No special pre-college preparation is necessary to pursue the Classics. If you think that you might be interested in studying with us, then you should contact the Acting Director of Undergraduate Studies (currently, Professor David Levene). The Acting Director will be more than happy to explain all of the educational options we offer to undergraduates, and will continue to function as your guide through the entire undergraduate experience.

Students who contemplate a major or minor in Classics come to our field of study with a wide variety of interests and goals. Some are drawn by Classical archaeology, others by the literatures of Greece and Rome, yet others gravitate to inquiry regarding ancient philosophy, or religion, or history, and many are fascinated by the intersection of Anthropology and Classics. There are those who want to study Classics at the graduate level, with the ultimate goal of a career in teaching. Others contemplate for themselves employment as lawyers, or journalists, or in business, or medicine. So as to accommodate these disparate inclinations and aspirations, the department offers several distinct majors and minors (for details on these, see just below). Ultimately, we try hard to tailor the undergraduate experience in our department to the passions and ambitions which brought you to us in the first place.

Any student interested in declaring a major or minor in Classics should make an appointment with the Acting Director of Undergraduate Studies. The Acting Director and the student will discuss the student’s aims. That will result in a decision about which major or minor the student declares. The Acting Director will also assist the student in a number of other ways, e.g.: selecting courses for any given semester; making a long-term plan toward graduation, and indeed, beyond; possibilities for study abroad; writing a senior honors thesis; internship opportunities; and more. We encourage all of our majors and minors to remain constantly in touch with the departmental Acting Director of Undergraduate Studies.