Classics Major, Minor, & Courses

The mission of the classics program is to provide students with the essential skills and knowledge needed to explore and appreciate the languages, literatures, and cultures of ancient Greece and Rome, the roles Greek and Roman cultures played in the development of Western civilization, and the perspective they offer to contemporary problems and issues.

Classics is a multidisciplinary course of study embracing all aspects of the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations: languages and linguistics, literature, mythology, history, philosophy, religion, science, art, and archaeology. Through its courses in Greek and Latin languages and literatures and through its offerings in classical civilization, the classics program meets a cultural need for every liberal arts student and specific needs for pre-professional students, particularly in the areas of law, health sciences, and theology.

Classics Degree

The major in classics at Austin College helps prepare the student for graduate study in classics. Its flexible design makes it an excellent liberal arts major for any student with a strong interest in classical studies. A major in Latin is designed to help prepare the student for teaching Latin in the schools. The major in classical civilization is offered for the student with a serious interest in the ancient world, but who does not wish to focus on the languages or do graduate study in the field. A minor in classics is for the student who has a strong interest in classical studies, but who has selected another major field of study.