GW‘s program in Classical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies (CANES) welcomes majors, minors, and other interested students to explore the ancient Mediterranean worlds of Greece, Rome, Israel, Egypt, and the Near East. In addition to studying one or more of the ancient Mediterranean languages—Greek, Latin, and Biblical Hebrew—so that they can read the documents and literature of these ancient societies, students select courses from the wide range of disciplines that focus on antiquity, including literary studies, textual criticism, history, art history, and archaeology. Courses explore the ideas, values, people, places, events, and material culture of antiquity as well as how different post-antique societies have adopted and adapted these for their own ends.
Students also develop their critical thinking skills, analytical skills, writing, oral presentation skills, and visual literacy. Co-curricular opportunities include semester study abroad in Rome, Athens, or Jerusalem; summer archaeological excavations in Israel, Jordan, Italy, Greece, or elsewhere; internships in DC including at the School Without Walls in Latin pedagogy, at the GW University Museum and the Textile Museum in curatorial practice, at the Biblical Archaeology Society in editorial work, and at the Antiquities Coalition in public policy advocacy for cultural heritage. Graduates pursue careers in law, medicine, business, museums, library sciences, publishing, secondary education (teaching Latin, English, History), and higher education.
Visit the CANES department website for additional information.
Faculty
Professors: E.H. Cline, M. Esseesy, C. Rollston (Chair)
Associate Professors: D.H. Cline, E.A. Friedland, A.M. Smith II
Assistant Professors: C. Jorgensen, E. Oraby (Teaching), F. Sinatora, J. Tobkin (Teaching), O. Zakai
Teaching Instructors: D. El-Hefnawy, N. Taher
Explanation of Course Numbers
- Courses in the 1000s are primarily introductory undergraduate courses
- Those in the 2000s to 4000s are upper-division undergraduate courses that also may be taken for graduate credit with permission and additional work assigned
- Those in the 6000s and 8000s are for master’s, doctoral, and professional-level students
- The 6000s are open to advanced undergraduate students with approval of the instructor and the dean or advising office
