Latin is more than a language. It was the language of the ancient Romans that gave rise to the Romance Languages that we know today as Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian.

By studying Latin, you will quickly see the connections of Romance Languages to Latin. Because Latin is the source of these languages, knowledge of Latin gives students great help in learning Romance Languages. Although English is not a Romance Language, over 50% of English words are derived from Latin.

The Benefits of Studying Latin


Many students report that they gain a clear understanding of English grammar only after they have studied Latin and have had to analyze Latin sentences or paragraphs. Also, students who study Latin are introduced to some ancillary disciplines, such as mythology, ancient history, archeology or etymology. In short, Latin remains a useful background for many areas of study, including law, medicine and science.

Latin Courses Offered


We offer elementary Latin language courses each semester. Use the links below to see full course descriptions and the current schedule of classes.