This specially created interdisciplinary course explores Rome from its foundations to the twentieth century focusing, through three seminars, on three historical moments of transition and upheaval which formed the city's unique character. A major paper is required working one-on-one with a faculty member. Students will present their work at a final presentation symposium.

Four complementary disciplines (Art History; Classical Studies; Literature; Politics) combine to create a unique interdisciplinary course, entitled "The Rome Experience". "The Rome Experience" divides into three seminars each centered around a specific time period:

'The Age of Augustus: from Republic to Empire';
'Renaissance, Reformation and Renewal'; and
'Futurism, and Fascism'.

Each seminar lasts four weeks. There are two classroom lessons each week, which are supplemented by on-site visits. Each week begins with an introductory lecture at which readings for the week will also be presented. The second lesson is a double period on-site History\Art History visit. A third classroom lecture\seminar (or a second on-site visit) concludes each theme. Each of the three seminars is presented by an introductory week entitled Cityscapes, which focuses the geography of the city in the specific historical time period through original contemporary readings (in translation). The three subsequent weeks are each devoted to a specific theme: The Cult of Personality; Social Life; Home and Abroad. These themes are repeated for each seminar. Weeks Thirteen and Fourteen are devoted to the presentation of a substantial research project that students will have completed by the end of the semester working in close collaboration with a faculty member.

The course will be team taught by three members of the faculty. The Honors Director, present at all times, will provide continuity and lead one of the three seminars. Other members of the faculty will lead the remaining two seminars and will be available as faculty advisers for the term project and for the final presentation symposium