Classics
- Degree Type Bachelor of Arts
- Department Classics
- Academic Division The College
- Offerings Major Minor
The wide scope of the classics field, and its emphasis on close study, analysis and critical thinking, makes it an excellent preparation for a wide range of professions.
Classics
Classics is the original “interdisciplinary” study. A student concentrating in classics can study not only the language, but the art, history, religion and law of the ancient world. The study of classics at Washington and Lee provides exceptional opportunities for students to conduct professional work such as excavating in the Athenian Agora or participating in an international scholarly project, collecting and digitizing graffiti from the ancient world.
About the Program
Students may earn a major or minor in classics by taking classes in Greek, Latin or Classical Civilization. No knowledge of Latin or ancient Greek is necessary for courses in Classical Civilization. All department courses count toward the major in classics.
We encourage student majors to explore offerings in philosophy, history, art history, religion, theater and archaeology. The literature, philosophy and history of the Greeks and Romans are not only fascinating in their own right, but they have stimulated some of the finest achievements of subsequent thinkers and writers.
Outcomes
Classics graduates of W&L have gone on to graduate study in classics and related fields, to law school, to medical school, to careers in consulting, and to positions teaching in private and public high schools.
Opportunities
Study Abroad: Classics majors have many opportunities to study abroad, including the International Center for Classical Studies in Rome (Centro), College Year in Athens, Oxford University, and St. Andrew’s University in Scotland.
W&L is a member of the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, and our students actively participate in the ongoing dig at the Athenian Agora during the summer under the direction of professor Michael Laughy.
Students also have the opportunity to travel to Italy under the direction of Professor Rebecca Benefiel to identify and gather graffiti in the ancient site of Herculaneum, and to participate in an international project digitizing the graffiti and producing critical editions.
In addition to these formalized institutional programs abroad, students may earn classics credit by participating in one of the trips to Italy or Greece offered and led by members of the classics faculty during Spring Term.
Honors in Classics: Classics majors who have achieved distinction in the major may be eligible to write an Honors Thesis during the senior year and should begin conversations with faculty during Winter Term of the junior year.
Student Conferences: The Classics Department is a member of Sunoikisis, a national consortium of classics programs. Students have the opportunity, among others, of participating at undergraduate conferences sponsored by Sunoikisis.
We are also a member of Eta Sigma Phi, the national collegiate Honor Society for students of classics.
Twelve W&L Students Awarded Gilman Scholarships to Study Abroad
The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards of up to $5,000 to U.S. undergraduate students who are Pell Grant recipients.
Joseph, a captain of the men’s soccer team, chose W&L for its well-rounded liberal arts curriculum and reputable school of commerce.
Rebecca Benefiel to Deliver Provost’s Lecture
The annual address that celebrates W&L faculty for excellence in scholarship and teaching will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 12 in University Chapel.
W&L Alumnus Benji Hess ’23 Earns U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria
Hess will teach English in Austria and prepare for a career as an educator.
2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards
Washington and Lee University is proud to announce this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award winners
W&L Presents Senior Recital with Gabriella Kogan ’24
Kogan’s piano recital will be held on March 24 at 3 p.m.
2024 Five-Star Distinguished Alumni Awards
Washington and Lee University is proud to announce this year’s Five-Star Distinguished Alumni Award winners
W&L’s Rebecca Benefiel Cited in Smithsonian Magazine Article
The classics professor’s Ancient Graffiti Project digital resource was also mentioned in the article that focuses on ancient graffiti works.
2023 Distinguished Young Alumni Awards
Washington and Lee University is proud to announce this year’s Distinguished Young Alumni Award winners
W&L’s Caleb Dance Awarded Prestigious Margo Tytus Visiting Fellowship
Classics professor will use the fellowship to research his project “Annotated Amores” at the University of Cincinnati this spring.
W&L’s James Dixon ’23 Awarded Fulbright to Taiwan
Dixon has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to teach English in Taiwan.
Meet the Faculty
At W&L, students enjoy small classes and close relationships with professors who educate and nurture.
Michael Laughy
Boetsch Term Associate Professor of Classics and Department Head
- P: 540-458-4569
- E: laughym@wlu.edu
Laughy teaches courses in ancient Greek religion, history, art and archaeology. His research interests are Greek religion, Greek epigraphy and ancient Athens.
Rebecca Benefiel
Abigail Grigsby Urquhart Professor of Classics
Benefiel teaches classics and Latin courses such as Pompeii, Classics in a Digital Age, Roman Religion, and The Poetry of Ovid. Her research focuses on Pompeii, Latin epigraphy, and Roman social and cultural history.
George Bent
Sidney Gause Childress Professor in the Arts
- P: 540-458-8863
- E: bentg@wlu.edu
Bent teaches courses on medieval art, Renaissance art and gothic art. He has researched Italian art extensively and recently taught a course called Digital Florence in which students helped to digitally reconstruct the city.
Alexandra R. Brown
Fletcher Otey Thomas Professor in Bible
On Sabbatical 2024-2025
- P: 540-458-8789
- E: browna@wlu.edu
Brown teaches courses on the New Testament and other ancient Christian texts, Bible and film, gender and religion, Christian mysticism, and theory and method in the study of religion. Her primary research is in New Testament, particularly the Pauline letters.
George P. Carras
Senior Research Professor (Classical studies, Religion)
- P: 434-409-1703
- E: gcarras@wlu.edu
Kevin Crotty
Professor of Classics, The J. Donald Childress Professor in Foreign Languages
On Sabbatical Fall 2024
- P: 540-458-8910
- E: crottyk@wlu.edu
Crotty’s courses include Classical Mythology; Homer; and Law, Litigation and Justice in the Ancient World. His research interests include myth, archaic Greek poetry, Plato and legal theory.
Caleb Dance
Associate Professor of Classics
- P: 540-458-8312
- E: dancec@wlu.edu
Professor Dance teaches courses on topics in ancient literature as well as Greek and Latin language courses at all levels. His research focuses upon comic theory and laughter in ancient poetry.
Timothy Lubin
Jessie Ball DuPont Professor of Religion
- P: 540-458-8146
- E: lubint@wlu.edu
Professor Lubin teaches courses on Asian religions and comparative study of religion and law. He researches Hindu religious history, law in ancient Asia, and texts and inscriptions in Sanskrit, Prakrit, Old Javanese and Old Tamil.