Archives: Departments

The International Business Department’s mission is to inspire the minds of future leaders. LdM leverages Italy’s special position as a country where the modern world of commerce, finance, and media converge in a historical and multicultural setting. On one hand, students learn to assess cross-cultural challenges using practical skills developed through academics and hands-on research, on the other, they manage to discover their personal qualities and cultivate ethical awareness. The Department views cultural diversity as an asset; it is the base for developing teamwork skills and the emotional intelligence required of today’s modern global citizen.

At LdM, International Business students gain an understanding of the international aspects of business, the macro and microeconomics of the business world, as well as the relationship between government and business and between government and society. A key component in the business sphere, marketing is explored on the international scale, in both industrialized and emerging markets. International Business students gain managerial skills and analyze the EU as an international power. Considerable attention is also given to the vital role of international economic organizations like the WTO and the IMF.

The LdM faculty comes from both academic and professional sectors, each bringing their knowledge and direct experience into teaching. They have developed courses that involve guided inquiry in a case-based structure to foster a deeper understanding of the subjects and how they apply to real-life practices. This ensures that students gain exposure to different perspectives, which enables them to become independent and critical thinkers, as well as effective communicators in an increasingly complex and multi-cultural society. 

Internships in both large and small local companies allow students to gain the necessary skills to work and adapt to multinational and disparate businesses. All courses allow students to work on group projects, where they can put into practice the knowledge gained in class. Group projects can also help students to build portfolios and visibility in the real world. 

With the massive growth in today’s global economy, individuals with an International Business education have better opportunities for advancement in their chosen professions. Many students delve further into their studies pursuing an MBA, but many others find fulfilling professional careers in accounting and finance, HR, marketing and communications, business development, business executive, economist, policy analyst, and law. 

The History Department provides students with the analytical and interpretive skills to delve into history’s interconnectedness. We believe in the motto Historia magistra vitae est: knowledge of the past helps to understand the present. From the evaluation of classical history to the investigation of contemporary socio-political and cultural phenomena of this pragmatic discipline, students learn to analyze paradigm shifts in time and place that affect the course of human events.

The Department offers students over 25 courses that span from Etruscans to ancient Rome to contemporary times. Topics explore areas such as how the European Union came to be, the powerful women of the Medici dynasty, the aspects of daily Renaissance life in Florence, and the importance of the Catholic Church in Italian history and society. LdM aims at teaching students what it means to think historically, as they gain a new perspective and depth of understanding in the present reality.

Dedicated faculty are there to inspire students to investigate centuries of the historical record. By testing the different forms of evidence that the archive leaves, students learn to exploit these sources and convert their findings into persuasive inquires laying out the implications and influences of the past. 

It takes an inquisitive mind and passion to pursue the many lessons that this discipline has to give. History inspires people to explore other academic disciplines. Many history students realize their potential with careers in journalism, education, as a librarian, information specialists, and lobbyists. 

The Environmental Studies and Geography Department is committed to gain insight into the physical and human impact on the sustainability of life on earth. LdM’s goal is to provide students with the knowledge, analytical skills and global perspective required of responsible global citizens through an interdisciplinary approach. Students will be prepared to make solid contributions in an expanding vital field through their chosen professions. 

LdM is increasingly aware of the human impact on climate, vegetation, its socio-cultural aspects as a field of inquiry, and the geopolitical landscape. The Department and its dedicated faculty have built a curriculum that reflects this awareness; based on a multi-disciplinary approach, courses focus on the main geographical, historical, and cultural features of the Tuscan region and its relevant areas such as Mugello, the Apennines, Chianti, and Maremma. Emphasis is given to a variety of subjects ranging from environmental preservation and sustainable agricultural practices to the conservation of biological and culinary diversity.

Many students who are interested in Environmental Studies and Geography move on to graduate degrees within or in related fields. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the study, students find a wide range of opportunities for careers: environmental control, in nonprofit organizations, environmental law, organic farming, health, education, and public administration.

