Department of Greek and Latin

Professor William E. Klingshirn, Margaret H. Gardiner Professor and Director of the Center for the Study of Early Christianity
Professor Emeritus Frank A. C. Mantello
Associate Professors Sarah Brown Ferrario, Chair; William J. McCarthy, Director of Graduate Studies
Assistant Professor Fabio Pagani, Director of Undergraduate Studies
Adjunct Assistant Professor Sr. Maria Kiely, O.S.B.
Research Associate
Msgr. Andrew R. Wadsworth, Ph.D.

Department of Greek and Latin Website

The Department of Greek and Latin explores ancient Greece and Rome within the context of the ancient Mediterranean. It offers courses in Greek and Latin language and literature and in Greek and Roman culture. Students are encouraged to pursue an interdisciplinary approach. In their effort to understand the ancient Greeks and Romans and their societies, specialists will wish to read and study what they wrote as they wrote it. But students who are interested in the broader reception of the ancient world are encouraged to take the many departmental courses that do not require any knowledge of either Greek or Latin. These non-language courses, listed under "Classics" (CLAS), use translations of writings and documents to study literature, mythology, history, arts, and culture.

The highly flexible major in Classical Studies (used by all students entering in Fall 2022 and later) provides excellent preparation for professional careers in many fields, but with appropriate choices of content it can also furnish a very strong background for graduate work in this discipline. Students of the Department of Greek and Latin value the habits of firm, critical judgment; precise and articulate expression; and intelligent, responsible reflection that derive from careful and dedicated study of the ancient sources and of their reception in the modern world. 

All majors in the Department of Greek and Latin are required to maintain a 2.5 GPA in all departmental courses and a 2.0 GPA in all other courses. Courses completed with a grade of D, F*, or F do not count towards the major and must be repeated.

Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies

The requirements for the major can be found at Classical Studies - Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

For all students entering in Fall 2022 and later, and for all continuing students who have opted for it, this major replaces the former programs in Classics, Classical Humanities, and Classical Civilization. It allows students broad flexibility to investigate the ancient world, with the option for focused language study.

 

Minor Programs

As of Fall 2022, for all new students, these minors replace previous similar programs.

Minor in Ancient Greek Language and Culture

The requirements for the minor can be found at Ancient Greek Language and Culture - Minor

Minor in Latin Language and Roman Culture

The requirements for the minor can be found at Latin Language and Roman Culture - Minor

Minor in Classical Studies

The requirements for the minor can be found at Classical Studies - Minor

 

Language Certificate Programs

Classical Studies majors seeking a more intensive language focus are eligible to earn an additional credential through the department’s Certificate program. A Certificate contains five advanced-level language courses, and may be earned in Greek, in Latin, or in Greek and Latin. Because only two courses can be double-counted between a Certificate and the undergraduate major, this option requires at least three additional courses beyond the 12-course minimum for the undergraduate degree.

Language Requirement Fulfillment

The language requirement for degrees in the School of Arts and Sciences may be fulfilled by satisfactorily completing the intermediate level (103-104) in Greek or Latin. Depending on placement, elementary-level language courses may be required to reach the intermediate level.

Elementary language courses for undergraduate students are numbered 101 and 102 and count as free electives only. The sole exception is that majors in Classical Studies may count GR 101 and GR 102 towards the major if they also complete their CUA language requirement in Latin ( = LAT 101 - LAT 102 - LAT103 - LAT104).

An Arts and Sciences prerequisite for advancement to the 102, 103, and 104 language courses is a minimum grade of C- (C minus) in the previous courses in the sequence.