Major Requirements
Students earn a major in classics by choosing among three tracks: Classical Civilization, Classical Archaeology or Classical Languages. Students should work carefully with their selected advisor to choose a track and a list of courses that match their interests and goals, but suggestions and guidelines can be found on the department website.
Classical Civilization
A major in classics with an emphasis in classical civilization consists of at least ten courses and a study away experience. Courses must include:
a) two context courses providing a deep historical perspective on the classical periods of the Mediterranean and Middle East. One of these context courses must be taken from courses numbered 121-191 in the Classics department:
As a second context course, students may take another of these courses or a course from the following list if pre-approved as a context course by their advisor and the department chair. This approval should be noted in DegreeWorks:
b) study in a classical language to include at least one course at the intermediate level (Greek, Latin, Hebrew or Arabic);
c) a course that includes a major research project prior to the Senior Seminar
d) CLAS 490 - Senior Seminar
e) and electives chosen from the offerings of the department. Select courses from other departments may be substituted when approved in advance by the classics department. Please have this approval noted in DegreeWorks.
Classical Archaeology
A major in classics with an emphasis in classical archaeology consists of at least ten courses, a study away experience and a field experience. Courses are to include:
a) two context courses providing a deep historical perspective on the classical periods of the Mediterranean and Middle East. One of these context courses must be taken from courses numbered 121-191 in the Classics department:
As a second context course, students may take another of these courses or a course from the following list if pre-approved as a context course by their advisor and the department chair. This approval should be noted in DegreeWorks:
- Topics courses within Classics or other departments or courses from study abroad programs that survey classical periods of Mediterranean and/or Middle Eastern history.
b) study in a classical language to include at least one course at the intermediate level (Greek, Latin, Hebrew or Arabic)
c) CLAS 223 - Introduction to Archaeology
d) a course which includes a major research project prior to the Senior Seminar
d) CLAS 490 - Senior Seminar
and f) electives from the following, or a course otherwise approved in advance by the department:
Archaeology majors must also gain some form of field experience, such as participating in an excavation, interning in a museum, or pursuing study away that involves archaeological learning in an archival, laboratory or field context.
Classical Languages
A major in classics with an emphasis in classical languages consists of at least ten courses and a study away experience. Courses must include:
a) two context courses* providing a deep historical perspective on the classical periods of the Mediterranean and Middle East. One of these context courses must be taken from courses numbered 121-191 in the Classics department:
As a second context course, students may take another of these courses or a course from the following list if pre-approved as a context course by their advisor and the department chair. This approval should be noted in DegreeWorks:
- Topics courses within Classics or other departments or courses from study abroad programs that survey classical periods of Mediterranean and/or Middle Eastern history.
b) seven courses involving classical languages and literatures in the original language (Greek, Latin, Hebrew or Arabic). Courses must be taken in at least two different languages and involve at least one class at the advanced level.* ;
c) a course which includes a major research project prior to the Senior Seminar;
d) CLAS 490 - Senior Seminar .
* Six courses in Arabic plus an additional third course drawn from context courses or an additional language fulfills these requirements.
Study Away
Majors in all three tracks are required to study away. Students are encouraged to study in the Mediterranean region during this experience, but may participate in any approved program. In addition to semester abroad programs, all of the department’s international offerings, including January in Rome, January in Turkey and summer archaeological excavations, fulfill the study away requirement, as do other January and summer programs approved in advance by the department.
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