MAJOR OVERVIEW
The Bachelor of Arts in Mediterranean Studies at the American College of the Mediterranean prepares students to understand one of the world’s most complex and influential regions. Building on the academic tradition of ACM and its study abroad institute, IAU, founded in 1957 by diplomats to prepare Americans for careers in foreign service, the program offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the Mediterranean basin, its cultures, and its global significance.
Our location in Aix-en-Provence places students at the heart of the region, with direct access to the historical sites, contemporary debates, and cultural communities that define the Mediterranean today.
The curriculum is organized around four core areas:
- History and Heritage: How ancient civilizations, empires, and religious traditions have shaped the region and continue to inform contemporary identity.
- Arts and Culture: How literature, visual arts, architecture, and music express the values and creative spirit of Mediterranean societies.
- Society and Politics: How modern nations navigate migration, identity, and international relations in a contested region.
- Language, Identity, and Exchange: How language shapes belonging, access, and connection across the Mediterranean. All students complete coursework in French and Arabic, with opportunities to study Italian or Spanish at ACM’s satellite campuses.
Students learn through rigorous coursework and hands-on experience, from archaeological fieldwork to museum studies to analysis of heritage industries. Required study trips to Rome, Paris, Barcelona, and Morocco deepen their understanding of how Mediterranean cultures have influenced one another across centuries.
ADMISSIONS
ACM candidates submit their applications through the Common App*, a U.S-based platform that allows students to apply to multiple universities simultaneously. Once an application is submitted, an ACM Admissions team member will reach out to the applicant to schedule a brief online meeting to gather more information and to answer any questions about the ACM or the application process.
* Beginning Summer 2026, ACM will no longer accept Common App applications from students requesting application fee waivers via school counselors.
Aug. 3, 2026
Application Available
Jan. 6, 2027
Priority Decision Deadline
May 5, 2027
Regular Decision Deadline
ACADEMICS
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
- MED 101—Introduction to Mediterranean Studies (3 credits)
- ARA 101—Elementary Modern Standard Arabic I (3 credits)
- ARA 102—Elementary Modern Standard Arabic II (3 credits)
- ARA 201—Intermediate Arabic I (3 credits)
- ARA 202—Intermediate Arabic II (3 credits)
- ENS 200—Ecology of the Mediterranean (3 credits)
- MED/CLT 201—Mediterranean Cultural Traditions (3 credits)
- ART/ARH 201—Introduction to Art History: Prehistory to Modern Times (3 credits)
- HIS/WGS 270—Food Culture in Provence, France, and the Mediterranean (3 credits)
- LIT/ENG 277—Creative Writing: The Spirit of Place (3 credits)
- LIT/ENG 377—Creative Writing: The Spirit of Place (Intermediate) (3 credits)
Upper Division Mediterranean Studies, 30 credits required
- MED/IRL 323—Migrations, Borders, Hospitality (3 credits)
- MED/SOC 352—Mediterranean Identities and Cultures Through the Lens of Museums (3 credits)
- ARH/ARC 312—European and Mediterranean Prehistoric Art and Archaeology (3 credits)
- ARH/ARC 313—Powers and Identities in the Ancient Mediterranean (3 credits)
- ARH/ART 320—Picasso, Matisse, and the Mediterranean (3 credits)
- ARH/ART 342—Artistic Encounters in the Mediterranean: Cross-Cultural Perspectives in European Art (3 credits)
- ARH/ART 382—Cézanne and Van Gogh (3 credits)
- ARC/ENS 338—The Development of Mediterranean Civilizations: A Landscape Archaeological Approach (3 credits)
- COM/LIT 312—Provencal Culture: From Myth to Media (3 credits)
- COM/HIS 314—France During the Occupation: 1939-1945 (3 credits)
- HIS/SOC 304—Muslim Presence in Europe (3 credits)
- HIS/POL 321—French Colonialism in the Middle East and North Africa (3 credits)
- FRE/LIT 345—French Children’s Literature: Exploring French Culture Through Classics and Modern Classics (3 credits)
- FRE/HIS 348—Provençal History and Culture Through its Monuments (3 credits)
- FRE/LIT 362—Women and the Mediterranean: From the 16th to the 19th Century (3 credits)
- FRE/LIT 363—Women and the Mediterranean: From the 18th to the 21st Century (3 credits)
- FRE/LIT 383—Writing in the Mediterranean: The Meeting of Literature and Regional Culture (3 credits)
- POL/IRL 308—Geopolitics of the Mediterranean Basin: Security in a Diverse Region (3 credits)
- REL 311—Early Christianity in Europe (3 credits)
- MED 400—Capstone Study (3 credits)
- FRE/POL 417—Dissent in the Mediterranean: From Albert Camus to Leïla Slimani (3 credits)
January Term Seminar (3 credits)
Total Major Credits: 48
J-TERM
As part of their degree, ACM students take part in a January Term program (J-Term), a multi-country traveling seminar. Travel spans from 2-3 weeks and explores the politics, economics, histories, and cultures of the countries visited. All ACM students are required to participate in J-Term within the first academic year of enrollment.
