Classics (BA)

The Department of Classics concentrates on the study of languages, literature and cultures of Greece and Rome, focusing on Antiquity but including all periods from the Bronze Age to Modern Greece. This study is important, as the origins of western and much Near Eastern literature, philosophy, art, religion and social forms lay in the ancient world.

Department strengths lie in ancient religion and myth all the way to the Middle Ages; literary critical readings of antiquity from theoretical perspectives; epigraphy and Latin paleography (advanced by Ohio State’s Center for Epigraphical and Palaeographical Studies); and the diachronic Greek tradition.

Academic Advisors

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(614) 292-6961
Call for the following:
• Exploring and/or declaring a major
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Julia Hawkins (major advising)

hawkins.552@osu.edu

Nadia Barksdale

barksdale.30@osu.edu
(614) 292-6961
337A University Hall
Department of English advisor

Affiliated Departments & Centers

Associated Facilities

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Classics is the study of the languages, literatures and cultures of ancient Greece and Rome and their enduring impact. Its core focus is on the Greek and Latin languages from the earliest records until the Middle Ages and on the key works of literature written in these languages.

Department of Classics Website More Classics Courses

Graduates in classics find their marketable skills considerably enhanced by their humanities education. A major in classics, Greek or Latin in coordination with a minor in another subject and relevant specialized course work provides excellent preparation for a career in medicine, business, law, education, politics, government, media, publishing and many other areas of employment.

courses you might take:

CLAS 2220: Classical Mythology

Personalities and attributes of the Greek and Roman gods and goddesses, their mythology and its influence on Western culture.

CLAS 3103: Comic Spirit in Antiquity

Study of the comic literature of the Greco-Roman world based on extensive readings in English translation drawn from epic, drama, satire, and the novel.

CLAS 3408: Ancient Roman Religion

Study of religious life and institutions in the Roman Republic and Empire, with due attention to the primary sources, in translation, and their difficulties.

CLAS 2205: Sports and Spectacles in the Ancient World

The history and social role of gymnastic and athletic competition in Greece and Rome. The evolution of their modern revivals.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Study Abroad: Rome

Ohio State is a member of a consortium that sponsors the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome (ICCS), which provides undergraduate students with an opportunity in Rome to study ancient history, archaeology, Greek and Latin literature, Italian language and ancient art. 

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Classics Club

Classics Club and Eta Sigma Phi are clubs of undergraduate students, whose purposes are: a) To develop and promote interest in classical study among the students of colleges and universities. b) To promote closer relationships among students who are interested in classical study, including inter-campus relationships. c) To engage generally in an effort to stimulate interest in classical study, and in the languages, literature, history, and art of ancient Greece and Rome.

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Study Abroad: Athens

College Year in Athens provides college-level instruction in Greek studies for American undergraduates. The faculty consists of distinguished American, British, and Greek scholars, and usually includes a visiting professor from abroad and specialists from the American School of Classical Studies.

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