For many students in the Classical Languages or Ancient Civilization majors, their third year is the most opportune time to study abroad. This is partially due to the structure of the major requirements and partially due to the fact that few students declare these majors before their second year.

Both Classical Languages and Ancient Civilization majors are encouraged to complete language study abroad at any time. Just be sure that you are on track to graduate on time when you return! Your faculty advisor can help design a Sample Plan on MyUI to determine where study abroad works for you.

If you are interested in completing some of your course requirements during the summer, consult with a faculty advisor in the Classics department about which courses are typically offered during summer sessions. They will be able to help you decide if you can take enough summer coursework to manage studying abroad during the academic year.

Before you enroll in courses abroad, be sure to consult with a faculty advisor in the Classics & Ancient Civilizations Department and a Study Abroad Advisor to discuss which of your academic requirements can be taken abroad for credit.

Double majors should be sure to check out the Major Advising Page (MAP) corresponding with their second major, as there are likely study abroad options relevant to both majors.

General Education Courses

Classics & Ancient Civilizations majors are encouraged to fulfill general education requirements abroad, especially those who are in their first or second year at the UI. For more information, check out our General Education Program MAP.

Major Requirements

The Classical Languages and Ancient Civilization major requirements cover a variety of subject areas including languages, literature, history, philosophy, art, archaeology, and religion—there are a lot of courses you can take abroad that will be relevant to your major.

Overseas course substitutions are evaluated by the Classics Department on a case-by-case basis. In general, you are encouraged look for overseas equivalents that incorporate language study and focus on the culture and history of the area you are traveling to.

If you choose to take classical languages courses while abroad, be sure the language courses you enroll in are the appropriate language level. Consult with a faculty advisor in the Classics Department for assistance with finding the correct placement.

Honors Courses

You may be able to receive Classical & Ancient Civilizations Honors credit for courses taken abroad. For more information, consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Keep in mind that if you are pursuing University Honors it is possible to earn an Honors Commendation for 12 hours of Honors coursework taken abroad. For more information, please refer to the Classics & Ancient Civilizations Honors page.

Medieval Studies Certificate

Candidates for the Medieval Studies Certificate must include courses from at least three different departments in their work for the certificate; they may count a maximum of 10 s.h. from a single department or program. Students may apply up to 6 s.h. of transfer credit towards the certificate, with approval of the Certificate in Medieval Studies coordinating committee’s approval. For more information, contact the certificate program’s coordinator.

Language Courses

The Classical Languages major is demanding in terms of language study. Students typically need at least 3 years to complete the required Greek and Latin language tracks. Therefore, it may be difficult for students to stay on track if they intend to study abroad during the academic year and do not include language study in their overseas plans. This is especially true for Classical Languages majors whose course outline is more strictly structured then that of Ancient Civilization majors.

You should keep in mind that the Greek/Latin prose composition requirement must be fulfilled at the UI, and that they are offered in alternating years. In other words, be sure you are on campus the year the composition course you want to take is offered.

Funding your trip abroad

Various scholarships are available for UI students planning to study abroad. Information about these scholarships is available on the scholarships webpage. Undergraduate majors in Classical Languages or Ancient Civilization may be eligible to apply for departmental awards for study or archaeological work abroad. For information about travel scholarships offered by the Department of Classics, consult the Department Chair. All students are strongly encouraged to consult with a faculty advisor and a Study Abroad Advisor about financing their study abroad experience.

You can start your search with the recommended programs below, but feel free to browse our program database for other possibilities. The specific programs recommended below may change, so check with your major advisor and Study Abroad for the latest updates.

All students who study abroad must be in good academic and disciplinary standing. Each program listed has coursework taught in English unless otherwise stated. In addition, each program has specific eligibility requirements that may include GPA, prerequisites, and/or class standing. For more information about the program, click on the button below the program description.

Europe

Greece

Ancient Perspectives, Modern Eyes
Spring + Summer

Designed specifically for the Honors Program, this program includes a one-credit spring course on campus, followed by a three-week, three credit summer course in Greece. Learning goals focus on placing ancient worldviews within a modern context in order to gain an appreciation for the landscape, history, and significance of ancient Greece. Cities include Athens, Delphi, Olympia, Mycenae, Delos, Santorini, and more. The course satisfies an honors course requirement as well as honors experiential credit.

City of Athens: Bronze Age to Roman World
Spring, Summer

During an on-campus spring semester class (the first part of the course), students will be introduced to the art, archaeology, and literature of ancient Athens from the Bronze Age to Roman period. The second part of the course (10 days) is conducted in Athens. Here students will directly engage with ancient monuments and objects that they have been studying all semester. The goal of this class is to make the classroom material come to life and deepen students’ appreciation for the rich culture of ancient Athens.

Italy

Archaeological Field Work Abroad
Summer

Dr. Glenn Storey facilitates a five-week field school at the Greco-Roman site of Gangivecchio in Sicily. Students are housed in a 14th-century Benedictine Abbey, just a short distance away from the actual dig site. Students will learn the most up-to-date Sicilian methods of excavation. Students will dig one square meter units in Particella 19 in order to expose structural elements of the known Roman villa in that field. Students earn three semester hours of resident credit.

