Founded at the end of the 11th century, it developed initially as a law school but soon afterward established its tradition of humanistic studies. The program's Bologna office is located in the university. Approximately thirty students are selected annually to participate in the Bologna program. In September and October, prior to the beginning of the regular Italian academic year, all students are required to attend the program's six-week presession in Bologna. The presesssion courses in Italian language and history are designed to improve students' command of Italian and facilitate their adjustment to life in Bologna and at the university.
Students earn six semester hours of credit for the presession.
When the academic year begins in November, most students enroll in three regular University of Bologna courses with Italian students. Students also take two more of the special one-semester BCSP courses in contemporary Italian literature, grammar, art history, film studies, and the European Union. All instruction in BCSP courses is in Italian, and the courses are taught by University of Bologna faculty. In addition to the credits earned in the presession, students complete a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit during the academic year. Final course selection occurs in Bologna at the beginning of the academic year.