Classical Studies


Department of History
32 Merrill College
(831)459-2982
http://humanities.ucsc.edu (open History)

Program Description

“Classics” is a traditional designation for the study of the literature, history, and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. Classical studies at UCSC combines features of traditional programs, such as solid grounding in the ancient languages, with innovative, interdisciplinary approaches (literary theory, gender studies, performance, and film).

Classical studies is an interdisciplinary field. While the core of the major is focused on courses in the ancient Greek and Latin languages, the major also includes courses in history, history of art and visual culture, linguistics, literature, philosophy, politics, religious studies, and theater arts. Students are encouraged to study the literary and material artifacts of Greece and Rome within the larger context of ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern cultures.

The classical studies major offers an opportunity to work in small classes with a dedicated teaching faculty and excellent fellow students. Over the years, classical studies has averaged six to ten majors per year. Classical studies is an excellent preparation for further study in a wide variety of graduate and professional programs including comparative literature, English, philosophy, law, and publishing.

The basic requirements for the classical studies major allow a variety of emphases and concentrations. For example, students with an interest in contemporary philosophy and political theory might want to concentrate in Greek, taking upper-division courses in Greek, history, philosophy, and politics. Students with an interest in European literature might want to concentrate in Latin, taking upper-division courses in Latin, history, and literature in translation. Students planning on pursuing a classics degree at the Ph.D. level should concentrate most of their course work in the Greek and Latin languages themselves.

Requirements for the Major

A prerequisite for the classical studies major is the lower-division sequence in elementary Greek or Latin language (Greek 1 and 2 or Latin 1 and 2). The major requires a total of ten courses plus a senior comprehensive exam and must include the following:

one lower-division survey of ancient history or literature in translation;

three upper-division courses in Greek or Latin;

Six additional approved upper-division courses (which may include courses in Greek or Latin language)

Requirements for the Minor

A minor in classical studies requires the lower-division sequence in elementary Greek or Latin language (Greek 1 and 2 or Latin 1 and 2) and Greek or Latin Literature 100 plus any four of the upper-division courses listed as satisfying the classical studies major requirements.