The Department of Classics strongly encourages students to participate in experiential learning programs related to Classics and Classical Antiquity. This training not only complements our classroom-based curriculum, but also provides students with the exposure and experience needed to excel professionally in the field. The department is home to the Poggio Civitate Archaeological Excavations, which offers a summer field school for students interested in taking part in an ongoing excavation while receiving academic credit from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. For more information about the excavation at Poggio Civitate contact Professor Anthony Tuck by phone at 413-545-4373, by fax at 413-545-6995, or by email at atuck@classics.umass.edu. The department also provides periodic academic travel opportunities to Italy, Greece and elsewhere in the Mediterranean world.

The department is also involved in research at the ancient city of Pompeii. The Pompeii Quadriporticus Project is investigating a long-ignored monument through careful examination and recording of the building's architecture. For more information, contact Profesor Eric Poehler by email at epoehler@classics.umass.edu.