Overview
Bryn Mawr Provides Interdepartmental Seminars, a Student Symposium, and Internship Opportunities for Graduate Students
An integral component of the Graduate Group in Archaeology, Classics, and History of Art is the interdepartmental seminar series that is co-taught by faculty in two or three departments, including the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology. During the interdepartmental seminars, students and faculty share critical approaches and knowledge of their disciplines with those in other related fields within the graduate group. Students in the group also receive opportunities for curatorial internships, as Bryn Mawr College partners with five other institutions in the Philadelphia area. These organizations include the Philadelphia Museum of Art and University of Pennsylvania Museum.
Curatorial internships give graduate students the opportunity to work with Bryn Mawr Collections, as well as the resources and specialized expertise of other institutions. The biennial Graduate Student Symposium is another unique and valuable collaborative endeavor of the graduate group. The Graduate Student Symposium is primarily planned and implemented by the students, and the venture attracts graduate students from throughout the United States and other countries.
During the symposium, papers are presented on interdisciplinary themes. In addition to participating in interdepartmental seminars, students can take part in multidisciplinary study by attending courses in an associated graduate group department or by completing independent studies with faculty members in other departments. This multidisciplinary approach allows graduates in classical and Near Eastern archaeology to enhance their professional options.
Students May Focus on the Art and Archaeology of the Greek and Roman World or the Ancient Near East
The Department of Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology offers a graduate program in archaeology at Bryn Mawr College. The department is within the Graduate Group in Archaeology, Classics, and History of Art. The program provides graduate students two fields of concentration: the art and archaeology of the Greek and Roman world and its Mediterranean predecessor; and the art and archaeology of the ancient Near East.
These art and archaeology fields may be combined with allied subjects. Choices of allied subjects are ancient languages, ancient history, art history, anthropology, or a related science. The departments that fall with the graduate group share a notable history and national reputation for excellence. Interdisciplinary study is supported by the faculty, so students in the classics and Near Eastern archaeology department work with those studying in related areas.
The graduate program in archaeology emphasizes both broad and in-depth study, enabling its graduates to succeed in various fields, such as the academic, research, and publishing arenas. They are also prepared for careers in museums and foundations. First-year students are required to attend a Graduate Intensive Survey that provides an overview of topics covered in the department. The graduate adviser creates a plan of study that allows the student a range of training in addition to specialized work. Depending upon chosen fields, students will usually complete an appropriate language study too.
Shared Scholarly Resources and Research Facilities Provide Advantage to Bryn Mawr Graduate Students
The three departments within the graduate group share scholarly resources and research facilities, though each department has designed its own programs leading to M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. The Center for Visual Culture serves as a cross-disciplinary source for research and dialogue within the graduate group. The center's weekly discussions, scheduled lectures, and events encompass the areas of archaeology, the history of art, and classics, yet also extend to visual imagery in other subjects.
A central research facility is the Rhys Carpenter Library, a dedicated art and archaeology library. The facility maintains an estimated 125,000 volumes and 500 periodical titles to support student and faculty research in archaeology, history of art, classics, and urban studies. Additional research materials are also accessible in the college's main library. The archaeological collection has been built since the college's founding and is a global research resource for archaeological scholars.
The department's hands-on research facilities are the fieldwork sites that serve as the training grounds for graduate students. Future opportunities are anticipated for students to participate in field projects in Greece or the Near East. Students also may join in excavations sponsored by other institutions. Bryn Mawr has a cooperative arrangement with the University of Philadelphia and Temple University so students may also experience their academics, research facilities, and archeological collections.
