Student Experiences

Scholarships

The Department of Classical Studies funds student research, travel, study during the school year and in the summers, made possible by generous contributions from Alumni and Friends of Classical Studies: the Joan and Tim Jenkins Student Fellowship; the Corinne Pache Student Fellowship; and the David Harris and Shelby Frank Student Fellowship.

Several organizations offer grants, fellowships, scholarships, or awards to undergraduate students in ancient Mediterranean studies, as well as opportunities to participate in digs and study abroad:

• The Classical Association of the Middle West and South
• American Academy in Rome
• American School of Classical Studies at Athens
• Archaeological Institute of America
• American Society of Overseas Research
• Eta Sigma Phi

Student Awards and Recognition

Each year, the Department of Classical Studies honors the achievements of its outstanding students during Trinity University’s Honor Awards ceremony. The department gives awards to the outstanding seniors in the study of ancient Greek, the study of Latin, Ancient Mediterranean Studies, and the CAMWS Award for Outstanding Accomplishment in Classical Studies. 

Many Classical Studies majors and minors study abroad, especially in Rome or Athens, but also in England and throughout Europe. Classical Studies in conjunction with Religious Studies also regularly offers a summer course in Rome. Another summer option is participation in an archaeological excavation on Cyprus. In addition to learning about the ancient settings and histories, students develop an understanding of the influence of the past on contemporary cultures and politics. 

Today, cross-cultural understanding is as much a practical necessity as an educational standard. Study abroad is an embodiment of the liberal arts ideals and a sign of the initiative and breadth often looked for by employers.

Experiences in and around San Antonio include visiting and working with objects in the Ancient Mediterranean Art collections of the San Antonio Museum of Art. The department regularly sponsors field trips to special exhibits and theatrical productions in San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Dallas-Fort Worth. 

On-campus activities include movie screenings and participation in theatrical productions, in collaboration with the theater program. Every year, the faculty, majors, and minors collaboratively choose a summer reading and meet in the fall to discuss it. The department has been known to hold a “Daily Off”, in which the students from “Daily Life in Ancient Greece” and “Daily Life in Ancient Rome” compete in a contest to see which class was more, um, daily-er. And Latin students occasionally challenge one another or the faculty in a “Hic, haec, hoc-off.”