Experience Ancient Greek & Roman Studies

Whether majoring or minoring, Ancient Greek and Roman Studies students benefit from small class sizes, close mentorship with faculty scholars, and opportunities to engage with the ancient world through travel, research, and archaeological fieldwork. The curriculum cultivates not only an appreciation of ancient civilizations, but also the ability to think deeply and write clearly—skills essential for careers in law, education, business, and beyond.

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Study Abroad

Ancient Greek & Roman Studies majors are encouraged to spend a semester in Europe. Gettysburg offers three College-approved affiliated programs of special interest to those studying classics:

  • College Year in Athens focuses upon the history and civilization of ancient, Byzantine or modern Greece and the East Mediterranean region. Students can choose a one- or two-semester program.
  • American School of Classical Studies in Athens offers summer sessions for Gettysburg students. The program is made available through the Central Pennsylvania Consortium.
  • Advanced Studies in England
    The Bath program has a long tradition of Classical language and literature tutorials, which can be tailor-made to suit the academic interests and requirements of individual students, the majority of which are taught in Oxford. Students are also able to take seminars in the history and archaeology of Britain under Rome.
  • IES Rome: Language & Area Studies with a range of courses in various disciplines, Classics in particular, our Language & Area Studies Program gives students the opportunity to study Rome through a variety of academic lenses—from Economics to Journalism. Students enroll in four area studies courses, as well as an Italian language course.

To learn more about these and other opportunities, visit Gettysburg College's Center for Global Education.

Archeology

Excavation Opportunities

Students should contact Prof Ben Luley for information about the excavation at Lattes. Visit for more information.

Classics Department Spotlight

Faculty spotlight: Classics Chair Rachel H. Lesser

Faculty spotlight: Classics Chair Rachel H. Lesser

Classics professors Rachel Lesser and Benjamin Luley, together with Art History professor Felicia Else on a field trip in August 2024

Classics professors Rachel Lesser and Benjamin Luley, together with Art History professor Felicia Else, who teaches CLA 201: Arts of Ancient Greece & Rome, went on a field trip in August 2024 to explore the fantastic antiquities collection at nearby Wilson College. They were delighted to handle real ancient Greek pottery and an authentic coin of Alexander the Great!

Classic department students standing in front of a statue of President Eisenhower

Latin students Oskar Wilander, Jayne McGrath, and Hannah Crowley during a Latin Scavenger Hunt on the Gettysburg campus, after solving the following clue: “Imago ‘consulis’ et imperatoris magni, qui hostes turpissimos vicit.”

Francesca Costa '19
On Rome

Francesca Costa '19 explores archaeology in ancient Italy

Prof. Luley's excavation
A little more Sherlock Holmes than Indiana Jones

Prof. Ben Luley discovers a first-century bar.

 

Featured Courses

Jump to level: All Classics courses

by level: 100 • 200 • 300 • 400

CLA 103 Greek Civilization
Step into the cradle of Western civilization. This introductory course dives into the world of ancient Greece—its myths, philosophies, art, and politics. Explore the rise of democracy in Athens, the legacy of Homer, the beauty of Greek tragedy, and the philosophical insights of Socrates and Plato. Through lectures, discussions, and encounters with primary texts, students gain a sweeping understanding of how Greek ideas continue to shape our world today.
CLA 251 Greek History
War, heroism, fate, and the gods—epic poetry has it all. This course explores the masterpieces of Greco-Roman epic literature, from Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey to Virgil’s Aeneid. Students examine how these epics construct national identity, portray human struggle, and reflect political power. With a focus on literary artistry and cultural context, the course invites you to grapple with timeless themes and examine the enduring power of mythic storytelling.
CLA 441 The City in the Greek and Roman World
Study of plans and monuments of Greek and Roman cities as well as writings of classical authors about cities and urban life. A combined archaeological, historical, and literary approach is used, with an emphasis on how the growth of cities depended on the development of technology for the construction of fortifications, large buildings, aqueducts, and other urban necessities. The course begins with the Mycenaean period in Greece and concludes with Roman cities of the 6th century AD. Prerequisite: One 100 or 200 level Classics course or permission of the instructor.

Studying the Classics at Gettysburg College means joining a tradition of inquiry that’s as relevant now as it was two thousand years ago. You’ll explore the complexities of ancient civilizations, develop valuable interpretive skills, and learn to think critically about culture, language, and history. Whether decoding a line of Latin poetry or debating the ethics of imperialism in Roman texts, you’ll be doing great work—work that prepares you for a consequential life.

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