THE INTERCOLLEGIATE CENTER

FOR CLASSICAL STUDIES IN ROME

The Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome (ICCS) was established in 1965 by representatives of ten American colleges and universities; the number of member institutions has now grown to 90. It provides undergraduate students with an opportunity in Rome to study ancient history and archaeology, Greek and Latin literature, and ancient art. A Managing Committee elected by the consortium colleges and universities determines the curriculum and selects the faculty, students, and scholarship recipients. The Managing Committee has arranged for administration of the Intercollegiate Center to be handled by Duke University's Office of Study Abroad.

The ICCS faculty is chosen from persons teaching classics, history, and art history in colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. The usual faculty complement is a Professor-in-Charge, two Associate or Assistant Professors, and an advanced graduate student as Instructor. In addition, other persons are hired in Italy to teach Renaissance and Baroque Art History and Elementary Italian.

The curriculum is structured differently from that in many American colleges and universities. Students are expected to take four courses, which is a minimum and normal load; a few students take five courses. A major part of the academic work is a required comprehensive and integrated course called The Ancient City. It is equal to and requires as much class and study time as two semester courses. It covers Roman archaeology and topography, aspects of social and urban history of Rome, and Roman civilization. Frequent site visits and explorations, intensive museum tours and lectures, and wider-ranging trips based on the Professor-in-Charge's area's of expertise outside Rome are included as part of the course. In the recent past, Campania and Sicily have been the focus of extended and focused study. Because The Ancient City course depends on prior knowledge of Roman history, students are expected to prepare themselves by taking a Roman history course or by careful reading on the subject.

Students choose their other courses from the following: Intermediate or Advanced Latin; Intermediate Greek; Advanced Greek; Renaissance and Baroque Art History; or Elementary Italian (no other level of Italian is available). The Latin and Greek courses avoid excessive concentration on commonly read works. Students who wish to take an independent study or directed reading may do so, providing it is supervised by a member of the faculty at the student's own college or university. This work will not appear on an ICCS transcript, and no responsibility for it will be taken by the ICCS faculty.

The ICCS is the most important and rigorous undergraduate study-abroad curriculum, and fortunately for us, it is in Classics. A brief look at the résumés of currently practicing academics in Classics and related fields will quickly turn up an astonishing number who attended the ICCS, or "Centro", as it is affectionately called. The ICCS program is not only a great deal of fun, but it also affords those who might be considering a career in Classics a chance to see if it is really what they wish to do.

Creighton University is becoming a member of the consortium of schools which manages the ICCS. As members, Creighton's undergraduates receive preferential status in the application process (along with applicants from other member institutions), get a cut rate on the fees involved (about $300.00 less), and have access to financial aid from the ICCS. (The standard fees and expenses, including room, board, and transportation for the semester run to approximately $18,000 in 2005-2006.)

Students normally apply to spend a semester of their junior year in Rome, though first-semester seniors frequently go, as well. Please note that the application deadlines fall relatively early in the semester preceding the one you want to study in Rome. Note also that at least intermediate-level standing in Greek or Latin is a virtual prerequisite for attendance. Students interested in attending the Centro ought to make sure that they start their languages early; ought to study Roman history if possible; and must arrange their four-year plans at Creighton to leave a full semester free of core requirements during the time they will be studying in Rome. (As long as Creighton is not a member of the ICCS consortium students hopeful of going ought to do everything possible to make themselves attractive to the selection committee: study both languages, if possible, study Roman history, and perhaps even Italian.) There is no administrative difficulty counting Centro courses towards any of the CNES majors.

For further information contact Professor Greg Bucher, Creighton's ICCS faculty representative.

On the left, Professor Bucher condescendingly points out a spectacular detail in a richly carved cornice from the palace of the Flavian Emperors on the Palatine Hill to a group of Centro students in 1998.

Professor Bucher was one of the Assistant Professors at the Centro that year, and among his students in the fall was CANES LAT Major Joe Kokenge. CANES LAT Major Taylor Page will be attending the Fall '05 semester.

For other pictures of the Centro and its neighborhood, follow this link.