The field of classics consists of the study of the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome, including their languages and literature, history and archaeology.
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14261-0026
Bradley Ault
Chair
John Dugan
Director of Undergraduate Studies
The field of classics consists of the study of the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome, including their languages and literature, history and archaeology.
Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge to:
The department of Classics offers lecture courses on the archaeology, art, culture, history, and literature of ancient Greece and Rome, and smaller language classes (in Latin and ancient Greek) that emphasize student participation. Study-abroad opportunities in Greece and Italy, as well as participation in archaeological fieldwork, are provided as curricular options. In addition to serving as a base for the Western New York Society of the Archaeological Institute of America, the department also plays a leading role in UB’s Institute for European and Mediterranean Archaeology. Majors must complete a capstone class that draws upon all of the conceptual and analytical skills that they acquired while a major.
The department of Classics is housed in the Academic Center. Classics courses are held in the department’s seminar room and in classrooms located both in the Academic Center and on the Academic Spine of the North Campus.
Rated nineteenth in the country in a recent survey of classics departments, the UB Department of Classics faculty regularly devotes some or all of their time to undergraduate teaching. Among them is the holder of the Andrew V.V. Raymond Professorship in Classics and the recipient of a SUNY Distinguished Professorship. Past and present members of the faculty have held the office of President in both the American Philological Association (APA)/Society for Classical Studies (SCS) and the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), the primary professional organizations for classicists in North America. The department also serves as home to the journal Arethusa, an internationally recognized periodical devoted to the publication of scholarship in classical studies, and the Tesserae Project, a ground-breaking initiative in the digital humanities. Other editorial affiliations by members of the faculty have included positions with the American Journal of Archaeology and Classical World. The department allows advanced graduate students to teach select classes.
Please visit the Classics department website for additional information about our faculty.
The scope of study that classics provides includes historical, political, sociological, literary, philosophical, archaeological, and artistic dimensions. Classics offers a broad foundation for future study and professional experience, and its graduates have learned to appreciate the past and its relationship to the present. This undergraduate degree area is an excellent basis for graduate work and careers in law, medicine, business, public relations/advertising, publishing, social work, communications and the arts.
Employers are seeking candidates with broad-based experience and those who have developed their skills from that experience. These include data analysis, media literacy, critical imagination and reasoning, emotional intelligence, intercultural competency, and interpersonal communication, all of which are fostered through the study of classics. Internships, part-time, summer employment, and/or further education can also enhance a graduate's employability in their chosen career area.
What percentage of graduates goes on to graduate school? 50%
Please contact the director of undergraduate studies for advisement.
Please email John Dugan at jdugan@buffalo.edu.
The Classics department’s James P. Neely Memorial Fund provides financial assistance for Classics related activities, such as traveling to Greece or Rome. All Classics majors are eligible to apply for this competitive scholarship.