- Sicily, Italy
Benvenuti in Sicilia! This 3-week course will explore the history of food on the island of Sicily from the Neolithic to the present through the lens of the Mediterranean diet. Students will study ancient and modern agricultural practices, the influence of global trade and cross-cultural exposure on food production across time, dietary patterns among modern Sicilians, and health outcomes associated with the Mediterranean Diet. The cohort will visit historic agricultural and archaeological sites, tour ancient and contemporary farming areas, eat street food in open-air markets, explore museum collections related to food production and diet, learn from Italian public health experts and historians, and cook traditional Sicilian dishes together. Students will gain a rich understanding of both the ancient origins and contemporary implications of this dietary pattern. This course is open to all students to create an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment inclusive of all backgrounds and degrees of study.
Sponsored by College of Liberal Arts
Course(s)
-
C C 340
/
NTR 353
/
AHC 325
- Classical Archaeology in Italy
and
NSC 119 - Natural Sciences Seminar
Academic Information
Students earn 4 hours of in-residence credit upon successful completion of the course. Final course grade will be factored into students' official UT GPA. Students will also enroll in NSC 119, Wed 2:00-3:00pm, during the spring semester to prepare for the trip.
Faculty
Professor Hockett Cooper has been at UT-Austin since 2016. She studied Sociology & Classical Studies as an undergraduate, & food & farming systems in graduate school. Professor Rabinowitz is an award-winning teacher & Classical archaeologist specializing in the archaeology of food, drink & Greek colonization. He has field experience in Sicily.
Language(s) of Instruction
English
Eligibility
- Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance
- Recommended minimum 2.0 GPA.
- Upper-division undergrad students in good academic & discip. standing
- NTR students must have completed Nutrition 306 or 312 w/ at least a C
Service Learning/Internship
- Service Learning - No
- Internship - No
Open To
Students from all colleges and schools
Program Cost
Program fee includes housing, excursions, some group meals, administrative and instructional costs, on-site transportation, and on-site orientation; does not include airfare, books, insurance, all meals.
Dates:
- Program: May 11, 2026 to June 3, 2026
- Instructional: May 12, 2026 to June 2, 2026
- Final Deadline: November 1, 2025
Application Code
355179
Program Coordinator
Veronica Bocanegra Monsalve
Additional Resources
Financial Aid
Frequently Asked Questions
Scholarships
Events Calendar
Scholarships
Information Session
Next Step
Plan to attend an info session in Fall 2025 to learn more! The info session schedule can be found on the Events Calendar link above. For more info, contact Veronica Bocanegra at Veronica.bocanegramonsalve@austin.utexas.edu