Department of Classics

The course is aimed at an international audience, largely lacking a previous education in classical studies, and therefore aims to offer students intensive training in these disciplines and, in particular, in ancient Greek and Latin languages.

The course aims to provide a valid and accurate basic training in the knowledge of the ancient world and in particular of ancient Greek and Latin languages and literatures, of ancient history, classical archeology and classical reception in medieval, modern and contemporary culture. The teachings of the Course will be based on a broad vision of the classical world and will focus on the cultural, anthropological and reception aspects of ancient civilizations; they will also benefit from the opportunities offered by the location in Rome, with the possibility of experiences in the area, visits to museums and workshops in libraries.

Providing this training in English allows, compared to a course in Italian, greater opportunities for the graduate to continue their university study or pursue a career in an international context. The knowledge of classical languages, literatures and civilizations, the ability to develop a critical analysis of complex texts and phenomena, as well as the communicative skills in English learned during the course, determine a professional profile qualified to perform cultural activities in an international context, with particular reference to the sectors such as publishing, journalism, protection and enhancement of cultural heritage.

In particular, the course intends to provide:

- a good knowledge of ancient Greek and Latin languages, taught starting from the basic grammar and up to a level that allows students to read and understand complex literary texts;

- a good knowledge of ancient Greek and Latin literatures from the origins to the Middle Ages;

- a good knowledge of the history of ancient theater and of the performing methods of literary texts;

- a good knowledge of the classical reception in modern European literatures and in contemporary culture;

- a good knowledge of ancient history, archeology and classical art, history of ancient thought, with a wide choice of complementary subjects such as paleography, epigraphy, numismatics, etc.;

- a basic knowledge of the philological method, of text criticism, of the tradition of classical texts;

- a good knowledge of the purposes and methodologies of the interpretation of complex literary texts;

- the ability to use the main IT and telematic communication tools in the specific areas of competence.

Learning is achieved through the most up-to-date theories and techniques of approaching ancient texts and testimonies (papyri, epigraphs, manuscripts, iconographic material, archeological finds and monuments, etc.) and with the help of all possible IT supports. Students can also take advantage of the opportunity to call foreign teachers to carry out teaching activities (Visiting Professorships, or cycles of seminars with foreign guests).

The inter-university Master’s Degree in Classical Archaeology issues a joint degree, promoted by the Department of Classical Antiquities of Sapienza University of Rome, one of the oldest universities in Italy and worldwide, with a secular leading role in Classics and archaeological studies, and Unitelma Sapienza University of Rome, its online university, which has been a flagship of excellence in Italian distance learning for over ten years.

The Master is an online program that aims to provide an in-depth training in the field of classical archaeology, completing theoretical training with one or more apprenticeships in Rome or other archaeological sites to be agreed upon with the course board directors.

The didactic methodology combines both traditional (historical-archaeological, philological-linguistic, artistic knowledge) and innovative resources applying the most evolved methods addressed to the knowledge of the material culture. The program aims to improve the archaeological and historical skills of second level graduates.

The didactic methodology combines both traditional (historical-archaeological, philological-linguistic, artistic knowledge) and innovative resources applying the most evolved methods addressed to the knowledge of the material culture and of the ancient landscape. The program aims to improve the archaeological and historical skills of second level graduates.

The educational aim of the course is to strengthen further the preparation achieved within the curriculum of the first level studies, with the acquisition of methodologies and skills that foster a critical approach to the archaeological data, properly classified, within their broader historical-cultural framework, as well as developing individual research abilities according to the international scientific debate.

At the end of the training course, the graduate acquires:

• high knowledge of the ancient world in its various historical and cultural aspects;

• in-depth knowledge of ancient history in the classical or Middle-Eastern context up to the Middle Ages, also in light of the ability to read, translate and analyse ancient, historical, literary and epigraphic sources;

• specialized skills in one of the internationally recognized archaeological fields for the Western classic world (Prehistory and Protohistory, Classical Archaeology, Medieval Archaeology)