Programs of Study
The remarkable diversity of subject matter included under the term Classics allows for several areas of concentration within the Classics major. This same diversity also makes a minor in Classics compatible with a wide range of other departments in the University.
The Classics department offers courses in Latin and Greek at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced undergraduate levels, including courses designed for students who have already been working at an advanced level for several years; in addition, the department offers courses in Classical Studies that explore ancient material and textual evidence through readings in English.
Areas of Concentration
The department offers two majors: one in Classical Studies and one in Classical Languages; the latter may be with a specialization in Greek, Latin, or Greek and Latin. The department has revised its major requirements for students entering the University beginning in Fall 2007. Students entering the University before Fall 2007 may complete either the new or the old major requirements. Students entering the University in Fall 2007 or later must complete the new requirements.
Classical Languages Concentration
Students entering the University before Fall 2007 must complete a minimum of eleven courses, including at least six courses in either Greek or Latin at the intermediate level or above, of which no more than two may be at the 100-level; one course in ancient history of archaeology at the 100-level, and one additional course in ancient history or archaeology; three other courses at the 100-level or above, or at the introductory level of a second Classical language.
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Major in Classical Languages: Greek
a. six (6) classes in CLSG at level of CLSG 101 or above
b. one (1) class in CLSS at 100-level
c. one (1) class in CLSS at 100-level or above
d. three (3) electives (not to include CLSG 001, 002)
Major in Classical Languages: Latin
a. six (6) classes in CLSL at level of CLSL 101 or above
b. one (1) class in CLSS at 100-level
c. one (1) class in CLSS at 100-level or above
d. three (3) electives (not to include CLSL 001, 002)
Classical Languages: Greek and Latin
Major in Classical Languages: Greek and Latin
a. three (3) classes in CLSG at level of CLSG 101 or above
b. three (3) classes in CLSL at level of CLSL 101 or above
c. one (1) additional class in CLSL or CLSG at 200-level or above
d. one (1) class in CLSS at 100-level
e. one (1) class in CLSS at 100-level or above
f. two (2) electives (not to include CLSL 001, 002, CLSG 001, 002)
Classical Studies Concentration
Students entering the University before Fall 2007 complete a minimum of eleven courses, including two courses in an ancient language; two courses in Classical Studies at the 100-level; two courses in Classical Studies at the 200-level; and five courses in Classical Studies, of which no more than two may be at the 100-level, or in Classical languages at any level.
For students enrolled at the University in Fall 2007 or later, the concentration in Classical Studies requires eleven courses, including two courses in Latin or Greek (the first semester of an introductory language will only count if followed by the second semester of that language, or by a course in that language at a higher level); two courses in Classical Studies at the 200-level; and five electives in Classical Studies, Greek, or Latin
Major in Classical Studies
a. two (2) classes in CLSL or CLSG (but CLSL 001, if counted, must be followed by CLSL 002 or higher and CLSG 001, if counted, must be followed by CLSG 002 or higher)
b. two (2) classes in CLSS 100-level
c. two (2) classes in CLSS 200-level or higher
d. five (5) electives
Students enrolled as minors before Fall 2007 may complete a minor either in Classical Studies or in Classical Archaeology. The Classical Studies minor requires six courses; these may be any combination of courses in the Classical Languages at the 100-level or above and elective courses in any area of Classical Studies. The Classical Archaeology minor requires two courses in Classical Archaeology; a further two courses in Classical Archaeology, History, or Art History; and two courses in Classical Languages at the 100-level or above or in Classical Studies. As of Fall 2007, the department will not offer newly enrolling minors the option of the minor in Classical Archaeology; this change does not affect current Classical Archaeology minors. As of Fall 2007, the Classical Studies minor requires six (6) classes in CLSS, CLSL or CLSG at any level
Students concentrating either in Classical languages or in Classical studies may apply to complete the major with honors; the expectations for students applying for honors are extremely high and the department will approve only excellent, clearly developed proposals from students with the requisite training (see below).
The honors component requires the completion of either a year-long thesis or directed reading, advised by a faculty member in the department. Students enroll in the senior year in CLSS 304 or CLSG 303 or CLSL 303, each semester of which carries three credits. Honors are awarded to students who earn an average grade of B or higher for the two semesters. Students who fail to achieve this average will receive course credit, but no honors, provided they receive a passing grade.
The honors program is intended only for highly-motivated and academically well-prepared students. Admission to it requires a GPA in the major of 3.6 or higher, as well as a written statement, to be submitted by 1 April of the junior year, outlining the proposed project (see further below) and indicating the faculty member who has agreed to serve as advisor. The full departmental faculty vets the proposals.
The requirements for the thesis and directed reading are as follows.
(1) Thesis
Students will write and research a 40-50 page thesis that aims to be an original contribution to classical scholarship. As such, it must use primary evidence and also engage with the relevant secondary literature. By the end of the fall semester, students must have completed twenty pages in draft. In early April they will give an oral presentation of their work of approximately twenty minutes to faculty and interested students. The final draft is due on or around 1 April of the senior year and will be graded by two faculty members (one of whom is the advisor). The grade assigned is the major component of the spring semester grade.
Proposals for the thesis should describe the questions being asked in the research, and how answers to them will contribute to scholarship. They must include a discussion of the primary sources on which the research will rest, as well as a preliminary bibliography of relevant secondary studies. They also must include a rough timetable indicating in what stages the work will be completed. It is expected that before submitting their proposals students will have conferred with a faculty member who has agreed to serve as advisor.
(2) Directed reading
This option is intended primarily for those concentrating in ancient languages and who wish to read extensively in Latin and/or Greek authors. Students might focus on an author (e.g., Homer, Livy), or a genre (e.g., Greek and Latin epic, Attic oratory), or a period (e.g., the age of Augustus). As a rule of thumb, those completing this option should expect to read 500-600 pages in the Oxford Classical Text or the equivalent-though in certain cases (e.g., with a particularly difficult author) this could be less. Students cannot count works read in previous Latin and Greek classes toward this total. Significant works of secondary literature relevant to the subject must be read also. On or around 1 April of the senior year the candidate will take a written exam, covering translation and interpretation of passages drawn from the student's reading list; and an oral exam, covering major themes in the author(s) examined. The advisor and at least one other faculty member will administer these exams. The grade on them is the major component of the spring semester grade.
Proposals for the reading should list the literature to be read with page counts (generally in the Oxford or Teubner editions) and a bibliography of major articles and books on this literature. The proposal must also discuss the issues to be explored in this body of work. A rough timetable indicating a schedule of how the readings will be completed is also required. It is expected that before submitting their proposals students will have conferred with a faculty member who has agreed to serve as an advisor.
For a minor in Greek a student must complete six courses from the following list:
a. GREE-011 & 012 Intensive First Level Modern Greek I & II
b. GREE-111 & 112 Intensive Second Level Modern Greek I & II
c. GREE-211 & 212 Intensive Third Level Modern Greek I & II
d. GREE-311 & 312 Media Greek and Advanced Writing I & II