Italian Immersion Program

Post

Since 2009, the Italian Immersion Program has given Central Ohio Technical College students the unique opportunity to stay with host families in Italy and tour the country to expose themselves to other cultures and expand their learning experience beyond the classroom.

This chaperoned, all-expenses-paid cultural immersion program includes travel to Reggello and Florence as well as multiple venues in the Tuscany region of Italy where students explore the Italian language, art, classical studies, history, literature, philosophy, music, food and architecture.

Eligibility

Interested students must meet the following requirements:

  • At least 18 years old at time of travel
  • Completed a minimum of one semester (before the start of the spring semester)
  • Have least nine credit hours of college-level coursework at COTC
  • Enroll during the spring semester
  • Return for the summer/autumn semester OR graduate in spring semester

College Credit Plus (CCP) students are not eligible to participate.

Important Dates

Sept. 27, 2024: Application opens
Oct. 18, 2024: Applications are due no later than 5 p.m.
Oct. 28– Nov. 1, 2024: Individual Interviews
Nov. 15, 2024: Acceptance/non-acceptance decisions sent

July 12–26, 2025: Travel

Apply

Acceptance to the program is competitive and is determined based on academic and behavioral records, involvement with COTC, a written statement of purpose, a letter of recommendation, and a demonstrated interest in participating in an intensive cultural immersion experience. All interested students must complete an application and a personal interview with a selection committee.

Application deadline: Oct. 18 at 5 p.m.

Apply

For more information, contact the Office of Student Life at waser.5@mail.cotc.edu or 740.364.9578.

Cost

Due to the extreme generosity of the Gilbert Reese Family Foundation, there will be no program cost incurred by the selected student participants in this program. Program fees that are covered for all student participants include flight, in-country travel, accommodations, meals, and all excursions and field trips. The program fee does not include personal expenses. 

Accommodations

During the program, students stay as guests of selected host families, in their homes, within the town of Reggello, Italy.

Passports

Passports are required for every COTC student participating in the study abroad program. The coordination of the passport application process as well as any ensuing cost will be provided by COTC. Passports must be valid and not expire prior to January 2026. If your passport’s expiration date occurs prior to that date, you will be required to renew.

Pre-Departure Orientation

On-campus seminars will meet four to five times prior to the program for three hours of discussion and visual presentation. These sessions will also be utilized as pre-departure orientation sessions and are all mandatory. In addition, an online training module will be utilized and may require a time commitment outside of the seminars.

Sponsor

This program is possible through the generosity of Louella H. Reese and the Gilbert Reese Family Foundation. Thanks to the Reese family and their efforts to sustain this program by covering all program fees, COTC gives students a competitive edge in the global marketplace.

Photos provided by Lenna Stiltner, 2024 COTC graduate and 2023 Italian Immersion Program participant.