Undergraduate students are encouraged to participate in the Europe & the Islamic World, Great Cities, or Mediterranean Basin seminar in alignment with ACM’s Core Curriculum. Students must meet with their academic advisor to choose a seminar that best fits within their major and academic plan.
HOUSING
ACM has different housing options in Aix-en-Provence available to undergraduate students, including homestays with a local host or student residence apartments.
All undergraduate students must live with a homestay during their first year of study. After their first year, they can request an ACM student residence apartment or non-program housing upon approval. Living in a homestay is a challenging yet enriching experience, and essential for students to immerse themselves in French language and culture at the start of their ACM experience.
TUITION AND AID
|
Bachelor of Arts 2027-2028 |
Fall 12-18 Units |
Spring 12-18 Units |
Academic Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $12,500 | $12,500 | $25,000 |
| Program Fee** | $2,800 | $2,800 | $5,600 |
| Housing & Student Life Fee*** | $5,800 | $5,800 | $11,600 |
| Total | $21,100 | $21,100 | $42,200* |
Commitment Fee (due upon admission): $500
January Term Program Fee (3 Credits): $3,950
*All ACM students are required to complete one January Term course as a graduation requirement.
Summer Program Fee (3-6 Credits): $4,000
*Summer programs are optional for undergraduate students.
Student Life Fee (for students in approved non-program housing): $2,200
*This fee is in lieu of the above stated Housing & Student Life Fee
- Semester: $2,200
- Summer: $1,000
Operational costs are sometimes affected by factors over which ACM has no control. Therefore, the charges and financial aid policies quoted on our website and in the catalog are subject to change without notice.
Scholarships & Aid
The American College of the Mediterranean (ACM) offers several scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities to its students each year. ACM strives to keep its published costs low, especially in comparison to many U.S.-based degree-granting institutions. Additional funding is provided for those who qualify for merit, diversity, and need-based awards.
If you are planning to apply for aid, you will need to submit the required materials along with your program application, as ACM reviews both simultaneously on a rolling admissions basis. To be eligible for ACM scholarships and grants, students must be enrolled full-time and abide by all ACM policies and regulations as stated on the policies page. Please contact admissions@acmfrance.org with any questions.
For details about how ACM awards aid, please read the Financial Aid & Scholarship Process document.
CAREER PATHS
Outcomes and Learning Objectives
Graduates of the Mediterranean Studies program will be able to:
- Describe the cultural, geographic, and environmental features that distinguish the Mediterranean as a region.
- Analyze Mediterranean cultural, historical, literary, and political contexts and developments that have shaped Mediterranean societies.
- Evaluate cross-cultural exchanges between Mediterranean regions and how they have influenced art, architecture, and 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.
Graduates leave prepared for careers in international relations, cultural heritage management, education, journalism, diplomacy, and non-governmental organizations, or for graduate study in history, archaeology, political science, and cultural studies.
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES
With the inauguration of the new School of Humanities in 2013, a new twelve thousand square feet of state-of-the-art building, called Manning Hall, was put in to operation for ACM. Located in the old section of Aix-en-Provence, Manning Hall is equipped with smart boards and 21st-century media technology to enhance the student learning experience.
Once a 17th Century Hôtel Particulier, the School of Humanities was completely renovated and dedicated under its new name in honor of Donna Dillon Manning, whose exemplary philanthropic generosity led to a capital campaign to fully fund the renovation project of the new school.