The Department offers the following minors related to Classics and Classical Languages:
Classics
The minor in Classics is primarily an area studies minor complemented by optional language study in ancient or modern Greek or Latin. Students develop critical thinking skills and work toward a broad understanding of the Greek and Roman world in their ancient Mediterranean contexts.
To complete the 18-Unit minor, select from the following courses:
Virtually any GRK, LAT, or CLAS course offered by the department other than courses offered for Tier 1 General Education credit may be applied to the minor in Classics. The minor may not use 1XX-level study in the language used to satisfy the University foundations language requirement. The University also requires that at least 9 units of the minor be taken at the 300-level or above.
We recommend that students minoring in Classics take one upper-division writing emphasis course in the Classics department.
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is a foreign language minor focusing on helping students achieve intermediate reading proficiency. The Greek minor provides a solid linguistic background for further study of the Greek language; it supports literary research in the fields of Comparative Literature, and English, as well as in the areas of Byzantine studies.
Career Orientations
The enhancement of language skills entailed in this minor will be valuable for students of linguistics, or for careers in journalism, language teaching (no matter what the target language), medicine and the law. The extensive study of Greek greats will extend students' horizons beyond their own temporal and cultural milieu to experiences that the western world has deemed intrinsically valuable. The Greek minor is also preparatory to a vocation in the ministry or similar callings. See our "Why Study Classics" page!
To complete the 19-unit minor, students must complete the following:
- At least 8 units of Elementary Classical Greek (GRK 101/102 or 112)
- At least 8 units of Intermediate Classical Greek (GRK 201/202)
- At least one additional 3-unit GRK or CLAS course at the 3xx or 4xx level with substantial ancient Greek studies content. (Courses with substantial ancient Greek studies content with prefixes other than GRK or CLAS can be substituted, with the approval of a faculty advisor.)
- Students majoring in Classics can minor in Ancient Greek.
- Students with an Ancient Greek minor can fulfill the language requirement for the Classics major by completing the requirements for the minor. Students would still need to complete at least 32 units for the Classics major.
- A Classics major with an Ancient Greek minor is allowed to double-count one 3-unit course.
NOTE: Students who enrolled at the University prior to Fall 2019 may choose either the current version of the minor (above) or the legacy version (below:)
- At least 8 units of Intermediate Classical Greek (GRK 201/202 or 212)
- 9 units of Greek at the Advanced level (GRK 400 or above)
- any 3 additional units of GRK (NB: 100-level study in Greek may not be used for this requirement)
Latin
Latin is a foreign language minor focusing on reading courses at the 4xx level. The Latin minor provides a solid linguistic background for further study of the Latin language; it supports literary research in the fields of Comparative Literature, English, and Modern European Languages, as well as in the areas of Late Antique, Early European, Medieval, and Renaissance studies.
Career Orientations
The Latin minor, in addition to its unique preparation for graduate studies or law school, prepares students for careers in business, journalism, museum work, and teaching by developing writing and analytical language skills. Students will be able to complement the practical and linguistic skills with literature and art courses that emphasize timeless human experiences and achievements. See our "Why Study Classics" page!
To complete the 20-unit minor, students must complete the following:
- At least 8 units of intermediate Latin (LAT 201/202 or 212)
- 9 units of Latin at the advanced level (LAT 400 or above), including LAT 400
- any 3 additional units of LAT (NB: 100-level study in Latin may not be used for this requirement)
- Students majoring in Classics can minor in Latin.
- Students with a Latin minor can fulfill the language requirement for the Classics major by completing the requirements for the minor. Students would still need to complete at least 32 units for the Classics major.
- A Classics major with a Latin minor is allowed to double-count one 3-unit course.
New Testament Language and Literature
The minor in New Testament Language and Literature provides students with a multidisciplinary study of New Testament texts in their historical contexts. Students learn to read the New Testament in the original language of Ancient Greek. In addition to language study, students in this minor explore the dynamic relationship among ancient religions in the Greco-Roman World and between the New Testament texts and some of the subsequent interpretations of those texts.
To complete this 19-unit minor, students must complete the following required courses and electives. At least 9 of these units must be at the 300 level or higher.
Part 1: Required Coursework (7 units)
- GRK 201 Intermediate Classical Greek 1 (4 units)
- CLAS/RELI 401A Early Christian Literature: Greek Texts
This course will include readings in the original Greek for students in the minor who have completed GRK 201. Students can enroll in GRK 201 and CLAS/RELI 401A simultaneously.
Part 2: One of the following two courses in Religious Studies & Classics (3 units) If students enroll in both courses listed here, the second one can count toward the minor as an elective.
- RELI 280 Introduction to the New Testament
- CLAS/RELI 306 The Transformation of Society: Christianity in the Greco-Roman World
Part 3: Any three of the following elective courses (9-10 units) Students must have enough upper-division elective units to fulfill the minor's requirement of 9 upper-division units.
- GRK 202 Selections from classical Greek poetry (4 units)
- CLAS 210 Ancient Greek Magic
- ENG/RELI 220B Literature of the Bible
- PHIL/CLAS 260 Ancient Philosophy
- RELI 300 Christian Literature and Thought
- CLAS/RELI 305 Greek and Roman Religion
- RELI 309 Epistles of Paul
- CLAS 323 Ancient Empires
- CLAS 326 Greek Mythology
- RELI/GWS 327 Women and Christianity
- JUS/RELI 329 Jewish-Christian Relations
- CLAS 335 The Roman Empire: Rulers and Ruled
- CLAS/RELI 348 Myth & Archetype
- JUS/RELI 372B History & Religion of Israel in Ancient Times: Ezra-Nehemiah to the Roman Empire
- JUS/RELI 382B Jesus, Judaism and Archaeology
- CLAS/RELI 401B Early Christian Literature: Latin Texts
- HIST/CLAS 403B History of the Hellenistic World
- HIST/CLAS 404B History of Rome: The Empire through the Reign of Constantine the Great
- JUS 405 Classical Aramaic
- PHIL/CLAS 470 Greek Philosophy
- RELI/JUS 481 Jews in the Roman Empire
- Students majoring in Classics can minor in NTLL.
- Students with a NTLL minor can fulfill the language requirement for the Classics major by completing GRK 201-202 for the minor (GRK 201 is required for the minor and GRK 202 is an elective for the minor).
- A Classics major with a NTLL minor is allowed to double-count one 3-unit course.
The School of International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (SILLC) also offers a Minor in Intercultural Studies to which Classics courses can apply!
Contact an advisor to learn more about Classics or declare a major or minor today!