Classics

Bachelor of Arts, World and Classical Languages and Cultures

A mural depicting St. Gregory the Great

Why Classics?

Students who major in classics study the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome in a way that combines literature, history, art, archaeology, religion, and philosophy.

“We can’t overestimate the value of a Classics major,” The Princeton Review said. “According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, students who major or double-major in Classics have a better success rate getting into medical school than do students who concentrate solely in biology, microbiology, and other branches of science. … Furthermore, according to Harvard Magazine, Classics majors (and math majors) have the highest success rates of any majors in law school. …. Classics majors also consistently have some of the highest scores on GREs of all undergraduates,” according to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

What skills does a classics major provide?

Classics majors end up in a variety of positions, due to the skills their discipline provides.

Assessing and finding information
Applying theoretical approaches to problems
Avoiding simplistic conclusions
Perceiving patterns and structures
Reading critically
Thinking independently
Language skills including writing
Conveying complex information

There are two more areas of concentration for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Classics: the Latin and Greek concentration; and the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew Concentration. The Suggested Sequence of Courses for these concentrations can be found on pages 102–103 of the Catalog.

Freshman Year

ENGL-1000	English Composition	3
LATIN-1000	Latin I	4
THEO-1100	Introduction to Theology	3
GNST-1750	Great Books: Ancient World	3
–	One Foundations Course	3-4
GNST-1000	Benedictine Experience	1
	Total	17-18

PHIL-1750	Principles of Nature	3
LATIN-1020	Latin II	4
EXSC-1115	Wellness for Life	1
EXSC	Fitness Course	1
–	Two Foundations Courses	6-7
–	Elective or Foundation	3
	Total	18-19

Student should select courses from the following Foundations during the freshman and sophomore years:

Historical Inquiry (1 course)
Natural World (1 course with or without lab)
Person and Community (1 course; recommended freshman year)
Faith (1 course; recommended sophomore or junior year)
Mathematical Reasoning (1 course)

Sophomore Year

LATN-3110 or LATN-3120	Latin Prose I or II	3
GREK-1000	Greek or Natural World Foundation	3-4
–	Philosophical Inquiry Foundation	3
–	Electives or Foundation	6
	Total	15-16

LATN-4110 or LATN-4120	Latin Poetrs I or II	3
GREK-1020	Greek or Elective	3-4
–	Faith Foundation	3
–	Electives or Foundation	6
	Total	15-16

Junior Year

LATN-3110 or LATN-3120	Lation Prose I or II	3
GREK-1000	Greek or Natural World Foundation	3-4
-	Philosophical Inquiry Foundation	3
-	Electives or Foundation	6
	Total	15-16

LATN-4110 or LATN-4120	Lation Poets I or II	3
GREK-1020	Greek or Elective	3-4
–	Faith Foundation	3
–	Electives or Foundation	6
	Total	15-16

Senior Year

LATN-4590	Directed Readings I	3
–	Mathematical Reasoning Course	3
–	Electives	12
	Total	18

LATN-4600	Directed Readings II	3
CLSC-COMP	Senior Comprehensive	cr
–	Electives	15
	Total	18

* Latin Prose and Latin Poets are offered in a rotation and can be taken in either order, one is not a prerequisite of the other. Also, GREK-1000 and GREK-1020 are offered every other year, which explains why the suggested sequences for Sophomore and Junior years are similar.