June 4 – June 30, 2012 *Tentative, see itinerary, below.
Program
Italy will serve as the backdrop for design and devotion. Two new courses have been developed specifically for this program by David Dinehart, PhD and Fr. Joseph Farrell, OSA, in order to fully explore Tuscany within the context of architecturally significant structures and the life of St. Augustine.
San Gimignano is a small, walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany that will serve as our home town on this XXX Number of week adventure. It is famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers, and is home to Sant’Agostino, a 13th century structure, that houses a seventeen panel fresco cycle on the life of St. Augustine around the high altar.
Faculty Program Coordinator
Dr. David W. Dinehart
Professor, Assistant Chairman
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Tolentine 146
610-519-4962 david.dinehart@villanova.edu
Students enroll in both courses for a total of six credits:
CEE35XX: Italian Architecture and Engineering
Qualitative and quantitative study of architectural structural systems, including buildings, domes, arches, and towers; historical review of architecturally significant structures, many related to St. Augustine’ insights of sturcutral analysis’ comparative structural types and force flow’ structural and architectural use of building materials. This course is intended for civil engineering students entering their junior or senior year.
This is a three credit course that can be counted as a technical or free elective. Pre-requisite: CEE2106 or equivalent.
THL35XX: Augustine and the Tuscan Hermits’ of the Order of St. Augustine
An investigation into fundamental themes in the thought of the 4th century North African Bishop, Augustine of Hippo, and how those themes developed through the centuries. Emphasis will be given to the 13th century Mendicant Movement and the establishment of the Order of the Brothers of the Hermits of St. Augustine. Particular attention will be paid to Augustine’s Monastic Ideal, The Rule of St. Augustine, The Mendicant Movement, The Tuscan Hermits, and Augustine’s influence in contemporary issues of Spirituality.
This is a three credit course that can be counted as an upper level Theology or free elective. Pre-requisites: THL1000 and ACS1000, or their equivalent.
Coursework will begin at VU on Monday, May 14 and will proceed through the week. Students will complete the last two weeks of coursework in Italy.
Housing
Our hosts will be the Augustinian priests living at the Sant’ Agostino Convento. We will be living with other pilgrims at the monastery during most of our stay. We will have daily classes, meals, and Mass together. Our itinerary includes educational excursions to Siena, Florence, Pisa, and three days in Rome.
Daily Schedule in San Gimignano:
8:00 – 9:00 am
Breakfast
9:00 – 10:00
Mass
10:00 – 12:00
Italian Architecture and Engineering
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Lunch and break/homework
3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Augustine and the Tuscan Hermits’ of the Order of St. Augustine
Italy will serve as the backdrop for design and devotion. Two new courses have been developed specifically for this program by David Dinehart, PhD and Fr. Joseph Farrell, OSA, in order to fully explore Tuscany within the context of architecturally significant structures and the life of St. Augustine. 
CEE35XX: Italian Architecture and Engineering
