Professional Studies and Experiential Learning

3 semester credits. This internship course offers the opportunity to experience the tourism and travel industry in Florence, a leading city and destination at the global level. Involvement will take place through the operations and strategies of local companies and agencies that cater to local and international clients. Students will explore topics such as destination analysis and management, travel logistics, client services and relations, and market research. Students will also assist with promotional activities through social media updates and digital communication strategies. This placement may require hours that take place on weekends or ongoing research and development-based projects for remote placements. This internship course aims to prepare students for the professional world and features an unsalaried internship scheduled individually for a minimum of ten hours per week. Students generally serve as part-time interns from Monday through Friday, although some internships may require weekend hours. The internship enhances students’ knowledge through field experience held in a professional environment overseen by a supervisor, who regularly monitors the internship progress and guides the student’s preparation of a final analytical report and portfolio. Placements will vary depending on the student’s language and professional skills. Main tasks: Location research, itinerary development and review, logistical support for supervisors, itinerary and logistics performance analysis, participation satisfaction analysis, final portfolio. Students, according to their backgrounds, could also be involved in marketing and promotional aspects of the placement location. Additional materials/Dress code: Business casual attire for dress code, please note that dress code requirements may vary depending on placement. Not applicable to remote option.
 Prerequisites: A2 level of Italian language. Cover letter, CV, and material pertinent to the chosen area, interview.

3 semester credits. Through this special project course, students are involved in green retail practices that promote business sustainability from a botanical perspective. Through direct practices and engagement, students explore the potential of botanical retail as a positive contributor to community awareness of topics such as green cities, plants and mental health and wellbeing, and current and future development of green urbanism. Placement activities are coordinated through Pomario at the Palazzi Community Center, a botanical retail store whose proceeds fund student scholarships. In addition to retail operations, students will also engage in brand communication, client-customer relations, and sustainable event development and execution. This special project course features experiential learning hours with our Community Engagement Member Institutions (CEMI). CEMI are dynamic learning environments created to foster learning through a structured interaction with the community. Remote option students will gain international community exposure through a virtual setting. 
Students will be involved in learning by doing through real projects and integration with the local population and territory in order to remove cultural and learning barriers as well as to develop a strong likelihood for success in life.
The experiential learning hours are fully supervised by instructors who track students step by step during their learning experience, monitor and advise according to student needs, and support student initiative. This unique learning model allows students to benefit from an all-encompassing educational experience based on theory and practice in real enterprises, learning of comprehensive operational processes, problem-solving, leadership, and management. Main tasks: Retail operations, plant selection and curation, product placement and packaging, store and event management, final portfolio. Additional materials/Dress code: Business casual attire. Not applicable to remote option. Prerequisites: Cover letter, CV, and material pertinent to the chosen area, interview.

3 semester credits. Through this special project course, students are involved in horticultural practices with a focus on community and wellbeing. Students will engage in plant-related activities to foster the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of different groups of users and types of contexts. Activities will focus on indoor/outdoor gardens through the use of tools, equipment, structures, and techniques used in horticultural practices. Topics include principles of horticulture, plant propagation, soils and soil cultivation, pests and diseases, watering management, and garden care. Students will experience first-hand the restorative powers of gardens, landscapes, and green spaces through direct experiences aimed at restoring the connectivity between green sustainability and society. Gardens in the urban landscape of Florence city center and the FUA-AUF campus network provide a rich backdrop for the field-based practices of this placement course. This special project course features experiential learning hours with our Community Engagement Member Institutions (CEMI). CEMI are dynamic learning environments created to foster learning through a structured interaction with the community. Remote option students will gain international community exposure through a virtual setting. 
Students will be involved in learning by doing through real projects and integration with the local population and territory in order to remove cultural and learning barriers as well as to develop a strong likelihood for success in life.
 The experiential learning hours are fully supervised by instructors who track students step by step during their learning experience, monitor and advise according to student needs, and support student initiative. This unique learning model allows students to benefit from an all-encompassing educational experience based on theory and practice in real enterprises, learning of comprehensive operational processes, problem-solving, leadership, and management. Main tasks: Plant-based practices, horticultural therapy research, plant profiling and archiving, garden care and management, watering and propagation, final portfolio. Additional materials/Dress code: Garden-appropriate attire and protective clothing/shoes. Not applicable to remote option. Prerequisites: Cover letter, CV, and material pertinent to the chosen area, interview.

3 semester credits. The Special Project: Experiential Learning in Teaching Assistantship - Italian Language is for students who are at an advanced academic standing and language level. The course allows students to experience and assist with aspects of teaching under the close supervision of a faculty member. TA students assist with classroom setup, course logistics, student management, coursework and classroom activities, and assisting the instructor with the evaluation of student performance. Italian language TAs are supervised by the sQuola teaching faculty, and assist faculty members with daily course management and organization. Moreover, TAs actively participate in course activities, and reinforce their own Italian language skills while helping other students in their language learning progress. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI. CEMI are dynamic learning environments created to foster learning through a structured interaction with the community. Remote option students will gain international community exposure through a virtual setting. Students will be involved in learning through real projects and integration with the local population and territory in order to remove cultural and learning barriers as well as to develop a strong likelihood for success in life.
The experiential learning hours are fully supervised by instructors who track students step by step during their learning experience, monitor and advise according to student needs, and support student initiative. This unique learning model allows students to benefit from an all-encompassing educational experience based on theory and practice in real enterprises, learning of comprehensive operational processes, problem- solving, leadership, and management. Main tasks: Activity supervision, guiding students through course materials, creative activity preparation and development, contribution to lectures and seminars, student feedback reviews for faculty and department, assistance with grading, final portfolio.
 Additional materials/Dress code: Business casual attire. Not applicable to remote option. Prerequisites: Having completed at least one upper-level course in Italian language with at least a B grade or equivalent, or being Italian language native. Additionally, the student must have a GPA of 3.0 or better.

3 semester credits. The Special Project: Experiential Learning in Teaching Assistantship course allows students to experience and assist with aspects of teaching under the close supervision of a faculty member. TA students assist with classroom setup, course logistics, student management, coursework, classroom activities, and student performance evaluation. Additionally, TA students have the opportunity to lead selected classroom activities and contribute to lectures. TAs represent a bridge between faculty and students, as they facilitate the learning process by promoting communication management and strategies for course interaction between students and instructors. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI. CEMI are dynamic learning environments created to foster learning through a structured interaction with the community. Remote option students will gain international community exposure through a virtual setting. Students will be involved in learning by doing through real projects and integration with the local population and territory in order to remove cultural and learning barriers as well as to develop a strong likelihood for success in life.
The experiential learning hours are fully supervised by instructors who track students step by step during their learning experience, monitor and advise according to student needs, and support student initiative. This unique learning model allows students to benefit from an all-encompassing educational experience based on theory and practice in real enterprises, learning of comprehensive operational processes, problem- solving, leadership, and management. Main tasks: Activity supervision, guiding students through course materials, creative activity preparation and development, contribution to lectures and seminars, student feedback reviews for faculty and department, assistance with grading, final portfolio.
 Additional materials/Dress code: Business casual attire. Not applicable to remote option. Prerequisites: At least one upper-level course related to the topic of the course in which the student is serving, with at least a B grade or equivalent. Additionally, the student must have a GPA of 3.0 or better.