Concentrations

There are four separate concentrations in the Classics major. The Greek and Latin Concentration is devoted to the Greek and Latin languages and their associated literatures in the original languages; The Greek Concentration is devoted to the ancient Greek language and its associated literature in the original language; The Latin Concentration is devoted to the Latin language and its associated literature in the original language; and The Classical Civilization Concentration requires less language and focuses on ancient history, literature in translation, and archaeology (please note that for this concentration, students must complete at least one Greek or Latin course at the intermediate level or higher).

Each concentration requires 10 courses (30 hours), including CLSC 231 (Athens to Alexander: The World of Ancient Greece) and CLSC 232 (Gods and Gladiators: The World of Ancient Rome) and at least two courses at the 300 level. For students who elect to complete their junior and senior year SAGES requirements in Classics, two additional courses (6 hours) are required, CLSC 320 Departmental Seminar: Alexander the Great and CLSC 381 Classics Senior Capstone. Note that CLSC 320 may count as one of the classics 300-level courses, provided the student takes his or her junior SAGES requirements outside of Classics.

In The Greek and Latin Concentration, students are required to take CLSC 231 (Athens to Alexander: The World of Ancient Greece) and CLSC 232 (Gods and Gladiators: The World of Ancient Rome)  then any combination of eight GREK or LATN courses, at least two of which (6 hours) must be at the 300-level. To receive the BA in Classics: Greek and Latin, students must complete at least one year of their second language.

In The Greek Concentration, students are required to take CLSC 231 (Athens to Alexander: The World of Ancient Greece) and CLSC 232 (Gods and Gladiators: The World of Ancient Rome), then any combination of eight GREK courses, at least two of which (6 hours) must be at the 300-level.
In The Latin Concentration, students are required to take CLSC 231 (Athens to Alexander: The World of Ancient Greece) and CLSC 232 (Gods and Gladiators: The World of Ancient Rome), then any combination of eight LATN courses, at least two of which (6 hours) must be at the 300-level.
In The Classical Civilization Concentration, students are required to take CLSC 231 (Athens to Alexander: The World of Ancient Greece) and CLSC 232 (Gods and Gladiators: The World of Ancient Rome); at least one 200-level or higher GREK or LATN course (for most students, this will mean taking GREK or LATN 101, 102 and 201); and any combination of GREK, LATN, or CLSC courses to bring their course total to 10 (30 hours), at least two of which must be at the 300 level. The elective CLSC courses should consist of CLSC courses or the cross-listed equivalents that focus on the period before the 6th century of the Common Era, not CLSC courses pertaining to later periods.

 

Study in Related Fields

Each student completing the classics major is strongly advised to choose a related minor, selected in consultation with and approved by the departmental advisor, in such closely related fields as anthropology, art history, philosophy, comparative literature, history, theater or English. The association between the department and the World Literature Program is especially close.

 

Departmental Honors

Departmental honors are given to students who earn the grade of A for their senior dissertation in CLSC 382 Senior Honors Thesis and maintain a GPA in the major of 3.5.

 

Preparation for Graduate School

For students who intend to pursue classics on a professional basis in graduate school, we recommend a balance of three years in one language and two in the other, plus four to six additional courses (this could be satisfied by a minor in one of the other track or a related field such as art history), and our Honors Program.

 

What Courses are Recommended for First-Year Students?

All first-year students interested in classics are strongly recommended to take CLSC 231 (Greek Civilization) and CLSC 232 (Roman Civilization) and to start the GREK 101-102 and/or Latin 101-102 sequence. Students may then chose from any of the other courses that look interesting.