Notable strengths in related sub-fields, programs, and departments enhance the IPAH experience. The Department of Classical Studies offers excellent training in ancient Greek and Roman literature, and papyrology has long been one of the things that makes ancient studies at U-M stand out. Professors in History, Middle East Studies, and Judaic Studies offer relevant courses in early medieval, early Byzantine, and early Islamic history, and in early Christianity and Judaism. The Interdepartmental Program in Classical Art and Archaeology (IPCAA), jointly sponsored by the Departments of Classical Studies and History of Art, is the premier program in classical art and archaeology in the nation.
In addition to the various departments and programs on campus, U-M offers an array of useful resources for any scholar who studies the ancient world.
Language Study. The University of Michigan has a wealth of opportunities for the study of the many languages of relevant to ancient history. The Classical Studies Department offers courses in Latin, Ancient Greek, and also houses the Modern Greek Program. The Department of Middle East Studies offers courses in Classical Arabic, Akkadian, Aramaic, Classical Hebrew, Coptic, Demotic Egyptian, Middle Egyptian, Hittite, Syriac, Sumerian and Ugaritic. The Department of Asian Languages and Cultures offers courses in Sanskrit, Classical Chinese, Classical Japanese and Classical Tibetan. Courses in historical linguistics are also taught in the Department of Classical Studies and the Department of Linguistics. The University of Michigan also has a wide range of resources for studying the many modern languages that are useful for engaging with the global community of scholars in various fields of ancient history.
Libraries. Every IPAH student has access to the Department of Classical Studies library, a fabulous study space with a collection that holds the latest Greek and Latin editions, dictionaries, grammars, and a number of important secondary and reference works. Students may also access the departmental libraries of the Departments of History, Middle East Studies, History of Art, and IPCAA. The Hatcher Graduate Library holds one of the largest collections of books in the U.S. Additional research resources include a Classical Studies field librarian, free ILL services, free library book delivery and chapter/article scanning services (7Fast), and a vast array of online books and journal databases.
Papyrology. The University houses one of the largest collections of Egyptian and Greco-Roman papyri in the world. Courses on papyrology are regularly offered, and graduate students have the unique opportunity to work on previously unpublished papyri. The papyrology collection also has a useful reference library that holds important papyrological editions, references, and secondary works. In addition, the University has a large collection of medieval manuscripts.
Archaeology. The Kelsey Museum houses the University of Michigan's collections of ancient Egyptian, Near Eastern, Greek, Roman, Coptic, and Islamic archaeological artifacts, as well as some rare materials important for the study of archaeology. Some highlights of the collection include the following: the largest corpus of daily life objects from a Graeco-Roman Egyptian town (Karanis) outside of the Cairo Museum (ca. 45,000 items); one of the largest collections of Parthian pottery outside Iraq (ca. 8,500 items); the largest collection of Latin inscriptions in the West (ca. 375 items); and a distinguished assemblage of early Byzantine and Islamic textiles (ca. 5,900 items). The Kelsey also has large number of coins, brick stamps, seals, and glassware. The University of Michigan also has a wide range of other programs related to archaeology: Archaeology at Michigan
Museums and Museum Studies. In addition to the Kelsey Museum, the University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology and the University of Michigan Museum of Art also house materials that are useful to ancient historians. The University also has an outstanding Museum Studies Program.
Offices. IPAH graduate students are given space in the graduate student offices in the Department of Classical Studies. In addition, when a graduate student begins teaching as a GSI, he or she is assigned a shared office in the Department of History. Every IPAH student has access to all of the resources of both the Department of Classical Studies and the Department of History, including mailboxes, copy services, office supplies, kitchens, and lounges.
- Department of Classical Studies
- Department of History
- Ancient Philosophy Program
- The University of Michigan Papyrus Collection
- Contexts for Classics
- Doctoral Program in Anthropology and History
- Interdepartmental Program in Women's Studies and History
- Interdepartmental Program in Classical Art and Archaeology
- Department of Middle East Studies
- Department of History of Art
- Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
- Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies
- Department of Asian Languages and Cultures
- Frankel Center for Judaic Studies
- University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Museum Studies Program
