Students engage in comparative field studies through experiential learning during field trips, which will complement the classroom teaching and will be carried out in distinct coastal and marine environments. Students are led by expert professionals and researchers of the Plemmirio Marine Reserve research institute during visits to the laboratory facilities and on activities of census and control in the Protected Area, investigating its effect on marine biodiversity.

Term: Fall, Spring

Course code: SCLY 3202 (University of Minnesota)

Contact Hours: 45

Program Highlights & Experiential Learning:

• Guest lectures and seminars with diverse actors, including border guards, sea rescuers, and civil society activists

• Analysis of media framing and coverage of migration crises to understand their impact on public debate

• Interactive didactic approach involving the critical examination of labels like “economic migrant” and “refugee”

• Cross-cutting perspectives that combine anthropological, sociological, and criminal justice approaches to flow analysis

• On-site observation of the “dynamic battleground” where policy-makers and migrants interact

Course description: This course provides advanced knowledge of the policies, discourses, and media coverage of migration and asylum in the Mediterranean. Students explore the many challenges of migration through a journey that follows the process from countries of origin to transit across the sea and long-term integration in European society. By investigating different “venues” such as external borders and internal cleavages, students gain a comprehensive view of the social phenomenon of migration and the human rights issues at its core.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Analyze contemporary communication strategies and media framing related to migratory flows

• Distinguish the analytical phases of the migratory process and the role of various actors involved

• Evaluate European immigration policies and their impact on the human insecurity of people on the move

• Reflect critically on the convoluted interactions among narratives, discourses, and state politics

Term:  Fall, Spring

Course code: SCLY 3206 (University of Minnesota)

Contact Hours: 45

Program Highlights & Experiential Learning:

Collaboration with the Siracusa International Institute of Criminal Justice and Human Rights

• Site visits and guest lectures with international NGOs focused on gender justice and asylum law

• Joint case study with the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) on environmental risk factors

• NMUN Model Position Paper project that provides practical insights into the UN system and state roles

• Thematic deep dives into the relationship between climate change, food systems, and human rights

Course description: Grounded in the principles of international law, this course introduces the international system of protection for human rights. Students analyze the sources, content, and limitations of these protections, as well as the obligations they generate for states. The curriculum outlines implementation mechanisms at both universal and regional levels, providing a comparative focus on the Euro-Mediterranean region through theoretical overviews and in-depth thematic case studies.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Understand the sources of Customary International Law and Human Rights Treaties

• Analyze implementation mechanisms at the UN level and across regional systems in Europe, Africa, and the Americas

• Discuss the obligation of non-refoulement and the legal frameworks of asylum and refugee policy

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the UN Collective Security System and International Humanitarian Law

• Conduct deep-research on specific human rights topics to produce formal policy and position papers

Term: Fall, Spring

Course code: SCLY 3895 (University of Minnesota)

Contact Hours: 45 (25 instructional hours and 20 hours with a research mentor)

Program Highlights & Experiential Learning:

• Roundtable and interview sessions with border community actors such as CIAO Center for Intercultural Aid and Orientation (NGO) and Mediterranean Hope

• Field-based learning in Sicily, providing a crucial location to directly observe Mediterranean migration challenges

• Interactive research design that bridges the gap between theoretical frameworks and practical field data collection

• Ethical training focused on the unique challenges of conducting research with vulnerable migrant populations

• Comparative research opportunities allowing students to analyze data against US and international sources

Course description: This intensive research program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to further their knowledge of migration, asylum, and human rights through a comparative research experience. Based in Sicily, students move beyond the classroom to get a practical sense of what managing migration “crises” means in the Mediterranean. The program delves into the methodology and research processes used to explain sensitive social phenomena, offering students the tools to implement data collection techniques and comparative research designs.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Conduct field research and apply Social Sciences methodologies to sensitive topics

• Reflect critically on issues of migration and asylum while developing comparative analyses across different regions

• Identify ethical challenges and implement the requirements necessary to protect vulnerable subjects during research

• Develop and present a professional research design including data collection and analysis

• Execute structured and unstructured interviews in coordination with peers and focus groups

Term: Fall, Spring

Course code: SCLY3212 (University of Minnesota)

Contact Hours: 45

 Program Highlights & Experiential Learning:

• Visit to 3Sun Solar Panel Production Facility, Europe’s largest solar manufacturing site

• Field trip to a hydrogen technology company (e.g., NextHy) to observe electrolysis and storage equipment

• Analysis of “Etna Valley”, Sicily’s global semiconductor hub, and its role in renewable energy

•  Examination of industrial adaptation at ENI’s Gela and Siracusa refinery conversion project
• Guest lecture with local grid operators to discuss the technical integration of variable renewables 

Course Description: This interdisciplinary course examines the intersection of technology, renewable energy, and societal impact in Sicily, an island at the forefront of the Mediterranean’s energy transition. Students study the science and engineering behind solar, wind, hydroelectric, and hydrogen technologies, alongside the European policies—like the Green Deal—that support them.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the engineering principles of energy conversion and efficiency for key green technologies

• Evaluate the social and economic factors fostering the adoption of renewables in the Mediterranean 

• Critically assess new technologies through the lenses of sustainability, justice, and cultural context

• Analyze the technical and policy requirements for integrating renewables into modern power grids

Term: Fall, Spring

Course code: SCLY3211 ( University of Minnesota )

Contact Hours: 45

Program Highlights & Experiential Learning:

• Visit to Libera Terra to learn about social farming on land confiscated from organized crime

• Field trip to Orti Sociali (Urban Gardens) in Siracusa to discuss local food security  

• Ancient Sicilian Grains workshop, including grain recognition and traditional bread tasting

• Collaborative Design Project where students draft a comprehensive sustainable agroecosystem plan

• Engagement with local experts on the “Caporalato” undocumented migrant exploitation system and migrant labor rights in Italian and European agriculture

Course Description: Adopting a holistic systems approach, this course offers an interdisciplinary investigation into sustainable food systems and ecological practices in Sicily. Students explore the island’s agricultural evolution—from Neolithic fertility rituals to the “Green Revolution”—to understand how historical globalization shapes contemporary farming.

The course emphasizes the fundamentals of agroecology and permaculture design, challenging students to address real-world issues like soil fertility, water scarcity, and climate resilience. Beyond the science, students examine the social and economic pressures facing Mediterranean farmers, including international competition and labor exploitation

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Understand the core principles of agroecology, permaculture, and sustainable agroecosystem design

• Design a conceptual development plan for a sustainable farm or local food system

• Evaluate the impact of farming practices on ecological sustainability and biodiversity

• Compare Mediterranean food systems with global agroecosystems to identify resilience strategies

Term: Fall, Spring
Course code: ITL100 / ITL150 / ITL200 / ITL250 / ITL300
Contact Hours: Session I or II: 45 hours

Program Highlights & Experiential Learning:

• Field trip to historical and cultural sites of interest (UNESCO World Heritage Sites) – Visit to local traditional street market
• Traditional Sicilian Cooking class
• Intercultural exchanges with local and international students

Course description:

The language courses are offered at different levels for students who are either approaching the study of Italian for the first time or who have already taken previous Italian courses.

Lessons are held in Italian through a communicative approach and take into consideration the need to combine the study of lexis and grammar with the development of communication skills and cultural awareness. The instructor encourages students to put the language structures and vocabulary studied in class into practice in real life situations, thus accelerating the learning process and bringing students into contact with local society so that they may fully appreciate the way of life and cultural differences. This knowledge is an integral part of linguistic competence.