Siena School for Liberal Arts (Summer Deaf Studies)

Location: Siena, Italy

Credits: 6

Program Type: RIT Affiliate Partner

Term(s): Summer

Language of Instruction: English, ASL

Level:

Undergraduate, Graduate

buildings in Siena, Italy

Siena is an RIT study abroad partner offering a three-week summer program to learn about Italian Deaf Culture & History.

  • Participate in a summer program that introduces ASL users to Deaf communities beyond the United States.
  • Study with other U.S. students in the beautiful city of Siena, Italy located in the Tuscany region.
  • Gain a new perspective on ASL as a visual and spatial language and learn Italian sign language (LIS).

    Participants must know ASL: ASL level IV (or equivalent) is recommended. ASL level III (or equivalent) will be considered, with skills assessed through a short interview. 

    Watch this video (in ASL) to see what students say about the program.

 

Siena School for Liberal Arts is an RIT affiliate study abroad partner that offers a summer program in Deaf Studies. 

Since 2005, the Siena Deaf Studies Department has ambitiously worked with Italian and American Deaf and signing communities to provide exciting opportunities for students and professionals alike. Through close collaboration with top professionals in the field, our programs allow ASL users access to transnational Deaf and signing communities by teaching Italian Sign Language (LIS) and Italian Deaf Culture and history. The program is taught in English and ASL.

Course Details:
Take 2 courses for 6 credits:

  • Italian Deaf Culture & History (counts as an RIT Global Perspective or as a Free or Program elective)
  • Italian Sign Language (counts as an RIT Global Perspective or as a Free or Program elective)

    No course pre-requisites. Open to all undergraduate majors, 2.5 cumulative GPA or above. No Italian language required.

Application deadline: March 1, 2026

Program cost: Students will pay tuition, a program fee (housing while in Italy) and out-of-pocket costs like flight, meals, personal spending. A budget worksheet outlining all program costs is available here, and students can meet with RIT financial aid to see how their aid package may apply towards program costs.

Visit the RIT Study Abroad Compass (program and application database) to search for the Siena Deaf Studies program, learn more, and start an application. 

RIT students interested in a Siena program will need to meet with RIT study abroad advisor, Roseanne Hernandez - choose appt. date/time. If you need interpreting support for your meeting, please reserve at myaccess.rit.edu.

Contact

RIT Education Abroad
global@rit.edu