The Gender Studies Department at LdM aims to enhance a cultural understanding of gender structures and representations, and how these impact history, policy, and society through scholarly research. LdM’s dedicated faculty and mentors endeavor to promote students’ sensitivity to gender issues and its many facets including identity, race, class, and disability. In this way, the Department seeks to empower students in their daily lives and to inspire them to contribute to contemporary struggles for social justice.

Courses are designed to introduce students to the intersectional analysis of gender through social, cultural, religious and political structures. The range of topics spans from an introduction to the field of gender studies to a critical reflection of the theory of evolution. Among other themes, students have the chance to engage in a historical examination of four-centuries of the Medici through the lens of the Medici women, as well as some of the most prominent women in 20th-Century European and American fiction. 

The curriculum wants students to critically confront specific gender practices through investigating areas such as feminism, the politics of representation, gender and work, gender and health, and media. Core courses provide students with the ability to criticize traditional social, cultural, religious and political structures for gender bias. Guided visits to religious places viewed through a female lens allow for the unveiling of gender stereotypes found in novels, history, and religious texts. Students learn to apply methods derived from multiple disciplines to the study of gender in a global multicultural context.

The Education Department at LdM is committed to providing a meaningful, engaging and thought-provoking experience. Students will be deeply engaged in advancing their educational practice through hands-on experience. The Department values creativity and innovation in education and strives to inspire a sense of responsibility regarding cultural diversity and equality.  

With LdM’s integrative approach to the field of education, students are exposed to a wide range of other disciplines such as psychology, sociology, history, and economics. Taught by experienced and dedicated experts, the courses combine theoretical ideas and research with practical experience.

Through the exploration of inspirational ideas from Gandhi to Maria Montessori, to understanding the core concepts of multicultural education, students learn to build bridges that connect the classroom to the world around them. 

LdM Students interested in education as a professional endeavor have futures as exceptional educators; they work in government as influential policymakers, and many go on to pursue graduate degrees in the same field.

The Art History Department’s mission builds on a long tradition of intellectual and innovative artists, with a rich historical perspective that spans from classical antiquity to the Renaissance to the modern age. Through this lens, students will be asked to challenge historical canon, to rethink the relationships between expression and history, and to introduce philosophical and critical discourse in the pursuit of socially responsible preservation.

An unparalleled access to museums, festivals, artists and their works — both present and past — provides a truly rich environment for studying Art History. Whether it is devoted to Michelangelo’s Renaissance sculptures, Nudes in Modern Art, or museology, LdM brings students into direct contact with artworks and monuments in the cities they live and study in. Students will have an interdisciplinary understanding of art history through aspects of major historical art movements, monographic studies of single artists, religious and secular symbolism, and the history of patronage and art collection. 

Internships and other hands-on activities provide all students with the practical experience necessary to pursue a career in art and other related fields while realizing their professional goals. LdM places a strong emphasis on museum studies and art exhibitions planning, paving the way for students to pursue an M.A. in Museum Studies if they choose. 

Art History majors use their analytical skills and their cultural experience to pursue careers in museums and art galleries, as educators, public relations, marketing and communications, conservation and restoration, and even law enforcement.

Certificates available at LdM:

• Fine Arts One-Year Certificate
• Fine Arts Professional Certificate

This Department’s mission is to help students examine the fundamental questions that lie at the core of Ancient Studies as a field of intellectual inquiry. Students learn to critically observe from a historical and interdisciplinary point of view cultural and social phenomena such as religion, communicative strategies, socio-political development, and the impacts these have on the contemporary world.   

At LdM, we have a dedicated and diverse faculty of scholars and instructors whose areas of expertise represent a variety of disciplines at the heart of ancient studies and antiquities. The foundation of the curriculum is based in Classical studies. The broad academic subjects range from philosophy and government, to the arts and language, to archaeology and international studies, and many other fields. The courses cover both the theoretical aspects as well as the interdisciplinary connections of life in the ancient world, which incorporate such topics as belief systems and the hierarchical constructs of ancient civilizations. 

