STUDYING CLASSICS @ GWU

Major Requirements; Minor Requirements

WHY MAJOR IN CLASSICS? Classical Studies, like the study of English, history, or the other liberal arts, is not primarily intended to provide skills for earning a living
(although improvement in linguistic skills is a by-product of these studies useful for many careers). It should, instead, make living more worthwhile since it provides a greater understanding of the modern world by concentrating on the sources and values of Western civilization.

Upon graduation, those majoring in Classical Studies will find a variety of opportunities open to them (e.g., secondary school teaching, further study in graduate school, law school). By selecting their courses carefully, moreover, many students complete the requirements of two majors (Classical Studies and Archaeology, for example, or Classical Studies and History, or Classical Studies and Biology) in order to gain more flexibility in choosing a career. Thus students interested in law, medicine, or business can easily combine courses necessary for professional school preparation with courses broadly based in the humanities. Since many professional schools want students who have linguistic skills and a broad knowledge of our cultural traditions, a major in Classical Studies provides an ideal background for further study in various professional schools.

Careers related to a major in Classical Studies might be found in teaching, archaeology, museum work, publishing, or library science, all of which require graduate study. There are excellent employment opportunities for well-qualified secondary school teachers of Latin. Your professors in the Classics Program will be happy to discuss option for a Classical Studies major; to declare a major, consult the Chair of the Department, Prof. Eric Cline (ehcline@gwu.edu).

CLASSICS MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

A.PREREQUISITES: Two years of college-level Greek or Latin (14 credit hours; or the equivalent)

B. CORE REQUIREMENTS: Classics 71 (Greek Literature and Civilization), Classics 72 (Roman Literature and Civilization), Classics 119/Hist. 109 (History of Greece and the Aegean), and Classics 120/Hist. 110 (History of Rome). Note: Humanities 1 (Roots of the Western Tradition) or Honors 15 (Honors Proseminar) may be taken in place of either Classics 71 or 72.

C. The remainder of the major courses (24 credits) are fulfilled by taking courses from the following:(1) at least 12 semester hours selected from
the Classics courses listed below, and (2) 12 semester hours selected from approved courses in related departments. Students may also take additional course in Greek and Latin or Classics in place of courses from part 2.

(1) Courses in Classics (choose at least four):
Courses in English Translation:
Clas 105 Special Topics in Classics (may be repeated as topics change)
Clas 107 Greek and Roman Mythology
Clas 113 Greek and Roman Drama
Clas 127 Classical Influence on Western Civilization
Clas 170 Issues of Gender in Classical Antiquity
Grk 103-104 Major Greek Authors (Advanced Greek)
Ltn 103-104 Major Latin Authors (Advanced Latin)
Clas 185-186 Directed Project (1-3 credits)

(2) Courses in related departments (up to 4)
Anthropology 116 Mediterranean Field Program
Anthropology 168 Language and Linguistic Analysis (may be taken as Linguistics 101)
Anthropology 188 Art and Archaeology of Israel and Neighboring Lands7 (may be taken as Art 106)
Art 101 Greek Art and Archaeology
Art 102 Roman Art and Archaeology
Art 103 Art and Archeology of Egypt and the Near East
Art 104 Art and Archeology of the Aegean Bronze Age
Art 111 Early Christian and Byzantine Art and Architecture
Classics 117/History 107 The Ancient Near East and Egypt to 322 BC
Classics 118/History 108 History of Ancient Israel
English 113 Medieval Literature
History 111 Medieval History
Philosophy 111 History of Ancient Philosophy
Political Science 105 Political Theory: Major Issues of Western Political Thought I (Plato to Aquinas)
Religion 143 Christianity and the Ancient World

CLASSICS MINOR REQUIREMENTS

The minor in Classical Studies consists of 23 semester hours (seven courses) distributed among courses offered in Classics, in Art and in History:

A. Eight credits (two courses) selected from Beginning Latin (Latin 001 and 002) or Beginning Classical Greek (Greek 001 and 002). The Latin placement exam is available electronically from the Language Center (language@gwu.edu); see the Classics Coordinator for placement in Greek.

B. Fifteen credits (five courses)
Latin 003 Intermediate Latin
Latin 004 Vergil’s Aeneid
Greek 003 Intermediate Classical Greek I
Greek 004 Intermediate Classical Greek II
Latin 103 and 104 Major Latin Authors (may be repeated; authors vary each semester)*
Greek 103 and 104 Major Greek Authors (may be repeated; authors vary each semester)*
Classics 71 Greek Literature and Civilization
Classics 72 Roman Literature and Civilization
Classics 105 Special Topics (may be repeated as appropriate)
Classics 107 Greek and Roman Mythology
Classics 113 Greek and Roman Drama
Classics 117 The Ancient Near East and Egypt to 322 BC (may be taken as Hist 107)
Classics 118 History of Ancient Israel (may be taken as Hist. 108)
Classics 119 Early Aegean and Greek Civilizations to 338 BC (may be taken as Hist. 109)
Classics 120 The Roman World to 337 AD (may be taken as Hist. 110)
Classics 127 Classical Influence on Western Civilization
Classics 170 Issues of Gender in Classical Antiquity
Classics 185 and 186 Directed Project (1-3 credits)
Art 101 Ancient Art of the Bronze Age and Greece
Art 102 Ancient Art of the Roman Empire

Note: Humanities 1 or Honors 15 may be taken in place of either Classics 71 or 72, subject to Department
approval.