Dec 04, 2024

Course Catalog 2024-2025

Classical Civilization Major

The major consists of a minimum of 11 full courses (or the equivalent).

Note: Students must earn minimum grades of C- or P for all courses that apply toward the major.

View the catalog page for the classics department.

Due to the high level of overlap between the major requirements, students who major in classical civilization may not also major in Greek language and literature or in Latin language and literature. However, students may major in classical civilization as well as minor in Greek and/or in Latin, with the following stipulations:

the student completes at least two courses at the 200-level or higher in the language sequence;
language courses taken may count only once (towards either the language minor or the classical civilization major); and
the minor elective courses taken may not also be counted towards the classical civilization major.

Summary of Requirements

CLAS 103 - History of Greece
CLAS 104 - History of Rome
One Full Introductory Literature Course
Two Full Ancient Language Courses
Six Additional Full Classical Civilization Major Elective Courses
Distribution Requirement

Note(s) on Requirements

Students are encouraged to take two semesters of one language to fulfill the ancient language requirement.
Additional courses in the ancient languages will count towards the major elective course requirement, but transfer credit for advanced placement work (i.e., AP/IB credit) will not count towards the major elective course requirement.
To fulfill the distribution requirement, of the six required major elective courses, students must complete at least one course in ancient art and/or archaeology, and at least one course on a relevant topic offered by another department.

Learning Goals

The learning goals of the classical civilization major are:

To develop knowledge of the main areas of ancient Greek and Roman culture: history, literature, religion, philosophy, humanistic values, language, and art;
To situate Greek and Roman culture within the wider Mediterranean world;
To develop critical independence of judgment of classical texts through the knowledge of a classical language (Greek, Latin);
To understand and critique the roots of Western culture and its survival in the contemporary world; and
To develop the skills of creative thought and critical analysis that make it possible to produce original scholarly work in the discipline of classical studies.

Transfer of Credit Toward the Major

No more than half the hours credited toward the major may be transferred from work at other recognized institutions.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Credit

AP/IB transfer credit received for LATN 600 does not count toward the classical civilization major.

Course of Study

Entry-Level Course Sequence Suggestions

Students beginning to study the ancient Mediterranean should begin with CLAS 103 , CLAS 104 , CLAS 111 , CLAS 112 , GREK 101 , or LATN 101 . Students are encouraged to enroll in any language course for which they are qualified. All entering students who have studied Greek or Latin previously should consult with a member of the classics department to determine the appropriate level of their entry into the language sequence.

Students with four years of secondary-school Latin (including Vergil) will ordinarily be eligible for LATN 201 offered in the first semester. Such students are encouraged to consider beginning a study of Greek.

Students who have had less than three semesters of Latin will be advised to enroll in or audit LATN 101 , to enroll in the Winter Term group class in Latin, or to devote a Winter Term to review in order that they may enroll in LATN 102 . Students who successfully take the Winter Term offerings of Introductory Ancient Greek or Introductory Latin can enroll in GREK 102 or LATN 102 in the following spring semester, but should be aware that the Winter Term course will not count toward the completion of the ancient language course requirement.

Honors in Classical Civilization

Applying for Admission to the Honors Program

To be eligible for admission to the Honors Program in Classical Civilization, a student must have completed by the end of the junior year:

Passed either a minimum of four 200-level CLAS courses -or- a minimum of one 300-level CLAS course and two 200-level CLAS courses;
CLAS 103 and CLAS 104 ;
CLAS 111 or CLAS 112 ;
At least two courses in either Greek or Latin language; and
Have maintained a major GPA of at least 3.50 and a general GPA of 3.30.

The department may invite qualified students to apply at the end of their junior year, but would also welcome applications from interested majors. Admission is based on overall academic distinction and outstanding work within the department.

Completing Honors

To be awarded Honors in Classical Civilization, a student must:

Complete a major in Classical Civilization;
Earned a B+ or better in both CLAS 103 and CLAS 104 ;
Satisfactorily complete a research project designed in consultation with members of the department; and
Pass an oral examination on the reading list and research project (this examination may be conducted by an outside examiner, who would also pass judgement on the honors project).

Students participating in the honors program should enroll in CLAS 401 for a total of four credits in the semester(s) in which the research paper is written.

Proposals must be submitted by early August of the academic year in which the honors project will be undertaken.

Detailed Major Requirements