Classics
Classics is the interdisciplinary study of the ancient Greek and Roman peoples and their interactions with other populations and cultures in the Mediterranean and Middle East. It is an attempt to understand the origins of western society through study of Greek and Latin languages, literature, history, archaeology, art, religion, and philosophy. Classics is fascinating and practical, and its students are capable and successful. They are agile, visionary thinkers and articulate, persuasive global citizens. Classics students are professionals who pursue multiple career paths. They become outstanding teachers, lawyers, elected officials, diplomats, writers, editors, journalists, education and arts administrators, museum curators, doctors, nurses, information technology specialists, and business professionals. Students may major and minor in Ancient Mediterranean Studies or Classical Languages tracks.
In the course of study, Classics students become:
Deep intellectuals who understand the interconnections of our world.
- They evaluate how the cultures of ancient Greeks and Romans and their neighbors shape the modern world on a global scale.
- They understand how to use these cultures to develop comparative models of thought and behavior leading to enhanced self-understanding.
Creative problem-solvers who can devise multiple solutions for a conundrum.
- They apply analytical skills in language study and in at least three of the following fields: literature, history, philosophy, religion, and art and archaeology.
- They utilize this interdisciplinary skillset to solve important problems in the study of the ancient Mediterranean and Middle East.
Language experts who understand others and are masters of self-expression.
- They understand and engage other cultures through effective analysis of their language structures and close textual reading.
- They synthesize excellent communication skills, including the ability to translate, write, and present in multimedia formats.
Intercultural diplomats who are attuned to difference and thrive in its presence.
- They demonstrate awareness of cultural difference in language, art, politics, gender, race and ethnicity, religion, and/or socio-economics.
- They apply this insight when examining intellectual, professional, and personal questions to better themselves and act with empathy.
Acceptance to Classics: Ancient Mediterranean Studies Major Requirements
Course Requirements: at least one course supporting the major by the end of the spring semester of the student’s sophomore year, such as History 130: Introduction to Archaeology, Classics 221: Golden Age of Athens, Classics 223: Classical Mythology, History 220: Sword and Scroll: Violence and Cultural Exchange in Antiquity, English 221B: Early Western Literature: Homer to Dante, History 330: Parties and Wars: Greece in the Classical Period, History 377A: Roman Empire, or a Greek or Latin language course of any level (111, 112, 211, or 300)
Minimum Grade and/or GPA for required courses: 2.0 GPA
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.0
Time of application: Students should apply to the Languages and Cultures Department Chair for admission to the Classics: Ancient Mediterranean Studies major as soon as they have decided to pursue the degree. We encourage early consultation with Classics faculty, to discuss career goals, on-campus offerings, study abroad options, and research and internship opportunities. Most students should seek acceptance to the major by the spring semester of their sophomore year and before registering for junior-year coursework.
Unconditional acceptance: The student (1) has earned at least a C (2.00) grade point average for all coursework completed and for all coursework completed in the intended major and (2) is on track to complete at least one course supporting the major by the end of the spring semester of the student’s sophomore year (see example courses above).
Conditional acceptance: The Languages and Cultures Department Chair may, at the Chair’s discretion, admit students to the major who do not meet the criteria for unconditional acceptance. Such students may proceed with current registration, but their subsequent continuation in the major will be contingent on meeting expectations stipulated by the Chair.
Major in Classics: Ancient Mediterranean Studies (38 credits)
This dynamic and flexible major track combines the study of language, literature, history, archaeology, art, religion, and philosophy for an interdisciplinary approach to the ancient Mediterranean and Middle East. It is the quintessential liberal arts experience, allowing students to apply multiple fields of inquiry to past human experience and then to apply insights about this behavior to pressing modern concerns and problems.
Required Courses:
A student takes 36 credits of Classics courses, plus one 2-credit capstone (Classics 399), for a total of 38 credits. At least 16 credits must be taken in Greek and/or Latin language courses (reaching advanced 300-level study). The additional 20 credits can be in relevant courses taught in English translation or Greek and Latin language courses in any combination but representing at least three different fields: literature, history, philosophy, religion, and archaeology and art. These courses may be taken on campus at CSBSJU or abroad in our Greece and Italy programs. Eligible courses include:
Literature:
• Classics 221: Golden Age of Athens
• Classics 223: Classical Mythology
• Classics 279: Scientific Etymology
• English 221B: Early Western Literature: Homer to Dante
• English 385J: Medieval Women
• Languages 331: Classical Greek Literature in Translation (abroad)
• Languages 332: Roman Literature in Translation (abroad)
• Greek 341: Homer and Epic Poetry
• Greek 342: Greek Tragedy
• Greek 347: Aristophanes
• Latin 331: Virgil and Epic Poetry
• Latin 333: Elegiac and Lyric Poetry
• Latin 338: Roman Comedy
• Latin 343: Ovid’s Metamorphoses
History:
• History 220: Sword and Scroll: Violence and Cultural Exchange in Antiquity
• History 330: Parties and Wars: Greece in the Classical Period
• History 377A: Roman Empire
• Classics 379: Grand Strategy
• History 113A: History of Greece in the Classical World (abroad)
• History 113B: History of Italy in the Classical World (abroad)
• Greek 332A: Greek Historians: Herodotus
• Greek 332B: Greek Historians: Thucydides
• Latin 327C: The Catilinarian Conspiracy
• Latin 327D: The Life and Death of Augustus
• Latin 349: Roman Historians
Philosophy:
• Philosophy 331: Ancient Philosophy
• Philosophy 368M: Flourishing: Aristotle in Contemporary Perspectives
• Greek 345: Studies in Plato
• Latin 342: Cicero
Religion:
• Theology 305: Jesus and the Gospels
• Theology 306: Paul and His Letters
• Theology 309: Sexuality and Renunciation in Christianity
• Theology 365/Peace Studies 368R: Islam
• History of Christianity 400: Patristics
• History of Christianity 402: History of Christianity I
• Theology 391: History of the Eastern Church (abroad)
• Theology 392: History of the Western Church (abroad)
• Latin 327E: Jews and Christians in the Roman World
Archaeology and Art:
• History 130: Introduction to Archaeology
• Art 230: Art Moves I: Neolithic-1400
• Ethics 390: Museum History: Ethics of Collecting and Display
• Art 221: Art History of Greece (abroad)
• Art 222: Art History of Rome (abroad)
In addition, we allow students to substitute other relevant courses with significant Classics content or applicable theory (in consultation with Classics faculty and with permission of the Department Chair). Examples may include:
• English 279A: Literary Theory and Criticism
• Entrepreneurship 101B: Innovation and the Liberal Arts
• History 278A: Confusingly Confucian: Creating East Asia to 1600
• Philosophy 121: Great Issues in Philosophy
• Philosophy 123: Philosophy of Human Nature
• Philosophy 125: Social Philosophy
• Philosophy 321: Moral Philosophy
• Political Science 221: Introduction to Political Theory
• Political Science 311: Classics of Political Theory
• Political Science 356: Security: Defense, Diplomacy, and Development
• Sociology 111: Introduction to Sociology
• Sociology 304: Sociological Theory
• Sociology 121: Introduction to Anthropology
• Sociology 326: Cultural Thought and Meaning
We also work with students to secure high-impact research opportunities and internships supporting their professional interests, including student-faculty collaborative research grants and internships at the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library (HMML).
