regular path to graduation, a student should take five courses each semester (fifteen-week long term) to complete their program in four years. Students are advised by a dedicated team of faculty who guide them through their four-year university careers. For information on our master’s degrees see page 26.

*Students with advanced standing upon entering an American university (Advanced Placement, the Italian Maturità, the

German Abitur, or the International Baccalaureate) will require fewer than 120 credits and thus may have the possibility of

graduating in three years.

Maurizio MarmorsteinDean of Undergraduate Studies

BA, Seton Hall UniversityMA, Middlebury College

Professor Marmorstein teaches Italian language, literature, theater and film. He reaches across academic disciplines to teach courses such as Italian Writers in Translation and Italian Comedy on Stage and Screen for the Italian Studies department as well as Adapting Literature for the Screen and Fundamentals of Screenwriting for the department of Communication & English. He is a documentary film producer and screenwriter whose work has won honors at prestigious film festivals in the US and internationally.

Bachelor DegreesArchaeology & ClassicsArt HistoryBusiness AdministrationCommunication & EnglishFilm & digital MediaFine ArtsInterdisciplinary StudiesInternational Relations & Global PoliticsItalian StudiesReligious Studies

Archaeology

Art History

Classical Studies & Classical Heritage

Communication

English Writing

Film & digital Media

Finance

Fine Arts

Food Studies

Global Politics & International Business

International Relations

Italian Studies

Latin

Leadership development & Education

Marketing

Religious Studies

Social Marketing

Social Science

Sports & Leisure

The Business of Art

The Italian Business Environment

Travel & Tourism

Master’s DegreesFood StudiesSustainable Cultural HeritageReligious Studies

Minors

Associate DegreesLiberal StudiesInternational Business

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“AUR had taught and allowed me to adapt to a multitude of different cultures.”

A R C H A E O L O G y | C U LT U R A L H E R I TA G E | C L A S S I C S

Valerie HigginsDirector of Archaeology & Classics, Undergraduate Program

Director of Sustainable Cultural Heritage, Graduate Program

Associate Professor of Archaeology

BA with Honors, Ancient and Medieval History & Archaeology, University of LiverpoolMA, Economic Archaeology, University of SheffieldPhD, University of Sheffield

Professor Higgins has worked as a professional archaeologist and conducted research in England, the US and new Zealand before arriving in Rome where she continues to teach and research archaeology. Her recent research covers heritage issues in Rome, the influence of a nation’s recent history on archaeological practice and the impact of digital media on the experience of archaeology.

Valerie has a strong commitment to making archaeology accessible to a broad audience and in doing so has been featured on popular television programs on national Geographic, The History Channel and BBC TV and radio discussing Roman archaeology and heritage issues.

The Archaeology & Classics program provides students the opportunity to excavate archaeological sites, explore the ethical concerns of preservation and restoration and study the management and marketing of cultural heritage by combining practical and theoretical study of the ancient Mediterranean world.

Students can follow one of three courses of study within the Archaeology & Classics program – a solely academic approach; an emphasis on Cultural Heritage to investigate the growing concern of heritage management; or, if interested in a career in popular archaeology, an emphasis on Screen Media.

In the unique context of the city of Rome, students can study Latin and Greek, participate in archaeological fieldwork, attend on-site courses at museums and laboratories, or take advantage of an internship in the field. On-site courses and archaeological excavations have ranged from the Colosseum and Pompeii to Butrint (Albania) and Mount Krobo (Ghana). These opportunities give students hands-on experience in the field and allow them to develop teamwork skills in a multicultural environment with international collaborators. The faculty can also place students in internships in the fields of Archaeology, Cultural Heritage or Classics to round out their college career.

Archaeology & Classics

dana Phelps(Art History, Minor in Archaeology, 2008)

“Since AUR, I have been pursuing a career in cultural heritage. In 2010 I earned an MA in Cultural Heritage Studies from University College London. For my MA thesis, I studied the role that local communities have on archaeological sites in developing countries. I used an archaeological site in Butrint and a UnESCO World Heritage site in southern Albania for my case studies. From there, I went on to work in various capacities in international development, including cultural heritage management in Albania, at a World Heritage site reporting at the UnESCO headquarters, and as an evaluation specialist for an international development contracting agency in Washington, dC. Last year, I began the Phd program in Archaeology at Stanford University. My research project looks at the role of minority groups in Albania in the management of its cultural heritage.”