Students at LdM have the rare opportunity to experience their academic instruction in Italy, the epicenter of the Mediterranean and Classical studies. By maintaining both balance and integration among subjects which have traditionally characterized the discipline, students explore aspects of the Etruscan, Greek and Roman achievements. They are invited to investigate long-term cultural and historical processes using a comparative approach spanning space and time. 

LdM enjoys an enriching collaboration with The Center for Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies (CAMNES), and their outstanding scholars and researchers. The main objective of this collaboration is to create an educational and research environment where students learn about the roots of our ancient past and their influence on contemporary society.

Fieldwork is considered an essential experience, along with focusing on archaeological theory, methods and research, providing a well-rounded and professional approach to the subject. The field excavation in the Tuscania necropolis is open to Italian and international students alike. This allows students to work side-by-side with Italian archaeology students giving them a fully immersed intercultural experience.

In the fall of 2010, the Center for Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies (CAMNES) began a distinctive collaboration with LdM overseeing the Department of Ancient Studies and the Department of Religious Studies. As an academic partner, CAMNES offers a diverse approach to studying and understanding ancient cultures, creating a paradigm shift through participatory research in preserving cultural heritage. 

CAMNES and its Scientific Committee form an international network of professionals and institutions focused on communication and synergy in joint archaeological and research projects. By combining their experience in both theoretical and practical scientific research, the international faculty, researchers and students have a valuable opportunity to exchange technical skills and expand their knowledge of the great ancient civilizations, while encouraging awareness of the present and creating bright new opportunities for the future.  

LdM Mission is to unite the scientific experience of CAMNES with the academic expertise of LdM. The aim is to provide a stimulating and inclusive environment based on a multidisciplinary approach in the study and research of Mediterranean and Near Eastern cultures. This is achieved by delivering high-quality academic courses, study programs, seminars, exhibitions, conferences and other scientific activities as well as hands-on experience in professional environments within the fields of archaeology, anthropology, conservation, history, literature, philology and art history. The CAMNES and LdM program thus studies archaeology in conjunction with ancient studies and religious studies. This includes both in-class lectures and practical experience that facilitate the learning process.

CAMNES and LdM have also established Field Schools that take place every summer, where students learn and actively participate in a professional archeological setting. Excavations are carried out at the Etruscan necropolis in Tuscania (Viterbo), which has recently become an Archaeological Park open to the public. The CAMNES field excavation in the Tuscania necropolis is partnered with the University of Florence where LdM students work alongside Italian archaeology students for a complete intercultural experience.

Through the LdM-CAMNES Programs, students have a rare opportunity to live in and experience the environment and culture of prominent Italian locations: Florence, Rome and Tuscania.

For more information read the CAMNES 2020 Brochure.

The LdM Anthropology Department is committed to the exploration of what it means to be human and how individuals understand and operate successfully in distinct cultural settings. The Department with its multidisciplinary curriculum strikes a balance by integrating the four fields of Anthropology (cultural, biological, archaeological and linguistics) through fieldwork and case studies that challenge and prepare students for their future professional endeavors. Trained experts and scholars in their respective fields guide students through the various disciplines. 

The Department offers courses that are exciting and engaging, drawing from the deep well of human diversity. Courses range from familial structures, to values and beliefs, languages, and patterns in historical fashion trends. By studying people and their material and spiritual values from a historical and comparative perspective, the Department seeks to advance the understanding of multiculturalism and the knowledge of ourselves. LdM achieves this by exposing students through research and educational instruction to cross-cultural experiences by using the backdrop of Italian society. 

The courses challenge students of LdM to develop effective skills in research, proposing empirical evidence and through verbal and written communication. In introducing cross-cultural psychology and how to conduct ethnographic interviews in an academic and ethically sound way, students learn how to analyze interpersonal and intercultural communication in today’s globalized environment. 

Because of its comprehensive approach, with an emphasis on applied anthropology, students complete their studies prepared to pursue careers in museum studies, marketing and communications, and social sciences. Others pursue graduate degrees in cultural anthropology, archaeology, biology, and even law school, while many more go to work in non-profit organizations.