Duke in Rome
4-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM IN ROMAN HISTORY & CULTURE
Program Alert
The Duke in Rome program is suspended for summer 2021. Please review GEO’s COVID-19 response page for more details: https://globaled.duke.edu/covid-19-response.
study ancient roman history and its influence on the modern world
Apply NowTaught in English
The program invites participants of all backgrounds to discover and explore monuments and other material remains that embody ancient Roman history and culture and to reflect on the influence of the ancient Roman world on later periods of European history, literature, art, and architecture. Although some background in Latin, Roman history, and/or Italian art and archaeology is a plus, the course is designed to give any student a firm understanding of Roman civilization and its role in shaping fundamental aspects of Western culture.
PROGRAM FAST FACTS
Location: Rome, Italy
Term: Summer
Dates: May 16 to June 16, 2020
Application Deadline: February 1st
Academic Theme(s): Roman History and Culture
Language of Instruction: English
Credit Type: Duke Credit
Eligibility: No prerequisite. Non-Duke students are welcome to apply.
Duke Affiliation: Department of Classical Studies, Department of Art, Art History and Visual Studies, and Duke's History Department
Housing: Residence Hall, Hotels
GEO Advisor: Alayne Wood
ACADEMICS
All students enroll in the program's signature course offering one Duke credit. No pass/fail option or auditing is permitted.
- COURSE
- SITE VISITS
COURSE
CLST 340A / ARTHIST 209A / HISTORY 238A
Rome: History of the City
(ALP,CCI,CZ) 1.0 Duke Credit
Instructor: Prof. José M. González
This course examines Roman history and culture, especially the city of Rome, from the earliest times to the present day. Rome is prominent as one of the supreme centers of urban culture in the western world. Here, as nowhere else, one can read a continuous record of the successive rises, declines, and re-emergences of the city in its Italian context and as a central expression of our civilization.
In this course, the students will experience the history of the city directly and personally through walking lectures and guided tours of major sites, monuments, and museums. Visits to other ancient sites in Italy help students visualize Roman urban realities and ideals. The sites themselves function as "text"; we experience and analyze Rome and other cities in a "hands-on" fashion that cannot be duplicated in the classroom. This hands-on approach allows us to think about the lives of everyday Romans as we not only view the monuments built by and for the wealthy but also walk among the bars, taverns, bakeries, and public toilets that were part of the everyday lives and routines of the non-elite.
SITE VISITS
Site Visits
We begin our trip in Latium and Campania, for we cannot understand Rome without seeing other sites that convey the contributions of Latin, Greek, and Etruscan cultures to it. The fortified hill towns Ferentinum and Teanum exemplify Rome’s indigenous background. In Campania we encounter Greek sites that influenced Rome (Cumae, Paestum). Here we also find Herculaneum, Pompeii, and other cities whose catastrophic burial by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 has preserved striking evidence of Roman daily life.
Proceeding to Rome, we explore the city itself and some of its important environs: the Etruscan sites of Tarquinia and Cerveteri; the Latin hills; and Roman dependencies like Ostia and Tivoli. These locations convey the central theme of the course: The emergence and development of Roman civilization, the impact of other cultures upon it, and the endless fascination this “head of the world” (caput mundi) has evoked in visitors through the centuries. Attention will be given to the idea of Rome as it emerges in the literature and propaganda of various periods, from antiquity to the present. We will also spend some of our time looking at religious practices, voluntary associations, and economic life in the Roman city, noting in particular the place of Christianity in Rome from its earliest centuries to the emergence of a Christian empire after Constantine.
EXCURSIONS
Most teaching and learning will take place at archaeological sites, museums, re-purposed ancient buildings such as churches, and “restored” classical monuments. A main goal of the program is the joint study of the multiple layers of history and culture reflected in major monuments from overlapping eras and cultures, from antiquity to the present.
- We begin in the Bay of Naples, so as to investigate Pompeii, Herculaneum, and other cities famously “buried” in the eruption of Vesuvius.
- The second part of the course is based in Rome itself. Day trips may include Naples, Cuma, Paestum, Tarquinia, and Tivoli.
HOUSING & MEALS
Campania
Students will stay at the Villa Vergiliana, Via Cuma, 580, 80070 Bacoli, Naples, Tel. and Fax: 011-39-081-854-3102. In Campania, students have all meals included in the program fee.
Pompeii
Students will be housed at the Hotel Villa dei Misteri Via Villa dei Misteri, 11, 80045 Pompeii, Naples. Tel.: 011-39-081-861-3593, Fax: 011-39-081-862-2983. In Pompeii, breakfast and one other meal will be provided. For other meals, students will be aided in finding good, inexpensive restaurants.
Rome
Students stay at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies (Centro), Via A. Algardi 19, 00152 Roma, Tel. 011-39-06-581-7036; Fax: 011-39-06-580-9306. The Center includes classrooms, an excellent library and slide collection, email, and other facilities. It is located in the relative cool and quiet of the Janiculum Hill, but frequent bus service connects it with every corner of the city. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, Monday-Friday.
ESTIMATED COSTS
Summer 2020
Estimates are based on previous years’ programs and the current exchange rate. All costs are subject to change.
Duke Students | Non-Duke Students | |
---|---|---|
Tuition | $3,579 | $3,579 |
Program Fee | $4,600 | $4,600 |
Transcript Fee | N/A | $40 |
Other Costs | Other Costs | Other Costs |
TOTAL (Estimated) | $11,604 | $11,644 |
Explanation of Costs
Included in Program Fee
The program fee for this program includes:
- Accommodations
- Some meals
- Program transportation
- International SOS coverage
- Program-sponsored activities and excursions
- Orientation program
Not Included in Program Fee
Use the following list to assist with budgeting for expenses outside the program fee. This list contains common examples but should not be considered exhaustive.
