The major in Classical Archaeology seeks to put students in contact with the material cultures of Greece and Rome and peoples closely associated with them. Tools will be provided to reconstruct the ancient life-ways of these peoples as well as skill development in the interpretation of ancient social, political, and economic systems.

The major assists students for graduate study in anthropological archaeology, classical archaeology, cultural resource management, and historical preservation. It also provides any student with a strong intellectual interest in archaeology with a structured introduction to this field.