Interpretation of the past through literature, language, history, art and archeology is at the heart of the classics. Students of the classics gain a unique liberal arts background through the study of Greek and Roman antiquity. By reconstructing the values and histories of those ancient societies and examining their philosophical thought, students come to understand many of the traditions and institutions of our culture.
The classics department offers a choice of majors and a minor. In classical languages and literatures, a student specializes in ancient languages and literatures. The classical civilization major combines the study of Greek and/or Latin with courses in classical civilization. A minor is offered in classical civilization.
What will I study?
Students take a wide variety of courses in Greek and Latin, as well as classical civilization courses in English. Courses in Greek cover such important writers as Plato, Homer, Herodotus and Hesiod. Students also study Greek comedy and civilization. Latin courses focus on Cicero, Vergil, Caesar, Sallust and Livy, among others. Courses are also offered in the history of Roman civilization as well as comedy and satire. Classical civilization courses in English include courses in Roman and Greek history, art and culture. Upper-level courses in English cover mythological patterns and themes along with advanced social and political history.
Why should I study classical languages and literatures at Agnes Scott?
- Heavy Emphasis on the Classics
Agnes Scott’s broad curriculum in classics is supported by extensive library holdings and enhanced by study abroad programs.
- International Education Opportunities
Students of the classics take advantage of Agnes Scott’s experiential learning opportunities, such as Global Connections, as well as semester-long and yearlong opportunities to study abroad. Students may travel to Greece or Rome to study art, architecture and literature, gaining firsthand knowledge. A Global Connections trip to Greece titled Myth, Ritual and Dance in Ancient Greece was led by a faculty member from classics and one from dance.
- Hands-on Experience
Many students participate in internships giving them excellent hands-on experience at such locations as The Children’s Museum of Atlanta and the High Museum of Art. Classics courses are enriched with trips to museums and to other exhibits, as well as to lectures and cultural events in the Atlanta metropolitan area.
What can I do with these degrees?
The multidisciplinary approach of classical study helps you develop skills in language, in analysis of social and historical problems and in appreciation of art and literature. Because it combines methods from literature, theory, history, sociology, women’s studies, religious studies and others, classics offers a special opportunity for you to understand and examine skills from different fields. As a graduate, you can:
- Attend graduate or law school;
- Work as a museum curator;
- Work in historical preservation;
- Teach at the high school level;
- Pursue careers in a diverse range of fields, such as hotel management, music production, professional writing, library science, fashion design and law enforcement.