Global Business, Luxury Brands, Sport & Supply Chains in Italy

MKT 493 
Spring 2027 course 
International travel to Milan and Florence, Italy 
May 8-16, 2027 

Table of Contents (click link to access the section):

Academics
Tentative Itinerary
Housing
Program Fee
Billing and Payments
Scholarships
Well-Being
Eligibility 
APPY NOW 
PAY MY DEPOSIT
Passports
In Italy FAQs 
Contacts 

This 8-day faculty-led study abroad program immerses undergraduate students in Italy’s globally competitive industries, including luxury fashion, sports, tourism, and manufacturing. Through company visits, academic sessions, and cultural experiences students analyze how Italy integrates craftsmanship, branding, supply chains, and heritage to drive global success. The program integrates experiential learning with academic reflection, culminating in a team-based strategic project.

Italy is an exceptional choice for this study abroad program because it uniquely combines globally recognized strengths in luxury branding, sports business, manufacturing, tourism, and cultural heritage within one highly accessible and immersive environment. Few countries offer students the opportunity to simultaneously examine world-renowned brands like Ferrari, Prada, Gucci, and AC Milan while also exploring the operational systems, supply chains, marketing strategies, and cultural storytelling that drive their global success. 

Italy allows students to see firsthand how history, craftsmanship, innovation, and consumer experience intersect to create powerful international business ecosystems. From Milan’s luxury retail and sports industries to Florence’s artisan production networks, students will gain a multidisciplinary understanding of how businesses leverage identity, culture, and place to compete in global markets. 

The program also balances academic rigor with experiential learning and cultural immersion, making Italy not only an intellectually rich destination, but also an engaging and transformational experience that appeals to students across marketing, supply chain, management, finance, sports management, and general business disciplines. 

 
Academics

This course serves as an experiential requirement for undergraduate business majors, minors and certificates offered by the Monte Ahuja College of Business and provides an opportunity to learn about developing economies business environment, specifically in Italy. Students visit companies, universities and tourism markets in the Northern Italian region.

Admitted students (up to 20) will be given special permission to enroll in the Spring 2027 required course MKT 493 (3 credits). The tuition cost for this course may fall within the "tuition band" of 12-18 credits. 

Mandatory in-person class sessions will be held on campus throughout the Spring semester:  

Tuesday, January 19 at 11:30 am to 12:15 pm
Tuesday, February 2 at 11:30 am to 12:15 pm
Friday, February 26 at 11:30 am to 12:15 pm
Tuesday, March 2 at 11:30 am to 12:15 pm
Tuesday, March 23 at 11:30 am to 12:15 pm
Tuesday, April 20 at 11:30 am to 12:15 pm
Tuesday, April 27 at 11:30 am to 12:15 pm
Tuesday, May 4 at 11:30 am to 12:15 pm

Course Materials:

• Field journal (digital or notebook)
• Mobile device for documentation
• Business casual attire for company visits 

Prior to departure for Italy, students are required to research background resources on the economic, political and cultural aspects of Italy and become familiar with its industry structure and information sources. During the study tour, students will attend presentations from global corporations. On return, students will be required to develop a comprehensive written project report, which is due on or before June 1, 2027.

Tentative Itinerary

Saturday, May 8: Depart Cleveland 

• Group flight from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport 
   

Sunday, May 9: Arrive in Milan 

• Private group transportation from the airport
• Orientation and welcome dinner 
   

Monday, May 10: Italy’s Economy and Luxury Fashion 

• Lecture on the Italian Economy and Competitive Advantage
• Guided visit to the Quadrilatero della Moda for luxury retail and atelier experience 
   

Tuesday, May 11: Sports Business in Italy 

• Sports Management in Italy lecture and visit to San Siro Stadium
• Discussion of sports marketing, sponsorship, and major event infrastructure
   

Wednesday, May 12: TBD
 

Thursday, May 13: Food and Automotive Manufacturing

• Move out of hotel
• Private coach through Emilia Romagna to discover Parmigiano cheese and balsamic vinegar production; afternoon visit and factory tour of an Italian automaker (lunch included)
• Arrival in Florence and hotel check-in 
   

Friday, May 14:  Leather, Craftsmanship and Innovation 

• Visit to Scuola del Cuoio for exploration of artisan production and luxury supply chains
• Leather upcycling studio and workshop visit 
   

Saturday, May 15: 

• Debriefing and group presentations
• Evening farewell dinner
   

Sunday, May 16: Departure

• Private group transportation to the Florence airport
• Return flight to Cleveland

Housing 

Program participants and leaders will be housed in centrally- located accommodations in Milan (4 nights) and Florence (3 nights) for the duration of the program. Breakfast at the hotel/hostel is included. Students will be assigned to doubles or triples, but everyone will have their own bed.

Program Fee

The program fee is TBD and includes:

• Round-trip airfare from Cleveland
• 7 nights accommodation in 3 star hotels (doubles or triples with daily breakfasts)
• Company visits and excursions listed in the itinerary
• Private coach transfers and a Milan transport pass
• One group lunch and two group dinners
• International health insurance and 24/7 emergency assistance
• Professional tour operator and program director
   

The fee does not include CSU tuition for the required 3-credit course MKT 493 nor the estimated $500 needed to purchase daily lunches and dinners not included in the program fee. Participants are advise to also plan for miscellaneous expenses which may include but are not limited to souvenirs, passport / visa fees, Uber/taxis, toiletries, etc

To view the current CSU tuition rate, please visit the Bursar's website.

Billing and Payments

The program fee (minus the application deposit paid through ShopNet) will be added to participants' CSU student financial account at the time of acceptance. The tuition for MKT 493 will be assessed when the student "adds" the course to his/her Spring 2027 academic schedule.

