Reconstructing Rome: Archaeology, Art, and the Afterlives of the Roman Empire
Tentative Summer 2027 Dates: May 18-30, 2027
Program Locations
Rome, Ravenna, Naples, and Pompeii, Italy
Program Highlights
- Roman Civilization in Context — Complete an immersive, site-based course tracing the rise, transformation, and legacy of Ancient Rome.
- Study in Rome, Ravenna, Naples, and Pompeii — Use Italy’s most significant historical sites as living classrooms from antiquity to the Baroque era.
- Foundations of Roman History & Art — Prepare through pre-departure lectures on Ancient Rome, art and architecture, and its medieval and Renaissance legacy.
- Imperial Power & Public Life — Analyze monuments like the Pantheon, Roman Forum, and Colosseum to understand politics, propaganda, and spectacle.
- Christian & Byzantine Transformations — Explore the shift to Christian Rome and Eastern influences through basilicas, catacombs, and Ravenna’s mosaics.
- Renaissance & Baroque Revival — Examine how classical antiquity was reimagined in early modern art, architecture, and urban design.
- Underground & Hidden Rome — Investigate necropolises, catacombs, and layered archaeological sites beneath the modern city.
- Vatican & Papal Rome — Engage with St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, with optional Papal Audience.
- Naples & Pompeii Field Study — Study excavation, preservation, and daily life through museum collections and the ruins of Pompeii.
Faculty Leaders
Dr. Michelle Erhardt, Professor of Fine Arts and Art History (College of Arts and Humanities), michelle.erhardt@cnu.edu
Rosa Motta (Emeritus Faculty), Professor of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures (College of Arts and Humanities), rosa.motta@cnu.edu
Study Abroad Office: (757) 594-8083 or studyabroad@cnu.edu
Course Information
CLST 272 (The Roman Empire: Architecture and Ideology)
No required prerequisites.
Course Description
How does an empire live on after it falls? Through its monuments, ruins, and images, this study abroad course explores how Roman art and architecture were preserved, reimagined, and transformed from Antiquity through the Middle Ages and into the Baroque. Anchored in Rome, with immersive visits to Ravenna, Naples and Pompeii, students investigate how visual culture shaped memory, power, and identity in the centuries following the collapse of the Roman Empire. By walking ancient streets, standing beneath domes and mosaics, and studying works in situ, we reconstruct not only Rome’s past, but its enduring legacy.
Additional Information
- Accommodations
- Ground transportation
- International health insurance
- Group activities
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- Airfare
- Students are responsible for purchasing their international airfare to and from the program destination(s). Students should not purchase their flight until receiving specific instructions from the faculty leaders after December 1.
- Airfare
- Tuition (3 credits)
- In-state: $1,440
- Out-of-State: $3,171
- Travel insurance
- Most meals
- Personal expenses
Deadline: December 1, 2026
Student with a valid passport:
Students who have a current passport will need to upload an image of their passport by December 1, 2026, to their enrollment forms.
Student without a Valid Passport
Apply for or renew your passport immediately. After November 1, students must pay to expedite the application process. Do not delay beginning this process.
Passport Application and Renewal
The routine processing time is currently up to 6 weeks and expedited services is up to 3 weeks. These processing times are subject to change and can lengthen significantly. We highly recommend applying for or renewing your passport as soon as possible. Most countries require at least 6 months remaining time on your passport expiration from your intended date of departure. Example: If your passport expires on December 1, 2027, you would need to renew your passport to travel in the summer of 2027.
Each country has established entry requirements and travel restrictions set for foreign visitors and their citizens. Any country can change their regulations at any time. We encourage all students and their families to review details about the country or countries you plan to travel to and to continue monitoring the information leading up to your departure.
Travel & Entry Requirements from the U.S. State DepartmentApplication & Enrollment Forms Deadline
October 31*
*Program may fill prior to deadline due to a rolling admission process.