Classical Civilization Degree

Student Research Highlight: Archeological Dig Uncovers Ancient Biblical Mosaics in Galilee

In June of 2023, student Miranda Brown, an anthropology and Classics major from Centerville, Texas, participated in an architectural dig with Dr. Martin Wells, Austin College Associate Professor of Classics. Dr. Wells is the architectural specialist for the Huqoq Excavation Project in Israel, the site of a 1,600-year-old synagogue.

In addition to working at the excavation site six days a week, Miranda and the other students attended lectures by the excavation staff on stratigraphy, architecture, pottery, wall paintings, coins, mosaics, and site conservation. They also went on field trips to archaeological sites in Galilee and northern Israel and took a long field trip to Jordan. With Amman as their base, the group visited the Herodian fortress at Machaerus, the biblical site of Mt. Nebo, the ancient churches and their mosaics of Umm al-Rasas, and the church housing the famous Madaba map mosaic.

Finish in Four*

with the skills to launch your career

Understanding ancient Greece and Rome

can help you understand today’s world. Learning how to dig deep and analyze complex, layered information—like an archaeologist—will also strengthen and refine other skills, such as communication, critical thinking, and evidence-based analysis. With a degree in Classical Civilization, upon graduation you will be prepared to:

enter fields that need critical thinking skills, such as law, medicine, politics, business and finance;

succeed in fields that require historical awareness and foster ethnic diversity, such as museum studies, history, law, and social work; and

continue on to graduate study in Classics, Classical archaeology, anthropology, museum studies, religion, philosophy, art history, and history.

Explore our Graduate Outcomes to learn more about what our graduates are doing today.