The program in Food, Sustainability, & the Environment (FSE) at Umbra invites students and professors to participate in the study of food systems, sustainability and the environment. Whether enrolling in semester or summer courses, interning in a winery or Umbra’s campus garden, or discovering the complexities of Italian food culture and environmental policy, FSE students develop a deeper understanding of global food systems, sustainability, and the environment.
This program includes a series of co- and extracurricular activities that are an integral part of the curriculum; they include guest lectures, site visits, field trips, culinary activities, research projects, and other hands-on experiences. These activities allow students to directly observe the concepts studied in the classroom and analyze issues surrounding food, sustainability, and the environment in an Italian and global context from varied perspectives.
Don’t see your school? Ask your study abroad advisor how your courses will count towards your major.
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All students who successfully complete the FSE will receive a certificate of completion from the Umbra Institute. To meet the requirements, one must complete the program’s 1-credit core course and at least three (3) electives from the list below for a total of ten (10) credits. The required 4-credit Italian course is offered in addition to the FSE curriculum. This allows participants to complete the program with fourteen (14) credits.
Students interested both in the FSE and an independent research project may combine the FSE and Scholars Program curricula to create their own academic path. This option has limited availability so it is important that all interested students contact their ISI Abroad – Umbra Institute admissions advisor early to begin planning for their semester abroad. All independent studies or research projects must be approved at least four months beforehand by the Umbra Director and the FSE Faculty Coordinator.
“This program has solidified my intentions to pursue a career that both incorporates my passion for botany and my culinary interests… These classes have further reinforced my love for food, and the importance it holds within our society. I am looking forward to going back to the U.S., and being more conscientious in my decisions regarding food, and increasing my support of locally produced products.”
– Nicholas Phelps, Spring 2023, FSE
Each semester, students study abroad and take advantage of the Umbra Institute’s beautiful location in historic Perugia, Italy. Students complete courses, taught in English, that count toward their degree. Courses are designed to use Perugia as a classroom and to give students ample time to travel elsewhere in Italy and Europe.
Umbra provides students with shared apartments within a 5-15 minute walk of the Institute, allowing for innumerable opportunities to enjoy mid-day siestas, eat a panino on the fountain steps, and walk the city center like a native. Apartments are furnished with full kitchens so that you can try to duplicate your favorite new Italian dish. WiFi is provided both within the Institute and in each student apartment.
All student apartments are located within walking distance of the Institute and the city’s many events and amenities. With panoramic views abound, the city invites exploration and discovery around every corner.
Apartments are fully equipped (WiFi included!) making it easy for you and your friends to plan a nice dinner in or for your living room to become a meeting place before going out to catch your next train or plane out of town, or to explore pizzerias, trattorias, or coffee bars.
Being a university city, Perugia hosts events throughout the year—from Eurochocolate to the Umbria Jazz Festival. Whether attending one of Umbra’s workshops (ex. Travel Workshop) or events (ex. Wine Tasting), there is always something to do!
