The aim of the Department of Community Service department is to acquaint students with the non-profit sector and foster their sense of social awareness. Courses connect students with Italian environments and their pressing issues in order to increase student awareness of intercultural communications, teamwork, and creative approaches to social topics.
3 semester credits. This service learning project provides students the opportunity to interact in an active involvement in Italian society through the combination of community service with academic instruction. Students will be assigned to local organizations, NGOs, and cultural associations according to their area of interest, expertise, and if required, command of the Italian language. Student involvement, emphasizing reciprocal learning, will address community needs and civic responsibility and will promote critical thinking. Depending on their concentration and major, students can carry out their activity within certain programs and departments at FUA and Palazzi. This course includes community service hours within the Florentine Community.
4 semester credits. This course explores how green spaces can be seen as arenas where climate, cultural heritage, and personal well-being converge. Students will delve into the sustainable principles for creating healthy green spaces in cities. They will discover the significance of gardens in fostering beneficial psychophysical practices, and the advantageous implications of green infrastructures for the community. The course explore the science that underpins the restorative power of nature, exploring how gardens can alleviate stress, promote physical activity, and enhance overall well-being. Through lectures, interactive workshops, and visits to local urban gardens, students will gain a deeper understanding of gardens as places of culture, intended as a polyhedral term that embraces both mind and body, on both individual and community levels. This course includes an Experiential Learning Project with CEMI. This course includes service learning hours within the Florentine Community. Service learning is a method that incorporates intentional learning with service to the community, in which the service component functions as a reflection on classroom learning for all tasks performed. In addition to regular class hours, students will be involved in a volunteer project for the entire session that integrates them in the local community in order to remove barriers and gain a sense of social responsibility. The acquisition of new skills and knowledge obtained in the service learning environment outside the classroom will enrich the learning experience and contribute to personal and emotional growth, as well as cultural consciousness, to develop a greater sense of a global citizenship and sensitivity to the needs of others. Students are guided through the experience by the non-profit association supervisor and the service learning coordinator to enhance outcomes both inside and outside the classroom. The contribution to the association is not only crucial to a deeper understanding of course topics but also allows for a greater sense of belonging in the community, allowing for students to acquire a heightened awareness of emotional intelligence that enhances the classroom learning experience.
4 semester credits. This lecture/lab course introduces students to the therapeutic functions of art. The aim is for students to become familiar with art therapy methods and techniques whose primary objective is to develop creative expressions. During class meetings, students will use their own personal experiences by conducting direct experiments to understand the function of art within a therapeutic context. This hands-on experience will then be compared with the theoretical ideas outlined in the required readings. In the laboratory/studio part of the course, students will handle a great variety of art materials ranging from the more traditional to less common objects. The aim is to facilitate self-expression on a non-verbal and creative level and in a safe environment, open to the free exchange of opinions and untouched by prejudiced or judgmental attitudes. The essential elements that compose the created image - space, color, movement, and form - will be examined and put to the test as expressive and symbolic tools of one's inner world. This course includes service learning hours within the Florentine Community. Service learning is a method that incorporates intentional learning with service to the community, in which the service component functions as a reflection on classroom learning for all tasks performed. In addition to regular class hours, students will be involved in a volunteer project for the entire session that integrates them in the local community in order to remove barriers and gain a sense of social responsibility. The acquisition of new skills and knowledge obtained in the service learning environment outside the classroom will enrich the learning experience and contribute to personal and emotional growth, as well as cultural consciousness, to develop a greater sense of a global citizenship and sensitivity to the needs of others. Students are guided through the experience by the non-profit association supervisor and the service learning coordinator to enhance outcomes both inside and outside the classroom. The contribution to the association is not only crucial to a deeper understanding of course topics but also allows for a greater sense of belonging in the community, allowing for students to acquire a heightened awareness of emotional intelligence that enhances the classroom learning experience.
4 semester credits. This advanced lecture/lab course explores the history of art therapy as well as different contemporary theoretical approaches as well as practical applications of art therapy in various contexts and settings. Specific advanced scientific literature will be discussed, case studies will be analyzed, and contemporary challenges will be dealt with in order to shape critical knowledge of art therapy ethics, boundaries, limits and meanings associated with taking care of individuals, families, groups, and communities. Using their own personal experiences, students will use a great variety of media from diverse perspectives first-hand: writing, drawing, painting, collaging, and other techniques will be connected to each art therapy perspective in different ways in order to offer an idea of the flexibility required when dealing with this discipline. Glimpses will be also offered on other expressive art therapies such as music therapy and dance therapy. This course includes service learning hours within the Florentine Community. Service learning is a method that incorporates intentional learning with service to the community, in which the service component functions as a reflection on classroom learning for all tasks performed. In addition to regular class hours, students will be involved in a volunteer project for the entire session that integrates them in the local community in order to remove barriers and gain a sense of social responsibility. The acquisition of new skills and knowledge obtained in the service learning environment outside the classroom will enrich the learning experience and contribute to personal and emotional growth, as well as cultural consciousness, to develop a greater sense of a global citizenship and sensitivity to the needs of others. Students are guided through the experience by the non-profit association supervisor and the service learning coordinator to enhance outcomes both inside and outside the classroom. The contribution to the association is not only crucial to a deeper understanding of course topics but also allows for a greater sense of belonging in the community, allowing for students to acquire a heightened awareness of emotional intelligence that enhances the classroom learning experience. Prerequisites: Introduction to Art Therapy or equivalent.
