Classics is the study of languages, literatures, history, art, ideas, myths, societies, and cultures of ancient Greece and Rome. Inherently interdisciplinary, classics is grounded in the critical reading of Greek and Latin texts and involves the examination of all aspects of classical civilization and the ancient Mediterranean world. While the material may be ancient, you will develop habits of mind that matter to modernity, including close reading and the ability to identify larger patterns and elucidate hidden meaning within complex material.
Classics
Life After Lawrence
Lawrentians can enjoy careers in...
Education (secondary and university), museums, university administration, business, military, government agencies
Recent employers include...
Boston Latin Academy, Epic Systems, Museum of the City of New York, National Security Agency, Nova Classical Academy, University of Chicago, U.S. Army (Military Intelligence Corps), President of American Bagpipe Makers(!)
Lawrentians can earn advanced degrees in...
Ancient history, classics, medieval and Byzantine studies, Latin, law, master of business administration
Recent schools include...
Brown, Harvard, Kentucky (Law), Mayo Medical School, Marquette, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oxford, Penn, Saint Andrews (U.K.), Virginia (Law), Yale

Touch ancient history.
Touch ancient history.
Lawrence is home to the Ottilia Buerger Collection of Ancient and Byzantine Coins, the envy of many leading research institutions in the country due to its remarkable scope, variety and rarity. You’ll have the opportunity to work closely with this priceless collection.

Choose a concentration that suits your interests.
Choose a concentration that suits your interests.
Classical Languages and Literatures produces scholars well trained in Greek and Latin literature and classical philology; Classical Civilization combines study of Greek or Latin with courses in ancient history and Greek and Roman society and culture.

Learn in the museum-like Hiram Jones Latin Library.
Learn in the museum-like Hiram Jones Latin Library.
Learn in the museum-like Hiram Jones Latin Library, a seminar room for advanced courses in Greek and Latin literature, where you and your classmates will be surrounded by Greco-Roman artifacts and Republican Roman coins.
Components of the Major
- Classical Languages & Literatures
- Introductory & Intermediate Latin
- Introductory & Intermediate Greek
- Six courses in Latin and Greek literature
- Two courses in classical civilization or Greek & Roman history
- Classical Civilization
- Introductory & Intermediate Latin or Greek
- Two courses in Latin or Greek literature
- Two courses in classical civilization
- Two courses in Greek and Roman history
- Four upper-level courses in Classics or related fields like art history, English, history, philosophy, religious studies
Course descriptions and more courses.
The Chandler Senior Experience
You are free to choose scholarly, creative, and experiential projects in your area of interest within the field of classical languages and literatures or classical civilizations.
Recent Senior Experience projects include:
Speech and Heroic Identity in Homer’s Iliad
Computer Modeling the Temple of Apollo Epikourious at Bassae
Staging Lyric Poetry: An Exploration of Ancient Greek and Roman Poetry in Modern Performance
Hannibal’s Army in the Second Punic War (219-202 BCE): Hannibal’s Strategy for Victory
Comparative Translations of Vergil’s Aeneid, Book 6
Faculty
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Adriana BrookAssistant Professor of ClassicsCampus Phone: 920-832-6711Email: adriana.e.brook@lawrence.eduEducation: McMaster University, BASc; University of Western Ontario, MA; University of Toronto, PhDInterests: Greek tragedy, especially Sophocles, poetics, ritual, narratology, Roman reception of Greek tragedy, literature and culture of fifth-century AthensCampus Address: Main Hall Office 305 ClassicsYears at Lawrence: 2015-
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Randall McNeillOttilia Buerger Professor of Classical Studies and Associate Professor of ClassicsCampus Phone: 920-832-6668Email: randall.mcneill@lawrence.eduEducation: Harvard University, A.B.; Yale University, M.A., Ph.D.Interests: Latin poetry, language and social interaction, Greek and Roman historyCampus Address: Main Hall Room 106 ClassicsYears at Lawrence: 1999-
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Martyn SmithAssociate Professor of Religious StudiesCampus Phone: 920-832-6946Email: martyn.smith@lawrence.eduEducation: Prairie Bible College, Alberta, Canada, B.Th.; Fuller Seminary, M.A.; Emory University, Ph.D.Interests: sacred space, religion and the environment, digital mapping, medieval Islam, Islam in America, global culture, travel narratives, close readingCampus Address: Main Hall Room 415 Religious StudiesWebsite: http://placedthoughts.com/Years at Lawrence: 2006-