Ancient Studies

Overview

Are you intrigued by the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Code of Hammurabi, or the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus? Do you dream of dusting off the sands of time to examine the world of the past? Consider Ancient Studies as a possible major.

Ancient Studies is the study of ancient civilization, religion, language, and literature. Whereas classical studies concentrates on Greece and Rome specifically, Ancient Studies also includes Egypt, Israel, Mesopotamia, and other parts of the ancient world. The coursework for an Ancient Studies major incorporates archeology, literature, philosophy, art history, military history, architectural history, religious texts, and law. Ancient Studies majors study Latin or Greek; they may also do work in another ancient language, such as Egyptian, Coptic, Biblical Hebrew, Syriac, or Targumic Aramaic.

Ancient Studies is a classic liberal arts major. You’ll read more two- and three-thousand year old texts than you thought was possible in four years, and read many of the same things more than once. You’ll develop a mind that can retain enormous amounts of information and an ability to synthesize ideas into cogent written arguments, a skill that will prove useful in whatever field of endeavor you choose to pursue.