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Mediterranean Studies 

Major Overview 

The Bachelor of Arts in Mediterranean Studies (BAMS) builds on the academic tradition and geographic location of ACM and its study abroad institute, IAU. Set in a dynamic and historically diverse environment, Mediterranean Studies at ACM offers students an immersive and interdisciplinary perspective that is central to the institution’s educational mission. Experienced and engaged faculty encourage students to examine the region through original and critical lenses, drawing on historical, cultural, political, literary, and artistic dimensions.

Through coursework and experiential learning, students in the BAMS program develop a deep understanding of the cultural and environmental specificities of the Mediterranean region. They learn to analyze historical, literary, and political developments that have shaped Mediterranean societies; evaluate cross-cultural exchanges and their impact on art, architecture, and intellectual traditions; and interpret primary sources—from archaeological remains to music and visual media—to trace evolving cultural identities from Antiquity to the contemporary era. Students also synthesize perspectives on migration, borders, and hospitality to assess complex issues facing the region today.

As part of their undergraduate experience, students complete ACM’s Global Diversity (GD) requirement, which entails taking at least one course that explores and analyzes typically underrepresented groups on the global stage and incorporates international and cross-cultural perspectives. These experiences equip BAMS graduates with a rich foundation of knowledge and competencies, preparing them to contribute thoughtfully and effectively in a global workforce.

Course Requirements 

ACM’s Bachelor of Arts in Mediterranean Studies requires students to satisfy the ACM Core Curriculum and the following major-specific requirements: 

Lower-Division Mediterranean Studies (15 credits required)

  • ARA 101 

  • ARA 102 

  • ART/ARH 201: Survey History of Western Art: Prehistory to Modern Times 

  • ART 277: Creative Writing and the Intercultural Experience

  • ENS 200: Ecology of France and the Mediterranean Environment 

  • HIS/WGS 270: Food Culture in Provence, France, and the Mediterranean


Upper-Division Mediterranean Studies (30 credits required) 

  • MED/SOC 352: Mediterranean Identities and Cultures through the Lens of Museums

  • MED/IRL 323: Migrations, Borders, Hospitality

  • MED 400: Capstone Study

  • ART/ARH 320: Picasso, Matisse, and the Mediterranean 

  • ART/ARH 382: Cezanne and Van Gogh 

  • ARC/ARH 313 Powers and Identities in the Ancient Mediterranean  

  • ARC/ARH 312: European and Mediterranean Prehistoric Art and Archaeology  

  • ARC/ENS 338: The Development of Mediterranean Civilizations: A Landscape of Archaeological Approach

  • COM/HIS 314: France during the Occupation: 1939-1945 

  • FRE/HIS 348: Provencal History and Culture Through its Monuments
  • FRE/LIT 345: French Children's Literature: Exploring French Culture Through Classics and Modern Classics
  • FRE/LIT 383: Writing in Provence: Literature and Regional Culture
  • HIS/WGS 270: Food Culture in Provence, France, and the Mediterranean

  • HIS/SOC 304: Muslim Presence in Europe

  • HIS/POL 321: French Colonialism in the Middle East and North Africa

  • LIT/COM 312: Provençal Culture, from Myth to Media 

  • REL 311: Early Christianity in Europe

  • REL 312: The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

  • POL/IRL 308: Geopolitics of the Mediterranean Basin


January Term Seminar (3 credits) 

 

Total Major Credits: 48 

Learning Outcomes

Bachelor of Arts in Mediterranean Studies students will be able to:

  • Describe the regional cultural and geographic/environmental specificities of the Mediterranean.

  • Analyze Mediterranean cultural, historical, literary, and political contexts and developments that have shaped Mediterranean societies.

  • Evaluate cross-cultural influences and exchanges between Mediterranean regions and how they have influenced art, architecture, and cultural/intellectual traditions over time.

  • Interpret primary sources (archaeological, textual, musical, or visual) to understand the evolution of cultural identities in the Mediterranean from Antiquity through the Contemporary era.

  • Synthesize perspectives on migration and borders from different Mediterranean cultures to assess contemporary issues related to migration, borders, and hospitality in the region.

 

Academics

Admissions