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M U S E U M A n d G A L L E R y W O R K | B U S I n E S S O F A RT

AUR’s Art History program immerses its student in one of the greatest art centers in the world, the city of Rome. Art History students are able to explore the city’s art through on-site observation and analysis at sites like the ancient Roman Forum, the Sistine Chapel or any number of modern and contemporary galleries and museums in Rome.

Art History students learn to critically and theoretically analyze a work of art not only through lectures and research but also interactively outside the classroom. Face-to-face with some of the world’s most appreciated masterpieces, students develop skills of visual analysis, oral and written articulation of visual patterns and phenomena, the ability to read and to interpret advanced scholarship in the discipline, and the ability to conduct independent research.

Having studied the masters in Rome, students are launched into the professional world of art equipped for museum and gallery work or graduate studies in the field. Students also have the option to concentrate on the Business of Art to prepare them for a career in the booming art market.

Davor Džalto Director of Art History and Religious Studies

Associate Professor of Religious Studies

Graduated Art History, University of Belgrade PhD, Faculty of Philosophy, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg

Professor Džalto’s extensive education and research in the fields of art history and religious studies includes topics such as history and theory of modern and contemporary art, Christian art, religious philosophy, Orthodox theology

of personhood, and the social and political dimensions of Christianity. Two current research projects include an investigation of the relationship between Christian religious teachings and practices and European totalitarian regimes as well as the exploration of the visual language of Byzantine icons and their connection to a specific understanding of “reality”. Before AUR, davor taught at the University of Eastern Sarajevo, University of Belgrade, Fordham University, The Academy of Arts in Belgrade, Indiana University, the University of Kragujevac and the University of niš. He has been widely published including titles such as Res Publica (2013), Plus Ultra: Selected Essays in Culture, Communication and Faith (2011), and The Testimony of Icons (2008).

Andrew Everett(Art History, 2010)

After receiving his degree in Art History from AUR, Andrew Everett moved to new york City where he currently holds the position of director at RARE Gallery, a contemporary art gallery in Chelsea dedicated to shaping, nurturing, and promoting emerging visual artists. He previously worked for the prominent artist Jeff Koons in his studio’s painting department manning a series of laser machines used for cutting paper stencils. Of this unique experience he says, “The juxtaposition of structured labor against the free-spirited nature of many of the artists combines the impression of both working in a factory and getting paid to go to art school.”

Art History

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A C C O U n T I n G | F I n A n C E | M A R K E T I n G | O P E R AT I O n S | S T R AT E G I C M A n A G E M E n T

Kathleen FitzsimmonsDirector of Business Administration

Director of Career Services and Internships

Associate Professor of Business Administration

BA, Journalism, duquesne UniversityMBA, Business Administration, Harvard Business School

Professor Fitzsimmons specializes in consumer marketing, social marketing, competitive analysis, and strategy development. Before entering academia in 1998, she was a manager and entrepreneur, directing marketing efforts in a number of organizations including Time Inc. and Playtex Italia.

A long-time volunteer in the USA Girl Scouts organization, and currently serving a three year term on the National Council, Kathleen’s dedication to the organization is supported by AUR, which has become the home of Girl Scouting in Rome and host to numerous GS conferences and meetings.

The study of Business Administration at AUR covers a wide curriculum giving students a broad and professional foundation of the functional areas, quantitative tools and prevailing management theories of the modern business world. Students gain a general understanding of accounting, finance, marketing, and operations as part of a diverse student body preparing them for the global economy and international world of work.

Guided by expert faculty consisting of both academics and real-world entrepreneurs, students complete their fourth and final year of the program with a capstone course, Strategic Management, in which they research and prepare an audit of a publicly traded transnational company of their choice.

The Business Administration program also assists students in finding internships during their college career from which they can gain practical experience while earning degree credits.

