Classics - Lewis & Clark
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Professor Kelly with students at an archeological dig site in Vacone, Italy in 2023. 

Professor Kelly with students at an archeological dig site in Vacone, Italy in 2023.

Academics
World Languages
Classics
Classics
Our Classics program brings the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome to life in ways that transcend a single academic discipline. You can choose courses on a wide variety of subjects, including art, history, literature, philosophy, politics, and religion.
Majors
Art (Studio)
Art History
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Biology
Chemistry
Classics
Computer Science
Computer Science and Mathematics
Data Science
Economics
Environmental Studies
French Studies
German Studies
Hispanic Studies
History
International Affairs
Mathematics
Music
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Religious Studies
Rhetoric and Media Studies
Sociology and Anthropology
Student-Designed Major
Theatre
World Languages
Minors
Art and Art History
Artificial Intelligence
Asian Studies
Chemistry
Chinese
Classics
Computer Science
Cybersecurity
Dance
Data Science
Earth System Science
Economics
Education
Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation
Environmental Studies
Ethnic Studies
French Studies
Gender Studies
German Studies
Health Studies
Hispanic Studies
History
Japanese
Latin American and Latino Studies
Law and Policy
Mathematics
Middle East and North African Studies
Music
Neuroscience
Philosophy
Physics
Political Economy
Political Science
Religious Studies
Rhetoric and Media Studies
Russian
Theatre
Why Choose a Degree in Classics?
By exploring Greco-Roman cultures from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, Classics majors and minors gain critical thinking, research, writing, and discussion skills that will serve them well in any endeavor they pursue after graduation.
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What You’ll Study
Our curriculum is interdisciplinary. We offer two major concentrations—Classical civilizations and ancient language. All Classics degrees include Classical Latin or ancient Greek, allowing students to study significant works from antiquity in their original language.
Many of our students earn course credit while on an overseas program. In addition to general cultural programs that are open to all students, the
Greece program
, based in Athens and on the island of Lesbos, enables our students to personally encounter the world of antiquity through extensive study of archaeological sites.
Outside the classroom, the Classics Colloquium series invites scholars from Lewis & Clark and other institutions to lecture on their research. With the help of L&C faculty-student research grants, several students have participated in an archaeological excavation of an ancient Roman villa in Italy and presented the results of their work at the colloquium, as well as at regional conferences.
Curriculum
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After you hit submit, we will follow up with information about L&C, and you will have the opportunity to share a bit more about yourself.
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Favorite Class



Greek 202 with Gordon Kelly



I get to translate the Odyssey from ancient Greek, which is a really hard but rewarding skill, and Gordon always makes it fun.



Ava Frison BA ’25


Major: Classics







Favorite Class



International Political Economy with Professor Elizabeth Bennett



Dr. Bennett is a fantastic professor capable of seeing student potential and artfully guiding her students toward success. Through her class, I found a deeper understanding and relations to the humanities. I was able to build on the knowledge from her class in my thesis on Microfinance and Poverty Rates in Guatemala, which won the Political Economy Best Paper Prize of 2021.




Ana Sundvall BA ’21


Major: Classics and International Affairs (double)







Favorite Class



Medieval Literature with Associate Professor Karen Gross



It taught me how to spend time with a text, appreciating not only the value it has now, but also how it functions as a piece of history. I enjoyed taking the time to puzzle out each piece of the story, and I got to learn more about how the stories we tell ourselves are repeated and altered through the passage of time.




Laura Everson BA ’22


Major: English and Classics (double)







Favorite Class



Roman Women with Associate Professor With Term Gordon Kelly



The class analyzed Roman literature and archaeological evidence to understand the lives, gender roles, and class issues of women and sexuality in Roman times. A lot of history centers on men, so it was incredibly interesting to analyze the lives of historically marginalized groups.




Hannah Rose Jay BA ’20, MA ’23


Major: Classics

Minor: Religious Studies




Complement Your Education With One of These Minors
The most popular minors for our Classics majors are
history
, and
religious studies
What Students Are Saying About Lewis & Clark
My Classics and English professors are my mentors. They nurture my interest in the subjects, and they support me in developing my research and writing skills.
Ashleen Smith BA ’23
English | Classics | Madras, Oregon
More about Ashleen
Classics majors are a tight knit group, and there is a lot of support there.
Ava Frison BA ’25
Classics | Amity, Oregon
More about Ava
The thing I love the most about Classics is gaining a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural context behind the texts and events which have shaped Western culture.
Diego Varela BA ’24
Classics | Mexico City
More about Diego
What Can You Do With a Degree in Classics?
Our alumni use their BA in Classics to pursue a wide range of careers within academia, nonprofits, and beyond. While some students pursue an advanced degree, others apply their critical thinking, research, writing, and discussion skills to many areas other than Classics.
Dedicated Faculty
Our expert professors are your expert mentors. You will learn directly from faculty (no graduate assistants here!) that are nationally recognized in their fields of study and who love to work with and learn from their students. Your professors will inspire you to be a thoughtful and passionate participant in a diverse world. Your small classes will support you as you explore new ideas, find your voice, and speak your truth.
The core Classics faculty has won several teaching awards, both national and regional. Our program is one of the few in the country that has included two Society for Classical Studies Excellence in Teaching award winners.
The liberal arts take students (and professors) outside their academic comfort zones and encourage them to engage the world from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.
Professor With Term of Classics and Chair of the Classics Program
Gordon Kelly
More about Gordon
Meet the Professors
Equity
We are the only liberal arts school in Oregon on Colleges of Distinction’s
“Best Equity and Inclusion” list
for 2025–26.
47
U.S. states represented in our undergraduate student body
Top
For the seventh time in 11 years, Lewis & Clark has been named a
Fulbright U.S. Student Program Top Producing Institution
for 2023–24.
Top
Lewis & Clark earned a spot on Princeton Review’s 2026
“Best Colleges” list
12:1
Lewis & Clark College has a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1.
Invest in Yourself
A private liberal arts education is often
more affordable than you think
. Last year, Lewis & Clark distributed over $74 million in assistance from institutional, federal, state, and private sources. Additionally, we’re so confident that our first-year students will graduate with their bachelor of arts degree in four years that if you don’t, we’ll
cover the extra semester of tuition
Find Your People
Students can join a variety of student-run organizations. Don’t see what you’re looking for on the
club list
? Start something new and build your own community of peers!
Where Lewis & Clark Will Take You
We have the best professors at Lewis & Clark—especially in the art history department! The classes I took with Dawn Odell, Ben David, and Matt Johnston prepared me for the rigor of a PhD program.
Claire Lyman BA ’18
Art History | Classics | Wilmette, Illinois
More about Claire
L&C encouraged my natural sense of curiosity, developed my research abilities, and pushed me in my writing: all skills I’ve found essential in my current role. My supervisor has told me that they can clearly see the benefits of my liberal arts education in the way I think about things.
Ashleen Smith BA ’23
English | Classics | Madras, Oregon
More about Ashleen
Gordon Kelly
Professor With Term in Classics and Chair of the Classics Program
gkelly@lclark.edu
503-768-7413
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