AUF offers undergraduate, graduate, and special and enrichment programs. Program applications are welcome from all over the world, regardless of citizenship. We believe that the blending of many cultures creates a more diverse and rich student body, which will contribute to the overall experience of the AUF academic community as well as the local community in Florence. Each application we receive is individually reviewed before a decision is made. Proper academic planning allows students to complete their chosen course or program successfully and efficiently. The institution offers academic advising to accepted students. Each academic program has clearly defined student outcomes that describe the knowledge, skills, and capabilities that students acquire.
PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Undergraduate Programs
General Education Curriculum and Policy for Undergraduate Studies.
2-year Associate's Degree / Certificate Career Programs featuring 2-year intensive programs that prepare students for career transitions and entry into new fields. Programs taken for 1 year grant the Certificate Career status only.
4-year undergraduate bachelor's degrees that provide a comprehensive general education foundation and a focused major course of study.
US bachelor’s dual degree transfer opportunities in collaboration with AUF affiliates.
Graduate Programs
1-year master’s degrees in focused areas of study.
Two one-year certificate career programs in Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry are offered to university graduates or working professionals.
Graduate certificate and courses in the area of international education.
Graduate coursework in Food and Wine Studies.
Study Abroad Programs
Pre-College summer program open to high school students seeking to earn college credits in an immersive university setting.
In-bound visiting student opportunities in Florence for transferring credit to home institutions.
Out-bound experiences for AUF degree students at approved affiliate partner locations abroad.
Please see ADMISSIONS & TUITION BENEFITS for admissions requirements.
Please see the end of this section for information on degree curricula review.
UNDERGRADUATE: GENERAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM AND POLICY
Educational Scope
All undergraduate degree students at AUF are required to satisfy general education requirements for graduation. These requirements are an important component of post-secondary education, grounded in a framework of a humanistic foundation for inquiry and knowledge expansion applicable to all degree areas. General education addresses disciplines related to the liberal arts and sciences by requiring 21 (AA) and 48 (BA) credits of general education studies. As the institution’s educational philosophy and mission are based on cultural integration and contextualization, the cultural components of general education coursework allow students to significantly connect learned topics to local and international perspectives. Courses represent diverse departments across AUF academic divisions representing the liberal arts and the sciences.
Required general education categories
English Composition
Humanities
Mathematics
Physical & Biological Sciences
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Diversity & Intercultural Studies
Italian Language
Distribution
General education requirements are integrated to and distributed across the academic curriculum sequencing. The majority of requirements represent 100 and 200-level lower-level coursework intended to guide underclassmen knowledge scaffolding, and some 300-level requirements ensure that humanistic approaches continue at the advanced level as an on-going inquiry.
Outcomes
Expansion of historical, aesthetic, cultural, literary, scientific, and philosophical perspectives.
Acquisition of skills in managing and communicating knowledge.
Consolidate humanistic awareness across contexts of historical and contemporary currents.
Improvement of critical and analytical thinking to a broad variety of academic subjects as encountered in a curricular pathway.
Establish a learning culture and disposition for applying intellectual inquiry to the undergraduate study experience and future career pathways.
Determine and articulate the connections between the disciplines represented by general education categories and major-specific coursework.
Enhance general education principles through exposure to local and international forms of relevance, experience, and practice.
Please see below for the gen ed credit requirements according to undergraduate degree program category.
UNDERGRADUATE: 2-YEAR ASSOCIATE'S DEGREES / CERTIFICATE CAREER PROGRAMS (Undergraduate level)
The Associate’s Degree / Certificate Career Programs are unique for their combination of in-classroom learning and practice in the field alongside professionals in the dynamic local economy of Florence. Coursework and content are characterized by research and practice, supervised by faculty members who are respected industry professionals. AUF offers the following programs:
Associate of Arts in Communication and Interactive Digital Media
- Year 2 Tracks / Specializations: Photography; Product Design; Publishing; Visual Communication.
Associate of Arts in Fashion Design, Merchandising, and Media
- Year 2 Tracks / Specializations: Fashion Design and Technology; Accessory Design and Technology; Fashion Merchandising, Marketing, and Retail; Fashion Communication, Promotion, and Media.
