Skip Navigation
*To search for student contact information, login to FlashLine and choose the "Directory" icon in the FlashLine masthead (blue bar).

Florence
Florence
Florence

Honors Semester in Florence

Let Our Palace be Your Classroom


The Honors in Florence program is specifically designed to offer Honors College students challenging and engaging experiences at Kent State University's historic 13th century Palazzo dei Cerchi (the Cerchi) in Florence, Italy.

As a participant in this unique program, you will gain an international perspective and
learn about a foreign culture while participating in a variety of curricular offerings and
travel opportunities especially designed for Honors College students. Your classes will
take place in the Cerchi, which is located in the historic center of Florence, just north of
the Piazza della Signoria and within walking distance of the Palazzo Vecchio. Owned by
the Cerchi merchant family in the early thirteenth century, the Palazzo dei Cerchi was used
by a number of Renaissance painters. Fully restored in 2004, the Cerchi is now equipped
with state-of-the-art classrooms, yet maintains its outstanding medieval features and
decorations.

Honors student in Florence
 

Honors Courses

Your specifically designed Honors curriculum may include:

ART 42095
Italian Art (Honors section)
ECON 42295
International Business (Honors section)
HONR 30096/40096
Individual Honors Work
ITAL Language
Choose from an appropriate-level Italian language course
JMC 40009 or COMM 45091
Comparative Media Systems (Honors section)
POL 40995
European Issues (Honors section)
Additional courses from the Florence semester curriculum

Classes meet Monday-Thursday, allowing for weekend travel and involvement in other cultural offerings. A number of educational field trips are included as part of the experience. Participants live in fully furnished apartments located within the ancient city walls and within walking distance of the Palazzo.

Students are responsible for their own meals, with each apartment featuring a well-equipped kitchen, and located close to many fresh markets, local stores, and restaurants. Fall semester runs from mid-August to mid-December; spring semester from early-January to early May.

Application Deadlines

Fall Semester
May 15
Spring Semester
October 15

For additional information about the Honors College or study abroad opportunities, contact:

  • Carolyn Sampson, Honors College (csampson@kent.edu)
  • Sarah Hull, Office of Global Education (shull14@kent.edu)


Visit the Office of Global Education in Van Campen Hall for an application or see their website for more information.