Colby offers students many opportunities to study abroad, and the Italian Program strongly recommends that its minors study in Italy. The programs approved by the Department of French and Italian are Brown University in Bologna, Boston University in Padova, and Pitzer College in Parma. Students can also apply to other programs, but they first need to petition Off-Campus Studies; the Department is considering adding ECCO in Bologna and will support petitions to OCS for that program. Most Italian Studies minors spend at least one semester of their junior year abroad. Others choose to go for their entire junior year. For students unable to leave campus for an entire semester or academic year, there is a JanPlan option in Verona. Either way, immersing yourself in another culture and language is an invaluable experience that will exert a powerful influence on your character and view of the world. Keep this in mind as you begin your studies, and remember… your knowledge of Italian is the key that will unlock the door to one of most historically significant cultures in the Western world.