Classical Languages Major (B.A.)

Major code BA5217

College of Arts and Sciences
Classics and Religious Studies Department
Ellis 201B
Phone: 740.597.2100
classics@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/cas/classics

Brian Collins, contact person
collinb1@ohio.edu

Program Overview

Classical languages majors learn about the ancient Mediterranean world from the Greek and Latin languages and literature and so understand its diversity at the most basic level. Classical languages majors study Greek or Latin through the 4000-level, and complete courses in classical civilization and archaeology. By the second year, students are ready to read ancient authors in the original languages. The aim is to gain proficiency in the chosen language, and familiarity with ancient authors and texts, genres and scholarship. The analytical skills and vocabulary recognition involved in learning these languages can be applied to other languages and subjects. Language majors who become proficient in Greek frequently pursue coursework in Latin and vice versa. Students in philosophy, English, history, and physics have also majored in classical languages. Classical languages majors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher can complete a departmental honors thesis in one or two terms for 3-6 credit hours in addition to the regular requirements for the major. Preapproved application and interview required for departmental honors thesis.

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admissions

No requirement beyond University admission requirements.

Change of Program Policy

No selective or limited admission requirements.

External Transfer Admission

No requirement beyond University admission requirements.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

The skills of recognition and critical thinking acquired from studying classical languages and cultures prepare our students for graduate programs in Greek and Latin philology, archaeology, history, philosophy, theology, linguistics, and education. Outside academia, the classical languages major provides the tools to analyze language, write more precisely in English, and apply skills in research, analysis and critical thinking, and familiarity with humanities to many jobs. Possible employers include, but are not limited to, museums, historical societies, institutions of higher education, the local and state government, libraries, business corporations in various settings, etc. Our graduates have also gone on to law school, business school, high school teaching, college teaching and post-doctorate positions, and teaching English as a foreign language.

Students can also browse through dozens of internship opportunities and full-time job postings for Ohio University students and alumni on Handshake, OHIO’s key resource for researching jobs, employers, and workshops and events for professional development.

Requirements

University-wide Graduation Requirements

Ohio University requires the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. This program can be completed within that 120-hour requirement. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other university-wide requirements, please review the Graduation Requirements – University-wide page.

Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirement

View the College and Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirements .

A&S Language Requirement - B.A.

Complete either the Greek or Latin two-year language sequence.

Greek Two-Year Sequence

Complete the following courses:

GK 1110 - Beginning Greek I Credit Hours: 4
GK 1120 - Beginning Greek II Credit Hours: 4
GK 2110 - Intermediate Greek I Credit Hours: 3
GK 2120 - Intermediate Greek II Credit Hours: 3

Latin Two-Year Sequence

Complete the following courses:

LAT 1110 - Beginning Latin I Credit Hours: 4
LAT 1120 - Beginning Latin II Credit Hours: 4
LAT 2110 - Intermediate Latin I Credit Hours: 3
LAT 2120 - Intermediate Latin II Credit Hours: 3

Classical Languages Major Requirements

Complete 30 credit hours of classics and religious studies coursework, including all the requirements below.

Upper Level Language Courses

Complete 12 hours in the Greek or Latin sequence at the 3000- or 4000-level.

Departmental Electives

Complete 15 credit hours, including 6 credit hours from the Class I Electives and 6 credit hours from the Class II Electives. The remaining 3 credit hours can come from any CARS course, JS course, or any approved affiliate course which is not being used to meet another requirement within the major.

Class I Electives

Complete two of the following courses. Courses used to fulfill the Class I Electives requirement cannot be used to fulfill other requirements within the major.

