More and more students are choosing to studying abroad at the University of Arkansas Rome Center. A record 107 students plan to spend part of the summer term studying at the center. However, interest is growing in spending a full semester at the Italian campus.

The Office of Study Abroad and International Exchange will host a Rome Center information session from 4-6 p.m. today in the Gearhart Hall Honors Lounge (GEAR 130).

The reasons to study in Rome are many, but here are seven favorites:

1. Credit for Coursework

The Rome Center semester program is the only semester-long study abroad program in which students earn direct U of A credit for their coursework.

2. Room with a View

Courses in the semester program are cross-listed and suitable for many majors.

3. Cultural Transition

Students at the Rome Center are supported by U of A faculty and staff, who help students transition to a new city, culture and language.

4. World-Class Examples

The courses offered at the Rome Center are tailored to the city, maximizing the advantages of living in a world-class city to expose students to new ideas and places.

5. In the Thick of Things

The Rome Center is housed in the historic Palazzo Taverna and is just minutes from the Vatican, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon.

6. Ancient Paths

Students live close to the school and trace the paths of ancient Romans and centuries of Christian pilgrims as they walk to class each day.

7. A Fount of Experience

The broad curriculum focuses on the life of the city itself, extending learning beyond the classroom.