Rome, Florence & Barcelona Study Abroad Course Syllabus
Spring 2011(3/8/13-3/16/13)
Professors:
Dr. Bonnie Oliver
Phone: 407-582-2214
Office: East Campus bldg. 7-158 Mail code 3-29
Boliver@valenciacollege.edu
Marva Pryor
Phone: 407-582-6016
Office: Winter Park bldg. 249, Mail code 5-3
Mpryor@valenciacollege.edu
Welcome! We look forward to sharing with you the excitement of traveling to
Rome, Florence & Barcelona where we will explore the art, history, culture,
architecture, economy and business environment of the countries. We will take
walking tours of famous tourist venues and attend educational
seminars/presentations.
Course Information:
This course receives 2 letter-grade credits. Students will explore Rome, Florence and
Barcelona cultural and business climate and address some of the economic issues
and cultural challenges of doing business in Italy and Spain. To enhance this
learning experience, students will be required to read selected materials before
traveling. In addition, students will be expected to participate in specific discussions
related to daily activities, and write a post trip reflective essay.
Prerequisite:
Current honor’s student at Valencia College
Course Work and Components:
 Attend at least three mandatory pre-trip meetings and one post trip meeting
 Read materials assigned prior to the trip and complete required related home
work. Some of the topics assigned will include:
o Concepts on Italian and Spanish culture
o Business development in Western Europe
o Impact of history on the business environment
 Participation in reflective meetings on the evening of:
o European Union seminar
o Rome business trip
o Barcelona business trip
 Participate in walking tours throughout the city
 Write a post trip reflective essay
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Course Materials and Schedule:
All reading materials and detailed schedule will be posted in Blackboard, which is an
Internet Course Management program. In addition, home work and essay will be
submitted via Blackboard. To access Blackboard:
1. Launch an Internet browser, and enter the college’s url: http://valenciacc.edu/
2. Click on “Quick Links”
3. Select “Online Courses”
4. Click on Blackboard.
5. Enter your username and password (same as the ones you use for Atlas).
6. Click on this course’s hotlink.
Valencia Student Core Competencies:
Valencia College strives to develop well-educated and well-prepared individuals.
This course will provide ample opportunities to work on all of Valencia Student Core
Competencies (Refer to the Valencia Catalog), which are: THINK, COMMUNICATE,
VALUE, AND ACT.
Passports:
Passports must be obtained for international travel.
Assessment:
Final grades will be determined based on the following criteria:
Attendance to pre-trip meetings
10%
Reading materials and homework
30%
Participation in reflective meetings 30%
Post trip reflective essay
30%
Grading Scale:
A
B
C
D
F
=
=
=
=
=
90
80
70
60
0
-
100
89
79
69
59
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LEARNING ACTIVITIES & METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
Date
March, 2013
March, 2013
March, 2013
Location
Rome
Learning Activities
Instructional Format
Reviewing reading
material on economic
integration and
development.
Dr. Oliver will instruct the
students to review their
reading material on
economic integration and
development as it pertains
to the European Union.
Take a guided tour of a
business in Rome and
enjoy a pizza dinner.
Guided tour
*Take a guided tour of
Vatican City, visit the
Sistine Chapel, visit St.
Peter’s Basilica, take
guided tour of Rome, visit
Roman Forum and visit
the Colosseum
Guided tours
Rome
Dr. Oliver and Professor
Pryor will have an evening
debriefing on what is
meant by culture and
cultural expression and
how culture impacts how
we view the world around
us and the challenges of
doing business in the EU.
Rome
Dr. Oliver and Professor
Pryor will hold a brief
evening debriefing about
cultural experience in
Rome.
*Students may take a selfguided tour and use their
structured free time to tour
Rome’s Trevi Fountain,
Patheon, Piazza Navona
and Spanish Steps.
March, 2013
Florence
*Take guided tour of
Florence: Piazza della
signoria, Ponte Vecchio,
Chiesa di Santa Croce,
Gates of Paradise, visit
the Duomo, see a leathermaking demonstration and
enjoy self-guided free time
in Florence.
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Guided tour
Dr. Oliver will have an
evening seminar on
economic integration and
the history of the EU.
March, 2013
March 2013
Florence
Barcelona
*Travel to Pisa and see
the lending tour, visit Pisa
Baptistery, visit the Pisa
Cathedral, travel to
Livorno and board night
ferry to Barcelona.
Guided tour
*Business tour day, take
guided tour of Barcelona,
visit Parque Guell, take a
walking tour of Barcelona:
Guided Tour
Las Ramblas
Self- reflection
Dr. Oliver and Professor
Pryor will do an evening
seminar on the challenges
of doing business in
Spain.
Any course assignments may be changed at the professors’ discretion with
a verbal or written announcement before or during the class period.
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