PDF reflects print version of the catalogue (beginning to East Asian Languages and Cultures)Undergraduate Degrees
The undergraduate classics major gives the student an understanding of the cultures, languages and literatures of ancient Greece, Rome and the Mediterranean world.
Classics is a broadly interdisciplinary field. Most courses focus on ancient Greece and Rome, but students in the department also study the impact of classical cultures on later societies and the interactions among various ancient cultures. USC is a member of the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies and the College Year in Athens program, and classics majors are encouraged to spend a semester in Rome or Athens. The classics major is also encouraged to explore courses in allied fields such as ancient philosophy, history, comparative literature, art history and archaeology.
Classics Major Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts
All classics majors are required to take two of the following three introductory courses: CLAS 150 The Greeks and the West, CLAS 151 Civilization of Rome, COLT 150x Origins of Western Literature and Culture. In addition all majors must have completed one of the two elementary language sequences (including GR 220 or LAT 222).All majors must take seven additional courses from the list maintained by the classics undergraduate mentor. Of these seven, at least five must be courses offered by the Classics Department (i.e., CLAS, LAT, GR) and at least six must be numbered 300 or above. In selecting courses from allied fields (anthropology, art history, comparative literature, English, history, Judaic studies, linguistics, philosophy, political science, religion [includes archaeology], gender studies), the student must work closely with the classics undergraduate mentor. Course work in departments other than classics must be approved in advance by the undergraduate mentor in order to count for major credit.
Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Archaeology
See Anthropology for a complete listing.
Classics Minor
The classics department minor requires one language course at the 100-level or above.One course from either A or B:
| A. | ||
| CLAS 150 | The Greeks and the West | |
| CLAS 151 | Civilization of Rome | |
| CLAS 280 | Classical Mythology | |
B. | ||
| Second and third semester Latin or Greek courses: | ||
| GR 150 | Greek II | |
| GR 220 | Greek III | |
| LAT 150 | Latin II | |
| LAT 222 | Latin III | |
Four upper-division courses (16 units) drawn from classics course offerings in classics, Latin or Greek
Total: 6 courses
Minor in Ancient Religion and Classical Languages
See the School of Religion section of the catalogue.
Minor in Critical Approaches to Leadership
See the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies.
Honors Program
Candidates for the B.A. in classics can receive an honors degree by meeting these requirements: a 3.5 GPA in department courses at the time of graduation; completion of an honors research project under the guidance of a faculty member (CLAS 495x). Admission to the program is granted by the departmental undergraduate advisor in the semester preceding enrollment in CLAS 495x; students should have a 3.5 GPA in the major at this time.
Students Anticipating Graduate Study in Classics
Students interested in attending graduate school in classics are advised to take as many courses in Greek and/or Latin as possible.