Ece Vahapoğlu(Business Administration, 2000)

After graduating from AUR with the highest GPA in her class, Ece Vahapoğlu went on to receive a Master’s degree in Advanced European and International Studies in France. She wrote her first book by the age of 23, How to Learn a Foreign Language, which became a bestseller. Soon after, she began reporting on business for CNBC’s Turkey Television and has since become one of Turkey’s most recognized personalities. She continues to work as a writer, Master of Ceremonies, health and fitness guru, and role model today.

“All the skills and knowledge I had gained from AUR marketing classes helped me a lot … as I developed not only as a writer but as an entrepreneur. I’d always loved Italy and being in Rome gave me the opportunity to learn a new culture. And getting that American-style education in the heart of Europe was the best decision I made in my life, education-wise.”

Business Administration

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j O U R n A L I S M | I n T E R n AT I O n A L C O M M U n I C AT I O n S T U d I E S | W R I T I n G F O R T H E M E d I A

Lisa CollettaDirector of Communication

& English Professor of English

BA, French Literature, University of nevadaMA, English Literature, California State UniversityPhD, English Literature, Claremont Graduate University

Professor Colletta’s research interests range from the twentieth-century novel to humor studies and from travel and transnational literature to literary history. Her teaching

covers Modernism, satire and the comic form, the literature of the Grand Tour, literary responses to war, as well as writing courses in composition theory and the popular essay.

Lisa’s work has appeared in numerous journals and essay collections. As author, her books include Dark Humor and Social Satire in the Modern British Novel (2003) and British Novelists in Hollywood, 1935-65: Travelers, Exiles, and Expats (2013), and she has edited Wild Colonial Girl: Critical Essays on Edna O’Brien (2006), and Kathleen and Christopher: Christopher Isherwood’s Letters to his Mother (2005). Her forthcoming book will be an essay collection entitled, The Legacy of the Grand Tour: New Essays on Travel, Literature, and Culture.

The Communication & English program gives students the ability to communicate globally across cultures and prepares them for careers in multicultural and international settings. Through practical and theoretical approaches, faculty guide students through literary history and principles of narrative while equipping them with analytical tools and practical experiences such as interning or being published in AUR’s literary journal, Remus.

Students are trained in journalism, writing for various media, mass communications and intercultural communication. They learn to think creatively and critically. They have the option to choose among three courses of study – International Communication Studies, Writing for the Media, or a broad track designed by the student and their academic advisor.

Through this classic American-style Communications program with a global twist, AUR’s Communication & English graduates have gone on to pursue graduate studies at The London School of Economics, Columbia, Loyola and Stanford. They have landed careers at The New York Times, Vatican Radio, The United Nation’s Food & Agriculture Organization, Warner Brothers Studios and Teen Vogue.

Elise Cevetello(Communication, 2012)

Elise Cevetello is currently studying and volunteering with endangered species recovery projects in Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean.

“I studied at The American University of Rome because I wanted more than the traditional study abroad experience; I wanted to immerse myself in another culture. I chose AUR because of the inviting and helpful atmosphere created by staff and administration during what can be a stressful application process. The warmth of these individuals as well as that of the staff and my fellow students continued to be something I could count on during my exploration of a new environment. In fact, my years at AUR exceeded every expectation and could not have been improved. AUR developed my interest in being international into a love of my new adopted home, Italy. AUR is more than just a university, it is a community where an out-of-the-classroom approach to learning opens one’s eyes, where one can learn more about life than they would from any textbook.”

Communication & English

AUR’s literary journal, Remus.

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F I L M & V I d E O | 2 d & 3 d A n I M AT I O n | d I G I TA L A RT | W E B P L AT F O R M S & A P P L I C AT I O n S

Film & Digital Media

Kristen PalanaDirector of Film & Digital Media program

Associate Professor of Digital Media

BFA in Painting, Massachusetts College of Art and designMFA in Computer Graphics and Interactive Media, Pratt Institute College of Art and design

Professor Palana has taught digital media, art and communication courses for over twelve years. She has been teaching animation,

video, communication theory, web design, fine and digital art, graphic design and interactive design at AUR since 2006. She has also lectured at William Paterson University and Pratt Institute. A multimedia artist herself, Kristen’s fine art and animations have been featured in international festivals and have won a number of awards. Through her work, she strives to promote positive social change and continuously attempts to foster a sense of social responsibility in her students. She has exhibited her work in the US, Ireland and Greece, and regularly participates in conferences such as the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film where she spoke about animation and comics as tools to document real life events.

