Department of Classical Studies
The past is prologue: For more than 2,000 years, the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome have influenced the institutions, languages, literature, and arts of many nations. To take just one example, the US Constitution was inspired in part by the founders’ deep respect for the literature and history of ancient Greece and Rome. Indeed, the ancient Greeks and Romans asked many of the same questions that preoccupy us today: What is the best form of government? What does it mean to be good? To be human? What is the nature of the universe? The study of Classics provides access to the thoughts, achievements, and ways of life of the ancient Greeks and Romans but also considers their impact on many cultures across the ages. Of course, some elements of the classical world are abhorrent, such as the institution of slavery, a far more troubling commonality between our history and that of the Greeks and Romans.
The study of Classics, then, does not entail mindless admiration for the “greats” of the past; on the contrary, it fosters critical investigation of that past, as well as the ways in which the discipline of Classical Studies has been utilized over the centuries for both empowerment and repression. Through our courses, students will engage with some of the most profound thinkers and writers of human history, but they will also learn about the contributions of the “forgotten” voices from the past, of enslaved people, of women, of conquered foreigners, and of other marginalized peoples.
Any one of the various majors in Classical Studies provides a superb foundation for students interested in comparative literature, archaeology, linguistics, philosophy, religion, and a wide range of other humanistic disciplines. Many of our majors use their Classical Studies degree as a foundation for careers in other fields, such as law, business, medicine, or communications. The Classical Studies major teaches students to read, write, and think clearly. More importantly, it provides students with knowledge of the broad sweep of history and equips them with the critical reasoning tools necessary for confronting the ethical and political challenges of the contemporary world.
The major and minor in Classical Studies focus on courses exploring Greece, Rome, and their legacies through readings of Classical writers in English translation. Students majoring or minoring in Classical Studies may, but are not required to, supplement these courses in translation with courses in the Greek and Latin languages.
Students who desire a deeper understanding of Greek and Roman literature and language may choose a major (or minor) in Classical Studies–Specialization in Classical Languages. Majors in Classical Studies–Specialization in Classical Languages can go on to pursue graduate study in classics, as well as teaching careers at the secondary level. The department also offers a major in Classical Studies–Specialization in Ancient & Modern Greek that examines the language and culture of the Greek language from the Mycenaean times to the present, as well as a minor in Modern Greek.
In addition, the department offers a major in Classics & Archaeology, recommended for students interested in combining the study of literature and history with the study of material culture, and a major in Classics & Religion or a minor in Myth Studies, recommended especially for students with a particular interest in myth and religion. Also, students especially interested in ancient philosophy may pursue a major in Classics & Philosophy.
Most of our classes are seminar-size and are taught by award-winning teachers, who offer individual attention to our students. The Director of Undergraduate Studies partners with faculty mentors and CAS advisors to help every major and minor craft a well-designed course of study.
Organizations
The Undergraduate Classics Association
The Undergraduate Classics Association is a student-run organization open to any BU undergraduates who have an appreciation for the Classics. It sponsors lectures, dinners, trips to museums and the theater, and various other social and scholarly events including the annual “Gore Fest” and Greece vs Rome debate.
The Boston University Philhellenes
The Boston University Philhellenes (BUPh) is a student organization open to all BU undergraduates who associate themselves with Hellenic culture and ideals. It aims to promote the appreciation of Greek culture and its continuous history from antiquity to the present day through cultural events at Boston University and annual summer study in Greece.
The Classics House
Students interested in Classical Studies are encouraged to consider housing in the Classics House, a coed brownstone for 16 students located at picturesque 176 Bay State Road.
Study in Greece or Rome
The department takes part in two programs: the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome, a semester-long program offered during the academic year; and the Boston University Philhellenes Summer Study in Greece, which includes study of modern Greek language and Greek history and culture. The department also collaborates with Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies to sponsor an internship in Nafplio, Greece.
Summer Travel Fellowship
The Department of Classical Studies offers summer fellowships to study material culture and archaeological sites of the ancient Mediterranean. Fellowships are up to $7,000.00 each and open to all Classics graduate students and to advanced undergraduates with a strong interest in classical archaeology and/or intentions to attend graduate school in Classics. The fellowship may be used to cover expenses to attend summer programs offered through the American School in Rome (AAR), the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA), the American Research Institute in Turkey (ARIT), and other programs (upon departmental approval), or (for graduate students) a carefully conceived itinerary of your own design (again, dependent upon departmental review). Applications, including budget and one-page travel plans, should be sent to the department chair by the second Friday in April.
Undergraduate Awards and Prizes
The College Prize
The College of Arts & Sciences, on the recommendation of the Department of Classical Studies, awards this prize to a senior who has demonstrated exceptional excellence and superior achievement both as a scholar in ancient Greek and Latin and as a member of the classics community in terms of service to the University, college, and/or the department. The award is presented at the spring reception hosted by the Department of Classical Studies held each April, as well as at a ceremony hosted by CAS.
The Ann Vasaly Prize
The Department of Classical Studies awards this prize to a student who has particularly excelled in the study of ancient Greek and Latin. The award is presented at the spring reception hosted by the Department of Classical Studies held each April.
The Dean Elsbeth Melville Latin Prize
The Department of Classical Studies, in conjunction with the Center for the Humanities, awards this prize, on the recommendation of the faculty of the Department of Classical Studies, to an undergraduate who has demonstrated superior achievement in the study of Latin and who anticipates a profession in the classics. The award is presented at the BU Center for the Humanities award ceremony held each April.
The John Oddy Memorial Award
The Department of Classical Studies, in conjunction with the Center for the Humanities, awards this prize, on the recommendation of the faculty of the Department of Classical Studies, to a select number of junior or senior women who have distinguished themselves in a course in classical history or classical civilization. Applicants need not be in the College of Arts & Sciences. Financial need may be taken into account in making the selection. The award is presented at the BU Center for the Humanities award ceremony held each April.
The Meyer Reinhold Prize
The Department of Classical Studies awards this prize to one or more undergraduate(s) enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences who have demonstrated superior achievement in the study of ancient history, Roman civilization, or the classical tradition. The award is presented at a spring reception hosted by the Department of Classical Studies held each April.
