Study Abroad Program

Alfred State College and Sorrento Lingue

Students visit Venice, Italy in previous travel abroad trip.Alfred State College has entered into an agreement with Sorrento Lingue International Language Institute in Sorrento, Italy, to offer an optional semester abroad to its students.  Course availability and structure will not extend the student's time in completing a degree, but it will enrich the academic experience of the student by exposure to European culture, the Italian language, the metric system, and students from many other countries; more importantly, the student will be exposed to the rich architectural heritage of the area surrounding the Bay of Naples.

In keeping with Alfred State College's mission, which is to offer two-year and four-year programs to prepare graduates to live as citizens of a global society, it is anticipated that students participating in the Sorrento Lingue program will benefit from learning outcomes that will foster an awareness of global culture, create a foundation for lifelong learning, and better equip the participant to hit the ground running after graduation.

This is expected to be a seamless program that will allow students to spend their spring semester taking courses in Italian language delivered by Sorrento Lingue with credit being granted through Alfred State College.  They will gain further Alfred State College credit in an architectural design studio which will focus on historic preservation, and this will be taught by Alfred State College faculty.  The studio component will be consistent with the listed student learning outcomes of CIAT6306: Studio II.  Projects will involve field measurement and notations, analysis of traditional building methods, documentation, and adaptive re-use design proposals.  Complementing the studio work in historic preservation will be field experience in Pompeii and Paestum as a component of a three credit hour Archaeology course taught by Italian faculty.  Students may also enroll in a three credit hour Architectural Photography course, as well as an online version of CIVL 5213, our concrete design course.

Summary of courses:

The region of Campania, which surrounds Sorrento, possesses a rich architectural heritage that extends back to the age of Homer.  Within easy reach are the Greek temples of Paestum, the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Renaissance and Baroque architecture of Naples, and the traditional Mediterranean townscapes of Ravello, Amalfi, Capri, and Sorrento itself.  The unique cultural assets of the area promise an incomparable learning experience for the serious student of architecture. View pictures from previous architecture curriculum travel abroad trips.

Faculty and students will travel together in January to Sorrento, and, at the end of the term, students will be free to travel independently, or stay behind for internship work, before returning to the US.  Classes in Sorrento will commence in January and end in May.  A one week spring break in March will allow for independent travel in Italy.

Sorrento Lingue Study Abroad Program Estimate of Costs*

The total cost of the program will include all costs for tuition, fees, room, board, travel, insurance, and incidentals as well as a program fee to cover the administrative overhead. Shared expenses assume enrollment of 15 students and will be adjusted accordingly for smaller enrollment.  Students will receive a bill from Alfred State College for all Sorrento and Alfred State College expenses.  Additional costs noted below will be paid by the student directly to the provider. An estimate of costs follows: 

Sorrento Lingue Per Student Program Cost: $7,700

Includes: room, Sorrento tuition, books and supplies, and Sorrento program fee.

Alfred State College Per Student Program Cost: $3,000+ 

Includes: tuition and fees for 6 credits in-state rate**, course related supplies, Alfred State College program fee**, required/SUNY-approved overseas program insurance.

Additional Costs: $3,500 

Cost includes: airfare, meals, passport/visa, and incidentals. These expenses will be paid directly to the provider by the student.

Total: $14,200

*All costs are reasonable estimates based on program requirements and current exchange and are determined to be comparable to similar programs offered by our sister SUNY institutions. Students are eligible to apply for financial aid including student and private loans to assist in meeting the cost of this program.

**Tuition is based on 6 credits at the New York State resident rate. Tuition will be adjusted accordingly for the student's residency and enrollment status.

Participating students will be required to apply by September 1 and include a $500 non-refundable deposit to secure their place in the program. Students expressing interest after September 1 will be considered on a space available basis.

Contact Us

For further information about the study abroad program please contact:

Jeffrey Johnston
Director of Sorrento Study Abroad
Phone: (607) 587-4657
Cell: (607) 427-5636
E-mail: johnstjf [at] alfredstate [dot] edu

Pictured here are those who will spend the spring 2009 semester in Sorrento, Italy. Standing, l-r: Anthony Baker, Josh Bacho, Andrew Altoft, Megan Watson, Jeffrey Aldrich, Alex Nowak, Christopher Shubert. Seated, l-r: Hiroko Hasegawa, Sara Berg, Jacob Haggmark, Jeffrey Johnston, ASC Assistant Professor, Computer Imaging & Architectural Engineering Technology, Brennan Drake, Amy Cole, and Jamie Woods.