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.

  • Studying some of the world’s oldest, most influential and enduring literature (e.g., Homeric epics, Greek tragedy)
  • Exploring works that reward close, careful reading
  • Understanding the intellectual and cultural precedents of many aspects of the modern world
  • Mastering your own understanding of English vocabulary, syntax and argumentation
  • Translating
  • History, particularly ancient history

 

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.

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.

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, 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

Chair(s)
Randall McNeill (chair)
  • Randall McNeill
    Randall McNeill Profile Picture
    Ottilia Buerger Professor of Classical Studies and Associate Professor of Classics
    Campus Phone: 920-832-6668
    Education: Harvard University, A.B.; Yale University, M.A., Ph.D.
    Interests: Latin poetry, language and social interaction, Greek and Roman history
    Campus Address: Main Hall Room 106 Classics
    CV: https://lawrence.academia.edu/RandallMcNeill/CurriculumVitae
    Years at Lawrence: 1999-
  • Martyn Smith
    Martyn Smith Profile Picture
    Associate Professor of Religious Studies
    Campus Phone: 920-832-6946
    Education: 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 reading
    Campus Address: Main Hall Room 415 Religious Studies
    Website: http://placedthoughts.com/
    Years at Lawrence: 2006-