Classics and Mediterranean Studies

Classics is the study of the history, culture, languages, and reception of the ancient Mediterranean world, with a particular focus on the Greeks and the Romans. The Classics and Mediterranean Studies (CAMS) Department at UIC offers a program leading to the Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies, and students at UIC can take a wide range of classics courses and major/minor in Classical Studies. The department also encompasses the study and teaching of Arabic (including a minor) and Modern Greek language and culture.

Students who major in classical studies go on to pursue careers in law and professional scholarship, teach, and find employment in a wide range of fields. Recent graduates have entered law, medical, and divinity schools, while others have taken positions in business, public service, and education. The training students receive in critical reading, analytical thinking, and written and oral rhetoric is highly valued and sought by prospective employers. But a deep study of and engagement with the Humanities can also cultivate in students virtues like empathy and understanding and help them to become active and just citizens and problem-solvers. CAMS welcomes students of all backgrounds and perspectives.

The department is part of the School of Literatures, Cultural Studies and Linguistics, which comprises six independent departments and three academic programs, creating a collaborative environment for interdisciplinary study.

The Value of Studying Classics and the Humanities

At Chancellor Miranda’s inaugural chair chat, she asked Dr. Anthony Fauci about the impact of majoring in Classics and his lifelong engagement with the Humanities on his life and career. Hear his response: