Classical Studies Major

Major Requirements

The major in Classical Studies requires 9 courses, distributed as follows:

1. Core Courses (3 courses)

One course from at least 3 of the following departments, taken at CMC:

Government
History
Literature
Philosophy
Religious Studies

2. Language Study (2 courses)

2 courses in a single classical language

Students with prior instruction in a classical language may place into a higher level course. Partial credit courses may be repeated for full credit with approval of the Program Chair.

Students who wish to be considered for admittance in the Phi Beta Kappa honor society may need to take additional language courses.

3. Electives (3 courses)

Electives may be chosen from classics-related offerings available throughout The Claremont Colleges, including additional language courses beyond those needed to satisfy the language requirement of the major. Electives must have the approval of a faculty member in the classical studies program.

4. Senior Seminar (1 course)

CLAS 190 CM - Senior Seminar

Senior Thesis

The senior thesis is a general education requirement and the capstone experience of a student’s undergraduate education. Students must complete a senior thesis in at least one of their majors under supervision of a faculty reader who teaches within that major, unless granted a special exception.

Students interested in a 2-semester thesis project complete a one-half (0.5) credit or full (1.0) credit thesis research course in the first semester and the senior thesis in the second semester. The senior thesis and the thesis research course may not be counted as courses in the major.

Special Option for Majors

Dual Major

The dual major in Classical Studies is designed for students who wish to enhance a course of study in another major with knowledge of the classical tradition.

The dual major in Classical Studies requires 7 courses, distributed as follows:

1. Core Courses (3 courses)

One course from at least 3 of the following departments, taken at CMC:

Government
History
Literature
Philosophy
Religious Studies

2. Electives (4 courses)

Up to 2 courses in classical languages can be used toward this requirement.

Students writing a thesis in classical studies are strongly encouraged to enroll in CLAS 190 CM , which would count as one of the electives.

Honors in Classical Studies

Students who wish to be considered for honors in classical studies must:

Have a B+ (10.0) average in all classical studies courses, and
Complete a 2-semester thesis with a final grade of B+ (10.0) or higher, with a CMC faculty member as the first or second reader.

Students with a dual major including classical studies who wish to be considered for honors in classical studies are eligible if they:

Have completed all requirements for a full major in classical studies and are granted honors, or
Qualify and receive honors in both disciplines of their dual major. See Academic Honors at Graduation for details.

Study Abroad

All classical studies majors are strongly encouraged to study abroad for a semester or a year in a country related to their major. Normally 2 courses taken during a semester abroad may be counted towards the major.

Additionally, CMC maintains an institutional membership with the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies, which allows students to further their study of ancient history, archaeology, Greek and Latin literature, Italian language, and ancient art, while living in residence at Rome. The ICCS has provided students with opportunities to study abroad in Rome since 1965. Contact the Office of Off-Campus Study for more information.

General Education Requirements for Classical Studies Majors

Students with interdisciplinary majors requiring courses in the humanities and/or social sciences are required to take designated courses in 6 different fields of the humanities and social sciences for the general education requirements.

Classical Studies majors usually take courses in at least 3 of the 4 fields of the social sciences (economics, government, history, and psychology), and in 2 or 3 of the 4 fields of the humanities (literature, philosophy, religious studies, and literature in a foreign language) for a total of 6 courses. Classical Studies majors with a dual or double major in a second field of the humanities or social sciences will usually be required to take an additional course. For further information, see General Education Requirements .

Classical Studies majors may use the 3^rdcollege-level course in a classical language for the general education requirement in foreign language. For information on the foreign literature requirement, see General Education Requirements .

Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes of the Classical Studies Program

Learning Goals

The main goals of the Classical Studies major are:

To provide students with a basic knowledge of Classical civilizations within the Mediterranean context.
To provide students with knowledge of achievements of classical civilization both for their own value and for their importance as roots of modern civilization.
To provide students with an interdisciplinary understanding of classical civilizations.

Student Learning Outcomes

The student learning outcomes of the Classical Studies program are:

Students will demonstrate language proficiency at the intermediate level.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of historical/cultural contexts including the ability to reproduce in broad outline the main periods of classical history, along with significant events from each period.
Students will demonstrate the ability to carry out a research project based on close study of classical and other materials that utilizes research methods and resources in the field.