The Film and digital Media program offers students the opportunity to use the latest tools and technologies to create film and video, 2D and 3D animation, digital art, web platforms and applications. It provides students with the traditional principles and techniques of graphic design, interactive design, and game design.

Students have at their disposal a full, state-of-the-art multimedia lab complete with first-rate computer technology, software and film equipment including HD video cameras, lighting and sound kits, graphic tablets, dollys, green screens, tripods, and more. The award-winning team of film and digital media faculty guides students through the program which follows one of three concentrations (Visual Media Production, Technology or Film and Digital Media Studies, or a broad program of study) and concludes with a year-long Capstone project. The Capstone project consists of anything from an extensive research paper to an advertisement or graphic design campaign, a feature length screenplay, a music video, or any approved multimedia project that draws from their area of concentration.

Film and Digital Media students will learn to translate their imaginative ideas into words, film and other digital media and can exhibit their work throughout their career at AUR on the department’s social media websites, in AUR’s literary journal Remus, at The 24-Hour Film Festival, and in the annual AUR Student Media Show. Students also benefit from internship opportunities in the field which have included National Geographic, The Discovery Channel, Vatican Radio, The World Food Programme, among other local businesses and organizations specializing in the field. Suzanne darkan

(Film & Digital Media, 2013)

For her senior Capstone project in her last year at AUR, Suzanne darkan made a short documentary about street performers in Rome. As part of her research, and to overcome her own insecurities, she performed as a clown on campus and later in the streets of Rome with a local performer, one of the subjects in her documentary.After graduating from AUR, Suzanne moved to dubai where she now works as the Content Editor for My Metro Talk, a database of dubai venues that guides users “to find places to go and things to do” based on their specific preferences. She is also working as a freelance photographer and recently completed an assignment for Samsung.

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C U R AT I n G | A RT S A d M I n I S T R AT I O n | A RT T H E R A P y | G A L L E R y W O R K

Breda EnnisDirector of Fine Arts

Associate Professor of Fine Arts

Diploma, Cultural Patrimony of the Catholic ChurchUniversità Pontificia GregorianaDiploma di Licenza, Contemporary Painting, Accademia di Belle ArtiPost Grad Certificate, Printmaking Research, national Printmaking Museum, Rome

Professor Ennis works in oils, mixed media, printmaking and pastels. Her artwork, inspired by Italian and Irish natural landscapes, has been exhibited both locally and internationally for the past twenty-five years. She teaches painting, printmaking and drawing courses and has been lecturing at AUR since 1988.

Breda is an Official Collaborator for Vatican Radio; has been featured on BBC, CBS, SKy, and Cnn on the Papacy, the Sistine Chapel, the design and art of modern churches; and implemented the Inspirational Track Method at AUR which enables students to develop and research ideas in a disciplined manner.

The Fine Arts program offers a comprehensive education combining training in traditional artistic media with a critical approach in Rome, the city that has inspired artists for centuries. Fine Arts students are afforded the opportunity to explore its museums and churches to see first-hand the masterpieces of Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio and Titian, along with countless contemporary spaces containing modern works of art.

The program emphasizes developing personal capacity for visual expression, creative innovation, critical observations and analysis, and technical ability. It also provides the skills to be creative in various media and to discuss and defend artworks. Students work in a studio space complete with a state-of-the-art printing press, non-toxic materials, and a comfortable and stimulating atmosphere. Students have the choice to follow either the painting or printmaking course of study and can accompany their degree with a minor in Communications, Conservation, Cultural Heritage or Gallery Management. The program culminates with a cohesive body of work (portfolio), a personal exhibition, and an artist’s talk in which the student presents their work.

The international faculty of practicing artists provides both technical and theoretical instruction while prepping their students into careers such as curating, arts administration, art therapy, or gallery work. Every semester concludes with a group show giving students the opportunity and experience of exhibiting their work. Students have also exhibited outside of AUR at various exhibitions in galleries and other venues.

Sebastiana D’Amico(Fine Arts, 2015)

Sebastiana D’Amico came to AUR with an educational background and work experience in architecture and design. She has been actively involved in art, theater and music from a young age having studied painting, ceramics, ballet and piano.

