Classics
Study the languages and cultures of ancient Greece and Rome in a tight-knit community.
The oldest area of study within the liberal arts, classics is an interdisciplinary field embracing every aspect of the ancient cultures of the Mediterranean and wider European world, from their languages to their architecture, their art to their political thought. Classics provides valuable insight into the ways in which the past has shaped the world’s present languages, literatures, religions, political and scientific thought, and artistic traditions.
At UMass Amherst, you will delve deeply into these ancient societies to understand them in their own context and discover the ways in which they continue to impact our world. Because proficiency in Latin or Greek is essential to a classics education, you must also complete a five-semester sequence in one of these languages.
After graduation, you will be well prepared to embark on graduate education or step into any career that requires you to be highly self-motivated and to have strong analytical and verbal skills. Additionally, there is currently a shortage of qualified Latin teachers at the secondary level, and a degree in classics from UMass Amherst is the first step toward this highly valued profession.
Explore our programs
Undergraduate
Continuing and professional education
Benefits list
Excavations and Projects
Classics students and faculty have ample opportunity to gain hands-on experience at excavation sites like Poggio Civitate Archaeological Excavations in Italy and Kea Archaeological Research Survey in Greece or with projects such as the Pompeii Bibliography and Mapping Project.
Renowned Faculty
Learn from our esteemed faculty, who are doing meaningful research in the field, including through their own publications.
Alumni spotlight
In the spotlight
“I’m interested in reading Greek literature in ways that can speak to audiences—especially readers new to the study of classics—today.”
Featured faculty
Anthony Tuck
Professor, Classics
Anthony Tuck is a professor and chair of the Department of Classics.
Brian Breed
Professor, Classics
Brian Breed is a professor and undergraduate program director in classics.
Teresa Ramsby
Professor, Classics
Teresa Ramsby is the graduate program director and a professor in the classics department.
In the news
Classics Professor Debbie Felton Presented on 'Ghost Stories from Ancient Greece and Rome' in Springfield
Professor Debbie Felton in the Department of Classics presented a talk on "Ghost Stories from Ancient Greece and Rome" at the Springfield Museums on Oct. 26.
Back to School: A Peek at Student Learning in HFA Classrooms
Curious what faculty are teaching inside HFA classrooms? Head back to school with these stories about courses in music, philosophy, classics, and architechture.
All Roads Lead to a Semester in Rome: Haley Kaye ’24 Reflects on Study Abroad Experience
Classics and comparative literature major Haley Kaye '24 shares how a firsthand experience of Rome's ancient past provided new insight to her studies.