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Minors & Certificates

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Minor Tracks

The Classics Department will offer a minor beginning with the Class of 2025.

A Classics minor offers students significant and coherent exposure to an area within the field of Classics, which studies the cultures, languages, history, politics, and intellectual traditions of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, their contacts with other civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean, resonances in later ages, and continued vitality today. Students will follow a flexible pathway that allows them to learn about a particular aspect of the ancient world and the methods that are used to investigate it, as well as evaluate our knowledge and its contemporary uses.

Students pursuing a minor in Classics choose one of two pathways, as outlined below. These pathways can combine courses taught in the original language and in translation. Each pathway requires the completion of five courses, four of which must be CLA, CLG 108 or above, or LAT 108 or above. The fifth can be a relevant course offered in another department approved by the DUS. In addition, a short (ca. 500 words) reflection paper on how the courses add up to a coherent perspective on the ancient world and its reception is required in the student’s final semester.

Further details follow below. For additional information, please visit our Minor FAQ page.


Admission to the Program

Students can declare any time starting in the spring of sophomore year after declaring a major, but no later than March of junior year to ensure appropriate advising and completion of requirements. Only two minors or certificates are allowed.  You may contact your residential college dean to discussing replacing one or to petition for a third minor or certificate.  Click here to apply for the minor.


Pathway 1: Classical Studies with a Focal Point

At least one of the four classes taken in the department must be CLA 203 (What is a Classics) OR CLA 212 (Classical Mythology). It is also possible to use HUM 216–217 in lieu of this one course requirement. Students will designate a focal point for their minor in consultation with the DUS. Focal points represent coherent areas of student interest within the field. They include, but are not limited to:

  • Greek Language, Literature, and Culture
  • Latin Language, Literature and Roman Culture
  • Classics and Reception
  • Medicine, Science, and the Body

Pathway 2: Ancient History and Material Culture

At least two of the four courses taken in the department must include history survey courses (CLA 216, 217, 218, 219).


Certificate Program

The Certificates will continue to be available for the Class of 2024 and 2025.

Students pursuing a concentration other than Classics may still demonstrate command of one of the classical languages and cultures by working toward a certificate in Greek Language and Culture or Roman Language and Culture. The requirements are:

  • Three CLG or three LAT courses, one of which may be at the 200-level while the others must be at the 300-level.
  • A piece of independent work. This can be satisfied in several ways: (a) by a substantial paper growing out of one of the courses taken to fulfill the certificate requirement (this will be in addition to the work required in the course); (b) by a substantial independent paper advised by a member of the Classics faculty; or (c) with the agreement of the home department and Classics DUS, by a piece of independent work that satisfies the requirements of both Classics and the home department. As a substitute for this requirement, students may take either an additional course in their language (CLG or LAT) at the 200- or 300-level or a CLA course focusing on the culture of their certificate program (Greek or Roman).
  • To qualify for the certificate program, students must file a written application with the Department of Classics before October 1 of their senior year.