“Rome has been the inspiration for my paintings which are influenced by the landscape, colors, texture and energy of the city. The tremendous amount of art available to me here is unbelievably motivating.”

Fine Arts

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B U I L d T H E d E G R E E y O U E n V I S I O n

Paul GwynneDirector of Interdisciplinary Studies

Associate Professor of Classics

BA, English with Latin, University of ReadingMA, English Renaissance Poetry, University of yorkPhD, Combined Historical Studies, Warburg Institute, University of London Diploma Paleografia, Diplomatica e Archivistica (Latina), Scuola di Paleografia, Archivio Secreto Vaticano

Professor Gwynne’s principle interests include literature, art, history, humanism and the Renaissance in Italy, and late Medieval and Renaissance court cultures. His research encompasses neo-Latin poetry (especially epic), humanism in Rome, and the classical tradition and its reception.

Paul’s publications include: ‘Patterns of Patronage in Renaissance Rome: Francesco Sperulo: Poet, Prelate, Soldier, Spy’ and ‘Poets and Princes: the Panegyric Poetry of Johannes Michael Nagonius’. He is currently working on an edition of Francesco Benci’s Jesuit epic, ‘Quinque Martyres’ and a history of Camerino, provisionally entitled ‘Murder and Intrigue at a Forgotten Renaissance Court’.

Crossing intellectual barriers and making connections between different forms of evidence is at the heart of the major in Interdisciplinary Studies. This degree enables undergraduates, in conjunction with their academic advisor, to foster and develop personal interests and assemble a program of courses that do not fall under a conventional academic heading.

In particular, students are encouraged to take advantage of The American University of Rome’s unique situation in Italy’s capital and its endless resources. While building upon the objectives of the various departments, the student’s own tailor-made program promotes individualism and encourages bi-lateral thinking as well as research across a range of subjects.

Claire Moskowitz(Interdisciplinary Studies, 2011)

From AUR, Claire went on to complete her Master’s in Global Communications at The American University of Paris after which she worked in Tel Aviv at The jerusalem Post Online Edition. She is currently based in new york City working for the Tel Aviv-yafo Foundation.

“In terms of career development, AUR really served as an ideal jumping off point. I truly believe that the interdisciplinary approach helped me develop a resume that has certainly served me well. Working as a peer mentor at AUR, interning with the English yellow Pages, and my time spent working in the media lab both on a year-long film capstone and as a student assistant were the highlights of my time at AUR. Aside from practical skills in filmmaking, graphic design, and PR marketing, AUR gave me the skills to work successfully within the international community.”

Interdisciplinary Studies

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Irene CaratelliDirector of International Relations & Global Politics

Associate Professor of International Relations & Global Politics

Laurea, Social and Political Science,Università degli Studi di Roma - La SapienzaMA/PhD, Social and Political Science, European University Institute

Professor Caratelli’s areas of expertise cover international relations, European studies and international political economy while her research and teaching interests are currently focused on Asian studies. At AUR, she launched the Special Guest Seminar Series providing the community the opportunity to join in conversation with professionals in the field.

Before coming to AUR, Irene lectured on the subject of International Relations at LUISS, St. John’s and La Sapienza. She has held previous posts as a consultant and policy analyst and has conducted field research in Mexico, South Korea and Belgium.

Sallie Pisch(International Relations, 2010)

While a senior at AUR, Sallie wrote her thesis on political mobilization in Egypt, arguing that the country was ‘ready for change.’ She is now head of a news website called The Cairo Post. “I have been based in Egypt as a journalist and photographer since 2010. I am extremely proud to announce The Cairo Post, Egypt’s newest English-language news website, went live October 6, 2013. Our mission is to provide breaking news and quality, in-depth reporting on Egypt that is accessible and understandable to a global audience. As director, it is my job to oversee a large and diverse team of reporters, translators, and editors, and to ensure we provide the best coverage of Egypt possible. The Cairo Post is the embodiment of a vision to cross the socio-political borders between ‘us’ and ‘them’ and present Egypt as Egyptians see it. And this is just the beginning.”

