Undergraduate Program in Classical Studies
To declare a major or minor, please contact the Undergraduate Department Chair.
CLASSICAL STUDIES OR ANCIENT HISTORY?
The descriptions below concern the minor and and major in
Classical Studies. The separate minor and major in Ancient
History are described on a separate page
THE FIELD
Classical Studies concerns itself with all aspects of ancient
Greek and Roman culture and its influence through the Middle
Ages and Renaissance up to the present day. As such, it focuses
not just on the classical languages and literatures but also
on material culture (e.g. archaeology), on economic, political,
social, and intellectual history, on philosophy, religion,
and myth, and on the classical tradition. Classical Studies,
then, differs from many other departments of the University
in that it is not so much a discipline as an interdisciplinary
area of study, and is of value to students with many different
interests and career plans.
THE DEPARTMENT
Penn has one of the most distinguished Classical Studies departments
in the country. We offer courses at all undergraduate levels,
from elementary language instruction to introductory and advanced
courses in literature, history, and archaeology. Many of these
require no knowledge of the languages and no other background.
Faculty regularly teach at all levels, and since most classes
are small, students have the opportunity to work closely with
their professors.
The undergraduate
program is further enhanced by the University's superb library
holdings in Classical Studies and by the University Museum,
which houses the country's largest archaeological collection.
In addition to majoring or minoring in Classical Studies, many
students come to our department to take elective courses or
to fulfill the Language Requirement or other parts of the General
Requirement (e.g. Arts and Letters, History and Tradition).
GENERAL OFFERINGS
The Department offers a wide range of courses on various aspects
of the classical world. Virtually none of these requires previous
background or language experience, many fulfill the University's
General Requirements, and many are cross-listed with other departments.
For recent offerings, please look under "Courses" on the sidebar on the left-hand side of this page.
THE MINOR
A minor in Classical Studies can serve as a useful complement to undergraduate majors in many related areas.
The minor consists of six courses, configured as follows:
- ANCH 026 History of Ancient Greece or ANCH 027 History of Ancient Rome
- Five other courses as approved by the Undergraduate Chair.
Students interested in the minor should meet with the Undergraduate Chair to choose the appropriate direction of study.
THE MAJOR
Although all students majoring in Classical Studies select twelve courses from the same overall curriculum, there are two distinct tracks, depending on whether advanced courses in Latin and Greek are taken:
-
Track 1: Classical Languages and Literature
At least three of the courses taken at the 300 level (in Cluster 3 below) will be in Latin and/or Greek language and literature (e.g., LATN 309 Topics in Latin Literature, GREK 309 Topics in Greek Literature).
Track 2: Classical Civilization
There are no required courses in Latin or Greek, and most courses taken are in Classical Studies or Ancient History. Students can, however, receive credit for all Greek and Latin courses taken, and are encouraged to consider taking elementary and intermediate courses in one or both of the languages.
In all other respects, Tracks 1 and 2 are identical. Both tracks have the same general structure, as follows:
-
Cluster 1: 2 core introductory courses, which provide a chronological and cultural survey of the period.
- ANCH 026 History of Ancient Greece
- ANCH 027 History of Ancient Rome
- Intellectual, cultural, and literary history (e.g., CLST 100 Greek and Roman Mythology, LATN 101 Elementary Latin I, etc.)
- Reception studies and the classical tradition (e.g., CLST 102 Classical Traditions)
- Social and political history (e.g., ANCH 145 The Roman Empire)
- Art and archaeology (e.g, CLST 105 Introduction to Mediterranean Archaeology)
Cluster 2 (classes of 2010-13): 5 introductory / breadth courses. These may include any Classical Studies, Ancient History, Greek or Latin course numbered below 300.
Cluster 2 (class of 2014 and later): 4 introductory / breadth courses at the 100 level. These may include any Classical Studies, Ancient History, Greek or Latin course numbered below 200, but will normally cover all four sub-areas of classical studies:
Cluster 3 (classes of 2010-13): 5 advanced courses. These may include any Classical Studies, Ancient History, Greek or Latin course numbered 300 or above.
Cluster 3 (class of 2014 and later): 6 advanced courses. These may include any Classical Studies, Ancient History, Greek or Latin course numbered 200 or above, of which 4 must be 300 or above. Students are encouraged to take courses across the four sub-areas mentioned above.