Associate of Arts in Hospitality Management
- Year 2 Tracks / Specializations: Hospitality ManagementReception Professional (WACS); Special Event Management; Spa Management; Real Estate and Facilities Management.
Associate of Arts in Food, Wine, and Wellness Studies
- Year 2 Tracks / Specializations: Culinary Arts Chef De Partie (WACS); Baking and Pastry Chef De Partie; Wine Studies and Enology Junior Sommelier (WACS); Wellness, Health, and Nutrition.
The first year of study consists of two academic levels and awards a One-Year Certificate.
The second year of study consists of four academic levels and awards an Associate’s Degree and 2-Year Advanced Certificate.
For Food, Wine, and Wellness Studies only, a 3-Year Master-Level Certificate is available for Culinary Arts Sous Chef (WACS) and Baking and Pastry Sous Chef tracks.
Direct access tracks are available for entrance into the second-year specializations for all areas*. Certificate Career programs may also be taken for one season (Fall, Spring, Summer).
Required Courses
AA fulfillment requires the coursework described in the Certificate Career Program curricula and a minimum of 21 general education credits as listed below to complete the associate’s degree. Please note that general requirements vary according to the program. All AA programs require an appropriate English language level as stated for the bachelor’s degree programs.
The core education of each level consists of 5 courses (18 credits per semester, 36 credits per academic year). Core courses are mandatory and fundamental for each program.
General Education requirements:
English Composition, 3 credits
Humanities, 3 credits
Mathematics, 3 credits
Physical and Biological Sciences, 3 credits
Social and Behavioral Sciences, 3 credits
Diversity and Intercultural Studies, 3 credits
Italian Language, 3 credits
Total general education credits: 21
Total AA program credit load: 76 credits*
*Please note: General requirements vary according to the program. Some gen ed requirements are embedded in multiple courses. Some programs may require additional credits to complete the associate-level program of study, as defined in the individual program curriculum.
UNDERGRADUATE: 4-YEAR BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAMS
The 4-Year Bachelor's Degrees at AUF offer programs that consist of a minimum of 120 credits hours including a major field and the course distribution requirements listed below:
BA Cultural Studies
Concentrations in: Art History / Fine Arts
BA in Digital Publishing and Communication
Concentrations in: Digital Media / E-Publishing / Visual Communication / Product Design
BA in Fashion Design, Merchandising, and Media
Concentrations in: Accessory Design and Technology / Fashion Communication, Promotion, and Media / Fashion Design and Technology / Merchandising, Marketing, and Retail
BA in Food and Wine Studies
Concentrations in: Baking and Pastry / Culinary Arts / Enology / Wellness, Health, and Nutrition
BA in Hospitality Management
Concentrations in: Hospitality Management / Real Estate Management / Special Event Management / Wellness Management
Program Requirements
Some programs may have additional requirements, see specific programs for details.
General Education Requirements (48 Credits)
English Composition (6 credit hours)
Humanities (12 credit hours)
Mathematics (6 credit hours)
Physical & Biological Sciences (6 credit hours)
Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 credit hours)
Diversity & Intercultural Studies (6 credit hours)
Italian Language (6 credit hours)
Approved Course Listing: The Academic Affairs Office periodically releases a list of courses that meets the AUF’S General Education guidelines.
Core Requirements: Seven to ten core courses related to the specific area of study.
Capstone Project: 3 credits
Concentration Coursework
24-30 credits completed in selected concentration area.
General Electives, sufficient to reach a minimum of 120 credits (some programs require a higher credit load, please visit program page).
The University requires an overall minimum grade point average of 2.00, with no more than one grade lower than C- in core courses.
For detailed information regarding each program, please refer to Program Curricula section of the Catalog.
Program Costs
AUF tuition and related expense estimates can be found below for the academic year. The actual expenses incurred by students may be higher or lower than the estimated amount and the below is intended as a guide to planning your post-secondary university education. Tuition and other related academic costs are payable to AUF, most others are privately incurred. Lodgings are available in conjunction with tuition.
