Classics

Undergraduate

Classics combines the study of both ancient Greek and Latin with courses in ancient history, art, philosophy, politics, and religion.

Classics and Italian Faculty

Program Overview

We know you are thinking that Greek and Latin are dead languages. Hardly. English is filled with Latinate words, and Greek is the basis of most scientific terminology. Furthermore, as long as people read Homer, Plato, Greek tragedy, the New Testament, Catullus, Virgil, Ovid, and Tacitus—to mention just some of the greatest hits in Greek and Latin—these ancient languages remain very much alive. So, too, literary genres (such as epic poetry, tragedy, and history), political institutions and ideals (such as democracy and free speech), as well as principles of philosophy and science are all part of the rich legacy that the ancient Greeks and Romans handed down to western Europe.

You do not have to learn Greek and Latin to study classics. We offers courses whose readings are entirely in English as well as those that require the study of an ancient language. You can also find courses related to classics in the departments of art history, history, philosophy, politics, and religion.

The Classics major and minor are available only to students who entered the College before fall 2024. Students entering fall 2024 or later should instead refer to Classical Studies.

Community Voices

Spotlight on Classics students and alums

Bridging Cultures in Today’s World

Tianzhou Ye ’14

Rachel Mullervy MHC ’11, ’19/Masters in Classics, University of Maryland-College Park

Latin for the Next Generation of Leaders

Rachel Mullervy MHC ’11, ’19 Teacher

The Peter Rabbit books were the inspiration for an Emmy Award-winning series codeveloped by an alumna.

Classical roots yield Emmy

Sarah Mullervy ’03

Explore more stories

Learning Goals

Learning goals for students of classics and ancient studies are:

To analyze critically ancient Greek and Roman texts, in their original languages and in translation, within their literary, philosophical, and historical contexts.
To understand major monuments and artifacts within their historical and cultural settings; to develop a visual literacy of ancient art and sharpen the ability to see and express what one sees.
To imagine fully and creatively ancient cultural communities when relying on limited written and material remains.
To deepen the understanding of current problems by studying the responses of ancient Greeks and Romans to questions about the human condition, including, how to live well, and how to govern.
To write and speak more confidently and effectively, and to develop well-reasoned arguments using primary evidence and/or secondary material, including print and digital resources.
To expand intellectual breadth through studying the ancient Greek and Roman worlds through different disciplines and modes of inquiry.

Requirements for the Major

A minimum of 40 credits:

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
At least 8 credits in Greek at the 200 level or above		8
At least 8 credits in Latin at the 200 level or above		8
12 credits at the 300 level in Greek or Latin		12
At least 8 additional credits at the 300 level in approved coursework ¹		8
At least 4 additional credits at the 200 level or above in approved coursework ¹		4
Total Credits		40

¹: After consulting with the student's advisor, a major may choose from a variety of related courses in art history, Asian studies, classics (in English), history, politics, or religion at the 200 level or above. Courses at the 100 level do not count toward the major.

Additional Specifications

The Classics major and minor are available only to students who entered the College before fall 2024. Students entering fall 2024 or later should instead refer to Classical Studies.
Students anticipating graduate work in classics should begin the study of both Greek and Latin as soon as possible.
Students who declare a classics major automatically fulfill the College’s “outside the major” requirement.

Requirements for the Minor

A minimum of 16 credits:

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
4 credits from Greek or Latin at the 100 or 200 level		4
8 credits from Greek or Latin at the 200 or 300 level		8
4 credits from Greek or Latin at the 300 level		4
Total Credits		16

Additional Specifications

The Classics major and minor are available only to students who entered the College before fall 2024. Students entering fall 2024 or later should instead refer to Classical Studies.
The minor must include courses in both Greek and Latin.

Courses Counting Toward the Major and Minor in Classics

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Art History
ARTH-290GR	Issues in Art History: 'Greek Art and Archaeology'	4
ARTH-290PE	Issues in Art History: 'Pompeii and the Archaeology of Daily Life in the Roman World'	4
ARTH-290RA	Issues in Art History: 'Roman Art and Archaeology'	4
ARTH-290VA	Issues in Art History: 'Ancient Greek Vases and Vase Painting'	4
Classical Studies
CLAS-101	Elementary Latin I	4
CLAS-102	Elementary Latin II	4
CLAS-111	Elementary Greek: Homer's Iliad	4
CLAS-112	Elementary Greek: Homer's Iliad	4
CLAS-201	Intermediate Latin I	4
CLAS-202CE	Intermediate Latin II Topics: 'Cicero and the Enemies of the Roman Republic'	4
CLAS-202RC	Intermediate Latin II Topics: 'Roma Ludens: Comedy and Satire in Ancient Rome'	4
CLAS-202VA	Intermediate Latin II Topics: 'Vergil: Aeneid'	4
CLAS-202WR	Intermediate Latin II Topics: 'Myth, Memory, and History: Writing the Past in the Roman Republic'	4
CLAS-216	Ancient Rome	4
CLAS-218	Gods and Mortals: Classical Mythology	4
CLAS-219	Cleopatra: The Not Humble Woman	4
CLAS-226	Bread and Circuses: The Politics of Public Entertainment in Ancient Rome	4
CLAS-227	Ancient Greece	4
CLAS-231	Greek Tragedy, American Drama, and Film	4
CLAS-242	Kingdoms Human and Divine	4
CLAS-247	Knowing God	4
CLAS-250EC	Intermediate Topics in Classical Studies: 'Ecology, Crisis, and Renewal in Ancient Near Eastern Mythology'	4
CLAS-250PE	Intermediate Topics in Classical Studies: 'Pompeii and the Archaeology of Daily Life in the Roman World'	4
CLAS-250PV	Intermediate Topics in Classical Studies: 'The Prophetic Voice from the Bible to the Present'	4
CLAS-250RA	Intermediate Topics in Classical Studies: 'Roman Art and Archaeology'	4
CLAS-250VA	Intermediate Topics in Classical Studies: 'Ancient Greek Vases and Vase Painting'	4
CLAS-295	Independent Study	1-4
CLAS-302	Cicero and the Enemies of the Roman Republic	4
CLAS-307	The Slender Muse	4
CLAS-309	Vergil: Aeneid	4
CLAS-312	Roma Ludens: Comedy and Satire in Ancient Rome	4
CLAS-313	Myth, Memory, and History: Writing the Past in the Roman Republic	4
CLAS-316	Ovid: Metamorphoses	4
CLAS-318	Petronius' Satyricon and the Roman Novel	4
CLAS-320	Bad Roman Emperors	4
CLAS-395	Independent Study	1-8
History
HIST-226	Bread and Circuses: The Politics of Public Entertainment in Ancient Rome	4
HIST-227	Ancient Greece	4
HIST-228	Ancient Rome	4
HIST-320	Bad Roman Emperors	4
Philosophy
PHIL-201	Philosophical Foundations of Western Thought: The Greek Period	4
Politics
POLIT-211	Classical Political Thought	4
Religion
RELIG-225KG	Topics in Religion: 'Knowing God'	4
RELIG-225KH	Topics in Religion: 'Kingdoms Human and Divine'	4

Contact Us

Department of Classics and Italian

The Department of Classics and Italian oversees programs in ancient studies, classics, Italian, Greek and Latin.

413-538-2885
112 Ciruti Center

Denise Falk

Academic Department Coordinator

413-538-2885

Classics faculty

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