The Catholic University of America - Department of Greek and Latin
The Catholic University of America

Study Abroad: Introduction

Church in Imerovigli, Santorini (Greece)		Study abroad is particularly recommended for classicists, given the field's professional emphasis upon the languages, literatures, and cultures which originated in the Mediterranean world.  Undergraduate majors in the department frequently travel overseas for a semester or for part of a summer to pursue their studies: the most popular destinations tend to be Italy, Greece, and England.  Some beginning information about selected programs in these countries is offered here, but the CUAbroad Office can provide more and offer detailed assistance. All students interested in study abroad should also consult with the CUA Office of Financial Aid to explore the effect which overseas study will have on aid arrangements and personal costs.

CUA study abroad academic requirements (quoted from the CUAbroad Office here)

"CUA students--and non-CUA students--must be enrolled full-time at the time of application, have completed 45 credits--be a second-semester sophomore--in order to be accepted into semester and academic year programs.  It may be difficult to study abroad during the last semester before graduation if you are concerned about graduating on time.  Short-term and summer programs are open to freshman, sophomore, junior, senior or graduate students. The general public may participate in short-term programs as well.

"GPA requirements are as follows: 2.50 or above cumulative GPA for most CUA spring break and summer programs;  2.80 or above cumulative GPA for direct exchanges, semesters, and internship programs; 3.50 for undergraduates--3.80 for graduate students--or above cumulative GPA for the CUA Oxford Honors [OPUS] program.

Department of Greek and Latin Spring Break Programs The Department of Greek and Latin has recently started its own spring break study-travel abroad program.  Our first trip, Greece 2008, was a wonderful success.  Watch this space for more information about our next adventure!

"Students participating in semester- or academic year programs MUST be enrolled full time (12-15 credit hours) during the program.  Exception to this requirement must be requested in writing and approved by the Center for Education Abroad [CUAbroad] and the Dean of the school in which the student is enrolled.  Such requests are usually not granted due to student visa regulations in the host country.  Any prior balances due to CUA MUST be paid in full in order to be officially admitted in an education abroad program (both affiliated or non-affiliated).  Students will not be allowed to study abroad unless all past CUA balances are paid up."

The Department of Greek and Latin would add that academic prerequisites, disciplinary requirements, and other restrictions may apply to qualifications for study abroad programs, and must be explored and fulfilled by the individual student.

Semester programs (during the academic year)

Programs affiliated with CUA

• Athens: CUA is affiliated with College Year in Athens, an inter-university program that has been in operation for more than 40 years.
• Rome: CUA has its own university program in Rome.
• Oxford: CUA is affiliated with the Oxford Programme for Undergraduate Studies (OPUS) in England.  Consideration for this program is highly competitive: consult the CUAbroad Office for details.

Follow the links here or in the sidebar to learn more about these programs; the CUAbroad Office facilitates applications to them.

Classicists do not necessarily have to study in the Mediterranean or in England.  CUA also has programs in a wide variety of other countries, and the CUAbroad Office functions as a clearinghouse for information and applications to these programs as well.  Click here to begin exploring them.

Programs not directly affiliated with CUA
Not all student needs and interests may necessarily be best accommodated by CUA-affiliated study abroad programs.  An undergraduate in good standing who meets the academic requirements for study abroad may attend any program which he or she wishes, provided that it is in turn affiliated with an accredited US university which will issue a transcript, or that it involves direct enrollment in a foreign university.  Students in the School of Arts and Sciences who wish to exercise this option will need to complete the processes outlined by the CUAbroad Office.

Click here to learn more about some non-CUA study abroad programs that take place during the academic year.

Summer programs (outside of the academic year)

Summer study abroad is an attractive option for many undergraduates.  It often provides an intensive, condensed experience over the course of several (generally two to seven) weeks; it can (in the case of non-CUA programs) complement the regular pursuit of the CUA degree during the academic year without requiring the procurement of a leave of absence; and, in many cases, it need not provide a student with highly specific transfer credits (as a semester program generally must) in order to assist in the timely progression towards graduation.

As with all study abroad proposals, however, summer study abroad should be discussed with and approved by the undergraduate adviser well in advance, particularly if you want or need to transfer credit for such summer study back to CUA.  (The CUAbroad Office provides guidance on credit transfers, and approval for this must be gained in advance.)

Click here to learn more about some non-CUA study abroad programs that take place during the summer.

Excavations

Working as a member of an archaeological excavation offers a different type of study abroad experience for the student of classics.  It presents the opportunity to learn about this important area of the discipline firsthand, in a way that cannot be experienced in the classroom, and offers hands-on training in the identification, analysis, and interpretation of ancient artifacts.  In return, excavating demands physical stamina, flexibility in the acceptance of living conditions, long work hours, and the willingness to forsake extensive personal travel in return for the chance to share in the discovery of new things and the acquisition of new knowledge.There are many archaeological excavations which accept undergraduate student 'volunteers'; nearly all of them charge fees for room and board, and some for participation as well.  Some excavations are archaeological 'field schools' which offer organized and purposeful training in investigative, recording, and interpretive techniques; others more closely emphasize the direct operation of the excavation itself.

The best way to begin finding information on excavations which students can join is via the Archaeological Fieldwork Opportunities Bulletin, a publication produced yearly by the Archaeological Institute of America.  The AFOB is also now online--and searchable--here.  It is, however, by no means a complete listing of all of the opportunities available. 

Click here to learn more about some major ongoing excavation projects which student classicists can join.

In all cases, students interested in excavation opportunities should consult faculty members and enlist their assistance in researching projects.  The Department of Greek and Latin recommends that students, particularly those excavating for the first time, affiliate with field schools or excavations run by US universities and institutions.