Department of Classical and Early Mediterranean Studies

Bachelor of Arts in Classical and Early Mediterranean Studies

By studying the classics, you will engage with the central cultures of the Ancient Mediterranean tradition: the languages, literatures, history and archaeology of ancient Greece and ancient Rome.

You will learn about all aspects of life in Greco-Roman antiquity and the knowledge you gain will enhance your appreciation of a range of disciplines, from art and architecture to philosophy and religion, from history and politics to ethics.

Reflecting the richness and diversity of the field of classical studies, our undergraduate program offers three tracks:

  • Classical and Early Mediterranean History and Culture: If you want to study classical and early Mediterranean history and culture from antiquity to the medieval period
  • Classical and Early Mediterranean Languages and Literature: If you want to study one to three ancient languages (Biblical Hebrew, Greek, and Latin) and literature
  • Mediterranean Archaeology: If you want to concentrate on the material remains of classical and early Mediterranean cultures from prehistory to late antiquity

We also offer, with the English department, an independent concentration in classical and English literature. If you're interested in teaching Latin at the secondary school level, we collaborate with the Education Program to offer Latin teaching licensure.

The study of Latin and Greek and of the social and intellectual cultures of ancient Greece and Rome will enhance your skills in other languages even as it deepens your appreciation for the contemporary world—and your role as a citizen in it. It is an ideal starting point for further study in an array of fields, such as comparative literature, archaeology, fine arts, linguistics, philosophy and history, to name a few. It will also give you an excellent foundation for pursuing a career in business, education, government, law, library science and medicine.

Why Brandeis?

In keeping with the Brandeis commitment to teaching, our faculty are dedicated educators and mentors. Our department is as close-knit as it is vibrant, so you'll work closely with your professors as they communicate their passion for the ethics, politics, art, literature, and history of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds to you. We offer numerous ways to enhance your scholarship, including internships, fellowships, and opportunities to study abroad.

In addition to the impressive Classical Studies Artifact Research Collection (CLARC), an 800-piece collection of classical artifacts on campus, the universities and museums of nearby Boston and Cambridge are an amazing resource for further study.

Academics and Research

Faculty and Student Excellence

Internships and Study Abroad

Careers, Graduate Study, and Alumni

Alicia Tu
Alumni Testimonial: Alicia Tu

“The Brandeis Department of Classical and Early Mediterranean Studies is an extremely supportive community of people that are super passionate about what they do… My time in the Classics department has been filled with great times, from learning about Egyptian mummies to analyzing ancient pottery shards in the CLARC lab. Engaging with the Classics department has changed the whole trajectory of my career- I am now completing my MA in Digital Tools for Premodern Studies, and I am soon heading off to pursue a joint degree program of PhD in Classics and MLIS. I encourage everybody to join this amazing community and explore the ancient world with us!”