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This archived information is dated to the 2009-10 academic year only and may no longer be current.

For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.

Classics

In this section:

Bachelor of Arts in Classics

Minor in Classics

Master of Arts in Classics

Doctor of Philosophy in Classics

Ph.D. Minor in Classics

Overseas Studies Courses in Classics

Up one level:

School of Humanities and Sciences

Emeriti: (Professors) Mark W. Edwards, Marsh H. McCall, Jr.,* Susan Treggiari, Michael Wigodsky; (Professor, Teaching) Edward Spofford

Chair: Walter Scheidel

Graduate Director: Jennifer Trimble

Undergraduate Director: Maud Gleason

Professors: Alessandro Barchiesi, Andrew M. Devine, Richard P. Martin, Ian Morris (Classics, History), Reviel Netz, Andrea Nightingale (Classics, Comparative Literature), Josiah Ober (Classics, Political Science), M. Rush Rehm (Classics, Drama), Richard Saller (Classics, History), Walter Scheidel, Michael Shanks, Susan A. Stephens (on leave)

Associate Professors: Jody Maxmin (Art and Art History, Classics), Grant Parker, Anastasia-Erasmia Peponi, Jennifer Trimble

Assistant Professors: Giovanna Ceserani, Christian Kaesser

Courtesy Professors: Ian Hodder, Chris Bobonich, Bissera Pentcheva, Yiqun Zhou

Lecturers: Maud Gleason, Norbert Lain, Will Shearin (Mellon Fellow)

Visiting Professor: Philip Hardie (Winter)

* Recalled to active duty.

Department Offices: Building 110, Main Quad

Mail Code: 94305-2145

Phone: (650) 723-0479

Email: classics@stanford.edu

Web Site: http://classics.stanford.edu

Courses offered by the Department of Classics are listed on the Stanford Bulletin's ExploreCourses web site under the subject codes CLASSART (Classics Art/Archaeology), CLASSGEN (Classics General), CLASSGRK (Classics Greek), CLASSHIS (Classics History), and CLASSLAT (Classics Latin).

The study of Classics has traditionally centered on the literature and material culture of ancient Greece and Rome, including Greek and Latin language, literature, philosophy, history, art, and archaeology. At Stanford, Classics also explores connections with other ancient cultures and with the modern world, as well as specialized fields such as ancient economics, law, papyrology, and science. The department's faculty approaches Classics from an interdisciplinary perspective that crosses geographical, temporal, and thematic territories. Studying ancient epic poetry can lead to looking at modern cinema afresh; ancient Athenian politics opens new perspectives on modern politics; and Roman studies present cultural parallels just as Latin illuminates the history of English and the Romance languages. In short, Classics at Stanford is an interdisciplinary subject concerned not only with Greek and Roman civilization but also with the interaction of cultures and societies that influenced the ancient Mediterranean basin and continue to influence human society across the globe.

MISSION OF THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM IN CLASSICS

The mission of the undergraduate program in Classics is to provide students with a broad background centered on the literature and material culture of ancient Greece and Rome, including Greek and Latin language, literature, philosophy, history, art, and archaeology. At Stanford, students in the Classics program also explore the connections between ancient cultures and the modern world as well as specialized fields such as ancient economics, law, papyrology, and science. The program's faculty approaches Classics from an interdisciplinary perspective that crosses geographical, temporal and thematic territories. The program is concerned not only with Greek and Roman civilization but also with the interaction of cultures and societies that influenced the ancient Mediterranean basin and continue to influence human society across the globe.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The department expects undergraduate majors in the program to be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes. These learning outcomes are used in evaluating students and the department's undergraduate program. Students are expected to demonstrate:

  1. the ability to develop effective and nuanced lines of interpretation.
  2. critical thinking skills using course's primary source materials.
  3. facility with the methodologies and presuppositions underlying interpretive positions in secondary literature and in their own work
  4. well developed analytical writing skills and close reading skills.

The department offers the following fields of study for undergraduate degrees in Classics:

The Classical Studies, Greek, and Latin fields of study may also be taken with a Philosophy and Literature focus. The Classics major can be completed in conjunction with a second major in the sciences or in other humanities departments.

The department also offers minors in: Classical Languages; History; Literature and Philosophy; and Classical Studies.

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