Classics (BA)
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Why study Classics?
If you are intrigued by the ancient world, the Classics program is a great choice since it encompasses the study of all aspects of ancient Greece and Rome. Our innovative Classics programs provide an integrated and interdisciplinary environment that combines archaeology, ancient Greek and Latin, history, mythology and literature. These programs present the experience of classical civilizations as part of a continuum of human experience that includes 21st-century cultures. Classics offers a challenging program in which you can explore a critical and exciting period of world history.
Program Details
A Bachelor of Arts degree takes a minimum of three or four years (90–120 credits) of full-time study, depending on your academic background.
Options:
- Honours in Classics – Ancient History and Archaeology (60 credits)
- Major in Classics – Ancient History and Archaeology (42 credits)
- Minor in Classical Archeology (24 credits)
- Minor in Classical Civilization (24 credits)
- Honours in Classics – Classical Languages and Literature (60 credits)
- Major in Classics – Classical Languages and Literature (42 credits)
- Minor in Classical Languages and Literature (24 credits)
| You've sent your application from: | Fall term deadline | Winter term deadline |
| Inside Canada | March 1 Certain programs have extended their deadlines. Please check program availability. |
N/A Admission to this program is only available for the Fall Term. |
| Outside Canada (International) |
February 1 | N/A |
We reserve the right to close admission to a program at any time after the official deadline without prior notice.
Sample classes include:
- Heroic Epics of Greece and Rome
- History of the Roman Empire
- Archaeology of the Greek Bronze Age
- Representations of Women in Ancient Greece and Rome
- Ancient Greek or Latin, from introductory to advanced levels
Consult the undergraduate calendar for a complete list of current courses.
Find out about all of the awards that the department offers.
Learn more about these other awards
- Undergraduate In-Course Scholarships & Awards Program
- Financial support and awards can be found on the Financial Aid & Awards Office website
- Scholarships, awards, and competitions from the Classical Association of Canada (CAC)
Concordia International, in collaboration with the various faculties and the School of Graduate Studies, administers student exchange and internships with Concordia's partner universities and other institutions of higher learning around the world. This exchange enhances relationships between the people and cultures of different countries and promotes international education.
Participating students remain registered at Concordia University and spend from one term to one academic year taking courses, doing research, or participating in an internship program. For complete details, please see the Undergraduate Calendar.
Exchange programs can take several forms, including:
As a multidisciplinary subject engaging with history, archaeology, literature, philosophy, languages and linguistics, Classics encourages analytical and lateral thinking, historical perspective, precision in language, cross-cultural understanding, research skills, and ethical awareness (to name but a few).
Successful completion of an Honours or Major BA in Classics at Concordia prepares you to pursue graduate studies in Classics or related fields, including History, Archaeology, Anthropology, and Linguistics. We have a successful track record of placing graduates in highly competitive programs with full funding, including the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, Brock University, Princeton, UCLA, Columbia, Oxford, Cambridge, the LSE, and many others.
Beyond an academic path within Classics or a related discipline, a BA in Classics from Concordia can be part of a pathway to a successful career in many different fields. Common career paths for Classics graduates (some requiring further qualifications) include:
- Law
- Diplomatic positions
- Journalism and publishing
- Professional writing
- Curatorial positions in museums and private galleries
- Cultural resource management (CRM)
- Archival research
- Graduate school
Further details, including the opportunity for internships, can be found at Concordia’s Student Success Centre
“My time as an undergraduate student at Concordia University’s Classics department was nothing short of formative. It was there that I first encountered the intellectual rigor and interpretive richness that define the field of Classics. The department provided a close-knit academic community where mentorship was generous, expectations were high, and curiosity was encouraged. Through close engagement with ancient texts, languages, and ideas, I began to understand not only the ancient world but the scholarly discipline that brings it to life.
The foundation I received at Concordia prepared me exceptionally well for graduate work—first at the University of Toronto, and subsequently at Columbia University, where I am now completing a PhD in Classics. In both environments, I consistently found myself returning to the skills and sensibilities I had developed at Concordia: careful philological analysis, clarity of expression, and a commitment to thoughtful, interdisciplinary inquiry.
I remain deeply grateful to the faculty at Concordia for their support and for the academic standards they set. The department’s commitment to student success—both inside and beyond the classroom—was instrumental in shaping my path, and I continue to benefit from that early training in every stage of my academic career.”
Nicholas Koudounis, PhD Candidate, Columbia University, New York
BA Honours Classics, 2016
“As part of the Canadian Armed Forces’ Regular Officer Training Plan, I was encouraged to pursue an undergraduate degree in a field of my choice to expand my perspective as an aspiring Officer Cadet. Driven by a curiosity for ancient history, I enrolled in Concordia University’s Classics program. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, this decision would profoundly shape my academic abilities and contribute to my success in all future endeavors.
The multi-disciplinary nature of the field, coupled with the need to distill centuries of research into compelling, logically sound arguments, has significantly sharpened my critical thinking and communication skills—an advantage that has played a key role in advancing my military career. Additionally, the faculty's openness and enthusiasm toward fresh ideas and questions have fostered an environment where I could explore new concepts, experiment with innovative approaches, and ultimately develop my own academic style.
Reflecting on my time at Concordia University, I can confidently say that the Classics program played a pivotal role in shaping my development as a young officer. I owe much of where I am today to the invaluable guidance and support of the Classics faculty during those formative years.”
Captain Damiano Ficca, Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
BA Honours Classics 2018
"Studying Classics at Concordia was a transformative experience that laid a strong foundation for my current studies in law. The practice I gained in critical thinking, textual analysis, and persuasive writing was absolutely essential and I have translated those skills into various aspects of my life and career. The professors were incredibly supportive in guiding me through challenging material while encouraging intellectual curiosity. My time in the Classics program was one of the most enriching chapters of my life, and I will always be grateful for how it shaped me as a person."
Angela Millvojevic, 2nd year Juris Doctor candidate, University of Western Ontario
BA Linguistics, Minor in Classics, 2022
"I started my undergraduate first in Electroacoustic Studies, then in Philosophy. Toward the end of my degree, I decided I wanted to pursue graduate study in ancient philosophy. At the same time as this, I was tired of being a monolingual westerner from the prairies, and so I decided to enroll in the Ancient Greek language courses in the Classics (CMLL) department. I was delighted to learn why my words in English meant what they did - words like “anatomy” (lit. “to cut up”) and “utopia” (a pun on “good-place” and “no-place”). Likewise, I was delighted to actually learn the grammar of a language, since I had never been required to do so as a native speaker of English. My background in Ancient Greek helped make my graduate application competitive, and enabled me to pursue graduate study in ancient philosophy, first for a master’s at Oxford, and now for a PhD at McGill. The classes I took in Concordia’s Classics department laid a foundation for the self-teaching of languages one is required to do in pursuing research with a historical focus."
Alexander Stooshinoff, 3rd year PhD Student, Philosophy, McGill University
BA Philosophy, minor in Electroacustic Studies, 2019, MSt Philosophy, University of Oxford, 2022