Instructor of Classics Dr. Kristin Harper, of the Department of Languages, Cultures and Religions, led a group of 13 Missouri State University students to Rome, Italy, March 10-16, 2024, under a new Education Abroad program.
Students who were interested in the program and had faculty recommendations could enroll in “Vita Romana: Art, Poetry and Cuisine from ancient to modern Rome.”
The program was connected to the International Culture and Study Abroad (IDS 297) and Major Authors in Translation (LLT 296) courses.
The students who enrolled in this inaugural program were Josh Brushwood, Cooper Hays, Jess Zeppenfeldt, Hadley Hicks, Gretchen Lampe, Emily McKenna, Emily Knoppe, Jaden Melnick, Marianne Prax, Julia Walker, Eli Birdsong, Kailey Taylor and Eliot Gudreau.
Immersive learning experiences
“Vita Romana” encouraged students to learn more about the city of Rome and its culture, with a specific focus on its ancient roots, according to Harper.
“Rome is the city that blends so much of the ancient and modern together,” she said. “There is so much history, art and food that is preserved within the city limits.”
For Harper, Rome presented the ideal place for students to explore culture and history in an immersive learning environment.
“We focused on archaeology, art history, poetry, ancient Roman mythology and religion as well as early Christianity, trade routes and economics in the Mediterranean, military expansion and governance, and entertainment, literature and food distribution and production,” Harper said.
Combining immersive learning experiences with traditional assignments helped the students stay focused on these themes.
