Summer Internship +

The Molise Italian Studies Summer Internship + is not a traditional study abroad program. You will gain valuable experience within your field of study and give back to your host community through meaningful participation in the lives of its citizens. The foundation of this exchange is Community-Based Global Learning, including Italian language immersion, host families, Global Intercultural Citizenship education, and, of course, customized internships. Upon completion of the program, you will receive a Difr Intercultural Citizenship microcredential, the Global Competence Certificate, and a transcript from Northern Arizona University detailing your studies and service. Our program is open to gap year students, college students, and unaffiliated lifelong learners. Explore our Summer Internship Program below.

Front-load Intercultural Citizenship concepts and skills vital to a successful summer abroad, then implement your Intercultural Citizenship skills through a homestay and internship placement. Consolidate at home as you work through your reflective workbook.

  • Customized 6-week internship placement (*4 credits)
    • CEFR level B1 (2 semesters college-level Italian required)
  • 24-hour on-site support
  • Optional weekend local excursions
  • Post-return virtual digital storytelling event
  • Free copy of Difr Thrive: A Reflective Workbook

*A total of 7 US credits are available through our school of record, Northern Arizona University.

  • You will live with an extensively pre-screened local host family, chosen specifically for you based on your housing preferences.

  • Your host family will provide friendly support and a home away from home.

  • You will enjoy daily authentic Italian breakfasts and home-cooked family dinners.

  • You will benefit from informal & immersive Italian conversation.
Typical Homestay Dinner in Molise
“Intercultural competence is the ability to communicate and act appropriately and effectively across cultural differences.”–Tara Harvey, True North Intercultural 
As the keystone of our program and designed in partnership with the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®), the AFS Global Competence Certificate, Being Well Abroad‘s Mental Health program, and CulturaGo’s culture-specific modules, MIS 304 – Global Competency, Health and Identity is a first-of-its-kind, research-backed, and fully-facilitated education abroad support program centered around personal development, Global Intercultural Citizenship, and mental health. In small and personal cohorts, and guided by expert and caring instructors who are IDI® Qualified Administrators, GCC Qualified Facilitators, and extensively trained in facilitating intercultural competence, you will learn to bridge the difference, make a difference, and thrive in a globalized world.

    • You will establish the foundations of Intercultural Citizenship by front-loading concepts and skills vital to a successful summer abroad through our 4-hour pre-departure workshop. As you also progress through the modules of the Global Competence Certificate during the summer, you will develop cultural awareness and adaptability, more effectively engage cross-culturally, begin setting goals for your ongoing personal development, and gain specific insights about Italy & Molise.
“Given the grave global challenges facing humans in the 21st century, learning how to live together becomes an imperative. The growth of violent extremism, the mounting migration and displacement crises, and the rise of divisive political populism have underscored the need of expanding, consolidating, and intensifying dialogue among peoples with different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, contributing thus to counter hate speeches and to foster a culture of peace.Darla Deardorff, UNESCO Manual for Developing Intercultural Competencies: Story Circles, 2020
  • You will gain valuable career experience and give back to the local community through your customized internship placement.
  • Your placement will be in a mutually agreed upon town and business according to your course of study.
  • You will work 30 hours per week.
  • Some of the almost boundless fields of study with internship opportunities include:
Customized service placements
  • Agriculture
  • Apprenticeships in leathercrafting, cobbling, or knifemaking
  • Archaeology
  • Art, Art History, and/or Restoration
  • Business, Marketing, and Advertising
  • Communication
  • Counseling & Social Services
  • Culinary Arts
  • Education
  • Engineering (almost any specialty, including applied engineering at Agnone’s bell foundry)
  • Environmental Conservation
  • History
  • Hospitality & Tourism
  • Italian Studies & Language
  • Law
  • Library Science
  • Medicine (including Homeopathy)
  • Music & Music History
  • Outdoor Adventures
  • Photography
  • Religion
  • Sociology
  • Veterinary & Animal Science
  • Writing
  • We will welcome you at the airport and provide transportation to Campobasso.
  • Through our International Ambassador program, a local student or resident will serve as your guide as you adjust to the culture and environment of Molise, and will be a point of contact throughout your stay.
  • Our orientation will introduce you to our program, your host family, your service placement, and Molise.
  • Optional cultural, historical, and outdoor excursion opportunities include visits to artisan workshops, food tastings, archaeological sites, and outdoor adventures.

To enroll, please fill out and submit the online enrollment form below. Then complete and submit (by email or mail) the Enrollment Packet & Official Waiver/Release. Prior to enrollment confirmation, applicants will participate in a short video chat interview with program staff.

See health & safety, travel, and other Summer Internship + policy information here.

Questions? Want to chat? Email at in**@mo******************.com OR call or WhatsApp at 1-888-422-9922.

Transform Yourself. Transform Your World.

Molise IS
Waiting.