Students interested in studying abroad in Italy during Early Fall (after summer quarter ends and before fall quarter begins) should consider the LSJ/Pol S in Rome 2026 Program Comparative Legal Cultures & Individual Rights: Italy, U.S. and Europe
DATES OF INSTRUCTION: Arrive August 22 - Depart September 18, 2026
LOCATION: Rome, Italy in the UW Rome Center.
CREDITS: 8 credits of LSJ OR POL S 495 (SSc)
Course Information: This course compares legal cultures and institutions in four jurisdictional settings: Italy, the United States, the European Union (EU), and the European Convention on Human Rights system (ECHR). We will explore the history, theoretical underpinnings, institutional architecture, and lived reality of these legal regimes, as well as the social, cultural, and ideological forces that have shaped their development. We will also examine their mutual influence and interaction. Our focus will be on individual rights. Italian, US, and European legal institutions are pledged to the respect of individual rights, but the extent to which they honor their promise is another story. We will seek greater understanding of the ways in which these legal regimes have defined, shaped, sometimes protected, and sometimes violated individual rights. We will look in particular at the right to due process, freedom from arbitrary and disproportionate punishment, immigrant rights, refugee rights, and freedom of religion. This course will enrich your understanding of US legal institutions and culture, receive an introduction to the Italian constitutional and judicial system, and gain basic knowledge about the legal norms and institutions associated with the EU and ECHR.
The Italian language and culture course is not for credit.
The Italian language component of LSJ in Rome is designed to help students navigate service-oriented situations in Rome (how to order food, for instance). The Italian language class also provides a daily opportunity to touch base about upcoming extra lectures, site visits, excursions, cooking-lesson and/or grocery-shopping excursions. It's a chance to remind students how to dress for site visits, what to say and do to during and after site visits with local experts (etiquette), and how to convey some understanding of the social and cultural customs of the country by way of respectful language/appropriate language/ ITALIAN language (vs only using English). // Italian class is also when we reiterate where to meet in case of emergency, what to do incase of theft, harassment, injury, illness. While we do talk about all of these things during orientation, it's proved helpful to have a space/time during which to REPEAT what to do in crisis situation and where to go.
PROGRAM FEES, INSURANCE AND COST: $6110.00 (covers apartments, some meals, an overnight trip, museum visits, program cost/fees)
Program Directors: Walter Walsh (UW Law) and Michael McCann (LSJ/POL S)
UW Study Abroad Application and Info site click here.
QUESTIONS? Come to an info session or email questions to arama@uw.edu or wawa@uw.edu