USC offers students an amazing array of opportunities to spend a semester studying abroad. Students who have participated in these programs regularly claim that living and learning in a foreign country gave them an entirely new perspective by experiencing classical monuments and historic places in person.

USC is a member of the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome and of the College Year in Athens. Both programs are selective, and students should consult with the undergraduate advisor in order to prepare themselves as potential candidates for both application and participation. Classics majors have also chosen to study in such places as London, Edinburgh, and Berlin.

The Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome

  • The Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome (the “Centro”) offers a unique experience for serious undergraduate classics majors to experience ancient Rome first-hand. The core of the program is an intensive course on ancient Roman topography, history, art and architecture. This course is taught in a combination of classroom lectures, site visits (frequently with “behind the scenes” access to areas tourists don’t get into), and fieldtrips outside Rome proper (e.g. Tuscany, Pompeii, Sicily). Centro students also take courses in Greek, Latin, Italian and/or Renaissance/Baroque art history.

The College Year in Athens

  • The College Year in Athens offers year- and semester-long programs for classics majors and others interested in studying the ancient and modern Mediterranean (they have summer courses too, see below).  Their courses cover a range of topics in ancient Greek civilization as well as studies of South East Europe, Western Asia, and the Middle East from the founding of Constantinople (330 CE) to the present. Fieldtrips to major sites relevant to ancient, Byzantine and modern Greek history are integral to the CYA program.

The USC Office of Overseas Studies

The USC Office of Overseas Studies can provide specific information on affiliated study abroad programs, financial aid information, and specific application procedures.

Summer Opportunities

Thinking about studying ancient sites first hand this summer? Maybe working on an archaeological excavation? Check out these options:

Archaeological Institute of America, Fieldwork Opportunities Bulletin

Volunteer and field-school listings for the following summer’s excavation season are regularly updated over the fall and winter months, so check back on the AIA site from time to time as more excavation directors post info on their projects.

College Year in Athens, Summer Courses

American Academy in Rome Classical Summer School