Prof. Katerina Zacharia with the 2017 global immersions “Greek Tragedy" course at the 5th century BCE Sanctuary of Poseidon in Cape Sounion of the ancient city-state of Athens.
The Department of Classics and Archaeology seeks to provide students with a deeper understanding of the literary and cultural foundations of western societies by exploring their roots in the Greek and Roman classical traditions. Our archaeological offerings extend these investigations of early European cultures into their Near Eastern background and include the hands-on study of ancient artifacts.
The combined study of the languages, literature, religion, and material cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and the Near East offers students a wide-ranging and well-rounded preparation in critical thinking, analytic skills, and writing. Classes prepare students to contextualize the immense achievements of the past in the modern world. Because of the broad humanistic nature of the programs in Classics and Archaeology, fundamental questions emerge about what it means to be a human being, and thus the courses in the department offer many interdisciplinary connections with philosophy, theological studies, history, theater, and other academic fields.
