Pre-Departure Orientation
Prior to your education abroad experience, you will participate in a mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Office of Global Education. During this orientation, you will be provided with information including but not limited to:
- international travel procedures;
- in-country resources;
- health and safety resources and information;
- culture shock and resources to help prepare for living abroad.
All students are encouraged to register with the Safe Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) prior to departure.
Flashes to Florentines Pre-Departure Event Series
The Flashes to Florentines pre-departure series is open to all committed Florence students of any major or cohort. By attending these sessions, you’ll have the opportunity to learn what it’s like to live like a Florentine, practice your Italian language skills, and prepare yourself for your experience abroad. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet other students participating in the Florence program. Topics to be covered include:
- Traveling to Florence;
- Italian culture and living like a Florentine;
- Health and wellness abroad;
- A crash course in Italian language;
- Florence alumni panels - hear from other students about their experiences in Florence.
You can also review a wide variety of resources we’ve pulled together for you on our “Before You Go” page.
In-Country Orientation
Upon your arrival in Florence, you'll join another orientation designed to help you make the most out of your study abroad experience and achieve the following goals:
- Orient yourself to the city of Florence.
- Develop the awareness you need to observe and learn from different cultures.
- Discover the businesses, organizations, and other important places in Florence.
- Access the tools you will need to succeed academically, personally, and safely within KSU policies.
Country Profile
You can learn more about your destination(s), including travel advisories, through the U.S. Department of State website.
In addition, we encourage you to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel page for information about any vaccinations you may need or health and safety tips for traveling to your destination(s).
If vaccinations or medications are needed according to the CDC, you should make arrangements for appointments with your healthcare provider or the DeWeese Health Center as soon as possible. Appointment openings at the DeWeese Health Center are limited and vaccines may need to be ordered, which takes time. Please note that not all immunizations are available at the DeWeese Health Center.