University of Mary Washington

What you'll study

This interdisciplinary programme centres on ancient Greek and Latin language learning and the close reading of classical texts, while introducing linguistic methods that illuminate language structure, history and change. You will progress from elementary to advanced language courses in Latin and/or Greek, and study major authors in translation and in the original, including poetry, drama, historiography and philosophy.

• Language sequence: elementary, intermediate and advanced Latin and/or ancient Greek with emphasis on reading, grammar and translation.
• Literature and culture: courses in Roman and Greek literature, classical mythology, ancient history, drama and classical reception.
• Linguistics and philology: introductory linguistics, historical linguistics, phonology, morphology and syntax as applied to classical languages and their descendants.
• Textual study and methods: palaeography, manuscript studies, textual criticism and strategies for editing and translating ancient texts.
• Research and capstone: an independent research project or senior thesis supervised by a member of the classics faculty, often involving original-source work or a close linguistic analysis.
• Optional experiences: study abroad, field archaeology modules, internships with museums or archives, and collaborative faculty-student research projects.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a high school diploma or equivalent. Typical offers are based on a combination of academic grades and the applicant’s overall preparation for a liberal-arts degree. Prior study of a modern or ancient language is desirable but not always required; beginners can usually start at introductory language levels. Transfer applicants are considered on the basis of college transcripts, and prospective students with significant non-academic experience may provide additional supporting information.

Because the University of Mary Washington values holistic review, applicants are encouraged to submit examples of written work and a personal statement describing interest in classical languages and any relevant experience. Specific admissions policies and required documentation are available from the university’s admissions office.

Career prospects

Graduates from this programme pursue a wide range of careers where strong analytical, linguistic and communication skills are valued. Typical pathways include:

• Teaching and education – secondary-school language teacher, programme coordinator, adult education instructor (often alongside additional teacher certification).
• Heritage, museums and archives – curatorial assistant, collections management, archival work and cultural heritage outreach.
• Publishing, editing and writing – editorial roles, copyediting, translation and content development.
• Research and academia – postgraduate study in classics, linguistics, ancient history or related humanities subjects.
• Public sector and NGOs – policy, cultural programming and roles that require strong critical thinking and clear written communication.
• Language technology and lexicography – corpus work, historical linguistics input for databases and digital humanities projects.

Why study at University of Mary Washington

The University of Mary Washington offers a small-campus liberal-arts environment that emphasises close faculty-student interaction and undergraduate research. Classics students benefit from personalised instruction in small language classes, opportunities to pursue an honours thesis, and faculty who combine traditional philological skills with digital and interdisciplinary approaches.

The location provides access to regional museums, archives and cultural institutions for internships and experiential learning, and the university supports study-abroad and fieldwork opportunities that let students read texts in context and gain practical experience. Facilities such as specialised library collections and language resources complement the programme’s focus on training students in both the languages and the analytical methods central to classics and linguistics.