CLASSICAL STUDIES @ GWU

Classical Studies encompasses the art, history, and literature of ancient Greece and Italy—in short, the study of classical civilization. This discipline is the oldest and most central of all the humanities and at one time comprised the basic liberal arts education. Some students may wish to pursue a career in Classics by attending graduate school in Classical Philology. For others, Classics is something they find interesting and that can help them learn analytic, linguistic and study skills to prepare them for professional schools or careers or graduate school in archaeology, journalism, publishing, teaching, philosophy, history, linguistics, political science library science or museum studies.

Students can often double or even triple major in Classical Humanities to best prepare them for their future. Students often double major in Classics and history, archaeology, philosophy, political science, biology or even economics or buisness. Thus students interested in law, medicine, or business can easily combine courses necessary for professional school preparation with courses broadly based in the humanities. Since many professional schools want students who have linguistic skills and a broad knowledge of our cultural traditions, a major in Classical Humanities provides an ideal background for further study in various professional schools.

GWU is a good place to study Classical Humanities because the department is small, (with close association between student and professor), and yet diversity is offered by the student's contact with other departments offering courses in classical art, history, linguistics and philosophy. A Classical Humanities program at GWU may also include classics courses taught at the other Washington area consortium universities. The major course of studies represents a good background in classics and a well-rounded curriculum. The Classics Department has an active Classics Club; the Department also awards three annual prizes to students in classics courses.

The resources of Washington, DC, are additional advantages to those interested in classical antiquity. The Library of Congress and the several museums of the Smithsonian Institution are easily accessible. Lectures on classical subjects are frequently sponsored by these institutions, as well as by other organizations such as the Archaeological Institute of America, the Washington Classical Society, Dumbarton Oaks, or the other universities in the area.

For further information, consult the pamphlet "Careers for Classicists" in the Classics Department (345 Phillips Hall), or contact the Acting Classics Coordinator for the Classics Department, Dr. Eric H. Cline, by telephone (202-994-0316) or via e-mail (ehcline @ gwu.edu).