Minor in Classics: Ancient Mediterranean Studies (24 credits)
The Classics Program also offers a minor track in Classics: Ancient Mediterranean Studies. For many students, a minor is the right fit, allowing them to explore the rich cultural landscape of the ancient Mediterranean and Middle East while complementing other programs of study and distinguishing their resumes.
Required Courses:
A student takes 24 credits of Classics courses in any combination. They may include Greek and Latin language courses of any level and/or any of the courses approved for Classics: Ancient Mediterranean Studies taught in English translation (see the list of literature, history, philosophy, religion, and archaeology and art courses above).
Acceptance to Classics: Classical Languages Major Requirements
Course Requirements: at least one Greek or Latin language course of any level (111, 112, 211, or 300) by the end of the spring semester of the student’s sophomore year
Minimum Grade and/or GPA for required courses: 2.0 GPA
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.0
Time of application: Students should apply to the Languages and Cultures Department Chair for admission to the Classics: Classical Languages major as soon as they have decided to pursue the degree. We encourage early consultation with Classics faculty, to discuss career goals, on-campus offerings, study abroad options, and research and internship opportunities. Most students should seek acceptance to the major by the spring semester of their sophomore year and before registering for junior-year coursework.
Unconditional acceptance: The student (1) has earned at least a C (2.00) grade point average for all coursework completed and for all coursework completed in the intended major and (2) is on track to complete at least one Greek or Latin language course of any level (111, 112, 211, or 300) by the end of the spring semester of the student’s sophomore year.
Conditional acceptance: The Languages and Cultures Department Chair may, at the Chair’s discretion, admit students to the major who do not meet the criteria for unconditional acceptance. Such students may proceed with current registration, but their subsequent continuation in the major will be contingent on meeting expectations stipulated by the Chair.
Major in Classics: Classical Languages (38 credits)
This major track emphasizes the study of language in the ancient Mediterranean and literature in the original Greek and Latin. Here students explore pivotal works of poetry, history, prose fiction, philosophy, tragedy, comedy, rhetoric, biography, and epigraphy. We engage a wide range of authors (with a global impact) on their own terms.
Required Courses:
A student takes 36 credits of Classics courses, plus one 2-credit capstone (Classics 399), for a total of 38 credits. At least 28 credits must be taken in Greek and/or Latin language courses of any level. Up to 8 credits may be taken from any of the courses approved for Classics: Ancient Mediterranean Studies taught in English translation (see the list of literature, history, philosophy, religion, and archaeology and art courses above).
In addition, we allow students to substitute other relevant courses with significant Classics content or applicable theory (in consultation with Classics faculty and with permission of the Department Chair). See the list of examples above under Classics: Ancient Mediterranean Studies. We also work with students to secure high-impact research opportunities and internships supporting their professional interests, including student-faculty collaborative research grants and internships at the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library (HMML).
Minor in Classical Languages (24 credits)
The Classics Program also offers a minor track in Classics: Classical Languages. This minor offers all the advantages of the minor in Classics: Ancient Mediterranean Studies, but here students focus their study on ancient languages and literatures, specifically Greek and Latin. They immediately become aware of English’s linguistic debt to Greek and Latin, sharpen their ability to analyze language and write effectively, and rapidly move into reading entertaining and provocative texts in Greek and Latin that stimulate deep thinking about antiquity and the modern day.
Required Courses:
A student takes 24 credits of Classics courses. At least 20 credits must be taken in Greek and/or Latin language courses of any level (but reaching advanced 300-level study in at least one language). Up to 4 credits may be taken from any of the courses approved for Classics: Ancient Mediterranean Studies taught in English translation (see the list of literature, history, philosophy, religion, and archaeology and art courses above).
Greek and Latin Minors (12 credits beyond elementary sequence)
The department also offers minors in Greek and Latin. For many students, a minor is the right fit, allowing them to explore the rich literary landscape of Greece and Rome, while complementing other programs of study and distinguishing their resumes.
Required Courses:
After completing the language proficiency requirement (with either Greek or Latin 211), 12 credits in upper-division courses in either Greek or Latin.