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Law, Societies & Justice Italy - Comparative Law and Politics in Italy, Europe and the US (Exploration Seminar)
(Outgoing Program)
Italy, a member of the European Union, is a country involved in many legal challenges focused on topics as diverse as immigrant rights (being the closest point to North Africa by sea), the death penalty and criminal justice, law and religion and rights to privacy, for example. It is also a member of the Council of Europe and its Court of Human Rights. Italy and Europe provide an interesting comparison to the United States in terms of legal culture, legal institutions and also the protection of fundamental rights.
The program is centered around a seminar course on legal institutions and law and society as well as on additional research and work in groups focused on themes in the seminar. In addition to time spent in the classroom on academic materials, students visit a wide range of institutions and meet a variety of experts working in Rome. Students also work with faculty on group projects that are integrated with course materials and the site visits. The program is designed to be challenging and academically rigorous. It uses Rome as a setting to explore some central issues in law and society, including the design of legal institutions, the impact of institutional design and local culture on legal developments. The program pays primary attention to Europe and Italy. However, because a central component of the course is migration and immigration of people and the movement of capital, the program also focuses on issues related to globalization. The program is housed at the University of Washington Rome Center. This will be our thirteenth year running the program at the center. We have developed an extensive network of local experts – from professors, to politicians, government officials (e.g. Supreme Court, Ministry of Justice, Consumer Protection Authority, Privacy Commission), lawyers and human rights advocates. This year we will focus much of the program on migration and refugee policy, given the current Syrian crisis and the current challenges being faced in Italy and the EU.
LOCATION
Rome, Italy
Housing
Students stay in apartments in or near the Rome Center
ACADEMICS
Prerequisites and Language Requirements
We do undertake a lot of walking.
Credits
5,8 UW Credits
Courses
LSJ 495: Comparative Legal Culture (5 credits for law students or 8 Credits for undergraduates)
This course on comparative legal culture is grounded in several basic assumptions. First, law at once reflects, shapes, and expresses – which is to say, it "constitutes" – the particular social or cultural contexts in which it is embedded. This course provides preliminary and provocative comparative study of legal practice in the United States and Italy. Topics covered include: legal institutions, courthouse architecture and rituals, legal education and legal careers, immigration and immigration reform, criminal justice, juvenile justice, and the death penalty.
Learning goals include:
- Basic mastery of reading material – and critical reflection on experience with different legal culture and conception of rights in Italy and Europe – 2 quizzes, and one expert discussion paper during seminar/small group projects over the course of the seminar/final exam (in class)
- Ability to review new legal challenge or case and understand the role of culture and different legal institutions in shaping the outcome (research paper)
- Ability to interact with legal professionals and other experts and to have conversations/conduct interviews – Students will prepare for and interview the experts we meet
Have basic understanding of structure of Italian legal and political system and of European intuitions (EU, Council of Europe European Court of Human Rights) I&S
Survival Italian
The Italian language component of LSJ in Rome is designed to help students navigate service-oriented situations in Rome (how to order food, for instance). The Italian language class is also lends the group a daily opportunity to touch base about upcoming extra lectures, site visits, excursions, and cooking-lesson or grocery-shopping excursions. It's a chance to remind students how to dress for site visits, what to say and do to demonstrate appreciation after visits with local experts (etiquette), etc.
Learning goals include:
The Survival Italian component of LSJ in Rome is designed to introduce students to enough Italian language basics as to make the navigation of service-oriented situations in Italy easier. Once students learn the rules of pronunciation, basic verb structures and some vocabulary, we practice ordering food at a deli, ordering in a restaurant, calling for help, taking the train, etc. In addition to learning how to navigate service-oriented situations it is the goal of this language component to help students learn a form of linguistic etiquette that enables them to be better guests in the host-nation. Demonstrating a respect and understanding of the host culture and language makes for a better experience all around.
We do not award credit for this component.
We also review aggressive language (stop! I'm calling the police) and what to do in various situations such as pickpocketing and/or harassment (draw attention to yourself, seek help from locals, leave the scene, always travel with others and stay close, etc).
PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
Anita Ramasastry, Law School, Program Director arama@uw.edu
Michael McCann, Political Science and LSJ, Program Co-Director mwmccann@uw.edu
Walter Walsh, Law School, Program Co-Director wawa@uw.edu
FINANCES
Program Expenses
Estimated Program Fee: $4,865
Included in the program fee:
$450 Study Abroad Fee
Instruction
Housing
Program activities and program travel
Not included in the program fee:
Airfare (average price subject to when and where your buy your ticket - $1,700)
Food (about $47/day)
UW Student Abroad Insurance ($1.74/day)
Other health expenses/immunizations
Personal spending money
Payment Due Date: October 13, 2018
Program fees will be posted to your MyUW student account and can be paid the same way that you pay tuition and other fees. Check your MyUW Account periodically for due dates.
Financial Aid
A large percentage of UW students utilize financial aid to study abroad. Most types of financial aid can be applied to study abroad fees.
You can submit a revision request to increase the amount of aid for the quarter you are studying abroad. These additional funds are usually awarded in the form of loans. To apply, fill out a revision request form, attach the budget sheet (available via the link at the top of this brochure) and submit these documents to the Office of Student Financial Aid. For more information about this process, consult the Financial Aid section of our website.
Consult the Financial Aid section of our website for more information on applying for financial aid, special considerations for summer and early fall programs, and budgeting and fundraising tips.
Scholarships
There are many scholarships designed to fund students studying abroad. The UW administers a study abroad scholarship program and there are national awards available as well.
Scholarships vary widely in their parameters. Some are need-based, some are location-based, and some are merit-based.
For UW Study Abroad Scholarships fill out a short questionnaire on your UW Study Abroad program application to be considered. You must apply by the priority application deadline for the program in order to be considered for a scholarship. Click the Overview tab to view application deadlines.
We understand that figuring out your finances for study abroad can be complicated and we are here to help. Here are some ways to find additional support:
Click on the Budget Sheets link at the top of this brochure to view the estimated budget of all expenses for this program.
Contact the Global Opportunities Adviser at goglobal@uw.edu to learn more about how to pay for study abroad.
Attend a Financial Planning Workshop offered by UW Study Abroad – more information is on the Events page of our website.
The study abroad application includes a personal statement, three short answer questions, one recommendation from a professor or TA, and electronic signature documents related to UW policies and expectations for study abroad. Following the online application process, you may be contacted by the program director for an in-person interview. Once an admission decision has been made regarding your application, you will be notified by the study abroad system via email.
Orientation
To be eligible to study abroad, you must complete the mandatory pre-departure orientation facilitated by UW Study Abroad. You must also attend program-specific orientations offered by the program director.
You must register for the UW Study Abroad orientation. You can visit the Orientation section of our website to view the current schedule and to register for an orientation session.
Orientation must be completed prior to the enrollment deadline for the quarter that you are studying abroad.
Visas
UW Study Abroad is not responsible for obtaining visas for study abroad program participants. The cost and requirements for obtaining visas vary. It is your responsibility to determine visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad including countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program. This is an especially important consideration if you are planning to do more than one study abroad program. You can research visa requirements by calling the consular offices of those countries or checking the following website: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html.
Note: If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements. You can check the following website to find contact information for the consulate of the country you will be visiting: https://www.state.gov/s/cpr/32122.htm.
For non-U.S. citizens, the procedures that you will need to follow may be different than those for U.S. citizens. It is important to initiate this process as soon as possible in order to assemble documents and allow time for lengthy procedures.
Disability Accommodations
The University of Washington is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, and education for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation for this program, contact Disability Resources for Students at least 8 weeks in advance of your departure date. Contact info at disability.uw.edu.
Withdrawals
$350 of the total program fee and the $450 UW Study Abroad Fee are non-refundable once a contract has been submitted. Students withdrawing from a program are responsible for paying a percentage of the program fee depending on the date of withdrawal. More details about the withdrawal policy are included in your payment contract. No part of the program fee is refundable once the program has begun. The date of withdrawal is considered the business day a withdrawal form is received by UW Study Abroad. Notice of withdrawal from the program must be made in writing by completing the following steps:
Provide notice in writing to the program director that you will no longer be participating in the program.
Submit a signed withdrawal form to UW Study Abroad.
Visit the Withdrawals section of our website for more information.