What do study abroad and college basketball have in common? Last week, the two came together in the Eternal City when the Providence College Friars visited the CEA Rome Center!
CEA Rome and Providence College’s Center for Theology & Religious Studies have enjoyed a long partnership, so it only makes sense that the Friars should drop by as they wound up their 10-day Italy Tour. When the team (2014 Big East Conference Champions, BTW) wasn’t busy winning their three games – vs. the Nelson Somma All Stars, the Perugia Wolves, and Tiber Basket – they were exploring cities like Milan, Venice, and Florence. The Friars finished up their Italian adventure with two days in Rome, where, along with tours of the Colosseum and Vatican City, the team got a first-hand look at the CEA Rome Center.
Along with Friars’ Athletic Director Robert G. Driscoll, Jr., Head Coach Ed Cooley, and Providence’s Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Father Mark Nowel, the 10 players toured our Center and learned about the study abroad opportunities made possible by the unique collaboration between Providence College and CEA.
Study abroad programs through Providence’s Center for Theology & Religious Studies – housed at CEA Rome – allows students to develop a deeper understanding of theology, gain first-hand knowledge of local culture, and experience personal and academic growth in a city where the secular and the religious have blended for centuries. Each year, CEA and PC team up to provide more than 50 students with a life-changing experience abroad through courses like:
- The New Testament in the Eternal City
- Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Italian
- Angels, Demons, & Artists In Rome: Art Through the Ages
- International Marketing
- Basic Operations Management
(Hmm… sounds like a great way to take some of your religion, history, or other electives!)
The CEA Team, including Vice President of Program Management & Development Dr. Jose B. Alvarez and Center Director Anna Felberbaum, also discussed opportunities for student athletes to study abroad. Training and game schedules may make it challenging for athletes to do a semester-long program, but they can have the best of both worlds by checking out our summer or short-term programs.
Plus, studying abroad and a love for sports are a perfect pair! Many CEA students even bring their love of sports along when they study overseas. For instance, Patrick Gradus volunteered to coach the Prague Lions American Football Club when he was in the Czech Republic. Shane Heckman studied Sport & Culture in Contemporary Spain while he was abroad in Barcelona, and Danielle Banks learned to enjoy fútbol matches in Chile almost as much as her beloved Texas A&M football.
We loved hosting the PC Friars in Rome and wish them the best of luck as they head back to Providence to start practicing for their game season. Go Friars!
Interested in how you can explore the hobbies you love while studying abroad? Check out what other students say and see where you can go!