Students interested in ethnic food marketing strategies in Italy may have a chance to study abroad next summer in Rome. The Department of Advertising will offer ADV 400 "Advertising Italian Style: Global Studies in Italian Food, Culture, and Strategic Communications" as a two-part course in Spring 2010.

For the first part of the course, students take a three-credit-hour online course from the Urbana campus. The online course will include lectures, video tours, guest lectures, and interactive sessions during which students will enhance their skills in new media and will learn to prepare and deliver presentations, collaborate and solve problems using various online platforms.

The second phase of the course will take students to Rome, Italy, to study and experience Italian food culture firsthand. In addition to lectures and trips to local street markets, tratorias, enotecas, gelaterias, supermarkets, and media and advertising agencies in Rome. Several field trips are planned to introduce students to how food is grown and prepared in the Italian countryside. Assignments will include working individually and in teams to develop a a multi-media presentation on Italian food industries.

The course application deadline is November 9, 2009. Interested students may attend upcoming information sessions, October 12, 2009, 5-6 p.m., or October 20, 2009, 4-5 p.m., both in 213 Gregory Hall.