Food, Health, and Lifestyle in Italy

ROME & FLORENCE, italy

啵啵直播秀 Description

Embark on an unforgettable eight-day journey through Italy, exploring the deep connections between food, culture, health, and longevity. This experience will take you from the ancient streets of Rome to the Tuscan hillsides, concluding in the heart of Florence, steeped in its own culture of cuisine and Renaissance. Students will gain firsthand insight into how Italian traditions shape one of the world鈥檚 healthiest lifestyles.

Highlights include guided tours of iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum and Roman Forum, immersive culinary experiences in Rome and Florence, and two nights at a traditional agriturismo in the Tuscan countryside. There, 啵啵直播秀 will engage with local producers to understand the quality, sustainability, and cultural significance of Italian food.

Through experiential learning, 啵啵直播秀 will discover why the Mediterranean diet is consistently ranked among the best for longevity and overall health. This program blends cultural exploration with academic insight, offering a transformative perspective on how lifestyle and nutrition intersect in one of the world鈥檚 most celebrated culinary regions.

啵啵直播秀 Dates and Deadlines:
Term	Year	Application Deadline (or as space permits)	Start Date/Check-in	End Date/Check-out
Spring	2026	November 23, 2025	March 7, 2026	March 15, 2026

啵啵直播秀 fee payment deadline: See details below in program cost section. 啵啵直播秀 fees cannot be deffered. Plan accordingly.听

Information Sheet
Open to	All academic disciplines with at least 30 academic hours completed (or in progress) by the spring 2026 semester.听
Language of Instruction	English
Level of Study	Undergraduate (Graduate level may be available upon request)
Credit Offered	3 FAU credits
啵啵直播秀 Primary Subject	Exercise Science & Health Promotion
Sponsoring College	College of Science

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啵啵直播秀 Course Offering(s):

Undergraduate Students: Choose one or two of the courses below:

PET 4930: Mediterranean Diet (3 credits)

Course Description: Explore the science, culture, and sustainability behind the Mediterranean Diet鈥攃onsistently ranked among the world鈥檚 healthiest. This course examines its health benefits, cultural roots, and environmental impact, while offering practical insights for integrating its principles into American lifestyles. A portion of the course takes place in Italy, where 啵啵直播秀 will visit farms, markets, wineries, and food producers to experience the diet in action and understand its role in promoting longevity and wellness.

啵啵直播秀 Eligibility & Requirement

Must have a 2.5 overall GPA at the time of application.
Must have at least 30 academic hours earned by the spring 2026 semester.
Participants will enroll in the PET 4930 course for the spring 2026 semester. Online coursework will be required during the spring semester (before and after the study abroad program dates).
Must be in good academic standing at the time of application.
Must be eligible to take FAU courses during the study abroad program term.
See Policies & Procedures page for more information.

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For questions related to the course offering and itinerary, please contact the primary faculty leader and course instructor:听	For questions regarding study abroad application, eligibility, deadlines, and money matters, please contact the Education Abroad team.听
Faculty Leader: Dr. Christopher Boerum	Email: goabroad@fau.edu听
Email: cboerum@fau.edu	Phone: 561-297-1208

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Location

Rome and Florence offer a rich tapestry of history, culture, and lifestyle that perfectly complement the themes of this program. Rome, the Eternal City, is a dynamic blend of ancient ruins and modern vibrancy, where centuries-old traditions still shape daily life. Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, is known for its artistic legacy, walkable charm, and deep-rooted culinary culture. Both cities are hubs of regional food practices and wellness philosophies, making them ideal settings to explore the Mediterranean diet and its impact on health and longevity. Students will experience firsthand how Italian lifestyle choices are deeply connected to cultural heritage and sustainable living.

Housing

Students will reside in local hotels or apartments. Rooms vary from single to multiple occupancy rooms.听 The below accommodations are currently booked but are subject to change if nesseccary by the international program provided.听
Rome: 听
Tuscany: 听
Florence: 听

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Money Matters

Financial Aid and Scholarship Information听

Students participating on FAU Faculty-led 啵啵直播秀s may use eligible financial aid.
啵啵直播秀 participants may be eligible to apply for the FAU Education Abroad Scholarship
See additional scholarship and funding information here.

