Study Abroad

  • students working with typesetting tools
  • students abroad
  • students abroad
  • students abroad
  • students abroad

Western Michigan University's Frostic School of Art encourages study outside the classroom in order for students to consider their creative work and relationship in a broader context. We believe in preparing our students with global awareness and an understanding of art and culture in the broadest sense. Our education programs are located in Paris, Florence and Java. We accept transfer credit from many other study abroad programs around the world. 

Book Arts in Venice

Study the history of books and art in Venice, Florence, Verona, Padua, and Cornuda, a village at the foothills of the Dolomite Mountains.

  • See historic sites including the Grand Canal, Piazza San Marco, and the Arena Chapel of Giotto.
  • Visit museums, libraries, and some of the oldest universities in the world.
  • Work at professional studios including the Scuola di Grafica Internazionale, a printmaking school in Venice, Firenze Arti Visive, an art school in Florence, and Tipoteca Italiana Fondazione, one of the largest typography museums in Europe.
  • Participate with fellow students in a collaborative project that culminates in an exhibit at the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center. 

The Italian Journey

Study the history of Italian art and culture while living and working in the heart of Florence.

  • Live in shared apartments and participate in excursions to Rome, Assisi, Bologna, Ravenna, and the Chianti region of Tuscany.
  • Work at the historic studio of Firenze Arti Visive, and participate in introductory workshops in drawing, printmaking, and photo processes.
  • Visit historic sites including the Uffizi, the Coliseum, the Vatican, Giotto’s Basilica of St. Francis, and the Byzantine mosaics of Ravenna, and use these experiences as an inspiration for your work.

Studio Art Centers International 

Studio Art Centers International is a fully accredited art school located in Florence, Italy, the birthplace of the Renaissance. SACI's mission is to provide a unique, life-enhancing study-abroad experience in the center of Florence for students of both traditional and contemporary studio arts and design by offering direct access to centuries of Florentine and Italian culture and a wide range of arts academic courses of outstanding quality.

SACI offers courses year-round and serves students from over 35 institutions across the US. Courses include traditional 2-D and 3-D studies as well as art history, art conservation, animation, illustration, and digital media. In addition, SACI is able to offer opportunities for students to study important works of art first hand, such as Michelangelo's David, as well as participate in exciting conservation projects throughout Florence and the surrounding region.

Students have access to over 140 field trips per year and are encouraged to visit important exhibitions such as the Venice Biennial and the International Art Fair in Bologna. 

Financial aid is available for academic year study.

Application deadlines

You first must apply through the WMU Office of Study Abroad.

SACI enrollment termApplication deadline
Summer I April 1
Summer II May 15
Fall  June 15
Spring November 15                        

Find more information about SACI at www.saci-florence.edu