Law & Government
Classics is a traditional and strong pathway into law school, drawing on the major's emphasis on close reading, rhetoric, and historical reasoning.
Classics explores the literature, language, history, and material culture of ancient Greece, Rome, and the broader Mediterranean world — civilizations whose influence still shapes modern literature, architecture, political theory, and even everyday vocabulary, which draws heavily on Greek and Latin roots.
The Classical Civilization Track immerses students in ancient Greek and Roman culture, literature, and history primarily through readings in English translation, with only a small amount of required coursework in ancient language. It pairs well with a second major or additional coursework for students interested in graduate study or careers in history, art history, law, museum studies, business, or government.
Students build a foundation through introductory language study, then explore civilization, culture, and tradition through courses spanning mythology, archaeology, Roman history, and world literature, before specializing in upper-level synthesis coursework. The major culminates in a senior thesis examining classical epic and its enduring tradition.
Requirements
Language
One of: LATN 111 Beginning Latin I · GREK 121 Beginning Ancient Greek I — or any higher-level course in either language
4 hrs
Civilization, Culture, & Traditions*
Three of: LATN 111 Beginning Latin I · LATN 112 Beginning Latin II · LATN 213 Intermediate Latin · GREK 121 Beginning Ancient Greek I · GREK 122 Beginning Ancient Greek II · GREK 213 Intermediate Ancient Greek · CLAS 105 Classical Mythology · CLAS 120 Introduction to Classical Archaeology · CLAS 210 Roman History · CLAS 263 World Literature I · CLAS 264 World Literature II · RELST 116 World Religions · RELST 217 The Old Testament World · RELST 218 The New Testament World · RELST 251 Bible and Literature
12 hrs
Synthesis & Specialization‡
Four of: CLAS 310 Topics in Greek History · CLAS 330 Topics in Classical Studies · CLAS 350 Women in the Ancient World · CLAS 356 Classical Studies Abroad · CLAS 360 Classical Virginia · CLAS 370 The Ancient World in the Cinema · LATN 305 Topics in Latin Prose · LATN 306 Topics in Latin Poetry · PHIL 332 Ancient Greek Philosophy · RELST 303 Saints and Heretics: Christian History I · RELST 351 Bible and Literature · TH 301 Theatre History: Origins to 1660 · INST 470 Developments in Science and Technology · LATN 471 Practicum in the Teaching of Latin‡
16 hrs
CLAS 430
Classical Epic and the Epic Tradition (Senior Thesis)
4 hrs
Total Hours Required
32
*Other appropriate courses whose primary focus is the ancient world and/or its Nachleben may also be counted toward the Civilization, Culture, & Traditions category, with the permission of the Classics Coordinator. ‡Other appropriate 300/400-level courses in related disciplines such as Art History may also be counted toward the Synthesis & Specialization category, subject to the approval of the Classics Department Chair. Students interested in graduate school are strongly encouraged to undertake more iterations of LATN 305 and 306, as well as to take GREK 121, 122, and some Greek at the 300 level. Students pursuing certification in the teaching of Latin must take LATN 471.
CLAS/LATN/GREK Courses
Three courses designated as CLAS, LATN, or GREK (for Greek, contact the Classics Coordinator)
12 hrs
Additional Courses
Two other courses designated as CLAS, LATN, or GREK, or other courses about the ancient world from other rubrics, as approved by the Classics Coordinator
8 hrs
Total Hours Required
20
Career Outcomes
Museums & Archaeology
Coursework in classical archaeology and material culture supports careers and graduate study in museum studies, archaeology, and cultural heritage.
Education
Students pursuing Latin teaching certification take LATN 471, preparing them for secondary Latin instruction; the major also supports graduate study and teaching in history, art history, and the humanities.
Writing & Research
Strong research, translation, and analytical writing skills translate into careers and graduate study in publishing, journalism, and the humanities broadly.