Estimated Costs of Attendance for an Academic Year (full-time student):
Tuition per credit 210 euros (students typically take 15 credits per semester, 30 per year)
Housing and Meal Plan (single room supplement, 1600 euros) 6,720 euros
Application fee 120 euros
Application processing fee 100 euros
Student Services fee 440 euros
Library fee 80 euros
Residency/Immigration expenses 155 euros
Books/Supplies (variable) 650 euros
Personal expenses (variable) 2,500 euros
Travel expenses (variable) 1,250 euros
Total Estimated Annual Cost of Attendance 18,315 euros
Tuition Guarantee: In order to facilitate student planning and budgeting, AUF guarantees the tuition rate as released per academic year in the application form for the students' course of study. Students must maintain full time status and remain in good financial, academic, and disciplinary standing.
US Dual Degree Opportunities
Undergraduate students have the opportunity to transfer AUF coursework to a US bachelor’s dual degree program. Courses will be completed in Florence and will require the fulfillment of online coursework as per the program requirements.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Master’s Degree Programs
The 1-Year Master’s Degrees at AUF require 30 credit hours and the course distribution requirements listed below:
MA Fashion Retail, Merchandising, and Media
MA International Education
MA Visual Media
MA Organizational Management in International Hospitality
MA Health and Wellness Studies
Program Requirements:
Common Core (6 credit hours): 2 courses required for all MA tracks.
Concentration Courses (9 credit hours): 3 courses related to the specific area of study.
Electives (12 credit hours: 6 credits designated for the MA program of study, 6 credits can be chosen from other MA disciplines.
Capstone Project (3 credit hours)
Master-level Certificate Career Programs in Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry (one year two semesters)
These yearlong programs offer two semesters of coursework, lab, and experiential learning hours. These programs make up the third year of the Certificate Career Programs in Food, Wine, and Wellness Studies.
Graduate Coursework
Courses from AUF’s School of Graduate Studies also represent the area of Food and Wine Studies.
Graduate-level internships and experiential learning are also available.
STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS
Studying abroad for visiting undergraduate and graduate students at AUF offers flexible options throughout the year.
The following sessions are held within an academic year:
Semester/Year
15 and 11-week fall and spring semesters
12-week summer semester
Intensive/Quarter Programs
3-week sessions in the fall, spring, and summer. Any three consecutive 3-week sessions may be combined into a quarter session
The summer season also features 4-week sessions and 6-week sessions.
The 1-week Cultural Introduction to Italy field learning program can be added to any semester or intensive program.
In addition to regular academic courses, study abroad students have the option of adding non-credit and for-credit internship and experiential learning courses to their schedules.
Course selections may be subject to change depending on enrollment and availability. The approval of credit loads must be pre-approved in any given academic session.
A Pre-College program for high school students who wish to engage in university-level coursework is offered twice in the summer.
Customized and faculty-led programs at the undergraduate and graduate level for groups and cohorts are regularly organized by the Special Programs Department.
PROGRAM AND CURRICULUM REVIEW
All degree granting programs at AUF are reviewed periodically according to ongoing and stable time frames.
Review may be conducted for reasons such as:
Revision of existing program
Dissolution of existing program
Approval/denial of proposed program
Ongoing curriculum review is considered a best practice for maintaining correct and accurate degree pathway information online and in institutional materials, literature, and database systems. Curriculum revisions and proposals are discussed at Faculty Senate sessions according to the following timeframes:
1) Monthly Senate sessions represent a standing opportunity to discuss curriculum-related topics as they emerge through the course of an academic year for ongoing deliberation.
2) Secondly, a year-end (AY) review is held in conjunction with yearly assessment reporting requirements.
3) Lastly, review is also conducted every five years to verify alignment with the university's strategic and mission-based planning cycle.
Program review is conducted as a collaborative process that may involve the aforementioned Senate, individual faculty, academic departments and their respective coordinators, and the academic affairs office. Any Senate deliberation on new program curricula must obtain final approval from the Board of Governance.