IES Rome
Fall, Spring, Academic Year, Summer

Underneath the modern European city of Rome lies thousands of years of history. UI students who participate in IES Rome take one Italian language course and then choose electives in art history, classics, Italian language, history, philosophy, and religious studies. Courses include Scripta Manent: Latin Epigraphy, The Splendor of Roman Art, The Last Days of Pompeii, Forma Urbis: The Archaeology of Ancient Rome, Building for Eternity: Construction Technologies in the Ancient Rome World, and Classical Mythology: Gods and Heroes of Greece and Rome. The internship, Archaeological Excavation – Field Methods and Practice, is a favorite among classics majors.

Wells College Florence: Lorenzo de Medici
Fall, Spring

Wells College facilitates enrollment for our students at Lorenzo de Medici International Institute. As a part of the School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, students can take courses that focus on ancient studies, art history, history, philosophy, and religious studies. Courses include Ancient Rome, Introduction to Western Philosophy: Ancient & Early Modern Thinkers, and The ‘Mysterious’ People of Ancient Italy: In Search of the Etruscans.

Czech Republic

USAC Studies in the Czech Republic
Fall, Spring, Academic Year, Summer

Prague is rich in history and the city has been in existence for over 1,000 years. This program starts with a two-week intensive Czech language course to help participants settle into their new country. After this, students can study more of the Czech language, European politics, culture, and art. Courses include From Medieval to Contemporary: Exploring the Great Art and Architecture of Prague; Medieval Culture and American Parallels; and Language, Meaning, and Communication.

Ireland

IES Dublin: Trinity College Dublin
Fall, Spring, Academic Year

Through the IES Dublin: Trinity College Dublin program, students enroll at Trinity College Dublin with their Irish peers. Trinity’s Ancient History and Classics Department offers extensive coursework examining Greek and Roman culture, art, and history, as well as intensive study of the Greek and Latin languages. Courses include Introduction to Greek and Roman History, Reading Ancient Literature, Plato and Socrates, and several levels of Greek and Latin language courses.

United Kingdom

Iowa Regents Semester in Wales
Fall, Spring, Academic Year

This program allows students to spend a semester or academic year enrolled at Swansea University. Swansea's Classics, Ancient History, and Egyptology Department is among the top 12 in the country. Students can choose from a wide variety of introductory through advanced courses exploring ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman history, culture, and mythology. Courses include Of Gods and Heroes: Greek Mythology, Rome from Village to Empire: Introduction to Roman History, Plato’s Republic, and Gender in the Roman World.

University of Kent Exchange
Fall, Spring, Academic Year

Through this program, UI students enroll at the University of Kent and live and study with their British peers. Kent’s Classical Studies Department offers introductory courses in Egyptian, Greek, and Latin, and a wide variety of upper-level major courses focusing on Greek and Roman history, culture, art, and literature. Courses include Words Are Weapons: Insults in Classical Literature, Mediterranean Empires from Carthage and Rome to the Indus, Ancient Egypt: Key Sites to Material Culture, Roman Art and Architecture, and Ancient Philosophy.

Oceania

Australia

Iowa Regents Semester in Australia: University of Tasmania
Fall, Spring, Academic Year, Calendar Year

The University of Tasmania’s (UTAS) School of Humanities has a strong selection of coursework in classics. UTAS offers all levels of Latin and Ancient Greek. Other courses in classics include Ancient Greek Philosophy, Greek and Roman Mythology, Nero and Neronian Literature, and Comedy and Tragedy in the Classical World.

TEAN: University of New South Wales
Fall, Spring, Academic Year, Calendar Year

UNSW’s School of Humanities and Languages is one of Australia’s leading centers for excellence in teaching and research. They offer art, culture, linguistics, language, history, and philosophy. Course examples include Modern Greek Studies, Greekness and Hellenism, The Structure of Language, Rome, and Classical Greece.

New Zealand

TEAN New Zealand: University of Otago
Fall, Spring, Academic Year, Calendar Year

The University of Otago is ranked the top classics program in New Zealand and one of the top 50 classics and ancient history programs in the world. They offer the study of Greek and Latin language and literature, Greek and Roman art, archaeology, history, mythology, and society. Courses include From Augustus to Nero: Scandal and Intrigue in Imperial Rome; Christianity, War, and Violence; Early Modern Philosophy; and Living and Dying in Classical Athens.

TEAN: Victoria University of Wellington
Fall, Spring, Academic Year, Calendar Year

Victoria University of Wellington was founded in 1897 and has over 22,000 students. It offers a wide range of course topics in art history, linguistics, classics studies, Greek and Latin, and philosophy. Courses include Sociolinguistics, Great Philosophers, The Greeks, Roman History and Society, Myth and Mythology, Greek Art: Myth and Culture, and Greek and Roman Epic.

Africa & the Middle East

Jordan

SIT Intensive Arabic Language Studies
Summer

On this six-week program, students take seven credits of intensive Arabic classes, learning about Arabic culture and how it transformed the region. Excursions to amazing, one-of-a-kind sites include Petra, the Dead Sea, and the Wadi Rum Desert. Students live with a local Arabic-speaking family in Amman and truly immerse themselves in a traditional experience in the Middle East.