The concentration in Greek focuses mainly on the Greek contributions with an emphasis on the advanced reading of Greek literature and the New Testament from 800 BC through Early Christianity.
Students learn the language at a very advanced level by the time they complete the requirements. Students should have a propensity for language study and an interest in humanities in general. Not only does the study of Greek increase the sophistication of one's thinking and provide a clearer scope of the sweep of intellectual history, it also improves one's understanding of language in general and English in particular. Greek is a precise language that demands a thorough comprehension of how language is structured, while its vocabulary constitutes the basis of a considerable number of English words, especially the terminology used in most disciplines. Most Greek majors take advantage of the Alabama in Greece Summer Study Abroad Program and spend three weeks in Greece studying ancient Greek history, culture and civilization at the most significant archeological sites of the country, including Athens, Santorini, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi, Mt. Olympus, Vergina and Dion, which offer a hands-on experience of ancient culture from prehistory (18th century B.C.) through the Roman conquest of Greece (2nd century A.D.).