Major
There are two tracks within the Classical Studies Major: Classical Language and Classical Cultures. The former emphasizes study of the ancient world through Latin and Greek while the latter foregrounds the interdisciplinarity of Classical Studies, drawing on the study of ancient literature, art, performance, science, and more.
The tracks are designed to help you decide what you want to focus on in your studies - but not to cut you off from courses that might interest you! Students in the Cultures track will have the opportunity to take ancient language courses, while students in the Language track will have the opportunity - and indeed the responsibility - to take non-language courses.
An important note: if you think you may be interested in pursuing graduate study in Classical Studies or Ancient History: these programs usually require at least three years of Greek and Latin. Talk to your advisor as soon as possible if graduate school in these fields might be of interest to you.
Classical Cultures
The Cultures track requires 30 credits (usually ten courses), under three headings:
Six credits (two courses) from the following list of foundational courses: Greek History, Greek Civilization, Roman History, City of Rome, Classical Mythology.
Nine credits (three courses) in the area of ancient civilization and culture (readings in English) at the advanced (4000) level.
Fifteen credits (five courses) consisting of any course the department offers or any of the approved electives from other departments.
All seniors must participate in the Senior Colloquium
Is this track for you?
The Cultures track is designed for students who are seeking a broad classical education and who do not intend to pursue graduate study in Classics. This track allows students to pursue studies in history, art, religion, and literature while building out a comprehensive knowledge of the ancient Mediterranean world. By studying ancient approaches to enduring human problems, students will apply the knowledge and skills that they acquire in this track to contemporary challenges.
Trajectory through the track:
Ideally, students will begin their studies at Boston College by taking the foundational courses. Having acquired foundational knowledge, in consultation with their advisor students will then design a curricular path that allows them to pursue thematic clusters tailored to their interests within the discipline. (See below for examples of specializations and the paths one might take to get there.)
The Classical Cultures track focuses especially on courses taught in English, but strongly encourages students to include ancient language study among their electives. If you are interested in doing so, consult the director of undergraduate studies for placement and advice. Please note, any student considering graduate study in Classics will need proficiency in Greek and Latin.
Senior Colloquium
In April of senior year, all majors will participate in a Senior Colloquium, a roundtable discussion with students and faculty responding to samples of student coursework and addressing the question: "How has majoring in Classical Studies shaped your understanding of the world and your place in it?"
In preparation for this colloquium, each student will submit to the faculty a sample of prior coursework (or, if applicable, a senior research paper) that the student believes is representative of their work in the major, along with a 100-word abstract summarizing that work to be made publicly available. During the colloquium, students will give short presentations on how their work helps them answer the question, and engage in a Q&A with each other in response to those presentations. Participation is required of all seniors.
Sample Thematic Clusters:
Religion: Roman Religion, Death and Afterward in Ancient Greece*, Wisdom Literature, Art and Myth
Women’s and Gender Studies: Roman Law and Family, Dangerous Women in Classical Literature, Classics and the History of Sexuality, Ancient Medicine
Ancient and Modern Identities: Greeks and Barbarians, Multiculturalism in the Roman Empire, Classics and the History of Sexuality, Greco-Roman Egypt
Literature: Homer and Troy, Dangerous Women, Beast Literature, Chorus Ancient and Modern
History: Culture of Athenian Democracy, Greco-Roman Egypt, Greeks and Barbarians, Multiculturalism in the Roman Empire, Roman Spectacles, Roman Law & Family
Material Culture: Art and Myth in Ancient Greece, City of Rome, Roman Spectacles, Greco-Roman Egypt, Culture of Athenian Democracy, Homer & Troy
Students would also be encouraged to take relevant courses in other departments, such as:
Art History (Greek Art and Archaeology, Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt)
History (Roman Outside Europe, Romans and Barbarians, Science Before the Scientific Revolution)
Philosophy (Political Thought of the Greeks, Greek Philosophy, The Greeks and Their Gods)
Political Science (Introduction to Classical Political Philosophy, The Trial of Socrates, Aristophanes)
Theology (The Historical Jesus, The Dead Sea Scrolls)
Course Availability
At least three foundational courses are taught every year. At least ten electives per year are offered. Language courses at all levels are offered every year; sequences begin in the fall. The advanced cultures courses (4000-level) are restricted to 20 students and require one of the foundational courses or permission of the instructor to register.
