AUF offers undergraduate, graduate, and special and enrichment programs. Program applications are welcome from all over the world, regardless of citizenship. The institutions believes 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 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 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.
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 undergraduate and graduate student opportunities in Florence for transferring credit to home institutions.
Out-bound experiences for AUF degree students at approved affiliate partner locations abroad.
TuttoToscana study away program featuring 3 weeks in Florence and 1 week in NYC in partnership with the James Beard Foundation.
Please see ADMISSIONS and 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 (associate's) and 42 (bachelor's) 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 and Biological Sciences
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Diversity and Intercultural Studies
Italian Language
Distribution
General education requirements are integrated ti and distributed across the academic curriculum sequencing. The majority of requirements represent 100 and 200-level lower-level coursework, as well some upper-level offerings, 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 combine in-classroom learning and practice in the field alongside professionals in the dynamic local economy of Florence. Coursework is characterized by research and practice, supervised by faculty members who are respected industry professionals.
Associate of Arts in Photography, Design, and Visual Media
- Year 2 Tracks / Specializations: Photography / Visual Communication / Interior Design
Associate of Arts in Fashion Design, Merchandising, and Media
- Year 2 Tracks / Specializations: Fashion Marketing and Media / Fashion and Accessory Design / Fashion Merchandising and Retail
Associate of Arts in Hospitality Management and Leadership
- Year 2 Tracks / Specializations: Hospitality and Event Management / Real Estate Management / Wine Business and Marketing
Associate of Arts in Food, Nutrition, and Fitness Studies
- Year 2 Tracks / Specializations: Baking and Pastry / Culinary Arts / Nutrition and Fitness
Associate of Arts in Cultural Studies*
- Year 2 in Fine Arts
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, Nutrition, and Fitness 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).
*Please note that this program is only offered as an associate's degree.
Required Courses
Associate's degree 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 programs require an appropriate English language level as stated for the bachelor’s degree programs.
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 credit load: a minimum of 60 credits required, please refer to each program for credit requirements.
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 / International Relations and Global Studies
BA in Photography, Design, and Visual Media
Concentrations in: Photography / Visual Communication / Interior Architecture
BA in Fashion Design, Merchandising, and Media
Concentrations in: Fashion Marketing and Media / Fashion and Accessory Design / Fashion Merchandising and Retail
BA in Food, Nutrition, and Fitness Studies
Concentrations in: Baking and Pastry / Culinary Arts / Nutrition and Fitness
BA in Hospitality Management and Leadership
Concentrations in: Hospitality and Event Management / Real Estate Management / Wine Business and Marketing
BS in International Busines
Concentrations in Supply Chain and Production Management / International Marketing / Finance, Investment, and Banking
Program Requirements
Some programs may have additional requirements, see specific programs for details.
General Education Requirements (42 Credits):
English Composition (6 credit hours)
Humanities (6 credit hours)
Mathematics (6 credit hours)
Physical and Biological Sciences (6 credit hours)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credit hours)
Diversity and Intercultural Studies (6 credit hours)
Italian Language (6 credit hours)
Core Requirements: Courses related to the specific area of study.
Concentration Coursework: Courses completed in select concentration area.
Electives: Credits sufficient to reach a minimum of 120 credits (some programs require a higher credit load, please visit program page).
Senior Thesis: 6 credits
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.
Additional US Degree Opportunities
Undergraduate students have the opportunity to transfer AUF coursework to a US bachelor’s degree program in partnership with an AUF affiliate. 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, Business, and Merchandising
MA International Education and Study Abroad Administration
MA Photography
MA Hospitality Leadership
MA Health and Wellness Studies, concentrations available in Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry
MBA Master of Business Administration
Program Requirements:
Common Core: courses required for all MA tracks
Concentration Courses: courses related to the specific area of study
Graduate Thesis (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.
A Pre-College program for high school students who wish to engage in university-level coursework is offered in the summer.
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. Any Senate deliberation on new program curricula must obtain final approval from the Board of Governance.