The study of classics embraces the world of the ancient Greeks and Romans, and includes the fields of literature, art and archaeology, philosophy, history, political theory, law, and religion.
Classics is thus so broad as to be itself interdisciplinary.
The achievements of Greco-Roman civilization are important to study both for their power and beauty and for the extraordinary influence they have had on the cultures that followed. Thus, study of the Greco-Roman world deepens a student's understanding of the origins of Western culture, and at the same time offers alternatives to the social, political, and cultural values of the modern world. The Department of Classics offers majors in classical humanities, Greek, and Latin, along with a minor in classical humanities for students who do not choose that as a major. A major in classics, Greek, or Latin combines particularly well with a minor in comparative literature, medieval studies, or women's studies. Some students elect to earn a double major, for example in classics and political science or history, or history of art and architecture.