Classics Program

Uncover the hidden past.

Exploring the languages, literatures, and cultures of the Ancient Mediterranean, you’ll have opportunities to discover new ways to use the past to make sense of your world.

Ancient Roman structure

Discover something new in the ancient world.

Exploring ancient myths, world shaping historical events, and the nitty gritty of daily life in the Ancient Mediterranean creates opportunities to delve into the complexity of human experiences. It will help you to consider alternative possibilities to many factors of life that we take for granted in the modern world, and thus encourage you to think about ways you can challenge assumptions about your own world. 

As a Classics major, you’ll dive deep into the rich traditions of not only the Greeks and Romans but other Mediterranean cultures through active classrooms that seek to bring the past to life. Whether studying Latin or Greek on Butler’s campus, navigating the twisting streets of Pompeii, or doing hands-on work in the Ancient Mediterranean Cultures and Archaeology Lab, you’ll enrich your mind and imagination, sharpen thinking and communication skills, and hone your ability to respond critically and thoughtfully to the varying challenges of the modern world. 

As a result of one on one advising and unique research opportunities, you will be prepared to pursue any of a number of fields of work. Our alumni hold careers in K-12 education, law, entertainment, museums, ministry, archaeology, and as professional historians. Many science students pursue a Classics degree to complement their learning in the pursuit of bio-medical careers.

Take your learning outside the classroom.

AMCA Lab Georgia Watkins Fund Eta Sigma Phi Society
students in the classroom looking at notes

Become part of a community of thinkers

As a student in the Classics Program at Butler you’ll work closely with a small, but dedicated faculty. Language classes average 5-15 students while other courses cap at 25 which give you greater opportunity to engage directly with faculty and with each other.

parthenon

Engage with the Ancient World

Recent faculty-led trips include Roman Perspectives Among the Ruins, where students consider how Roman literature impacts our experience of sites like the Coliseum, the Vatican, and Pompeii. Other students have joined Classics faculty on a five-week archaeology dig in Greece. During their stay, students are introduced to a variety of museums and get practical training in the basics of modern archaeology.

Greek letters

Credit for Past Knowledge

Placement credits are a great way to free up hours in your Butler career, allowing you to combine other majors and/or minors with your Classics degree or take general electives you’re eager to experience. Butler Language Placement Credits (BLPC), credits awarded based the course level in which you begin via permission of the Classics Faculty. For BLPC, you can request these 200-level elective credits after completing two 300-level Butler courses in the same language with a “C-” or better.

Butler Language Placement Credits
Contact Us
Classics Program

Department of History, Anthropology & Classics

Jordan Hall, Room 349
4600 Sunset Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46208

317-940-9230

Department Chair

Tom Mould

Administrative Specialist

Elizabeth Huselton