Critical Studies on Food Culture (3 credits)
Course taught in English at Gustolab Institute Center for Food and Culture. This course combines traditional lectures and discussion meetings with hands-on co-curricular activities and field trips in and around Rome, as well as in the Lazio region and Cilento’s seaside. The course presents food in all its complex connections with culture, nutrition, environment, society, economics and politics. All course topics are accompanied by practical activities, ranging from classes in professional kitchens to food and wine pairing and tasting workshops. The lecture series is delivered by prestigious experts for each specific course topic, thus providing a dynamic learning environment with an interdisciplinary approach. Practical assignments allow students to explore and experience first-hand food culture in the streets of Rome to use and improve their Italian and make the most of their summer abroad. The 6-week program in Rome introduces our students to one of Europe’s most vibrant capitals, its multicultural and yet inherently European environment through the lens of food culture. The result is a life-enriching experience abroad that offers our students invaluable personal, academic and professional opportunities.

Activities included:

• Cooking classes – Take part in cooking classes with a professional and renowned Italian Chef. Each class will be based upon preparing a different dish accompanied by cultural explanations. Classes are held in professional kitchens, as you prepare to get a real hands-on cultural and culinary experience!

• 1-day excursion in Agriturismo/Slow Food farm– Just outside of Rome lays the “greener” area of the Lazio region. A visit to an agricultural allows you to see how typical products of the area (bread, cheese, etc.) are made, only to then taste it all while relaxing by a natural volcanic lake.

• 1-day excursion to an Organic Vineyard - A day long trip to a vineyard in the Lazio area, not far from Rome, allows you to take part in a personal tour of a well-known vineyard and winery, followed by a wine tasting with a sommelier and dinner including typical Roman dishes.

• 1 educational dinner – This sessions allow for you to have a “hands-on” experience as you watch, assist and make a typical Italian dish with a professional Chef who also gives an educational insight into the steps and cultural background of the dish. You will then be able to enjoy what is made!

• Wine tasting and Food & Wine pairing workshop – A personal lesson from a professional sommelier will allow you to taste some of the finest Italian wines paired with the proper Italian delicacies.

• Eating Inside and Out tour and coffee tasting in Rome - In addition to exploring Rome, tours are given to introduce you to less “touristic” areas of the city, home to historical restaurants, bars, piazzas which each tell a story, and have a diverse culinary dish to offer.

• Food street market and food shopping workshop; cooking classes – You will be taken around the streets of Rome to apply every day, real life aspects to the in-class material being taught. Visits to markets with a chef and/or instructor are included where you will be able to purchase products to then be brought back to your personal home and consumed.

Food media, communication and trends (3 credits)
Course taught in English at Gustolab Institute Center for Food and Culture. This course focuses on the intersection between food and media, a connection that has elicited much interest in communication studies over the past few years. Food has become a hot topic on TV, the internet and printed media. The goal of this course is to enhance the students’ competence both on the subject matter and in the practical skills necessary to produce good communication about food and wine. Students will be able to take advantage of hands-on practice with different kinds of media, including digital video. This is a multi-faced course that gives students a solid foundation in understanding Italy’s unique media environment as well as the opportunity to utilize Rome (and Italy) as a living laboratory for producing a final portfolio of journalistic writings. Guest lecturers include local and international journalists, writers and bloggers. Students will complete an original video research project customized to team interests.

Activities included:

• Food and wine blogs / Workshop and creation of students’ blogs – You will be asked to create and keep a personal blog throughout your stay which will speak of your cultural experience in Rome and Italy, paying particular attention to what you have learned in reference to the culture of Italian food and wine. The blogs will then be used for academic curricular purposes, as well.

• “EATainment” workshop – Various food workshops tied to the Italian culture are organized for you throughout your stay, even based upon events in the city of Rome.
• TV STUDIO/CHANNEL visit – A personal tour of an Italian TV Studio and Food channel will allow you to see what goes on “behind the scenes” as you watch a well-known Chef tape his daily culinary program. You can then apply techniques seen and used when producing your own food & culture documentary.

• Food & culture documentary production (15 hours hands-on classes: Camera, framing and shooting technique, shooting, editing, final public presentation) – After having studied Italian food & culture, you will produce your own documentary based on a specific topic. You will be able to work with professionals and use Rome as a background for your shooting and editing. All documentaries are shown at the end of the program!

Elementary Italian Language UMass ITAL 110 (3 credits) and Intensive Elementary Italian Language UMass ITAL 126 (6 credits).

* Both courses are applicable toward UMass Amherst language requirement. Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Rome is the official Italian Language courses provider.
Higher levels of Italian language and Italian Conversation courses are available at Scuola Leonardo da Vinci. Please contact us to receive more information on this.
*min 8 participants must be enrolled

CREDITS: 3, 6 or 9 credit options
Academic credits for Critical Studies on Food in Italy Summer Program (CSFI) are transferred back through UMass Amherst and are widely transferable to colleges and universities across the country. Because many schools require prior approval to transfer credits earned through study abroad, it is important that students meet with their international programs office and/or academic advisor prior to enrollment to ensure that Critical Studies on Food in Italy Summer Program credits will transfer to their home institution. Academic advisors and study abroad offices can also suggest how students’ experience overseas can be integrated into their course of study and help arrange the transfer of federal financial aid. An official transcript from UMass Amherst Registrar documenting Critical Studies on Food in Italy summer coursework is sent to students and their home institution within eight weeks of the program end date, assuming students have completed all coursework and financial obligations.

2012 Critical Studies on Food in Italy
Summer Program in Rome, Italy

designed, promoted and managed by GUSTOLAB INSTITUTE CENTER FOR FOOD AND CULTURE in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Amherst. *Also open to non-UMass students*

DURATION: 6- WEEK full immersion
WHEN: 21 MAY 2 – 29 JUNE 2012
WHERE: ROME, ITALY

The Critical Studies on Food in Italy Summer Program in Rome and the South is both academic and experiential. It challenges students to grow on an academic, professional and personal level. The program is taught by faculty with international experience and expertise across a wide range of food and communication fields.