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The field of classical studies embraces all aspects of ancient Greek and Roman civilization:  language, literature, history, art, archaeology, philosophy, religion, and sociology.  While the Greeks and Romans may seem remote from the world of today, they are close enough to shed light on many problems and concerns that are still felt by modern society.  Even more important is the fact that these classical civilizations have provided the cultural foundations of the western world.

It is the aim of the Department of Classics to introduce students to the ancient world, and through it to reveal the core elements of human society and the universality of human nature.  At the same time, the Department seeks to develop in its students an intellectual rigour, clarity in writing, breadth of view, and sense of balance that will serve them well in their future endeavours.

Where to go from here?
The multidisciplinary character of the field and the broad context which it provides for study in other areas ensures that classics has an important place in the well-rounded, liberal education that Mount Allison offers its students.  Many of our students have continued their studies and entered graduate programs at larger universities. But because of their ability to master a complex subject, classics majors are well suited to and flourish in a broad range of professions including: archaeology, archives, computer programming, corporate communications, foreign service, government, higher education administration, historical societies, information management, journalism and publishing, law, library science, market research, medicine, ministry, museums, public relations, teaching, theatre, and translation.

Our Programs
The Department offers major and Honours programs in classical studies, both of which provide a significant introduction to all areas of the discipline, including Ancient Greek and Latin language.  Minors in Greek and Latin are offered for students whose main interest is in the study of language; and the minor in classical studies may be constructed so as to emphasize ancient history, classical literature, or art and archaeology, depending on one's interests.

There is usually a core of approximately 25 undergraduate students who are majoring in classical studies at Mount Allison.  Most of these will take at least one course in Latin or Greek.  With over 900 students enrolled in the Department's courses, classics also attracts a large number of students who take elective courses as part of their degree programs.  Introductory courses in classical civilization (history and literature), mythology, and archaeology are particularly popular among students in disciplines outside the Humanities, while students of European literature and history will often register for senior courses on ancient literature or history in translation.  The Department's art courses are components of the University's art history program and may be taken to fulfill part of the art history requirement in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Courses in ancient tragedy and comedy may be taken as part of the BA Program in drama.  Classics has three full-time faculty members, joined each year by a Crake Doctoral Fellow.

Facilities and Resources
The Department of Classics is located on the fourth floor of Hart Hall.  Facilities and resources include the Audio-Visual Learning Centre which is equipped with two slide-viewing machines as well as a DVD/VCR and monitor, which students may use to review slide and video programs.  Students are also encouraged to use the J.E.A. Crake Reading Room which houses important reference works such as the Loeb Classical Texts and the Cambridge Ancient History. 

The generous financial support of the Crake Foundation enriches the Department's teaching, library, and extra-curricular resources.  This support comes in a variety of forms, including the annual Crake Lectures; the Crake Doctoral Fellowship; the Crake Scholarship for Summer Study in Greece or Italy; and the Crake Classics Fund, which allows the Department to maintain the departmental Reading Room and Audio-Visual Learning Centre, supplement library purchases, and sponsor a variety of other special activities.

Special Activities
One way in which the Department aims to fulfill its mandate is by actively involving all members of the University community in a "Living tradition" through scholary lectures and other extracurricular activities. Each year, the Department sponsors at least three public lectures:  the annual Crake Lectures in classical studies, which bring to Mount Allison leading scholars of international stature; the Classical Association of Canada Lecture Tour; and a public lecture by the Crake Fellow in Classics.  Occasionally, the Department organizes and hosts the annual meeting of the Atlantic Classical Association, which involves a number of scholarly presentations by people from around the region and beyond.  Over the years, the Department has also organized such events as an authentic Roman banquet, Greek dinners, dramatic readings of classical texts by students and faculty, screenings of films and television series of classical interest, and field trips to Ottawa, Toronto, Boston, and London. 

Faculty in the Classics Department have served on the Council of the Classical Association of Canada, the editorial board of its journal Phoenix, and on the program committee of the Canadian Archaeological Institute at Athens.  One member is currently involved in the excavation of a site near Gravina in Puglia, Italy, and actively encourages student participation.

Department Website

Academic Calendar: Classics