Classics Major, B.A.–Greek, Latin, and Combined Greek and Latin

Classics Major, B.A.–Greek

The goal of the concentration in Greek is the development of a basic command of the language and a solid knowledge of the literature, history, and culture of the Greeks. Students interested in an undergraduate major in Greek or in a combined major in Greek and Latin should consult the department by the second semester of the sophomore year. For Greek as satisfying the language requirement for the B.A. degree, see the General Education section in this catalog.

Classics Major, B.A.–Latin

The goal of the concentration in Latin is the development of a basic command of the language and a solid knowledge of the literature, history, and culture of the Romans. Students interested in an undergraduate major in Latin or a combined major in Latin and Greek should consult the department by the second semester of the sophomore year. For Latin as satisfying the language requirement for the B.A. degree, see the General Education section in this catalog.

Classics Major, B.A.–Combined Greek and Latin

This is not a double major, but a concentration designed to develop facility in both ancient languages and in the literatures of both Greece and Rome. This program is recommended for students who have a strong interest in continuing classical languages at the graduate level. In this major students emphasize one language yet acquire facility in the other.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Greek, Latin, and combined programs, students should be able to:

  • Translate into idiomatic English passages in prose and poetry in the target languages
  • Analyze and evaluate the works of Greek and Latin authors, both in writing and orally. If appropriate given the nature of the material, they will be able to place the passages within their historical or literary contexts, and they will demonstrate an ability to employ earlier scholarship as well as current methodological and theoretical approaches.
  • Conduct independent research projects. Their work will demonstrate an ability to employ scholarly conventions and current methodologies.

Requirements

In addition to the program requirements, students must

  • earn a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000
  • complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
  • take at least half of their major core requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
  • earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for major or specific courses.

For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.

Classics Major, B.A.–Greek

Core Requirements
CLAS 391IDEAs in Action General Education logo Junior Seminar3
GREK 204Intermediate Greek II3
or GREK 205 Introductory Greek New Testament
Five additional courses in Greek above GREK 205 115
HIST 225 or a course numbered 400 or above in Greek history3
Additional Requirements
Elementary Classical Greek I 2
Elementary Classical Greek II 2
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Intermediate Greek I 2
Total Hours24
1

CLAS 691H or CLAS 692H may on petition to the department count towards this requirement

2

The first three levels of GREK can count toward the General Education Foundations requirement and have not been included as additional hours for the major.

Greek (GREK) course descriptions.

Classics Major, B.A.–Latin

CLAS 391IDEAs in Action General Education logo Junior Seminar3
HIST 226 or a course numbered 400 or above in Roman history3
LATN 204Intermediate Latin II3
or LATN 205 Medieval Latin
Six additional courses in Latin above LATN 205 118
Additional Requirements
Elementary Latin I 2
Elementary Latin II 2
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Intermediate Latin I 2
Total Hours27
1

CLAS 691H or CLAS 692H may on petition to the department count towards this requirement

2

The first three levels of LATN can count toward the General Education Foundations requirement and have not been included as additional hours for the major.

Latin (LATN) course descriptions.

Classics Major, B.A.–Combined Greek and Latin

Core Requirements
Choose one emphasis 130
Greek Emphasis
Five Greek courses above GREK 205
Three Latin courses above LATN 205
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Junior Seminar
IDEAs in Action General Education logo History of Greece
History of Rome
Latin Emphasis
Five Latin courses above LATN 205
Three Greek courses above GREK 205
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Junior Seminar
IDEAs in Action General Education logo History of Greece
History of Rome
Additional Requirements 217
Elementary Classical Greek I
Elementary Classical Greek II
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Intermediate Greek I
Intermediate Greek II
Introductory Greek New Testament
Elementary Latin I
Elementary Latin II
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Intermediate Latin I
Intermediate Latin II
Medieval Latin
Total Hours47
1

CLAS 691H or 692H may on petition to the department substitute for one course above 205 in either the Greek emphasis or the Latin emphasis.

2

The first three levels of GREK or LATN can count toward the General Education Foundations requirement and have not been included as additional hours for the major. The 14 hours of the second language are included in the additional hours for the major.

Greek (GREK) and Latin (LATN) course descriptions

Special Opportunities in Classics

Honors in Classics

Classics majors wishing to take part in the departmental honors program during their senior year must have a grade point average of at least 3.3 at the beginning of their senior year and maintain an average no lower than this through their final semester in order to be eligible for honors consideration.

The program consists of two courses, CLAS 691H and CLAS 692H, taken sequentially in the fall and spring semesters. CLAS 691H involves a directed reading in Greek, Latin, or archaeology in a general area of the student’s interest and is conducted under the supervision of a faculty member chosen by the student to serve as the honors advisor. Requirements of the course include the preparation of a thesis prospectus with accompanying bibliography and a preliminary oral examination by the student’s thesis committee. A grade for CLAS 691H is assigned on the basis of the total semester’s work. CLAS 692H entails the writing of the thesis under the direction of the honors advisor and a final oral defense before the candidate’s committee. This body, in turn, reports its judgment to the department. If a degree with honors is to be awarded, a recommendation for either honors or, for particular merit, highest honors is made.

Additional Opportunities

The Department of Classics supports a number of activities, including informal reading groups; the local chapter of Eta Sigma Phi, the national undergraduate classics honorary society; and annual oral performances and prize competitions in reciting and translating Greek and Latin texts. Several of the prize competitions involve substantial cash awards. Opportunities for undergraduate research include especially the senior honors thesis and participation in archaeological fieldwork as research assistants. The department encourages majors and minors to take part in summer archaeological field projects. Other opportunities for study abroad include the programs of the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome and the College Year in Athens, and the exchange with King’s College London. A number of departmental fellowships and other funding opportunities can help support participation in archaeological field projects and other research projects. Lastly, the Duke–UNC Consortium for Classical and Mediterranean Archaeology provides archaeology students access to coursework, seminars, excavations and other research opportunities, academic advising, and avenues for curricular and extracurricular interaction across both institutions. For further information about prizes, fellowships, and opportunities for research and study abroad, see the departmental website.

Department of Classics

Visit Program Website

212 Murphey Hall, CB# 3145

(919) 962-7191

Chair

Donald C. Haggis

dchaggis@email.unc.edu

Director of Undergraduate Studies

Al Duncan

acduncan@email.unc.edu

Director of Archaeology Program

Jennifer Gates-Foster

gatesfos@email.unc.edu