It’s remarkable to look back at the curricula of colleges and universities, even as far back as the early 1900s, and observe the heavy emphasis on classical studies. A college education was synonymous with Greek and Latin studies, philosophy, theology, reasoning, and rhetoric. Education meant proficiency in classical studies. However, this began to change in the 1900s as social shifts redesigned the curriculum, ultimately removing classical studies from the core curriculum.
Fast forward to the early 2000s, and we witness classics departments closing down across various institutions. Studies once foundational to a college education now struggle to find a place in these institutions. There’s a reason for this. Something happened in the teaching of these subjects that caused the collapse of classical studies. I believe that classics departments can be revived if they revert these changes.
This shift didn’t just occur in secular institutions; it extended to Christian and Catholic colleges and universities. Many professors, products of modern classical education, brought these changes with them. This failure in classical studies has spread, causing interest in the field to dwindle. Today, classics departments struggle to attract students due to a lack of interest.
My own experience as a Classics student at Rutgers University reflects this modern trend. My wife and I pursued classical studies out of Christian interests, aiming to learn Biblical Greek and understand Greek and Roman civilization’s relation to Christianity. However, the modern classics curriculum failed to meet our expectations. It lacked emphasis on classical languages, history, and philosophy.
Fortunately, we encountered professors who shared our interests in the traditional classics program. We enrolled in their courses, which provided the education we sought. However, most courses didn’t align with our interests, focusing on superficial aspects of classical studies.
Realizing the deficiency in modern classics programs, I sought permission to pursue traditional classics courses through independent study. Under a supportive professor, I researched and studied the classic curriculum independently, leading to a deeper understanding of classical studies. This experience laid the groundwork for establishing the Classical Liberal Arts Academy.
Modern classics programs have veered away from the essence of classical education—the liberal arts. The classical liberal arts, including grammar, reasoning, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy, formed the core of classical studies. Unfortunately, modern schools have removed these foundational elements, rendering classical studies devoid of purpose and appeal.
To revive classics departments, we must return to teaching the seven liberal arts and emphasize ancient languages like Greek and Latin. Students should engage with original texts and classical philosophy. Only then can we restore the essence of classical studies and attract students genuinely interested in the field.
At the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, we aim to establish a bachelor’s degree program in classical Christian studies. While mainstream colleges may hesitate to adopt traditional classics, we will offer a genuine classical education rooted in the liberal arts. Our goal is to preserve and promote the rich heritage of classical studies for future generations.