AUR’s International Relations & Global Politics program prepares students to become the next generation of leaders in the fields of policy, academia, think tanks, media, governmental or non-governmental organizations (NGOs), or multinational corporations. Courses combine local, national and global politics and are supplemented by conferences on current affairs and seminars attended by ambassadors, politicians and prominent academics. The diversity of AUR’s faculty and student body enrich the classroom dialogue which covers topics as broad as racism, revolution, rebellion, human rights, migration, justice, slavery or nationalism.

IRGP students have the opportunity to participate in field trips to major international institutions or areas suffering from security issues, conflict or separatism. These trips are intended to bridge the theoretical learning with real world experiences and have taken students to Brussels, Geneva, Paris, Vienna, Kosovo, Montenegro, Catalonia and Ghana. Practical skills are gained from participation in The Model Un from which students learn to develop their critical thinking, public speaking and intercultural negotiation skills. Internships are also available at international organizations around Rome including the UN’s two Rome-based agencies created to fight hunger worldwide, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP).

P O L I C y | A C A d E M I A | T H I n K TA n K S | M E d I A | n G O s & I G O s

International Relations & Global Politics

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L I T E R AT U R E | C U LT U R E | H I S TO R y | S O C I E T y

Catherine Ramsey PortolanoDirector of Italian Studies

Associate Professor of Italian Studies

BA, The University of Tennessee, KnoxvilleLaurea, LUMSA (Libera Università Maria Santissima Assunta)MA, The University of Wisconsin, MadisonPhD, The University of Chicago

Professor Ramsey-Portolano focuses her research on areas such as modern and contemporary Italian literature and culture, with a particular interest in women writers; Italian cinema; the relationship between Italian and American literature; and gender studies, particularly feminist theory/practice and gender constructions.

She has lectured at Robert Morris University, LUMSA, john Cabot University, Temple University in Rome, and Loyola University in Chicago and Rome. She has taught at AUR since 2000. Her course topics include Italian literature (in both English and Italian), Italian culture and Italian language.

The Italian Studies program offers courses on the literary, cultural and social history of Italy. It prepares students to read, write and speak Italian with proficiency. While gaining intercultural skills, students learn to experience directly, interact with, and appreciate the Italian culture. Popular courses in the program include Italian Food and Culture, The Mafia in Italian Society, The Italian-American Experience and Italian Culture at the Movies.

Students have the opportunity to participate in an exchange program with local Italian university LUMSA to take courses in Italian for a unique linguistic and cultural experience. Course credit can also be earned from university-organized weekend fieldtrips to Palermo or Turin.

The Italian Studies program also features historic and modern Italian films in semester-long film series and lectures. Students can practice their Italian language during on-site visits to local markets, museums, shops and other sites.

Kristen Hook(Italian Studies, 2016)

“I am currently pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Italian Studies at AUR with a minor in Latin. I also participate in AUR’s incredible collaboration with an Italian university, LUMSA, where I take courses to supplement my American learning experience here on the Gianicolo. I am so grateful for the amazing possibility to collaborate with the passionate and talented faculty, staff, and peers in this beautiful little corner of the ‘Eternal City.’ Choosing to come to AUR was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and has opened so many doors for me and my personal, academic, and professional development.

Some other opportunities I have explored here have included working at the university’s reception as a student assistant, meeting and interviewing writer Andrea Camilleri at his AUR honorary degree ceremony, and contributing to and editing Remus, our university’s literary journal. My time at AUR has shown me the value of a close-knit learning environment and has also testified to the importance of a supportive and encouraging university community.”

Italian Studies

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A RT | H I S TO R y | S O C I O L O G y | A n T H R O P O L O G y | E T H I C S

The Religious Studies program at AUR, approaches the subject artistically, historically, sociologically, anthropologically and ethically in the Caput Mundi, Rome, host to every religion on earth. Emphasis is given to the cultural interchange of world religions. Students are taught to recognize similar mechanisms in the modern world and the need for intercultural understanding and mutual respect.

By providing a sophisticated understanding of the power of religion to persuade and inform, students gain a sense of social responsibility, ethics and civic engagement. Exploring the everlasting values of religion in the eternal city students prepare themselves for careers as independent researchers, teachers, journalists, reporters, professionals and public policy makers.

