Classics
Areas of Study
You will encounter both past and present uses of the discipline of Classics and antiquity, and join in our department’s effort to reimagine the study of ancient cultures and promote equity and accessibility in the study of ancient cultures.
- Engage in Community-Based Learning in several of our courses
- Study several ancient cultures and languages around and beyond the Mediterranean, including ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, ancient Israel/Palestine, ancient Mesopotamia and ancient Rome
- Gain a deeper understanding of the experience of refugees, past and present, through classroom learning and volunteer work
- Explore how the ancient Greco-Roman past has shaped and continues to shape American history
- Consider how the ancient cultures interacted and interconnected with each other
- Contribute to the undergraduate Classics journal, Parnassus
- Promote socially minded charities through student-organized events like Homerathon
- Organize events that make the study of ancient Greece and Rome more open to local communities
Meet Your Department Chair
Requirements
The Classics major allows students to chart their own course through the study of cultures and languages offered in the department, gaining both breadth and depth and investigating textual and material evidence. The major requirements are:
At least 11 courses, which include:
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At least 3 CLAS Courses, with one being CLAS 100: Opening Classics
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At least 3 courses in any one language offered by the Classics Department
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At least 2 courses in any other one language offered by the Classics Department
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3 other courses in the Classics Department
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At least one of the 11 courses above must be a material culture course: that is, focused on art, archaeology, architecture, the built environment, or other physical objects
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At least one of the 11 courses above must be CLAS 201, GREK 301, or LATN 301
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Opportunities
Scholarships
Holy Cross offers two types of scholarships for Classics majors. One type of scholarship is a full-tuition, four-year scholarship that is awarded to high school graduates who will major in classics at Holy Cross. These are merit-based scholarships for which high school students may apply at the same time as they apply for admission to the College. The other type of scholarship is a need-based grant, for which students may not apply. This need-based grant is awarded by the Office of Financial Aid to two Holy Cross students who are Classics majors and are receiving need-based financial aid packages.
Community-Based Learning
The Classics Department has a strong commitment to Community-Based Learning in our curriculum. Community-Based Learning projects have been integrated into several courses, including the Introduction to Latin courses, the Introduction to Greek courses, Opening Classics (an introductory course required for the major and open to all students who want to explore what Classics is all about), and courses such as Refugees in Ancient Myth & Today. Students have worked with public school students in Worcester and in Marlborough, Mass. and with the Worcester Art Museum. Our curriculum seeks to engage with the local community and our goal is for every Classics major to experience Community-Based Learning in their major.
Research Opportunities
The department has its own digital humanities research laboratory in Fenwick Hall, the St. Isidore of Seville Computer Lab, outfitted with networked computers, iPads, photography equipment, and additional research resources. Students use the lab to pursue research for coursework and for independent research projects. Classics majors frequently pursue research in the summer through the Weiss Summer Research Program.