3 semester credits. The course explores the educational theories and best practices that allowed contemporary generations to transition away from the traditional lecture environment of frontal classes. Topics focus on how emerging forms of education engage in the local cultural heritage through projects aimed at giving back to the community through volunteering, exploration, and service. Students will understand the management, organization. and philosophy of innovative teaching methodologies. This class includes experiential learning hours in the areas of field learning, service learning, and community service.
4 semester credits. This introductory language course is intended for students with no prior knowledge of Italian. The course presents linguistic fundamentals and essential grammatical structures necessary for elementary communication. Students will learn the regular conjugations of common -are, -ere, and -ire verbs, working primarily with present tense verbs. Simple prepositions will also be introduced along with other fundamental structures. This course includes service learning hours within the Florentine Community. Service learning is a method that incorporates intentional learning with service to the community, in which the service component functions as a reflection on classroom learning for all tasks performed. In addition to regular class hours, students will be involved in a volunteer project for the entire session that integrates them in the local community in order to remove barriers and gain a sense of social responsibility. The acquisition of new skills and knowledge obtained in the service learning environment outside the classroom will enrich the learning experience and contribute to personal and emotional growth, as well as cultural consciousness, to develop a greater sense of a global citizenship and sensitivity to the needs of others. Students are guided through the experience by the non-profit association supervisor and the service learning coordinator to enhance outcomes both inside and outside the classroom. The contribution to the association is not only crucial to a deeper understanding of course topics but also allows for a greater sense of belonging in the community, allowing for students to acquire a heightened awareness of emotional intelligence that enhances the classroom learning experience.
4 semester credits. The course examines the development and structure of the Italian family through history with the following topics: Sexuality and the development of relationships, study of individuals, groups, and families, diversity in modern families, community regulations/policies addressing issues of family change, crisis, and maintenance. Students will conduct evaluation of different styles and examples of interpersonal communication behaviors. The course will also compare and contrast family/individual behavior patterns associated with human life cycle transitions and examine various social issues associated with the study of Italian families. Students will be involved in experiential learning projects which will provide students the opportunity to interact through the "Family Club" with Italian families and merge with the local community. This course includes service learning hours within the Florentine Community. Service learning is a method that incorporates intentional learning with service to the community, in which the service component functions as a reflection on classroom learning for all tasks performed. In addition to regular class hours, students will be involved in a volunteer project for the entire session that integrates them in the local community in order to remove barriers and gain a sense of social responsibility. The acquisition of new skills and knowledge obtained in the service learning environment outside the classroom will enrich the learning experience and contribute to personal and emotional growth, as well as cultural consciousness, to develop a greater sense of a global citizenship and sensitivity to the needs of others. Students are guided through the experience by the non-profit association supervisor and the service learning coordinator to enhance outcomes both inside and outside the classroom. The contribution to the association is not only crucial to a deeper understanding of course topics but also allows for a greater sense of belonging in the community, allowing for students to acquire a heightened awareness of emotional intelligence that enhances the classroom learning experience.
4 semester credits. This intermediate level course is intended for students who have previously completed two semesters of elementary Italian language studies at the undergraduate level. With the mastery of common verb conjugations, students will move on to future tense structures as well as use of irregular verbs. Focus will be on strengthening reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Conditional tenses will be introduced, along with continued practice on expansion of vocabulary and gradual building of complexity in grammatical structures. This course includes service learning hours within the Florentine Community. Service learning is a method that incorporates intentional learning with service to the community, in which the service component functions as a reflection on classroom learning for all tasks performed. In addition to regular class hours, students will be involved in a volunteer project for the entire session that integrates them in the local community in order to remove barriers and gain a sense of social responsibility. The acquisition of new skills and knowledge obtained in the service learning environment outside the classroom will enrich the learning experience and contribute to personal and emotional growth, as well as cultural consciousness, to develop a greater sense of a global citizenship and sensitivity to the needs of others. Students are guided through the experience by the non-profit association supervisor and the service learning coordinator to enhance outcomes both inside and outside the classroom. The contribution to the association is not only crucial to a deeper understanding of course topics but also allows for a greater sense of belonging in the community, allowing for students to acquire a heightened awareness of emotional intelligence that enhances the classroom learning experience. Prerequisites: One semester of Italian language or equivalent.