$250 non-refundable deposit due at the time of application. Pay the $250 deposit through Shopnet with a debit or credit card. Only inadmissible applicants will be eligible for a deposit refund. If inadmissible to the program or program cancellation due to low applications, the deposit will be credited to the individual's CSU CampusNet account. Otherwise, it's non-refundable.

There are no voluntary withdrawals and no withdrawal options after application decisions have been made.  Participants are considered fully committed to the program and financially responsible for 100% of the program fees. There are absolutely no refunds. Please carefully consider your situation before you apply. Consult with the faculty leader or study abroad adviser before the application deadline.

Remaining program balance will be due by the end of the start of the spring semester OR confirmed enrollment in the  budget payment plan. 

Please make the remaining  program fee payment (after initial deposit) through your student account in Campusnet. If your program fees are not paid by the start of the Spring semester, you may be removed from the program, but maintain financial responsibility for your portion of expenses.

Scholarships for Study Abroad

1. The OIC Short-Term Study Abroad Scholarship is for Ohio residents at the undergraduate level with at least a 2.5 GPA. The deadline is November 15.
2. CISP General Education Away scholarship is due October 1; most applicants receive an award
3. 2026-27 Pell Grant recipients may apply for a national scholarship, the Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship. Applications are due Oct 1
4. Check out other scholarship opportunities on the education away website and the financial aid website.

Well-Being 

Health
For general information on pre-planning considerations including insurance please visit our health and safety resource page.  We urge every student to purchase an international accident and sickness insurance or check if their current health insurance policy has international coverage.  Cancel for Any Reason (CFR) or travel insurance is also something to consider acquiring.

There are no required immunizations for travel to or from Italy. Please visit the travel to Italy advice from the CDC as well as the Italy profile for travelers from the U.S. Department of State to learn specifically about health and safety in the country.  Additional advice is available from the program director as well as the student services team at the tour company who maintains a 24/7 emergency line. 

Insurance
Cleveland State has a membership with International SOS (11BCAS000010) as part of the IUC Inter-University Consortium of Ohio's public universities. Any CSU traveler going abroad with university approval may use International SOS services and benefits before, during, or after travel. Easily access their services by downloading the assistance app to your phone. You may also obtain information from their website or by calling the dedicated scholastic client line in Philadelphia (215) 942 -8478. Once abroad, there are additional International SOS call centers around the world waiting to assist. Reach the Milan Assistance Centre at +39 02 35 98 95 01 or through the app.

Travel accident and sickness insurance secured by Cleveland State on your behalf through Zurich is included in your program fee as a secondary policy to any current health insurance you carry. The policy information is available upon request and will be distributed at a pre-travel class session.

Safety 
Students will be registered as group through the U.S. State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program or STEP. Additionally, students will receive an emergency card with important contacts to carry with them when in Italy. The mandatory pre-travel sessions and online sessions (if available) will include safety recommendations and tips.  

For the health and safety of the entire CSU community, all travel will comply with guidelines, best practices and any in-country and/or program-specific requirements.

Eligibility 

• Good standing* with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or greater
• Major within the Monte Ahuja College of Business
• Successful completion of MKT 301
• Interview with Program Director
• 18 years or older
• Passport valid for 6 months after program end date

**Good standing means
- Not on academic probation or warning
- No financial holds in CampusNet
- No outstanding or egregious sanctions resulting from adjudication of an infraction(s) against the CSU Student Code of Conduct

A minimum of 12 participants is required for this program and a maximum of 20 will be accepted.

Passports and Visa

All participants will be required to carry a valid passport with an expiration date at least 6 months beyond the program end date. Presently, U.S. passport processing times are running 4-6 weeks for standard processing or 2-3 weeks with expedited processing (extra $60). It is the student's responsibility to verify their passport validity and/or apply for one in time to purchase airline tickets for travel (passport needed by January 5, 2027). Please contact the CISP for assistance. 

If you are not a United States citizen (even if you are a Permanent Resident), you may need a visa for Italy. Check the requirements on the website of the Italian Consulate of Chicago to determine if you will need to apply for a visa.  If you have any questions regarding visas, please contact the CISP.  At the time of this post, U.S. citizens do not need a visa to enter Italy.

Application 

The online application form and a $250 non-refundable deposit are due by October 30, 2026. Applications submitted without a paid deposit will not be considered for approval. Program deposits are non-refundable. The deposit counts towards the program fee and is only refunded in the event that a student is not accepted or the program is canceled. This refund is only available in the form of a credit to the student's CSU financial account.

Application decisions will be made by the faculty leader and the Center for International Services and Programs. Notifications will be sent via email after the application deadline.  

Apply NOW click here to complete the application

Pay deposit NOW click here to make the $250 deposit

Note on Acceptance and Withdrawals
Once notified of acceptance on the program, the student becomes financially and academically responsible to the group and the University. The remaining program fee (minus the application deposit) will be added to each participant's CampusNet account and becomes irreversible. There are no voluntary withdrawals, as each student is needed to make up a group and cover the program related expenses. 

Once admitted on a faculty-led program, there will be no refund of any of any kind for a withdrawal.  Expenses begin being paid out on behalf of the group as soon as a program is considered a "go" and the application decisions are announced.  If an applicant is unsure about making a financial and/or academic commitment to CSU in Italy, doubts should be cleared up prior to submitting an application. Please contact one of the two administrators listed below to discuss your options and questions.

Contacts

Toni Paoletta, PhD 
Program Director and Associate College Lecturer
Department of Marketing 
216-687-4746

Julie Good
Manager of Education Away
Center for International Services and Programs (CISP) 
216-523-7531
Drop-in office hours weekdays from1:00- 3:00 pm in Berkman Hall room 412