Program Overview

Classics as a discipline focuses primarily on the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. By that we mean the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome, but these peoples were constantly interacting with others in Eastern Europe, North Africa, Egypt and the Middle East, and the Roman Empire spanned portions of three continents (Europe, Asia, and Africa). Classics, therefore, has broad scope, both geographically and temporally.

Classics is an interdisciplinary field, meaning that we cross the boundaries of literature, philosophy, material and visual culture, history, and religion and apply the tools from these fields to the study of the ancient Mediterranean. To that end, Classicists (as we sometimes call ourselves) study topics like archaeology, architecture, mythology, ancient math and science, economics, philosophy, linguistics, politics, and history, as well as broad themes like race and ethnicity, sex, gender, and sexuality, and disability. 

Because of the variety of theoretical, disciplinary, and thematic perspectives that students can take when they study the ancient Mediterranean world, Classics is a great option as a primary major or a double major; Classics can also supplement your education as a minor. 

What is more, Classics offers a lot of opportunities for study abroad, whether you want to work on Dr. Scotton’s archaeological project in Corinth (Greece) or participate in a variety of travel study programs. 

The Classics department at CSULB offers four concentrations for the major (two of which require no ancient language study) and a minor. We also offer a Latin teaching credential in association with the College of Education. See our webpage on Majors and Minors for more information. 

CSULB is located on the sacred site of Puvungna. We acknowledge that we are on the land of the Tongva/Gabrieleño and the Acjachemen/Juaneño Nations who have lived and continue to live here. We recognize the Tongva/Acjachemen Nations and their spiritual connection as the first stewards and the traditional caretakers of this land. We thank them for their strength, perseverance and resistance.