The Colosseum. St. Peter’s Basilica. The Trevi Fountain. Aquinas students.
Aquinas students?
In fall 2010, there will be something new to see in Italy with 10 of Aquinas’ own studying within Rome’s borders.
In 2007, Dr. John Pinheiro, Director of Catholic Studies and Associate Professor of History, was the advisor for the Ireland study abroad program. He and a group of students spent their Spring Breaks traveling through Europe which included Rome. During this trip, Pinheiro had an epiphany.
“I thought,” said Pinheiro, “I can’t believe we don’t have a Rome program. I’m going to go home and make that program.”
And he did. Pinheiro had contacts through the St. Thomas More College of Liberal Arts that hosts students from various Catholic schools throughout America and inquired if having Aquinas students would be a possibility, and it was.
Then last year, he talked with Provost Chad Gunnoe and Joelle Baldwin, Director of International Programs, about sending students to Rome through the St. Thomas More program.
Though the original intent was to solely send Catholic Studies students to Rome, they all agreed that the program should be open to everyone.
Pinheiro foresees the Rome program occurring straight through the Aquinas international program. Until then, the advisors will be hired through the St. Thomas More Liberal Arts College.
While studying in Rome, students will have opportunities to earn credits in these amongst others:

• Theology- a journey will be taken through St. Paul’s writing to find the deeper meaning of salvation.
• Humanities-students will study authors and works of art through a variety of time periods to deepen their understanding of the European culture.
• Writing- students will explore a thorough examination of how poetry has deepened the understanding of nature and language.
• Art- students will extensively visit the sites in Rome, Lazio, Umbria and Tuscany and use these arts in place of textbooks.

“With the recent addition of the Catholic Studies program, the focus narrowed to establishing a program in Rome that would be beneficial to Catholic Studies minors as well as the general Aquinas student population,” said Joelle Baldwin.
“Additionally, this program does not have an Italian language prerequisite so the Rome Program expands the international opportunities available to Aquinas students who are not majoring or minoring in a foreign language.”
In addition, students will be given the opportunity to complete an internship with Vatican media centers like Vatican Radio, Zenit News Agency, Inside the Vatican magazine and H2O news. Through these internships, participants will help to create broadcasts and literature about Church news that will be sent around the world.
Credit approval for an internship must be coordinated with the Aquinas College Career Development Center before the student leaves for Rome.
The students will be staying at the Villa Serenella study center, only five miles from Vatican City, on the grounds of the Monastery of Saint Isaia.
“The villa boasts an amazing location…with easy access to the city center of Rome,” said Baldwin. “Students will have access to the center’s 13 acres of olive groves, walking paths, soccer field, fountains and on-site chapel.”
Students participating in the fall 2010 Rome program will still be responsible for paying the semester of tuition to Aquinas in addition to the $8,000 program fee.
Though this fee may be higher than other study abroad trips, it includes housing, basic travel and medical insurance, board which includes three meals per day and class excursions offered at least three weekends of every month.
All financial aid is applicable to this program. Participants are also suggested to bring at least $2,500 to cover flights, passports, books and personal excursions.
In the words of Dr. Pinheiro, “What better place to study humanities, art and philosophy than Rome?”