Department of Modern Languages & Classics
Classics (CLAS)
Ancient History (CLAS) - Classical Literature and Civilization (CLAS) - Greek (GREK) - Latin (LATN)
Courses and programs in Classics are offered by the Department of Modern Languages and Classics
Note that Classics courses (CLAS) satisfy the BA humanities requirement 3(c), but courses in Latin and Greek do not.
One of the language courses may be used to satisfy the 3(b) requirement of the Faculty of Arts, while the other courses in Classics may be used to satisfy the 3(c) requirement.
Programs in Classics
The Classics Program encompasses ancient languages, literature, history and culture in Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern societies and, as such, is a central, foundational element of an Arts education. The department offers a range of courses leading to a major (either Ancient Languages or Classical Civilization stream) or minor in Classics that encompass ancient Latin and Greek, as well as the history, archaeology, art, and literature of ancient Greece, Rome, and the Near East. The program at FIH’s presents students with the core concepts, texts, and material culture of the Ancient Greeks and Romans, including courses on ancient history, literature in translation, women and gender, and archaeology. The core of the program, however, is distinctive in that it reflects a developing trend in the study of the ancient Mediterranean which positions the ancient civilizations of the Greeks and the Romans within the context of wider trends in Mediterranean cultural, intellectual, religious, artistic, and historical change and development. Top this end, the program also includes courses on the ancient Near East, Egypt, the Iron Age, the Bronze Age, archaeological theory, the tradition of ancient imperialism, and the fruitful interaction among the various peoples of the ancient mediterranean, the Near East, and Europe. Many of our courses are cross-listed with other disciplines, including History and Women and Gender Studies, and our upper-level courses present to students the latest in current theory and method with respect to the study of archaeology, history, and the history of art.. As such, there is some overlap with disciplines such as History, Anthropology, Geography, Geology, and Environmental Studies, and many of our students pursue double-majors in Classic and these other subject areas.
Students majoring in Classics must study at least one of the ancient languages. Entry to a graduate program in Classics normally means the successful completion of at least eighteen (18) credit hours at the undergraduate level in one ancient language (Latin or Greek) and twelve (12) credit hours in the other. Latin is a valuable asset for students majoring in French, German or Spanish.
Major in Classics
A major in Classics comprises forty-two (42) credit hours, eighteen (18) credit hours of which must be at the 3000 level or higher. There are two recommended tracks for our Classics majors:
1) Ancient Languages: Classics with the ancient languages
2) Classical Civilizations: Classics without the ancient languages
Ancient Languages track:
The Ancient Languages track is recommended for students interested in pursuing a career in some aspect of Classical Studies (e.g. Literature, History, Archaeology). Entry into a graduate program in Classics normally means the successful completion of at least eighteen (18) credit hours at the undergraduate level in one ancient language (Latin or Greek) and twelve (12) credit hours in the other. Latin is a valuable asset for students majoring in French, German or Spanish. Both Latin and Greek are useful to students interested in entering a seminary, studying theology, philosophy, medicine, European history, or linguistics.
Recommended credit hours to complete this track:
6 credit hours in at least one ancient language; 6 credit hours in Classics at the 1000 level; 12 credit hours at the 2000 level; 15 credit hours at the 3000 level; 3 credit hours at the 4000 level.
Suggested Schedule
Year 1
- LATN 1100 or GREK 1100 (6 credit hours)
- Three (3) credit hours at the 1000 level
- Three (3) credit hours at the 2000 level
Year 2
- LATN 2201 or GREK 2200 (6 credit hours)
- Three (3) credit hours at the 1000 level
- Six (6) credit hours at the 2000 level
- Six (6) credit hours at the 3000 level
Year 3
- Three (3) credit hours at the 2000 level
- Six (6) credit hours at the 3000 level
- OR, Three (3) credit hours at the 3000 level and three (3) credit hours at the 4000 level
Year 4
- Three (3) credit hours at the 4000 level
- Three (3) credit hours at the 2000 level
- Three (3) to six (6) credit hours at the 3000 level
Classics Civilizations track:
The Classics Civilizations track is recommended for students interested in acquiring a Liberal Arts style BA as a foundation degree for careers in law, law enforcement, education (Classics is recognized as a ‘teachable’ program by the America School Board), business, museum studies, cultural resource management, architecture, politics, among many other career possibilities.
Recommended credit hours to complete this track:
CLAS courses only: 6 credit hours at the 1000 level; 12-15 credit hours at the 2000 level; 18-21 credit hours at the 3000 level; 3 credit hours at the 4000 level.
Suggested Schedule
Year 1
- Six (6) credit hours at the 1000 level
- Six (6) credit hours at the 2000 level
Year 2
- Six (6) credit hours at the 2000 level
- Six (6) credit hours at the 3000 level
Year 3
- Three (3) credit hours at the 2000 level
- Nine (9) credit hours at the 3000 level
- CLAS 2000 and 2100 are natural precursors to CLAS 3000, 3100, 3317, 3318, 3319
- CLAS 2450, 2451, 2452, 2453, 2454 are natural precursors to CLAS 3400, 3410, 3420, 3352
- OR Six (6) credit hours at the 3000 level and three (3) credit hours at the 4000 level
Year 4
- Three (3) credit hours at the 4000 level
- Possible courses: CLAS 4405, 4406, 4407, 4600, 4610, 4611
- It is generally advisable to have taken a 3000 level CLAS course, or related 3000 level course in the Arts, prior to enrolling in a 4000 level CLAS course
- Three (3) credit hours at the 2000 level
- Possible courses: CLAS 2000, 2100, 2200, 2450, 2451, 2452, 2453, 2454, 2500, 2600
- There are no prerequisites for 2000 level CLAS courses
- Three (3) to six (6) credit hours at the 3000 level
- CLAS 2000 and 2100 are natural precursors to CLAS 3000, 3100, 3317, 3318, 3319
- CLAS 2450, 2451, 2452, 2453, 2454 are natural precursors to CLAS 3400, 3410, 3420, 3352
Concentration in Classics
To obtain a concentration in Classics in partial fulfillment of the B.A. General Degree (i.e. one with a Double Arts Concentration and a minimum of ninety (90) credit hours), a minimum of twenty-four (24) credit hours Classics is required. At most 6 credit hours can be at the 1000 level.
Also, the minimum grade point average is 2.00.
Minor in Classics
A minor in Classics consists of at least twenty-four (24) credit hours, twelve (12) of which must be at the 3000 level or above. To obtain a minor students much achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.00 (an average grade of C or better) in the courses of the minor.
Thematic Course Clusters:
Ancient Languages: GREK 1100, LATN 1100, GREK 2200, LATN 2201
Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology: CLAS 1003, CLAS 1004, CLAS 2000, CLAS 2100, CLAS 3000, CLAS 3100, CLAS 3317, CLAS 3318, CLAS 3319, CLAS 3320, CLAS 3610, CLAS 3611, CLAS 3612, CLAS 4600, CLAS 4610, CLAS 4611
Classical Cultures: CLAS 1001, CLAS 1002, CLAS 2451, CLAS 2452, CLAS 2500, CLAS 3311, CLAS 3317, CLAS 3321, CLAS 3352, CLAS 3354
Ancient History: CLAS 2450, CLAS 2451, CLAS 2452, CLAS 2453, CLAS 2454, CLAS 2455, CLAS 3400, CLAS 3410, CLAS 4407
Literature in Translation and Mythology: CLAS 2201, CLAS 3310, CLAS 3321
Women and Gender Studies: CLAS 3352, CLAS 3354