At a Glance
I鈥檓 interested in this field of study. Can you tell me more about it?
The ancient world is a fascinating place! At Scripps, you鈥檒l study ancient cultures in Greece, Rome, and the Ancient Near East, exploring how the past lives on in today’s world through art, literature, and political organization.
We teach ancient languages (Greek and Latin), with upper-level language courses focusing on your interests and a wide range of texts (e.g., poetry, prose, and inscriptions). We are a cooperative, intercollegiate program and have faculty members at Pomona, Pitzer, and Claremont McKenna. Our faculty regularly host talks/lectures, casual lunches, afternoon receptions, and dinners.
What are some courses appropriate for first-year students interested in exploring this field of study?
We recommend Greek Tragedy and the Modern World, Gender and Sex in Ancient Rome, and/or Ancient Heroes and Heroines.
If I decide to major or minor in this field, are there certain courses that need to be taken in a specific sequence?
Language courses need to be taken in sequence from introductory to advanced. We recommend that you also start your journey with non-language courses like those listed above. We also offer upper-level seminars with rotating topics.
Can students who major or minor in this field complete a second major or minor (as a double major or a major/minor combination)? If so, what are some common pairings?
Yes, this happens often. Popular pairings include ancient studies with art history, politics, English, the humanities major, or psychology. Many students planning to apply to medical school take ancient studies/classics as a major.
What other useful information should I know about this field of study?
Ancient studies is not just about studying the past. We are also keenly interested in the reception of the past in today’s culture (sometimes called 鈥渞eception studies鈥�) and the how the past may offer forgotten, yet possible, alternatives to today’s world.
About Classics
The study of the ancient world combines archaeology, philology, history, philosophy, gender studies, and anthropology, among other disciplines. While “classics” is the name traditionally given to the study of ancient Greece and Rome from about 1300 BC (late Bronze Age) to 600 CE (Late Antiquity), the Department of Classics also sponsors study of the diverse cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Classics at The Claremont Colleges is an intercollegiate program, so classics courses taught at the other colleges count as Scripps courses.
Courses provide you with the opportunity to read ancient literature both in the original languages and in English translation, and to explore the life and culture of antiquity. Since the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome have heavily influenced subsequent ages, the study of classics also involves understanding our relationship with the past. If you’re majoring or minoring in classics, we encourage you to study abroad in Athens or Rome and explore language courses in Greek, Latin, or classical Hebrew, which can fulfill Scripps’ language requirement.
There are two tracks for the major. The first track in classical languages is designed for intensive linguistic study. You should consider this track if you’re excited about ancient languages and want to prepare yourself for graduate school in classics. The second track in classical studies is ideal if you desire a comprehensive background in the ancient world and plan to leverage your liberal arts education in fields like law, medicine, education, or business.
There are two related tracks for the minor. The minor in classical languages allows students to combine the study of Greek or Latin with courses in ancient culture. The minor in classical civilization has no language requirement. A minor in classics complements the study of related fields (e.g., history, English, philosophy, humanities, art history, and archaeology) and is perfect for students who are curious about the ancient world as well as modern languages.