JACKSON, Tenn. — Dec. 9, 2025 — Union University will launch a classics major in the fall of 2026 with tracks focusing on classical languages and classical civilizations.
“A classics major traditionally involves studying the history, the language, the art, the philosophy and the literature of ancient Greece and Rome,” said Scott Huelin, professor of English and director for Union’s Honors Community. “The way that we’re thinking about classics, however, is not just focusing on ancient Greece and Rome, but on ancient civilizations more broadly, especially the ones that impact not only the history of the West, but also the development of Judaism and Christianity.”
The major will be housed in Union’s Department of Language, Literature and Writing and will consist of 33 required hours – nine core hours and 24 additional hours that will depend upon the track selected.
Huelin said the classics major is a good fit for Union because Christians have always been interested in the study of ancient civilizations, since it was in the context of the Greek-speaking world of the Roman Empire that Jesus Christ lived. Jesus spoke Aramaic, his ministry was chronicled in Greek and he was drawing on the tradition of ancient Hebrew texts when he quoted Scripture.
“Christians have always wanted to understand the ancient world better so that we could understand our Savior better, and so that we could understand his teaching better,” Huelin said.
In Tennessee, Union is one of the only Christian colleges to offer a classics program. Fred Johnson, dean for Union’s College of Arts and Sciences, said the classical Christian school movement is growing quickly, and graduates from classical Christian schools often look to build on their learning. Eighty percent of them attend universities with some kind of classics program.
“It turns out that a classics program is a natural fit for Union’s professors and its mission,” Johnson said. “The program builds on our existing strengths and will let us to connect with classical school graduates in new ways.”
For more information about the classics major, email Huelin at shuelin@uu.edu.