Wayne State's Abruzzo study abroad program is coordinated by the university's Office of Study Abroad and Global Programs and reflects a partnership between Wayne State and Gagliano Aterno, Italy. The program was created in 2003 at the suggestion of WSU Assistant Professor Raffaele De Benedictis, with encouragement and assistance from the local government in Italy.

Gilman Scholars receive up to $5,000 toward study abroad program costs, and a limited number of Critical Need Language Scholarships are given each year for a total award of $8,000. The scholarship aims to diversify the kinds of students who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go. It is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.