CARS 2000 - The Wonders of the Ancient Mediterranean Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2010 - Greek Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2020 - Roman Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2030 - Archaeology of the Ancient Near East Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2040 - Archaeology of Ancient Egypt Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2050 - Archaeology and the Bible Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2100 - Classical Athens Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2110 - Rome Under the Caesars Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2130 - Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic World Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2140 - Human Aspirations Among the Greeks and Romans Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2180 - Ancient Near Eastern Art and Architecture Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2310 - Classical Mythology Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2400 - Introduction to the Study of Religion Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2440 - Paganism, Judaism, and Christianity in the Roman Empire Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2520 - What is Evil? Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3000 - The Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament, Jewish Tanakh) Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3010 - New Testament Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3400 - Greek and Roman Religions and Society Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3420 - Women in the Ancient Mediterranean Credit Hours: 3
GK 1110 - Beginning Greek I Credit Hours: 4
GK 1120 - Beginning Greek II Credit Hours: 4
GK 2110 - Intermediate Greek I Credit Hours: 3
GK 2120 - Intermediate Greek II Credit Hours: 3
LAT 1110 - Beginning Latin I Credit Hours: 4
LAT 1120 - Beginning Latin II Credit Hours: 4
LAT 2110 - Intermediate Latin I Credit Hours: 3
LAT 2120 - Intermediate Latin II Credit Hours: 3

Class II Electives

Complete two of the following courses. Courses used to fulfill the Class II Electives requirement cannot be used to fulfill other requirements within the major.

CARS 2120 - Ancient Jerusalem: From Solomon to Suleiman Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2150 - Democracy and Republicanism in the Ancient World Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2170 - Food, Drink and Identity in the Ancient World Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2300 - Heroes in Classical Literature Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2600 - Hinduism Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2610 - Buddhism Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2700 - Comparative Slavery: Ancient and Atlantic Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3020 - Introduction to Islam Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3130 - Indian Epic: Mahabharata and Ramayana Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3410 - Technology in Greek and Roman Society Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3430 - Roman Social History Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3440 - Love in Antiquity Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3450 - Wisdom in Antiquity Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3460 - Ethnicity in the Ancient World Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3470 - Sex and the Bible Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3480 - War and Ethics in Ancient Mediterranean Society Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3500 - Greek Cities and Sanctuaries Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3510 - Aegean Bronze Age Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3520 - On-Site Survey of Greek History Credit Hours: 3
GK 3110 - Archaic Greek Poetry Credit Hours: 3
GK 3120 - Greek Drama Credit Hours: 3
GK 3130 - Greek Sophists and Philosophers Credit Hours: 3
GK 3140 - Greek Historians Credit Hours: 3
GK 3160 - The Greek New Testament and the Milieu of Early Christianity Credit Hours: 3
GK 4900 - Special Topics in Greek Literature Credit Hours: 3
GK 4930 - Independent Study in Greek Credit Hours: 1 - 3
JS 1000 - Introduction to Jewish Studies Credit Hours: 3
LAT 3110 - Latin Prose and Poetry I Credit Hours: 3
LAT 3120 - Latin Prose and Poetry II Credit Hours: 3
LAT 4110 - Advanced Latin Literature I Credit Hours: 3
LAT 4120 - Advanced Latin Literature II Credit Hours: 3
LAT 4900 - Special Topics in Latin Literature Credit Hours: 3
LAT 4930 - Independent Study in Latin Credit Hours: 1 - 3

Approved Affiliate Courses

AH 3200 - Greek Art Credit Hours: 3
AH 3210 - Roman Art Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 2020 - Introduction to World Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3290 - Ancient Near East: Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Levant Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3291 - Ancient Greece Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3292 - Ancient Rome Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3293 - World of Late Antiquity: Culture and Society in the Late Roman Empire Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3520 - Roman Law & Society Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3531 - Vikings - Saxons - Franks: Western Europe, 476-1066 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3540 - History of Early Christianity Credit Hours: 3
HIST 4536 - Eternal Rome: Piety and Power Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 2100 - History of Western Philosophy: Ancient Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 4180 - Plato Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 4190 - Aristotle Credit Hours: 3

Capstone in Classics and Religious Studies

Complete the following course or any other 4000-level CARS course designated as a capstone. Students can also meet this requirement with 3 hours of CARS 4900 or CARS 4930 .

CARS 4000 - Magic, Sorcery, and Witchcraft in Classical Civilizations and the World’s Religions Credit Hours: 3

Senior Honors Thesis

Students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher will have the option of researching and writing a senior honors thesis.