Religious Studies

Davor Džalto Director of Art History and Religious Studies

Associate Professor of Religious Studies

Graduated Art History, University of Belgrade PhD, Faculty of Philosophy, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg

Professor Džalto’s extensive education and research in the fields of art history and religious studies includes topics such as history and theory of modern and contemporary art, Christian art, religious philosophy, Orthodox theology

of personhood, and the social and political dimensions of Christianity. Two current research projects include an investigation of the relationship between Christian religious teachings and practices and European totalitarian regimes as well as the exploration of the visual language of Byzantine icons and their connection to a specific understanding of “reality”.

Before AUR, davor taught at the University of Eastern Sarajevo, University of Belgrade, Fordham University, The Academy of Arts in Belgrade, Indiana University, the University of Kragujevac and the University of niš. He has been widely published including titles such as Res Publica (2013), Plus Ultra: Selected Essays in Culture, Communication and Faith (2011), and The Testimony of Icons (2008).

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F O O d S T U d I E S | S U S TA I n A B L E C U LT U R A L H E R I TA G E | R E L I G I O U S S T U d I E S

Maria Grazia QuietiDean of Graduate Studies

BFA, Cultural Anthropology Università degli Studi di Roma - La SapienzaMA, Public Administration, Harvard UniversityPhD, Social Sciences, Cardiff University

Before joining The American University of Rome, dr. Quieti was Executive director of The US-Italy Fulbright Commission, promoting and implementing the Fulbright

Program of cultural and academic exchanges between Italy and the US. Previously, dr. Quieti had a long career in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), during which she held various positions in the field of education for sustainable food and agriculture development.

Dr. Quieti’s areas of research and professional interest include: sustainable food systems; rural development; WTO multilateral trade negotiations on agriculture; discourse analysis and policy-making; communicating and building partnerships with civil society organizations for policy and planning; gender analysis in projects and policies; economic and social development planning at a local level and participatory planning of small-scale investment projects

The graduate programs in Food Studies, Sustainable Cultural Heritage and Religious Studies build on the tradition of excellence and high academic standards of The American University of Rome’s distinctive undergraduate programs.

AUR’s guiding principles and philosophy for the master’s degree programs are to foster the pursuit of knowledge, critical thinking and intellectual creativity. While building knowledge, professors are inspired by a commitment to address critical societal questions and to instill in students both analytical and engaged attitudes towards the study of the past as well as of the present. The emphasis placed on intellectual development and transferable skills, as well as academic and professional goals, is a cornerstone of AUR’s master’s degree programs.

Graduate students will benefit from AUR’s interdisciplinary education, small class sizes, collaborative research and study groups, and on-site learning.

Graduate Studies

“AUR has helped me gain a better understanding of what being a global citizen is all about.”

–Anders Ladegaard-Pedersen

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“I feel that my experience at AUR has made me a more open-minded and patient individual. My time here has not only broadened my academic knowledge, but has also provided me with the opportunity to develop a better sense of awareness ranging from the smaller scale of human relationships to the larger scale of living in another country and immersing myself into the culture.”

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“AUR had taught and allowed me to adapt to a multitude of different cultures.”AUR’s Career Services and Internship Office

provides advising to students seeking work, information on graduate school or direction on internships and career possibilities. Every semester career seminars are offered giving students tips on researching the job market, networking, interviewing, and CV writing. Students can also gain access to the World of Work Blog, a source of full-time and part-time job or internship opportunities, graduate school listings, and other resources.

Internships enable students to gain university credit while bridging the worlds of academia and work. Students get practical work experience by relating their studies to their career interests. From their internships, students gain the skills needed to confidently seek employment upon graduation.

Previous internship opportunities have included Advicorp Investment Bank, Associated Press, Biodiversity, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Italian Parliament, national Geographic, nATO defense College, the US Embassy in Rome, Vatican Radio, and the Vatican Museums.

Career Services & Internships

Alessandra Potenza(Communication, 2011)

While studying Communications and Writing for the Media at AUR, Alessandra completed an internship with National Geographic.

