Why Study Classics at K?
Learn about ancient civilizations in small classes and visit historical sites while studying abroad in Rome or Athens.
As a classics student, you will get to experience every facet of Greek and Roman culture and trace their thousand-plus-year reign over the region. You will do this by translating ancient texts, going on archaeological expeditions, and pursuing meaningful research in the field. From these experiences, you will become proficient in either Greek or Latin and have an in-depth knowledge of their empires’ histories in the Mediterranean world.
As a true liberal arts major, your courses—like Women in Classical Antiquity, Greco-Roman Slavery, and Latin Epic—will cover topics across disciplines: archaeology, art, history, religion, philosophy and literature.
Supplementing your coursework, you will benefit from personalized faculty mentorship and experiential learning opportunities like study abroad, fieldwork and the completion of your Senior Integrated Project. To gain a first-hand appreciation for Roman and Greek civilizations, you will have the chance to study abroad in Rome or Athens and visit the landmarks you learned about in your courses. Your professors will also help you find relevant summer internships and archaeological fieldwork opportunities.
The knowledge and skills you will gain as a classics student will prepare you for a host of post-graduate opportunities, with alumni having had successful careers in education, business, law and ministry.
Choosing the Right Major or Minor
The department offers four majors—in Classics, Latin, Greek and Classical Civilization—and three minors—in Latin, Greek and Classical Civilization. Students intending to pursue the study of classical languages at the graduate level are encouraged to major in classics, where you will learn both Greek and Latin; those who are interested in secondary school teaching, divinity school, or graduate work in a cognate area are encouraged to major in either Greek or Latin. Students who discover a passion for classical history or archaeology may be drawn to the major in Classical Civilization, which emphasizes work in translation, culture and history.
What can you do with a classics degree?
Below are some of the careers, employers, and graduate schools of our classics alumni.
Careers
- Teacher
- Attorney/Paralegal
- Communications/Human Resources
- Project Manager
- International Programs Coordinator
Employers
- National Gallery of Art
- PeaceCorps
- Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
- Reed College
- U.S. Department of State
Graduate Schools
- University of Michigan
- Brown University
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- American University
- Loyola University, Chicago
Program Spotlights
Apply your classics studies in the community
At K, we put your education into action by pairing your studies with real-world projects in the broader community. For example, in our Sustainability in the Ancient World class, you will connect the past with the present by working with the city of Kalamazoo on their Action Plan, researching how to most sustainably improve our community. Outside of your coursework, the department helps you find opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships at museums and funded summer archeological digs and research abroad.
Study abroad in Italy or Greece
While you can choose from any of the College’s 50+ study abroad opportunities and transfer relevant credits, classics students have a unique opportunity to further their studies in our two programs in Rome, Italy, and one in Athens, Greece. In each of these programs, you will use your city as your classroom, taking courses and learning about these civilizations’ rich histories, languages, cultures and peoples on location at historical sites.
Graduate knowing you have the skills to thrive
All K students gain tangible skills for their future careers by completing their Senior Integrated Project (SIP). Many of our students have used this as an opportunity to expand upon previous internships, archeological digs, or courses with in-depth research and analysis. For example, Brenden French ‘20 spent two summers excavating an ancient Roman villa for his SIP on the Antonine Amphitheater; and Annabelle Houghton ‘20 conducted modern and archival research on oracles in Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythology in her SIP, “A Hist-Oracle Connection Between the Sanctuaries of Zeus Naios and Zeus Ammon?”
Meet the Current Departmental Student Advisor
Xander LeBlanc (he/him)
Majors: Classics
Best Adjective to Describe You: Curious
What is the best thing about being part of this department?
Being a smaller department, you get to connect with your professors much more deeply!
What has been your favorite class at K? Why?
I took Women in Classical Antiquity and Race & Ethnicity in Classical Antiquity together in the same term and honestly had the time of my life. The courses allow you to explore the origins of misogyny and racism, two fundamental issues ingrained in western history and society. I found it fascinating. I left every class and finished every reading feeling angry from what we learn and talk about, but I very much loved it simultaneously. It is deeply informative, and I think should be taught to a wider range of students.
What drew you to the department?
So much of the western world was built on Greek and Roman philosophies and ideologies, innovations, and various art forms and movements—one of the best examples are the Greek- and Roman-style colonnades that we still model after today. Many deep rooted issues stem from these cultures, too. A lot of the bigotry that society holds is based in ancient philosophy and thought, and learning about it helps me to break down the societal norms that it has shaped. I am also interested in world mythologies and folklore, and Greek and Roman stories are a common place to begin!
How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
The flexiable curriculum has allowed me not only to focus on my major but has also given me the opportunity to try separate courses. My SIP will be a novel, and so I’ve been in a fiction workshop class so that I can kinda get started on it! So I am able to focus on a major AND still be able to take other classes that I would enjoy. It has allowed me to do my SIP in the first place!
What is your favorite thing about K?
I have been to meet and connect with so many genuinely incredible people. The friends that I have made here and the people I have met have all significantly changed my life. I am still learning how to be a person, in a sense, and they have all helped guide me somewhere in my path. I am unlearning some previous trauma and have been met with such support and kindness from all ends. Not everyone here is a great person, but there will always be a group of people that you are able to find and connect with. K is so inviting that you are bound to find a handful of close friends by the end of fall term.
What is your Senior Integrated Project [SIP]?
For my SIP, I am writing a (partial) sci-fi/fantasy novella placed in a post-apocalyptic setting that I am also developing the world building for! I’m making some mutated new creatures and mapping out a real-world route—I’m having a lot of fun.
What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
I’m not entirely sure what I want to do after K. I may veer into Library Sciences. I have thought about museum curation and other work. I may even pivot and go do something with animals—maybe some shelter or sanctuary work? I truly have no clue, haha.
Natalie Martinez (she/they)
Majors: Classical Civilization and Studio Art
Study Abroad: Rome, Italy – Gabii Project (Summer 2024)
Best Adjective to Describe You: Creative
What is the best thing about being part of this department?
All the professors are absolutely amazing, super supportive, and extremely kind and caring.
What has been your favorite class at K? Why?
My favorite class that I have taken at K has been Analog photography. I personally enjoy doing photography, so learning about some of its history and actually working to develop and create the images, not only that but the results were often extremely rewarding.
What drew you to the department?
My first class in the Classical department was Classical Mythology with Professor Manwell. I really enjoyed the materials that we were reading and as I began to explore more classical courses, I fell in love with the department.
How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
With the flexible curriculum at K, I have been able to explore quite a few different classes that I had some interest in, such as Religion courses and Theater courses. I have truly enjoyed these courses and have actually been able to use them to make connections in some of my other courses, which has been pretty amazing.
What is your favorite thing about K?
My favorite thing about K is the Book Club in the Library. There is always some good coffees and teas available, and it is always such a quick and convenient place to grab lunch is you’re unable to grab lunch or if you just want something quick and light!
What is your Senior Integrated Project [SIP]?
For my SIP, I am working with the art department to showcase some of my photography. At the moment I am currently considering working with Cyanotypes and digital photography to capture my two homes, Weslaco, Texas (my hometown) and Kalamazoo, Michigan (my current place to call home).
What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
After K, I would personally enjoy working in a museum of some sort, specifically one surrounding just art in general or specifically art in the ancient world.