Classical Studies offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in the ancient cultures of Greece and Rome. Whether your interests lie in the people, their art, literature, or history, if you want to learn more about the great classical forerunners of western culture, our department has much to offer.
Here you will find some of the most interesting, unusual, and significant course material for an understanding of the ancient Mediterranean world as a parent of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the modern western world.
Whether you want to major, minor, take some electives, or are pursuing a master's degree in Classical Studies, we welcome you and will endeavour to make the classical past alive and significant for you.
News
Winner of Classical and Medieval Studies Awards
The winners of the Classical and Medieval Studies Awards were given out on Friday night at the Wine and Cheese Event.
Epic Threads: A Journal of Reimagined Antiquity
The Department of Classical Studies at the University of Waterloo proudly announces the release of the inaugural volume of Epic Threads. Here, emperors fall, soldiers dream, women rise, and gods doubt. Created and edited by students with faculty mentorship, Epic Threads invites readers to explore the ancient and medieval worlds through poetry, prose, drama, and art that bridge creative imagination with scholarly insight. We believe that creative writing is not a departure from scholarly engagement—it’s a powerful extension of it. Our first volume brings together works inspired mostly by the Classical tradition, but we remain open to adjacent fields including Near Eastern, Biblical, and Medieval studies. Each piece reimagines the past while reflecting on the timeless human questions that continue to shape us today.
Interdisciplinary Workshop ‘Female Roles in Ancient Foundation Legends’ at Waterloo
On Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, Classical Studies co-hosted the international workshop ‘Female Roles in Ancient Foundation Legends’. The event was spear-headed by the Waterloo Institute for Hellenistic Studies (WIHS) and invited into the Dragen Lab at St Jerome’s University, which allowed for zooming in colleagues from around the world.
Events
Upcoming Events
For the winter term 2026, please, expect:
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a guest lecture by Dr. Kathryn Mattison, McMaster University
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a guest lecture by Dr. Judy Fletcher, Wilfried Laurier University
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Work-in-progress presentations by our Graduate Students
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A Homer Appreciation Day
Stay tuned for more information.