Classical Studies

Department of History
201 Humanities
(831) 459-2982
http://history.ucsc.edu/

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. 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.

Classical studies is administered by the History Department. For additional information on curriculum and advising, go to http://history.ucsc.edu.

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 literature;
• six additional approved upper-division courses (which may include additional courses in Greek or Latin literature);
• enrollment in a 2-credit comprehensive examination preparatory course, History 199F, is required in the same quarter that the senior comprehensive examination will be given. The preparatory course will be taken with the chair of the student’s examination committee.

Disciplinary Communication Requirement. Students of every major must satisfy that major’s upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. The DC requirement will normally be met within one to three courses already required for the major. For detailed information on this major’s DC requirement, consult your major adviser or see the 2010-11 general catalog.

Honors in the Classical Studies Major. All students who announce candidacy during the academic year are reviewed for honors or highest honors in the major. The classical studies faculty advisers determine honors based upon narrative evaluations in courses applied towards the classical studies major. Performance in courses taken elsewhere and being transferred towards the major will be considered when applicable. The minimum standard applied is excellence in most courses for honors, and excellence in all courses for highest honors. Summer graduates are reviewed for honors in fall quarter.

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.