Affiliated Departments and Centers
The Classics Department at Stanford embraces interdisciplinary study through dual faculty appointments, research interests, field work, courses, and student learning outcomes.
Numerous courses in Classics combine history, art, and archaeology.
Prof. Jody Maxmin was named one of 15 noteworthy art professors in the Bay Area last year.
This independent research center offers training for graduate students culminating with the Graduate Certificate in Digital Humanities. To explore the sponsored talks and lab groups, visit their website.
Students interested in studying Classics without pursuing a language can follow the Ancient History Track.
Stanford Classics faculty offer several courses in ancient historiography for students interested in the origins and theory of historical thought, writing, and philosophy. Ancient history expert and Latinist Christopher Krebs is the editor of HISTOS, the online journal of ancient historiography.
In addition to the Ancient Philosophy track for Ph.D. and M.A. students, undergraduate courses in ancient philosophy offer instruction in Socratic, pre-Socratic, and later ancient philosophy. With a Classics Major, Students can learn to read Plato in the original Greek and participate in Socratic-style seminars.
Undergraduate tracks (for both Majors and Minors) offer an optional Philosophy and Literature Focus.
Stanford Classics scholars stand at the forefront of research on the influence of Classical learning and political systems in modern political thought. The department also sponsors lectures on subjects ranging from public spending in democratic Athens to the legacy of Classical thought in World War I.
Prof. of Classics and Political Science Josiah Ober teaches courses for students interested in the origins of political thought in Greece and Rome.
Students in Classics and Religious Studies can study Early Christianity, the history of Judaism in ancient times, and a variety of other topics ranging from Byzantine culture to the religion of the Persian Empire.
Want to study the Bible in its original language? In most years, Stanford Classics offers a one to two term course in Biblical (New Testament) Greek, taught by faculty and graduate students. Find this course and other dually-listed courses at Stanford Explore Courses.
Classics and Archaeology have a close relationship at Stanford, with faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates joining to attend visiting lecture series and pursue research projects on campus and abroad.
The Burgaz Harbors Project and Marzamemi Maritime Heritage Project, both sponsored by Classics dept. Prof. Justin Leidwanger, provide students unique opportunities to pursue underwater archaeology in Turkey and Sicily.
Past projects include excavations in Britain and Sicily headed by influential archaeologists Prof. Ian Morris and Prof. Michael Shanks.
Students in both the undergraduate and the graduate program also have the opportunity to apply for funding to pursue their own individual travel, research, and archaeological fieldwork on digs approved by the department, including digs sponsored by other universities.
Professor Rush Rehm acts and directs professionally as head of the Stanford Repertory Theater while teaching courses on Classical drama.
Stanford Classics in Theater (SCIT) brings together students of many academic backgrounds to produce original (and often uproarious) adaptations of ancient plays.