Rome Connection
Explore the beautiful and captivating corners of Rome through Seton Hall's transformative freshman study abroad experience!
Rome Connection is an embedded study abroad experience for first-year, undergraduate Seton Hall students. Participants enroll in a special Rome Connection course during their spring semester with the faculty who travel with the students to Rome during the first two and a half weeks of June. Through Rome Connection, students are brought beyond the postcard picture of the Eternal City and engage in a transformative journey.
During the spring semester, you'll build connections with your classmates before embarking on an immersive journey through Rome. Together, you'll experience daily life in the Eternal City, uncovering hidden gems that most visitors never see - from medieval treasures beneath grand basilicas to vibrant street art in modern districts. Rome Connection helps you explore your passions and develop a deep appreciation for the city's rich history. You'll gain insight into Rome's ancient, medieval, baroque, and contemporary layers, as well as Seton Hall’s unique bond with the Eternal City.
Simply put, this program is crafted to be a life-changing Seton Hall experience. See the sections below to discover Rome Connection and explore the 2027 itinerary.
- Apply Now: Click here to apply and select the blue Apply Now button. You’ll find detailed instructions about the application process in the Study Abroad Portal and by clicking here. Applications close at 11:59pm on Monday, October 19.
- Eligibility: Every first-year student who attains at least a 3.0 GPA for the Fall 2026 term and is not on disciplinary probation level 2 or higher is eligible to apply for Rome Connection. Students must be at least 18 years old upon arrival in Rome.
- Questions: Connect with us by emailing [email protected]
Program Highlights
Translate your passions and make Rome your home!
Students in Rome Connection don't only witness Rome but experience Rome! Through unique
class content and the Father Monella Andiamo Series, you will be fully prepared for your two and a half weeks abroad before you depart
and be ready to fall in love with Rome in your own unique way. Whether it's playing
pickup basketball against locals, wandering thru centuries-old basilicas, or discovering
off-the-beaten-path music clubs, Rome Connection is here to translate your passions
to the local scene!
Learn culture, history and language in a fun, immersive environment!
The entire purpose of Rome Connection is to help you expand your study abroad skills
while fully comprehending the culture, faith and language of the Eternal City. With
locations from local farmers markets to neighborhood block parties, Rome Connection
will provide meaningful settings to meaningfully engage with Rome. Through personalized
guidance and immersive excursions, you'll be surprised how fast your intercultural
skills grow!
And best of all… every day, new adventures and new memories!
Through Rome Connection you'll have exclusive experiences that are far-off the tourist
map. Whether you're exploring the vast underground ruins of ancient temples or savoring
the best porchetta at charming local markets, each day will offer new experiences
that help you live like a true Roman. Beyond excursions within the Eternal City, your
two-and-a-half-week experience will also includes a day trip to the picturesque hill
town of Orvieto. Click here to explore the 2027 itinerary and understand all that is included in this two-and-a-half-week journey!
Essential Info
2027 Travel Dates: May 31 to June 17
Program Itinerary: Click here to explore the 2027 program
Program Capacity: 75 students
2027 Course Options: Christianity and Culture in Dialogue or The Culture of Rome
2026 Program Fee: $3,100 (includes housing, all excursions, six group meals, an unlimited Rome Metro
card, airport transfers, and international health insurance). Round-trip airfare is
not included in the Program Fee.
Students approved for Rome Connection will receive details about the specific, recommended
nonstop EWR-FCO round-trip flight, which they may book independently if they wish
to travel alongside their fellow Rome Connection students, faculty, and support staff.
Housing Accommodation: St. John’s Rome Campus (Via Marcantonio Colonna, 21a) housing included for the entire program (16 nights)
Excursions: 16 group excursions are included.
Meals: 6 special group meals are provided.
Local Transit: A monthly metro card is included, offering unlimited access to public transit within Rome.
Airport Transfers: Private coach buses transport students between Fiumicino Airport and St. John’s Rome Campus upon arrival and departure for those on the recommended round-trip flight.
Health Insurance: International Health Insurance is included for all students.
The Father Monella Andiamo Series
Rome Connection students begin immersing themselves in Italy before even boarding the plane! Throughout the spring semester, the Father Monella Andiamo Series brings students from all Rome Connection classes together to explore Rome’s neighborhoods and culture while building friendships ahead of their Roman adventure. Students are required to attend at least five sessions, several of which feature home-cooked Italian food from Seton Hall’s Monella Center Kitchen. Here’s just a sampling of the sessions that await!
Eat and Drink Like the Romans Do: Students learn about the fundamentals of Roman cuisine, the cultures surrounding it and how to best navigate some of the tourist pitfalls while experiencing the best of what the Eternal City has to offer.
Translate Your Passion: Every student has a passion for an aspect of Rome not yet fully realized. In these collaborative sessions, students will be provided a roadmap to experience their own personal Rome and translate their own passions into transformative free time experiences.
Survival Italian: The best way to be a temporary local in Rome and immerse yourself in the culture of the Eternal City is to learn some essential Italian before you depart.
The Other Side of Rome: When Rome became the capital of a united Italy in 1871, nearly all Romans lived within the Aurelian Walls. Today that number is only six percent. Students will delve into the captivating neighborhoods where most of today’s Romans live.
Rome on a Budget: Students gain the essential skills on how to manage their money abroad and make their euros go farther while have amazing, quality free-time experiences on the cheap.
The full compliment of weekly 2027 Father Monellla Andiamo Series sessions are: Knowing Your Neighborhood, Navigating Rome, Mastering Roman Transit, Free Time Adventures, Breakfast Like a Roman, Day Trip Journeys, Lunch Like a Roman, Navigating the Culture, Dinner Like a Local, Rome on a Budget, Drink Like a Roman, Packing Light and Right, Nightlife in Rome.
Click here to apply and select the blue Apply Now button. You’ll find key details about the application
process in the Study Abroad Portal and below:
• Deadline: Applications close at 11:59pm on Monday, October 19. You can start and return your
application at any point before the deadline. For all personal responses, we strongly
recommend drafting and saving your answers offline in another app unless you are ready
to submit them. There's no fee or commitment to apply, and you can confirm your spot
once approved.
• Review Process: Applications are evaluated by the Faculty Review Committee based on the quality of
your responses. All applications submitted before the deadline will be equally considered,
regardless of when they were submitted.
• Notifications: Students will begin receiving updates on their application status starting October
26.
• Confirmation: Approval does not guarantee a seat. Approved students will receive instructions on
how to confirm their spot, including submitting a non-refundable $500 deposit toward
the program fee.
• Scholarships: Students with high financial need (Pell Grant or Work-Study eligible) may apply for
limited, competitive scholarships through the application. Scholarship notifications
will be shared with program acceptances.
Eligibility - open to all first-year students who:
• Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA at the conclusion the Fall 2026 term
• Are not on disciplinary probation level 2 or higher
• Students who are approved and confirmed but later fail to meet these requirements
will be withdrawn from the program.