The Classical Mediterranean and Middle East is an international field of study, and most of the faculty in our department have done research abroad. Study away is required for all majors. Students go abroad to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from other scholars, to gain access to higher level language courses than we regularly offer, to see ancient artifacts, buildings and cities, and to experience foreign places and feel viscerally the difference between cultures, even if they cannot experience the ancient cultures which we study. Our department offers January and summer study and research opportunities to complement semester programs. These include a January course exploring Rome and Pompeii and a summer archaeological excavation of a Roman temple site in northern Israel.
Semester Programs
Classics students attend a wide variety of programs, ranging from Ireland to Jordan, from Modern Standard Arabic to material conservation, from Homer to the reception of the film Gladiator. You need to consult with an advisor from Macalester’s Center for Study Away as well as with your academic advisor in choosing the right program.
January Programs
Faculty members from the Macalester Classical Mediterranean and Middle East department offer a January program approximately every other year. Traveling and working together creates strong personal and professional ties.
Archaeology in Israel
The department frequently offers opportunities to practice archaeological excavation, reconstruction, and conservation in Israel. Many students participated in excavations of an ancient temple at Omrit, enjoying an interdisciplinary learning experience without previous experience in archaeology. The project has reached the study and conservation stage, and students are helping preserve and present both phases of the temple. Additional projects are in development.
Student Experience
Students share their experience of study away.
Archaeological Fieldwork Opportunities Bulletin
For students looking for other archaeological opportunities.