Courses at the advanced level include (among others):
| ANCH | 323 | The Greek World After Alexander |
| ANCH | 375 | Social Exclusion and Marginality in the Roman World |
| CLST | 221 | Roman Art and Architecture |
| CLST | 240 | Scandalous Arts |
| CLST | 267 | The Ancient Novel |
| CLST | 270 | Ancient Athletics |
| CLST | 302 | The Odyssey and its Afterlife |
| CLST | 310 | Ancient and Modern Constitution Making |
| CLST | 319 | The Age of Caesar |
| CLST | 320 | Greek and Roman Magic |
| CLST | 350 | The Greek and Roman Universe |
| CLST | 360 | The Epic Tradition |
| GREK | 309 | Topics in Greek Literature |
| LATN | 309 | Topics in Latin Literature |
| etc. |
Students who intend to do graduate work in Classical Philosophy, Classical Archaeology, or Ancient History should gain facility in both Latin and Greek. Those who intend to teach Latin in secondary schools are encouraged to take at least one year of Greek.
HONORS PROGRAM FOR MAJORS
Students with an average of 3.0 or better in major or related courses are eligible to apply for honors program and, if approved, to seek honors through the writing of a thesis. The honors thesis will be a substantial project guided by an adviser and evaluated by a departmental committee.
Before being approved to write an honors thesis, the student must first:
-
(1) by the end of courses in the junior year, identify an area of
focus in consultation with a potential thesis adviser or with the
Undergraduate Chair, who will assist in identifying a potential
thesis adviser;
(2) before the end of the exam period in spring of the junior year, submit a formal application to the honors program, including a plan of proposed research.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Each year the Classical Studies Department offers several prizes. The George Allen Memorial Prize is awarded to juniors who complete the best written examinations in either Greek or Latin. In addition, the Senior Classics Prize is awarded annually to a graduating student for outstanding academic performance. Penn- in-Greece, a summer program, offers students the opportunity to travel abroad, study classical sites, and earn 1 c.u. of credit. Students who meet certain requirements are eligible to apply for membership in Eta Sigma Phi, the national honorary fraternity for the Classics. In addition, the department is a sponsor of the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome, which offers the possibility of a semester's worth of study abroad in an environment ideally suited to all students interested in Classics.
In 2006-7 the Department of Classical Studies launched a new program designed to promote the study of Hellenic culture at the University of Pennsylvania. The program has been generously funded by the Stavros NIARCHOS Foundation, and enables students, both undergraduate and graduate, to travel to Greece for periods ranging from a few weeks in the summer to a full academic year.
FUTURE POSSIBILITIES
Whether pursued as a major of minor, studied as an elective, or used to fulfill the General Requirement, Classical Studies provided a sound undergraduate liberal arts education. While some Classical Studies students choose to pursue graduate study in the field. most go on to careers in law, medicine, and business. Increasingly employers and professional schools appreciate the value of such an education that included courses from diverse disciplines and that develops problem-solving abilities and excellent verbal and writing skills.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THAT?---HERE'S WHAT...!
Outcomes from a sampling of CLST majors from the past half decade. This sample represents a self-reporting group and so can be relied on to give a thumbnail sketch, but not a complete picture -- we're working to make the picture more complete wherever we can!
2% 3 ARTS / ENTERTAINMENT
1 executive assistant at a Hollywood studio
1 professional photographer of classical artwork
1 writer - TV comedy network
4% 5 BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
4 administrative assistant
1 administrative manager
33% 43 EDUCATION
1 university administrator
21 college faculty
16 teacher
3 education administrator
2 graduate school in humanities / social sciences
7% 9 FINANCE
3 investment bank president / chairman of the board
1 bank assistant vice president
1 assistant comptroller - real estate investment firm
1 investment fund partner
1 investment manager
1 financial analyst
1 equity salesman
2% 2 GOVERNMENT (see also LAW)
1 systems administrator for US Senator
1 naval aviator
11% 14 HEALTH
1 hospital director
1 head of veterinary medicine at a university
8 physician
1 medical research coordinator
1 marketing manager for physicians
2 in medical school
26% 34 LAW
1 assistant attorney general
1 assistant district attorney
26 attorney
1 corporate counsel
5 in law school
7% 9 NON-PROFIT
1 library director
1 librarian
1 manager of social services non-profit
5 clergy
1 museum researcher
5% 6 PUBLISHING
1 antiquarian bookseller and Appraiser
1 associate product manager
1 author
1 marketing manager for large media company
1 marketing for textbook publishing
1 proofreader
5% 7 TECH
1 executive director of tech training firm
1 video game designer
2 information security specialists
1 president, communications firm
1 engineer
1 web developer
100% 132 TOTAL

