MCAS offers a variety of opportunities to explore Sicily, from inclusive academic field trips and historical orientation tours to a choice of extended optional excursions.
The SAI program coordinator offers a series of additional optional day excursions each semester. For further information, contact the MCAS Admissions Officer in our California office.
Academic Field trips
Class fieldtrips are conducted to the locations below each semester and in the summer sessions:
Agrigento |
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Mandatory for: CS AR 351; CS AR 354; CS LL 350; CS AH 252; CS AR 261
Open to all students taking classical studies (CS – codes) and art history (SA AA – codes) |
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Piazza Armerina & Morgantina |
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Mandatory for: CS AR 351; CS AR 354; CS AH 252; CS AR 261 |
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Open to all students taking classical studies (CS – codes) and art history (SA AA – codes) |
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Taormina & Castelmola |
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Mandatory for: ES EC 250; ES EC 352; SA AA 250; SA AA 351; CS AR 261 |
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Open to all students taking classical studies (CS – codes), art history (SA AA – codes) & environmental studies (ES - codes)
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Ragusa & Noto |
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Mandatory for: SA AA 250; SA AA 352 |
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Open to all students taking studio & fine arts (SA – codes)
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Pantalica and Anapo Valley and foothills of Monti Iblei |
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Mandatory for: CS AR 351; ES EC 250; ES EC 352; ES GE 250
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Open to all students taking classical studies (CS – codes)
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Mt Etna |
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Mandatory for: ES EC 250; ES EC 352; ES GE 250
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Timpa di Acireale |
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Mandatory for: ES EC 250; ES EC 352; ES GE 250
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Students in classes listed above as "Mandatory" are required to attend the fieldtrips listed above. Participation in each trip counts for two classes (i.e. one week or 3 hours of teaching). Failure to attend counts for two unexcused absences. |
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Students in classes listed as "Open" are encouraged to join any of the fieldtrips above (at no extra cost) but are not required to do so and participation in trips does not count for class hours. |
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Historical Orientation Tours
Regardless of individual course choices, MCAS organizes an inclusive co-curricular program of historical orientation tours, including both day long excursions and weekend tours.
These tours are mandatory for some classes but are open to everyone (included in the program cost) and have been designed to immerse all of our students into the cultural and historical context of Sicily and the Mediterranean.
All excursions include the following: faculty guide/MCAS staff member, transportation, entrance fees (for overnight excursions), hotel accommodation.
| Ortigia Day Tour (semester/summer) |
| Open to all students but mandatory for: SA AA 250; SA AA 351; SA AA 352; MCAS CO SI 300; MCAS CO SI 50; MCAS CO SI 55 |
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| Syracuse Day Tour (semester/summer) |
| Open to all students but mandatory for: CS AH 256; CS AH 257; CS AR 351; CS AR 354; CS LL 350; CS AH 252; CS AR 261; MCAS CO SI 300; MCAS CO SI 50; MCAS CO SI 55 |
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| Catania Day Tour (semester/summer) |
| Open to all students but mandatory for: HP PS 250; HP MH 251; HP MH 255; CS AR 354; MCAS CO SI 300; MCAS CO SI 50; MCAS CO SI 55 |
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| Palermo Weekend Tour (semester) |
| Open to all students but mandatory for: SA AA 250; SA AA 351; SA AA 352; MCAS CO SI 300 |
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| Western Sicily Weekend Tour (semester) |
| Open to all students for CO SI 300 |
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| Students in classes listed as "Mandatory" are required to attend. Participation in each trip counts for two classes (i.e. one week or 3 hours of teaching). Failure to attend counts for two unexcused absences. All students are encouraged to join any of the events above (at no extra cost) but are not required to do so and participation in trips does not count for class hours. |
Optional Excursions
In addition to the program excursions, MCAS offer extended faculty-led trips to the Aeolian Islands and Naples/Pompeii in the semester sessions; and, in the summer sessions, to Palermo. For details of these extended excursions, follow the links below.
Aeolian Islands • Naples/Pompeii • Palermo
If you would like to participate in the optional excursions, you must sign up in advance. Please print out the registration form and return it with your payment to the SAI California office one month prior to the start of the term. Registration is on a first come, first served basis.
Please contact the MCAS Admissions Officer with any questions. |
