Washington University in St.Louis - Department of Classics

**John and Penelope Biggs Department of Classics** Classics is the traditional name for the field that encompasses the ancient Greek and Roman worlds – their intertwined histories, languages, literatures, and cultures. Our department embraces the responsibilities and possibilities of Classics in the twenty-first century, seeking to understand the ancient societies as they were and to bring new questions, tools, and participants into the field. The department shares [the university’s commitment](https://equity.wustl.edu/?_ga=2.135749877.598225649.1683989266-648957708.1660758739) to inclusivity and equity in our teaching and in our department community, and we [do work on various fronts](https://classics.wustl.edu/resources-antiracism-and-inclusivity-classics) to diversify our field, [welcome all who wish to participate](https://classics.wustl.edu/news/message-faculty-racial-injustice), and create opportunities for them. Classics belongs to all people. **Research Teaching** Our faculty are devoted scholars and teachers. Like our colleagues across the Humanities, and often in collaboration with them, we explore issues of rhetoric, aesthetics, power, gender, religion, education, and cultural change – all in connection to the ancient Mediterranean world. Our research projects shed light on the ways ancient people lived, connected with one another, and sought to make a mark on the world. In our undergraduate, terminal M.A., and Ph.D. programs, our students learn to use the tools of Classics research to pursue the big questions that inspire them – both in our courses and in mentored and collaborative projects of their own. ****Outreach**** All enthusiasts of the ancient Greek and Roman cultures, and all those who have not yet had an opportunity to learn about them, can benefit from the department’s events and outreach programs. We host many lectures and events that are open to the public, visit meetings of local groups to speak about our research, and run programs for school groups exploring the ancient world.