At the UI Department of Classics and Religious Studies, we believe that the ancient world and the study of human belief are not separate pursuits—they are two lenses on the same profound questions. Together, they illuminate who we are, where we came from, and how we might understand one another.
Our department brings together two of the University of Iowa's most storied academic traditions. Classics is one of the four original departments founded at Iowa in 1847, rooted in the languages, literatures, histories, and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and the broader Mediterranean world from the Bronze Age through late antiquity. Religious studies holds an equally distinguished place in American academic history as the first degree-granting department of its kind at a public university in the United States. Together, our faculty teach and publish across an extraordinary range of fields—from Greek and Latin literature to Islamic studies, from Mediterranean archaeology to the study of religion and media—maintaining close interdisciplinary ties across the university and beyond.
We take seriously our responsibility to study these subjects carefully, critically, and with genuine openness—especially within the context of public education. Religion has inspired humanitarian efforts, artistic creativity, and the development of civilizations; it has also been a source of conflict and division. The classical world offers timeless models of thought, governance, and culture, while also revealing the complexity and cost of human ambition. Understanding both requires the kind of rigorous, compassionate scholarship that has defined this department for generations—and that we carry forward together.
Today, our department is home to 25 faculty whose work spans five endowed chairs and professorships, two peer-reviewed journals, and research initiatives that range from AI-assisted ancient manuscript restoration to the study of religion's evolving presence in a digital world. We hold one of the most extensive classics library collections in the United States, and we remain committed to the University of Iowa's deep tradition of writing, inquiry, and public engagement. Whatever draws you to this work—ancient languages, world religions, archaeology, philosophy, or simply the enduring human story—you'll find a home here.
Why Iowa?
Bridge classics, faith, and reason while earning your degree
Whether you're just beginning to explore ancient civilizations and world religions or you're ready to pursue advanced scholarly work, Iowa has a path for you. As an undergraduate, you can pursue majors in ancient civilization or religious studies, or complement your primary degree with minors in Latin, Greek, ancient civilization, or religious studies. If you already hold a BA and need to strengthen your Latin or Greek before graduate school, seminary, or another program, our Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Classics is designed with you in mind.
At the graduate level, you'll find a range of MA and PhD programs that go well beyond coverage of content. Every program is built to sharpen how you think, write, and speak—including about the complex, high-stakes topics that matter most in today's world. You'll develop a strong methodological foundation, engage seriously with religious and cultural diversity, and explore how rapidly evolving digital technologies are reshaping both religion and our shared humanity. Wherever you're headed, Iowa gives you the tools, the mentors, and the community to get there.
The Iowa experience
Get to know the internationally recognized faculty who bring ancient worlds and global religious traditions to life in the classroom and beyond.
Our history
Our story stretches back to 1847 — explore the history of one of Iowa's most enduring academic traditions.