The study of the classics concerns the one fixed point of reference in the liberal arts: the origins. Courses in the classics acquaint students with the languages, literatures, and civilizations of Greece and Rome.Embracing all aspects of antiquity, classics is an interdisciplinary field at whose core lies the study of Latin and Greek. Any inquiry into the Western intellect and imagination looks toward antiquity and does so to greatest advantage through the lucid windows of the original languages. A knowledge of the classics enhances understanding in a variety of disciplines, including art and architecture, history, political science, philosophy, and religion.

The department teaches a range of classes. Every semester, Greek and Latin are offered at the elementary, intermediate, and advanced levels. Each year the department offers a course in mythology, a senior seminar, a survey of Greek or Roman history, and a survey of Greek or Roman literature in translation. In addition, the department regularly offers courses in topics of special interest.