Classical Language
The Language track requires 30 credits (usually ten courses), under three headings:
Six credits (two courses) from the following list of foundational courses: Greek History, Greek Civilization, Roman History, City of Rome, Classical Mythology.
Nine credits (three courses) in Latin or Greek at the advanced (3000) level.
Fifteen credits (five courses) consisting of any course the department offers or any of the approved electives from other departments. All seniors must participate in the Senior Colloquium
Is this track for you?
The Language track is designed for students who want to emphasize working with texts in the original languages within a broader exploration of the Ancient Mediterranean world. If you want to make Greek and Latin central to your studies and/or iIf you are interested in pursuing graduate study in Classics, this track is for you. This track allows students to pursue studies in history, art, religion, and literature, through the lens of close reading and analysis of ancient texts while building out a comprehensive knowledge of the ancient Mediterranean world. By studying ancient approaches to enduring human problems, students will apply the knowledge and skills that they acquire in this track to contemporary challenges.
Trajectory through the track:
Ideally, students will begin their studies at Boston College by taking the foundational courses and establishing their language skills. Having acquired foundational knowledge, in consultation with their advisor students will then design a curricular path that allows them to pursue thematic clusters tailored to their interests within the discipline. (See below for examples of specializations and the paths one might take to get there.)
The Language track allows students to combine ancient language study with courses in translation, developing multifaceted approaches to the ancient world and crafting a path through the major in conversation with their own particular interests.
Senior Colloquium
In April of senior year, all majors will participate in a Senior Colloquium, a roundtable discussion with students and faculty responding to samples of student coursework and addressing the question: "How has majoring in Classical Studies shaped your understanding of the world and your place in it?"
In preparation for this colloquium, each student will submit to the faculty a sample of prior coursework (or, if applicable, a senior research paper) that the student believes is representative of their work in the major, along with a 100-word abstract summarizing that work to be made publicly available. During the colloquium, students will give short presentations on how their work helps them answer the question, and engage in a Q&A with each other in response to those presentations. Participation is required of all seniors.
Sample Thematic Clusters:
Religion: Roman Religion, Death and Afterward in Ancient Greece*, Wisdom Literature, Art and Myth, Advanced Latin: Lucretius, Apuleius, Livy
Women’s and Gender Studies: Roman Law and Family, Dangerous Women in Classical Literature, Classics and the History of Sexuality, Ancient Medicine, Advanced Greek: Euripides’ Helen, Advanced Latin: Martial & Juvenal, Catullus
Ancient and Modern Identities: Greeks and Barbarians, Multiculturalism in the Roman Empire, Classics and the History of Sexuality, Greco-Roman Egypt, Advanced Greek: Herodotus, Advanced Latin: Seneca’s Medea
Literature: Homer and Troy, Dangerous Women, Beast Literature, Chorus Ancient and Modern, Advanced Latin: Vergil’s Aeneid, Catullus, Latin Pastoral Poetry, Apuleius, Satyricon.
History: Culture of Athenian Democracy, Greco-Roman Egypt, Greeks and Barbarians, Multiculturalism in the Roman Empire, Roman Spectacles, Advanced Latin: Roman Civil War Literature, Livy, Cicero/Sallust, Tacitus, Advanced Greek: Herodotus, Thucydides
Students would also be encouraged to take relevant courses in other departments, such as:
Art History (Greek Art and Archaeology, Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt)
History (Roman Outside Europe, Romans and Barbarians, Science Before the Scientific Revolution)
Philosophy (Political Thought of the Greeks, Greek Philosophy, The Greek and Their Gods)
Political Science (Introduction to Classical Political Philosophy, The Trial of Socrates, Aristophanes)
Theology (The Historical Jesus, The Dead Sea Scrolls)
Course Availability
At least three foundational courses are taught every year. At least ten electives per year are offered. Language courses at all levels are offered every year; sequences begin in the fall. Each semester two advanced (3000-level) Latin courses and one advanced Greek course are offered.