Summer in Florence

with the Coast Community College District
(Orange Coast College)
June 5 - July 5, 2025
Program Pending Board Approval

Program Application

Immerse yourself in experiential learning...

Spend the Summer in Florence with the Coast Community College District (Orange Coast College) and Accent. Florence becomes an extension of your classroom as you explore Florentine cathedrals, monuments, churches, museums and galleries while attending language classes at the Accent Florence Study Center with CCCD faculty. Participants on the Summer in Florence Program live in student apartments or in homestays (with supplement) located throughout the city. The Accent Florence Study Center also provides support and guidance to students on each of its programs.

Franca Hamber is a native of Italy. Before moving to the United States, she was educated at the University of Bologna in Italy, where she studied Italian Literature. She has a B.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of California at Irvine. She has taught Italian courses at UCI for twenty-five years. Upon her retirement from UCI, she continued teaching Italian as a part-time faculty at Orange Coast College. She has conducted study abroad programs in Florence, Italy, enthusiastically for the past twenty years.

The Summer in Florence Program is open to students who are at least 18 years of age at the time of application. Program space is limited. Students should complete the online application with the $250 non-refundable first payment as soon as possible. Upon receipt of your application and first payment, the Coast Community College District and Accent will provide you with additional application and enrollment forms. Applications must be received by March 27, 2025. Beyond March 27, limited enrollment is allowed when space permits.

The Summer in Florence Program is offered for transferable college credit through Orange Coast College or Golden West College. Orange Coast and Golden West Colleges are accredited California Community Colleges that will provide a transcript upon request for the coursework completed overseas. All courses are transferable to the University of California and California State University systems. Please verify the transferability of courses with your advisor or registrar before you apply.

Classes will be held at Accent Study Center located steps away from the Duomo. Classes are taught by Franca Hamber. 

Italian A180: Elementary Italian                    5 semester units
Fundamentals of Italian language including reading, writing, speaking and comprehension at the beginning level. An introduction to readings depicting the Italian culture.

Italian A185: Elementary Italian                    5 semester units
Emphasis on reading, writing, speaking and comprehension at the second semester level, and a broader scope of selected literary works and cultural awareness.

Cultural learning is an integral part of the Summer in Florence Program. Participants attend on-site lectures at museums and historical sites within and outside of Florence. Also included in the program are two one-day excursions to Villa Petraia and Siena or Luca (includes entries, transportation and guided visits) as well as an Italian cooking class and a food tasting at a local market. Excursions are chosen based on the academic curriculum and are subject to change.

Application due: with first payment
Final payment due: March 27
Departure from U.S.: June 4
Arrival in Florence: June 5
Overseas orientation: June 6
Classes begin: June 9
National Holiday: June 24
Return to U.S.: July 5

Program Price: $3600

  • Double room in a shared student apartment in Florence
  • On-site orientation program and walking tour of Florence
  • Two one-day excursions to Villa Petraia and Siena or Luca including entries, guides, and transportation
  • One Italian cooking class
  • Food tasting at local market
  • Entries for program guided visits to Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery
  • Overseas orientation program
  • Overseas information and resource center with Accent Florence on-site staff

  • Round-trip airfare (estimated airfare $1900-$2100)
  • The Coast Community College District tuition and fees
  • Optional $800 single room supplement
  • Optional $965 single room in a homestay supplement, includes breakfast daily and four meals per week
  • Personal expenses, passports, visas, books, and anything not listed as included
  • Meals
  • Required CCCD medical insurance (see description below)
  • Travel, trip cancellation insurance and personal property insurance

Students may choose to live in double or single rooms in shared student apartments. Single rooms in shared apartments are extremely limited, are not guaranteed, and require a supplement of $800. Student apartments include shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. Single rooms in a homestay are also available, they are limited, not guaranteed and require a supplement of $965. All homestays include breakfast and four meals per week. Apartments and homestays are located throughout Florence, within walking distance or a bus ride from classes and the city center. Housing is provided from the first day of the program (June 5, 2025).

All participants must check-in at the Accent Florence Center June 5, 2025 between 9am and 5pm (Note: most transatlantic flights depart one day before their arrival date). Estimated airfare $1900 - $2100.

Academic credit for this program is awarded by Orange Coast or Golden West College. A $46 per unit enrollment fee must be paid to CCCD at the time of registration. Nonresidents of California pay $412 per unit. Fees are set by the State of California and are subject to change. For more information, please contact Franca Hamber at 949-981-1487 or fhamber@occ.cccd.edu.

All program participants are required to purchase short-term outbound study abroad medical insurance through an approved District insurance provider. Program participants can find further information on the required study abroad medical insurance on the CCCD web site. Program participants must purchase this study abroad medical insurance no less than 60 days prior to program departure. Failure to purchase the required study abroad medical insurance shall prevent student from participating in the study abroad program.

Payment Schedule

Non-refundable first payment – $250
Final payment due March 27, 2025 – $3350

The payment schedule is the applicant’s contractual obligation. Failure to make each payment when due shall automatically cancel participant from the program one week after payment due date. All payments are effective the day they are received by the Accent U.S. Office. Accent, in its sole discretion, may reinstate an applicant subject to availability of space and late enrollment fees. Accent charges a $30 bounced check fee for each check received that is not promptly paid by your bank in the normal course of business. The program price is based on 15 participants, the price may change depending on final enrollment.

Cancellations

Cancellation Fees:
71 days or more prior to start of program – $250
50 to 70 days prior to start of program – $800
31 to 49 days prior to start of program – $1,100
0 to 30 days prior to start of program – No Refund
All cancellations must be made in writing to Accent and the Coast Community College District and are effective the date of receipt by Accent. Participants are liable for payments until written cancellation is received by Accent.
Trip cancellation insurance is highly recommended, this link provides a summary on the different types of trip cancellation insurance available. Please take the time to evaluate your options.
Before the start date of the program, should CCCD’s protocols deem necessary to cancel the program for any health or safety reasons, Accent Global Learning will refund recoverable program costs only.

Ready to spend your summer in Florence?

Program Application
Accent Global Learning, and not the Coast Community College District, is responsible for all travel arrangements and any liability arising therefrom. The Coast Community College District is NOT liable for any damages arising out of the services described herein, including, but not limited to any promises or representations, whether expressed or implied. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to in any way bind the District, the District Governing Board, any of their agents, employees or representatives to any promises, obligations, covenants or duties whether expressed or implied herein.
Accent Global Learning is not responsible for the academic segment of the program except as specified in the contract between Accent and the Coast Community College District. Nor is Accent responsible for airline delays of any kind, or for expenses or loss incurred as a result of such delays. With regard to transportation/travel, regardless of the type of vehicle, Accent acts for the passenger as agent only. Accent assumes no liability for accident, injury, damage, or loss in any vehicle, or as a result of default by any person or company engaged in transporting the passenger. CST #1013432-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.