Classics Program

What are the classics?

Classics is the study of the ancient Greek and Latin languages, of the literature, philosophy, and history of Greece and Rome, and of the influence of the whole classical tradition on subsequent civilizations.

Classics at Franciscan University

In the classics bachelor’s degree program at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, you will learn ancient Greek and Latin and have the option also to learn biblical Hebrew. You will read in their own language some of the greatest Greek and Latin writers who stand at the origin of the Western tradition, such as Homer, Plato, Virgil, and Cicero. You will also read in the original languages works central to the foundations of Catholic doctrine, such as the Greek New Testament, the Latin Vulgate Bible, and the Latin and Greek Fathers of the Church. Round out your knowledge of the Catholic and Western tradition with courses in such areas as philosophy, theology, history, and the literature of other languages.

Here are just a few other ways Franciscan’s classics bachelor’s degree program stands out from the rest:

• Desirable job skills: As a classics major, you’ll develop exceptional language skills, from a wide English vocabulary and a strong knowledge of grammar to a careful sense of what to say and how to say it. Courses in the classics bachelor’s degree program also instill exceptional analytical skills. All of this will prepare you for the rapid changes that occur daily in many job settings.
• Undergraduate research: Based on close analysis of classical and early Christian and Catholic texts, you’ll write seminar papers and a senior thesis, as well as give presentations at Franciscan’s GRACE exhibition in Ohio and at external conferences.
• Passionate faculty: Highly rated by current classics majors, the program faculty members are very active in their students’ work. As Catholic scholars, they cherish the life of the mind and the great Catholic and Western tradition, with its roots in Greek and Roman thought — and they share this love of tradition with their students.
• Small class sizes: The department features a low student-to-faculty ratio, which provides opportunities in and out of the classroom for one-on-one guidance and personalized attention. With faculty support, you may even be able to tailor your course work to explore a particular area of interest.
• Learning beyond the classroom: Attend Living Latin seminars and hone your verbal Latin language skills. Help preserve and catalogue the University’s Greek and Roman coin collection. You can do this and more as a classics major at Franciscan, one of the top Catholic universities in the country.

The bachelor’s degree in classics at Franciscan University helps you develop skills and habits of mind that are necessary and useful in any educational or career path. Classics graduates have secured teaching positions in Catholic, private, public, and charter schools in Ohio and across the country, as well as jobs in multiple areas outside academics. They also build a solid foundation for graduate studies in the classics and related fields such as comparative literature, classical archaeology, and Ancient philosophy.

Graduate Programs for Classics Majors

• Master of Arts in Classics
• Master of Arts in Theology and Christian Ministry

• Master of Arts in History
• Master of Arts in Literature
• Juris Doctor Law Program
• Master of Business Administration
• Medical School
• Forensic Archaeology

Potential Employers for Classics Majors

• Catholic, Primary, and Secondary Schools
• Educational Administrations
• Museums
• Think Tanks
• Technical Writing and Copyediting Departments
• Journalistic Media Companies

View the Classics Program on the Undergraduate Catalog