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啵啵直播秀 Cost

$3,100 program fee + tuition for the required program summer course(s). FAU in-state or out-of-state rates apply.听

啵啵直播秀 fee payment deadlines:听
1ST PAYMENT:听听听听$1,600 due on Thursday, December 4, 2025
2ND PAYMENT:听听听 $1,500 due on Thursday, December 18, 2025

Note:
啵啵直播秀 fee payments cannot be deferred regardless of financial aid or scholarship dispursment timelines. Accepted participants will receive detailed payment instructions from the Education Abroad team via email prior to each payment deadline.听

啵啵直播秀 Fee Includes:

Hotel accommodations from check-in through check-out date
International medical insurance
Pre-departure and on-site orientation
Daily breakfast
4 lunches
Guided visit of Rome city center
5 group dinners, including a welcome dinner in Florence, featuring Bistecca alla Fiorentina
Two Rome food tours (Monti & Trastevere)听
Guided visit of the Colosseum & Roman Forum
Private bus transportation for two night-stay in Tuscany
Vineyard and farm visit with lunch
Group dinner at agriturismo
Pig farm visit with lunch
Tuscan cooking class with dinner
Transportation to Florence
Visit to pasta producer
Florence central market tour with tastings
Hike to Piazzale Michelangelo

Activities and excursions are subject to change by faculty leader or program provider/vendor if needed. All efforts would be made to provide a replacement activity or excursion.

啵啵直播秀 Fee Does Not Include :

$200 administrative fee paid at time of application submission
International flight
Tuition for courses/credits taken on program (FAU in-state and out-of-state rates apply)
Personal meals outside of provided program meals
Personal spending money

Travel Documentation, HEALTH AND SAFETY

Passport and Travel Documentation

A valid passport is required for all international travel. You need a passport to board an international flight and to enter the country. Passport cards will not be accepted as form of I.D. You may be denied boarding if you travel with a passport that appears damaged or altered.
Review up-to-date details . Routine processing times can take 6-8 weeks, and expedited applications in 2-3 weeks. Processing times does not include the time it takes for shipping. Processing times begin when your application is received by a passport agency or center, and do not include mailing times. It may take up to 2 weeks for your application to be received by passport agency, and up to 2 weeks for you to receive your completed passport after agency mails it to you. Therefore, you should add an additional 4 weeks to you passport application processing time.
Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met. Check the to learn about entry and exit requirements for the country or countries in which you are traveling. 听
If you are applying for a passport for the first time, you need to renew your passport, or you have any other passport questions, you can find information on the website. In addition, several U.S. Embassies and Consulates provide information to assist applicants in collecting the documentation needed. For a list of Embassies, please visit
Non-U.S. Citizens may need additional travel documentation. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you should research the study abroad program destination and your home country to determine if a visa or additional travel documentation is required.听

International Health Insurance

All FAU 啵啵直播秀 participating on an FAU Faculty-led 啵啵直播秀 will be registered in international health and travel insurance coverage through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). This mandatory insurance ensures that 啵啵直播秀 have access to medical and emergency support services while abroad. This is included in the program cost. The 2026 Coverage plan will be available in January 2026. Participants can review the current 2025 plan HERE for reference.

Health and Safety Resources to Explore Prior to Traveling Abroad

U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory 鈥� Country Information:听
U.S. Students Abroad -听
FAU SHS:听 /shs/
World Health Organization (WHO):听

Pre-departure Orientation and Meetings

All 啵啵直播秀 must attend pre-departure sessions prior to study abroad. Education Abroad and your program faculty leaders will provide you with further details pertaining to dates, times, and location in the semester before your program.听

1) Mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Education Abroad office. This session will cover general international travel related topics such as health, safety, insurance, and travel tips.听
2) Mandatory pre-departure meeting hosted by program faculty leader. This session will cover program and location specific information such as arrival, expectations, itinerary, and course overview.

啵啵直播秀