Earn your Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Studies while living and studying abroad in the city of Rome.
Rome offers students the ideal location for majoring in Classical Studies. The Ancient Roman world is still present in the city’s monuments, artwork, and inscriptions, in its rich museum collections, and in the profound influence of the classical tradition on its contemporary architecture.
Students majoring in classical studies have the exceptional opportunity to complement their study of classical language and written sources with on-site, first-hand experience of ancient art and material culture in Rome and throughout Italy. Major Roman library holdings greatly facilitate and enhance research in all areas of classical studies, including such specialized disciplines as numismatics, ancient medicine, science, engineering and industry.
While this major emphasizes the study of ancient Roman culture and society, the range of courses is designed to provide a solid foundation in classical civilization as a whole, from Greek and Roman literature to ancient history, philosophy, religion, mythology, archaeology, art, and architecture. Through their choice of major electives, students can focus in more depth on one or more of the areas of Greco-Roman culture that interest them the most.
The interdisciplinary study of the Classical World teaches students to think analytically about the foundations of Western Civilization, it also prepares them to think critically about their own contemporary world, and to seek innovative solutions to future challenges.
A. The Proficiency and General Distribution Requirements of the University (many of the Humanities and Fine Arts requirements will be satisfied by the core curriculum courses below).
B. Core Curriculum
Five foundation courses
Students should take one course in history, one in art or archaeology, one in classical literature or philosophy, and two in the same classical language. Students who demonstrate a proficiency equivalent to GRK 101 or LAT 101 may be excused from the relevant language course.
Five courses in a track
Track A: Classical Languages and Literature
Track B: Classical Archaeology and Ancient History
Two research courses, to prepare the Senior Thesis
HM 460 Research and Writing in the Humanities
CL 480 Senior Thesis
The University requires an overall minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all courses taken at the University with no more than two grades lower than C- in core courses required for the major.
C. Major Electives
Students should take six further courses relating to the ancient world.
D. General Electives sufficient to give a total of 120 credits.
AH 151 Foundations in Ancient Art
AH 190 Cities, Towns, and Villas: Rome, Ostia, Pompeii
AH 220 Ancient Greek Art and Architecture
AH 221 The Etruscans and their Neighbors: The Art and Archaeology of Pre-Roman Italy
AH 223 The Art and Architecture of Imperial Rome
AH 225 The Archaeology of the Athenian Acropolis
AH 228 Persian and the Near East: Issues and Approaches
AH 243 Keeping the Dead Alive: Roman Funerary Art and Architecture in Context
AH 281/381 Independent Study (focused on the ancient world)
AH 290 Ancient Rome and Its Monuments
AH 354 Ancient Roman Portraiture
AH/CL 222 Perception of Space: Wall-painting in the Ancient Mediterranean
AH/CL 266 Special Topics in Ancient Art
AH/CL 352 Rome in the Age of Augustus
AH/CL 366 Special Topics in Ancient Art
ARCH 201 Archaeological Theory and Methods
ARCH 202 Archaeological Excavation and Methodology
ARCH 203 Material Culture Studies and Archaeology
ARCH 204 Technology of The Ancient World: Aqueducts, Armor, Automata
ARCH 210 Bioarchaeology: Human Remains
ARCH/CL 101 The Archaeology of the Ancient Mediterranean World
ARCH/NS 310 Environmental Archaeology and Paleoclimatology
CL/HS 221 Introduction to the History of Ancient Greece
CL/HS 231 Introduction to the History of Ancient Rome
CL/HS 251 The Women Who Built Rome
CL/HS 255 Peoples of the Roman World: Ethnic, Social and Cultural Identities
CL/HS 285 Wine and the Culture of Drinking in Classical Antiquity
CL/HS 299 Special Topics in Classical Studies and History
CL/HS 399 Special Topics in Classical Studies and History
HS 281/381 Independent Study (focused on the ancient world)
GRK 101 Elementary Greek I
GRK 102 Elementary Greek II
GRK 282 Directed Readings in Greek
LAT 101 Elementary Latin I
LAT 102 Elementary Latin II
LAT 103 Intensive Elementary Latin
LAT 282 Directed Readings in Latin
CL 260 Classical Mythology
CL 268 Literature and Society in Ancient Greece
CL 278 Literature and Society in Ancient Rome
CL 361 Sexuality, Eroticism, and Gender in Myth and Literature of Greece and Rome
PH 210 Ancient Philosophy
PH/PL 311 Greek and Roman Political Philosophy
CL 281/381 Independent Study
CL 290 Ancient Eats: Food in Ancient Rome
CL 299 Special Topics in Classical Studies
CL 399 Special Topics in Classical Studies
CL/LAW 362 Roman Law
CL/RH 372 Classical Rhetoric and Oratory
CL/RL 288 Religion in the Greco-Roman World
CL 480 Senior Thesis
HM 460 Research and Writing in the Humanities
We offer numerous merit-based Presidential Scholarships and need-based Assistance Grants.
Our internationally renowned faculty bring their research and experience into the classroom through research-led and professionally directed courses, as well as in academic mentoring.
