ECN380.2 Economics of Health and Education (at the U. of Florence) (Fall)

Open only to students accepted to the special program Florence Center & University of Florence (courses taught in English).

Taught in English at the University of Florence.

Both education and health are important determinants of human capital which is widely recognized as a key issue for individual well-being and economic development. This course investigates the basic model of education as a human capital investment, discussing the difference between private and social returns to education, and models of education as a signaling and a screening device. This course also analyzes the basic model on the demand for health as a consumption good, a capital investment, and an input into production, stressing the importance of complementarities between health and education.

Prereq: Introductory economics course and and at least one college-level Math course.

HST380.1 Economic History of Globalization (at the U. of Florence) (Fall)

Open only to students accepted to the special program Florence Center & University of Florence (courses taught in English).

Taught in English at the University of Florence.

This course will examine the idea of globalization as a long-term phenomenon, analyzing the different forms that such a concept can take over the centuries from the late Middle Ages to the early contemporary age. Some macro-themes will then be analyzed from this perspective in order to identify trends and moments of discontinuity, as well as the different global impact of their dynamics. The course will also propose a historical as well as thematic investigation of economic globalization since the 1820s, revolving around three main macro themes, all considered in a historical perspective: first, the notion and phases of globalization and the weight that modern industrial development and technology had in its development; second, the role of international trade and finance, as well as governance, in globalization; finally, the weight of economic crises, which constitute a feature of market economies, in hampering or stimulating economic globalization.

PSC380.4 Human Rights and Armed Conflicts (at the U. of Florence) (Fall)

Open only to students accepted to the special program Florence Center & University of Florence (courses taught in English).

Taught in English by the University of Florence and open to Syracuse University students. Fundamental principles in the field of international and national protection of human rights. Main instruments of human rights protection at universal and regional level. In-depth analysis of the following selected areas of protection: right to life and death penalty, prohibition of torture. Introduction to international humanitarian law of the armed conflicts and to international criminal justice.

Syracuse University Students: you may not earn credit for both this course and PSC 354

MAT580.1 Statistical Inference (at the U. of Florence) (Fall)

Open only to students accepted to the special program Florence Center & University of Florence (courses taught in English).

Taught in English by the University of Florence and open to Syracuse University students. Statistics deals with collecting, organizing and interpreting numerical data. Statistical literacy is an essential skill for understanding and making sensible decisions based on the analysis of quantitative information. Within this framework, the course aims at providing the cornerstones of inferential statistics: the concept of statistical model, the tools of point estimation, of interval estimation and of statistical hypotheses testing.

Prereq: At least one college-level introductory math course and one statistics course

ITA380.3 Intensive Italian: Advanced II (U. of Florence) (Fall, Spring)

Taught in Italian. Open only to students admitted to the Intensive Language Program. Brief assessment in Florence will determine which ITA 380 section you will take. Classes meet at the Centro di Cultura per Stranieri five times a week, Monday – Friday mornings. This course is for students who have reached a good level both linguistically and grammatically and who aim at a more sophisticated level. Since this is a University Center, the course does not deal only with grammar and language but includes lectures on historical, artistic and social aspects of Italian culture. In this course, grammar is concerned chiefly with syntax and enriching the student’s vocabulary. Space is allowed for conversation and dictation, while particular attention is paid to phonetics. Texts from Italian literature will be read with an explanatory commentary. There will be lectures on Italian etymology, which will analyze the development of certain key words and sentence forms. Pronunciation will be dealt with individually according to the student’s degree of proficiency. Includes a language laboratory. Students may earn up to 3 additional credits by taking the optional one-credit lecture courses.

In spring semesters, the Intensive Language Program starts about one week earlier than the regular SU Florence program.

ITA380.2 Intensive Italian: Advanced I (U. of Florence) (Fall, Spring)

Taught in Italian. Open only to students admitted to the Intensive Language Program. Brief assessment in Florence will determine which ITA 380 section you will take. Classes meet at the Centro di Cultura per Stranieri five times a week, Monday–Friday mornings. This course is for students who can follow a more complex conversation, speak on more specific subjects, read and understand more difficult texts and who can express themselves more elaborately in writing. The purpose of the course is to give students a good grammatical basis by enhancing their morphologic and syntactic notions and enriching their vocabulary. There will be reading and dictation of increasing difficulty together with essays and other exercises. Includes a language laboratory. Students may earn up to 3 additional credits by taking the optional one-credit lecture courses.

In spring semesters, the Intensive Language Program starts about one week earlier than the regular SU Florence program.

ITA380.1 Intensive Italian: Intermediate High (U. of Florence) (Fall, Spring)

In spring semesters, the Intensive Language Program starts about one week earlier than the regular SU Florence program.

IRP480.2 Human Development and International Cooperation (at the U. of Florence) (Fall)

Open only to students accepted to the special program Florence Center & University of Florence (courses taught in English).

Taught in English by the University of Florence and open to Syracuse University students. The course covers theories, objectives and instruments as well as the analysis of the economic and social effects of international cooperation programs, economic aid and development projects. Following some introductory lectures on the changing landscape of international cooperation and general theoretical and descriptive issues (part A), the course will address key theoretical and empirical issues regarding international assistance and cooperation for development (part B) which is accompanied by case studies. Some seminars will also be held during the course (part C).

May also be registered as ECN 380.5.

Prereq: Introductory economics course and introductory statistics course

ECN380.4 International Economics II (at the U. of Florence) (Fall)

Open only to students accepted to the special program Florence Center & University of Florence (courses taught in English).

Taught in English by the University of Florence and open to Syracuse University students. The main aim of the course is to help students understand specific features of the current wave of globalization as well as countries’ and firms’ reactions to it. The course is divided into two parts. The first, after an introduction on how to measure globalization, also accounting for the value added in each country, analyzes historical trends in integration (trade, capital, people, ideas) on the basis of existing models of international trade (from Ricardo to models of heterogeneous firms). It also highlights the role of China and India in the global economy (differences in specialization patterns, attractiveness for investments etc). The second part illustrates new issues raised by the globalization process, such as offshoring, outsourcing, and the theories recently developed to address them (“new new” trade theories). It also emphasizes the role of imported inputs for the competitiveness of a country.

Prereq: Introductory economics course and at least one college-level math course

ECN380.5 Human Development and International Cooperation (at the U. of Florence) (Fall)

Open only to students accepted to the special program Florence Center & University of Florence (courses taught in English).

Taught in English at the University of Florence.

The course covers theories, objectives and instruments as well as the analysis of the economic and social effects of international cooperation programs, economic aid and development projects. Following some introductory lectures on the changing landscape of international cooperation and general theoretical and descriptive issues (part A), the course will address key theoretical and empirical issues regarding international assistance and cooperation for development (part B) which is accompanied by case studies. Some seminars will also be held during the course (part C).

May also be registered as IRP 480.2.

Prereq: Introductory economics course and introductory statistics course