Faculty
Benjamin Haller
Professor of Classics,Chair of Foreign Languages and Classics
757-233-8811
107 Birdsong Hall, Bray Village
Classics explores the literature, language, history, and material culture of ancient Greece, Rome, and the broader Mediterranean world — civilizations whose influence still shapes modern literature, architecture, political theory, and even everyday vocabulary, which draws heavily on Greek and Latin roots.
The Classical Civilization Track immerses students in ancient Greek and Roman culture, literature, and history primarily through readings in English translation, with only a small amount of required coursework in ancient language. It pairs well with a second major or additional coursework for students interested in graduate study or careers in history, art history, law, museum studies, business, or government.
Students build a foundation through introductory language study, then explore civilization, culture, and tradition through courses spanning mythology, archaeology, Roman history, and world literature, before specializing in upper-level synthesis coursework. The major culminates in a senior thesis examining classical epic and its enduring tradition.
Requirements
Language
One of: LATN 111 Beginning Latin I · GREK 121 Beginning Ancient Greek I — or any higher-level course in either language
4 hrs
Civilization, Culture, & Traditions*
Three of: LATN 111 Beginning Latin I · LATN 112 Beginning Latin II · LATN 213 Intermediate Latin · GREK 121 Beginning Ancient Greek I · GREK 122 Beginning Ancient Greek II · GREK 213 Intermediate Ancient Greek · CLAS 105 Classical Mythology · CLAS 120 Introduction to Classical Archaeology · CLAS 210 Roman History · CLAS 263 World Literature I · CLAS 264 World Literature II · RELST 116 World Religions · RELST 217 The Old Testament World · RELST 218 The New Testament World · RELST 251 Bible and Literature
12 hrs
Synthesis & Specialization‡
Four of: CLAS 310 Topics in Greek History · CLAS 330 Topics in Classical Studies · CLAS 350 Women in the Ancient World · CLAS 356 Classical Studies Abroad · CLAS 360 Classical Virginia · CLAS 370 The Ancient World in the Cinema · LATN 305 Topics in Latin Prose · LATN 306 Topics in Latin Poetry · PHIL 332 Ancient Greek Philosophy · RELST 303 Saints and Heretics: Christian History I · RELST 351 Bible and Literature · TH 301 Theatre History: Origins to 1660 · INST 470 Developments in Science and Technology · LATN 471 Practicum in the Teaching of Latin‡
16 hrs
CLAS 430
Classical Epic and the Epic Tradition (Senior Thesis)
4 hrs
Total Hours Required
32
*Other appropriate courses whose primary focus is the ancient world and/or its Nachleben may also be counted toward the Civilization, Culture, & Traditions category, with the permission of the Classics Coordinator. ‡Other appropriate 300/400-level courses in related disciplines such as Art History may also be counted toward the Synthesis & Specialization category, subject to the approval of the Classics Department Chair. Students interested in graduate school are strongly encouraged to undertake more iterations of LATN 305 and 306, as well as to take GREK 121, 122, and some Greek at the 300 level. Students pursuing certification in the teaching of Latin must take LATN 471.
CLAS/LATN/GREK Courses
Three courses designated as CLAS, LATN, or GREK (for Greek, contact the Classics Coordinator)
12 hrs
Additional Courses
Two other courses designated as CLAS, LATN, or GREK, or other courses about the ancient world from other rubrics, as approved by the Classics Coordinator
8 hrs
Total Hours Required
20
Career Outcomes
Law & Government
Classics is a traditional and strong pathway into law school, drawing on the major's emphasis on close reading, rhetoric, and historical reasoning.
Museums & Archaeology
Coursework in classical archaeology and material culture supports careers and graduate study in museum studies, archaeology, and cultural heritage.
Education
Students pursuing Latin teaching certification take LATN 471, preparing them for secondary Latin instruction; the major also supports graduate study and teaching in history, art history, and the humanities.
Writing & Research
Strong research, translation, and analytical writing skills translate into careers and graduate study in publishing, journalism, and the humanities broadly.
Faculty
Benjamin Haller
Professor of Classics,Chair of Foreign Languages and Classics
757-233-8811
107 Birdsong Hall, Bray Village