About Us
From the first printed announcement of classes in 1846 to the present day, the opportunity to study Greek and Latin has been a vital part of a Baylor education. Fully half the early curriculum of the University consisted of readings, in the original language, from Homer, Xenophon, Demosthenes, Cicero, Horace, Livy, and Juvenal. Students who lacked sufficient skill to pass the Greek and Latin entrance exams could enroll in the Preparatory program for basic language instruction followed by readings from Caesar and Virgil. Like most Universities, Baylor eventually reorganized its curriculum into a list of core requirements and major concentrations, resulting in the formation of the Classics Department.
Today the Classics department, composed of 12 full-time faculty, is engaged in teaching and research in areas ranging all the way from Homer, through the Classical texts of Greece and Rome, Early Christian texts and Patristic texts, to the reception of Classical authors in the medieval period. As majors or minors, our students enjoy small classes, close interaction with faculty, and easy access to research opportunities, especially in the third and fourth year. Our top students have presented papers at national conferences, won internships on archaeological digs, and received scholarships to attend the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. Students participating in the Green Scholars initiative now have the opportunity for hand-on participation in primary papyrus and manuscript research. Our local chapter of Eta Sigma Phi, the national Classics honorary, offers opportunities for on campus leadership and early professional networking. The Department’s robust participation in the Honor’s College fosters opportunities for interdisciplinary study with some of Baylor’s most talented teachers. A number of our students have achieved the honor of nomination to Baylor’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and one of the most selective honor societies for the liberal arts and sciences.
Classics is Baylor tradition! If you are seeking a close knit community of high-achieving learners who seek to explore timeless material with both depth and breadth, we invite you to come discover the Baylor Classics Department.
“The Classical Course, embracing Latin and Greek, is undoubtedly preferable to all others, and best calculated to secure a thorough, liberal education.”
Baylor University Catalog for 1882-83