The program fee does not include:
- Airfare
- Airport transportation to/from program site
- On-site accident and health insurance policy
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Immunizations
- Visa and/or residency permit
- Passport
- Textbooks and class materials
- Internet usage
- Mobile phone
- Laundry
- Independent travel and entertainment
- Items of a personal nature
- Incidentals
U.S. citizens do not need a visa for this program. However, if you are not a U.S. citizen, you may need a visa. Please be sure to research the cost of obtaining a visa, including any required travel to a consulate or embassy.
If you receive financial aid, and need assistance with travel costs, please contact your financial aid counselor.
Personal expenses can fluctuate greatly depending upon habits and preferences of the individual. It’s also wise to budget for unexpected expenses such as medical emergencies. You can use a cost-of-living comparison tool to get an idea of what daily life costs in the program host location.
Step 1: Upon acceptance to the program, you must submit the Summer Participation Agreement found in your MyGlobalEd application to confirm your enrollment. A parent/guardian’s co-signature is required. This form takes the place of a deposit.
NOTE: If you withdraw after March 15, you will be charged a cancellation fee for voluntary withdrawal. Fees range from $1,500-2,000.
Step 2: Summer invoices will be sent via email to your Duke email address and home email address. Remit payment to the Bursar per due date and address indicated on your online statement. Consult the Duke Bursar's office billing schedule for payment due dates.
Financial Aid
Duke students receiving institutional need-based grant aid are eligible for aid for this program; work-study funds are converted to grants. Students are individually responsible for making the necessary arrangements with the Karsh Office of Undergraduate Financial Support and the Duke Bursar’s Office.
Non-Duke students are not eligible to receive financial aid at Duke and should contact their home institutions for financial aid information.
Scholarships
This program offers the following scholarship opportunities:
DATES
- Dates
- Itinerary
Dates
Attendance is required at all classes, excursions, and group events. Given the intense nature of this program, late arrival and/or early departure is not permitted.
- Arrival: May 16, 2020
- Departure: June 16, 2020
Flights
You will make your own travel arrangements to and from the program site. You are expected to arrive on the arrival date cited above, which usually means departing the U.S. one day prior. Once you have a flight itinerary, log in to MyGlobalEd to update your travel registry.
Housing Before/After
You will need to make your own housing arrangements if you will be arriving before the program start date or leaving later than the program end date.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Please note that this itinerary is not final, and is subject to change.
May 16–May 23, 2020: Cumae
May 24–May 28, 2020: Pompeii
May 29–June 16, 2020: Rome
VISA & PASSPORT
VISA
No visas are required of U.S. citizens. Non U.S. citizens should pay special attention to the visa requirements for their specific citizenship by contacting the country embassy to find out if any visa restrictions are in effect.
PASSPORT
All participants must have a valid passport. For instructions on how to get a passport, you can go to the U.S. State Department website. The U.S. Department of State recommends that those traveling ensure that their passport has at least six months of validity beyond their dates of international travel to avoid unintended disruptions.
International Student Identity Card
An International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is optional for this program. Students may purchase this card for $25 through the ISIC website. Processing of the card takes between 4-15 days. Please order your card well in advance of your departure.
Program Faculty & Staff
Program faculty director(s) can assist with questions related to program academics, admissions, on-site needs, etc. For all other inquiries, please contact the GEO representative listed.


ADMISSIONS
Deadline: February 1st
This program has rolling admission. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis until the program fills; after that, qualified students are added to a waitlist and notified of openings. Applications must be received by the deadline to be considered. Application opens November 1.
Priority: Priority is given to applicants who apply early.
Minimum GPA: There is no minimum GPA.
Non-Duke students: Non-Duke students are welcome to apply for this program. You must be a degree-seeking student in good standing at an accredited college or university. Consult your university’s registrar and/or study away advisor for assistance with transfer credit. Students who are not matriculated at a college or university are not eligible to participate in Duke’s study away programs.
GEO policy for graduating seniors who wish to apply for a Duke summer study abroad/away program:
Students must be active, matriculated students in order to participate in any Duke-in summer programs, including Duke’s domestic summer programs. All program courses must be taken for graded credit. If seniors plan to graduate in May of the year they plan to study abroad in the summer, they will not be eligible to participate on any of our summer programs unless they receive approval from their academic dean at Duke to delay their graduation until after the summer program has ended.
Non-Duke students planning to graduate in May in the year they plan to study abroad in the summer must provide approval to delay their graduation until after the summer program has ended from the appropriate official at their home institution. Such approval must be furnished in writing to GEO before the student will be allowed to participate in the summer program. This approval may be sent via email to the appropriate program assistant at GEO.
Duke students who defer their graduation to participate in study abroad should consult with their financial aid advisor in the Duke Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid to determine whether they are eligible for a summer aid package and/or a GEO summer scholarship.
APPLY
Start your application early to ensure that it is complete by the deadline! Incomplete applications will not be forwarded to the program directors for consideration.
Submit the following items using MyGlobalEd:
- Online application
- Official transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended. First-year students should wait for fall semester grades to be posted before submitting their transcript.
- Personal statement, no longer than one page, explaining why you would like to participate on this program
- Academic letter of recommendation (one)