“At National Geographic I collaborated in the day-to-day creation and update of the new NatGeo Italia website. I translated articles from English into Italian, adapted the texts, and translated photo-galleries. I had the opportunity to write three articles of my own, developing my writing skills for the web. I also had research duties: a weekly column about folklorist events around Italy. I had to research the major events, write a paragraph describing each and an introduction paragraph about one of the most important events of the week. I also helped with the creation of a photo-gallery about nobel Prize winner josé Saramago. The photo gallery was linked to La Repubblica’s website, one of the major Italian newspapers. It was a big reward for my hard work and an honor for me.

Working for the renowned magazine National Geographic was just great for a person like me… It was like beginning to be part of a family: everybody in the newsroom was helpful and nice to me. Going to work was just a pleasure!”

Alessandra is now Associate Editor for The New York Times Upfront.

The Student Life Office is the heart of the student body at The American University of Rome providing and supporting opportunities for learning through extra-curricular activities and promoting students’ personal growth, leadership development, social responsibility, multicultural awareness and intellectual inquiry. Student Life assists students with non-academic issues, encourages their participation in Italian culture and supports their social life both on and off campus.

The ResGrads, AUR’s resident advisors (upperclassmen or recent graduates), are central to welcoming new students to AUR, preparing them for university life, and introducing them to the city of Rome. They meet new students at the airport, lead neighborhood tours, and organize peer-based events like beach days, cooking lessons, language exchanges, day trips, and English movie night.

AUR has a wide variety of extra-curricular activities to join – competitive university men’s and women’s soccer leagues, community service, performing groups, learning excursions, as well as many clubs and organizations such as Student Government, the gospel choir, academic/departmental clubs, the Veteran’s club or the LGBTQ Center. The University also provides free medical and psychological services and information for students.

Student Life

Edgar Barrales(Italian Studies, 2011)

“I knew that studying outside the US was going to be difficult. However, the opportunities that AUR offered led me to appreciate different cultures and always seek the truth behind every story. Thanks to AUR and its Student Life Office, I’ve definitely learned a lot about myself and the world.

now, as a Student Life Coordinator, I enjoy helping students make the most of their experience by sharing my love for Italy and its traditions. I always tell students not to let their fears get in the way. Their curiosity should guide them to meet people and discover places that will make them better individuals.”

After graduating from AUR in 2011, Edgar Barrales worked as an AUR ResGrad and is now Student Life Coordinator at The American University of Rome.

I n T E R n S H I P F O C U S E d | C A R E E R d R I V E n

P H I L A n T H R O P y | L E A d E R S H I P

S P O RT S | C L U B S | R E S G R A d P R O G R A M

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We invite you to become a member of our select community in the Eternal City.Please submit the following to complete your application (refer to our website for details):

• Online application form• Official copy of high school transcript• Official copy of university transcript

(transfer students only)• One academic recommendation letter• Personal statement (250 words)• Two short answer essays (250 words each)• English Language Proficiency Exam• Copy of valid photo Id• Application fee (Non-refundable)

Each applicant is reviewed individually without regard to age, race, sex, creed, national or ethnic origin or disability. Leadership, motivation, academic growth, the level of previous studies, involvement in activities and personal goals are considered in the review process.

The Application

AUR is committed to providing an affordable university experience for students who value a multicultural and intimate-scale education. US citizens and permanent residents should complete the FAFSA to be considered for Federal direct Stafford and Federal direct PLUS Loan programs. AUR also offers US Veteran benefits.

Scholarships

All students are encouraged to apply for an AUR scholarship as we consider candidates based on major, GPA, financial need, standardized test scores, and those bringing special skills or talents to AUR.

Full-time resident students who have completed at least one semester at AUR and meet the GPA requirement may also apply for student assistantships (work study positions) assisting the university’s administration or faculty in exchange for either an allowance or partial remission of tuition and fees.

Financial Aid

–Francine Prose

“If we could be reborn wherever we chose,

how crowded Rome would be, populated

by souls who had spent their previous lives

longing to inhabit a villa on the Janiculum Hill.”

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Via Pietro Roselli, 400153 Rome, Italy

[email protected]

TEL: +39.06.5833.0919FAx: +39.06.5833.0992

ToLL FREE FROM THE US: 877.592.1287IN US: 888.791.8327FAx: 866.287.2025

AUR IS ACCREDITED BY THE MIDDLE STATES COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION

the american university of rome

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