The Program in Classical and Medieval Studies combines a uniquely interdisciplinary study of cultural history with an emphasis on empowering students themselves to read and assess texts in the relevant ancient languages.

The program is distinctive in linking the study of classical antiquity with that of the medieval worlds and distinctive in its scope. It embraces as classical antiquity the ancient Mediterranean and the ancient Near East, including North Africa, Crete, and Sicily, as well as the many cultures that composed “Greece” and “Rome.” The medieval world includes Islamic and Viking civilizations as well as the great cathedral builders of northern Europe and the full extent of the Byzantine Empire and its border states. Students are encouraged to study abroad in selected programs in order to appreciate the material aspects of these diverse cultures. The program aims to be truly interdisciplinary, integrating the perspectives of history, literature, philosophy, religion, the environmental sciences, art, architecture, archeology, and other material culture.