About the Program
Associate Professors: John R. Lenz, John D. Muccigrosso (chair)
Classics today is a rich interdisciplinary field of study, embracing the study of not only the Greek and Latin languages and literature, but also some 2,000 years of ancient Mediterranean civilizations: the Aegean Bronze Age, classical Greece, the Roman Republic and Empire, the early Christian world, and late antiquity.
The study of the liberal arts is itself a classical ideal, and each succeeding generation has discovered new sources of inspiration in classical art, religion, philosophy, language, law, and science. A classical education broadens one's horizons in space and time, provides models for understanding both remote cultures and our own, and furnishes a lifelong basis for future reading and thought in diverse areas.
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Requirements for the Major (30 or 38 credits)
Students may major in either Classics or Classical Studies. Classics is the more traditional, language-based program, while Classical Studies stresses interdisciplinary study of the ancient world. The requirements for each are described below.
Classics Major (30 credits)
Students pursuing the language-oriented Classics major may choose one of three tracks: Greek, Latin, or classical languages.
I. Core courses for all classics majors (14 credits)
A. CL 22/Classical Literature in Translation (4)
B. Two courses (8 credits) chosen from:
CL 20/The History of Ancient Greece (4)
CL 21/The History of Ancient Rome (4)
CL 24/Archaeology of Greece and Rome (4)
CL 25/Classical Mythology (4)
CL 27/Society and Family in Ancient Greece and Rome (4)
CL 28/Topics from the Classical World (4)
CL 136/Foundations of the European Intellectual Tradition(4)
CL 165/Greek and Roman Traditions (4)
CL 120/REL 120/Classical Morality and Religious Ethics from Plato to Machiavelli (4)
HUM 11/Classical Antiquity (4)
LING 10/Language Communication (4) OR LING 120/Linguistic Theory and Method (4)
PHIL 36/History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy (4)
Note: The first year of a second classical language may be substituted for one of these courses.
C. CL 128/Advanced Classics Seminar (2),
taken in the spring semester of either junior or senior year. This requirement is waived for those writing an Honors thesis.
IIA. Additional requirements for the Greek and Latin tracks (16 credits)
Four courses at the upper level in the appropriate language
IIB. Additional requirements for the classical languages track (16 credits)
Two courses (8 credits) at the upper level in Greek
Two courses (8 credits) at the upper level in Latin
Classical Studies Major (38 credits)
I. Required Courses (8 credits)
LAT 1, 2/Elementary Latin I, II (4,4) OR GRK 1, 20/Elementary Greek I, II (4,4) (subject to placement)
II. Two courses (8 credits) of Greek or Latin at the intermediate or upper level.
III. Seven courses (28 credits), selected in consultation with the adviser, from the following, at least one of which must be upper level (CL 120, 136, 150, or 165):
Additional upper-level Greek or Latin courses (100 and above)
CL 20/The History of Ancient Greece (4)
CL 21/The History of Ancient Rome (4)
CL 24/Archaeology of Greece and Rome (4)
CL 25/Classical Mythology (4)
CL 27/Society and Family in Ancient Greece and Rome (4)
CL 28/Topics from the Classical World (4)
CL 136/Foundations of the European Intellectual Tradition(4)
CL 150/Independent study (amount of credit established at registration)
CL 165/Greek and Roman Traditions (4)
CL 120/REL 120/Classical Morality and Religious Ethics from Plato to Machiavelli (4)
HUM 11/Humanities ($)
PHIL 36/History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy (4)
REL 169/Religions of the Ancient Near East (4)
Other appropriate independent study or special topics courses. Students should consult their advisers.
IV. CL 128/Advanced Classics Seminar (2),
taken in the spring semester of either their junior or senior year. This requirement is waived for those writing an Honors thesis.
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Classical Studies Minor (20 credits)
Students must complete a minimum of five courses in classics or related courses at the intermediate or upper level (language courses and/or literature, history, or civilization courses in translation), selected in consultation with departmental faculty. Exemption from one course at the intermediate or upper level can be counted toward the minor.
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