Program Overview

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Classical Humanities, BS

The Classical Humanities major combines two semesters of language study with elective coursework that explores the literature, civilization, and culture of Greece, Rome, and the Ancient Near East. Students choose from a wide variety of courses including offerings in art, architecture, archaeology, gender studies, history, literature, philosophy, and politics. In addition to enhancing their language study, these subjects enable our majors to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the ancient world.

How to Get in

• No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare.
• Courses required to get in: None
• GPA requirements to get in: None
• Credits required to get in: None
• Other: None

University General Education Requirements

All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world.

Requirements

• BreadthHumanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
• BreadthNatural Science: 4 to 6 credits, consisting of one 4- or 5-credit course with a laboratory component; or two courses providing a total of 6 credits
• BreadthSocial Studies: 3 credits
• Communication Part A & Part B
• Ethnic Studies
• Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B

College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science (BS)

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below.

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

• Mathematics: Complete two courses of 3+ credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level in MATH, COMP SCI, or STAT subjects.
• Language: Complete the third unit of a language other than English.
• L&S Breadth: Complete 12 credits of Humanities, 12 credits of Social Science, and 12 credits of Natural Science.
• Liberal Arts and Science Coursework: Complete at least 108 credits.
• Depth of Intermediate/Advanced Coursework: Complete at least 60 credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level.
• Major: Declare and complete at least one major.
• Total Credits: Complete at least 120 credits.
• UW-Madison Experience: Complete 30 credits in residence, overall, and 30 credits in residence after the 86th credit.
• Quality of Work: 2.000 in all coursework at UWMadison and 2.000 in Intermediate/Advanced level coursework at UWMadison

Requirements for the Major

The Classical Humanities major consists of a combination of courses in ancient culture and classical languages. The major requirements are divided into three areas: Language, Literature and Culture, and Seminar.

Language

Complete one of the following:

• 2 semesters of Greek (8 credits)
• 2 semesters of Latin (8 credits)
• 1 semester of accelerated Latin (4 credits)
• 2 semesters of Biblical Hebrew (8 credits)
• 1 semester of accelerated Biblical Hebrew (4 credits)

Literature and Culture

21 credits as follows:

• Intermediate/Advanced Literature and Culture (12 credits)
• Literature and Culture Electives (9 credits)

Seminar

1 course from the following (3 credits):

• CLASSICS 591
• CLASSICS 682
• CLASSICS 692
• GREEK 505
• GREEK 510
• GREEK 511
• GREEK 512
• GREEK 520
• GREEK 521
• GREEK 530
• GREEK 532
• GREEK 541
• GREEK 551
• GREEK 560
• GREEK 571
• GREEK 682
• GREEK 692
• LATIN 505
• LATIN 515
• LATIN 519
• LATIN 520
• LATIN 523
• LATIN 524
• LATIN 539
• LATIN 549
• LATIN 559
• LATIN 563
• LATIN 682
• LATIN 692

Residence and Quality of Work

• 2.000 GPA in all CLASSICS, GREEK, HEBR-BIB, and LATIN courses and all other courses in the major
• 2.000 GPA in 15 upper-level major credits, taken in residence
• 15 credits in CLASSICS, GREEK, and LATIN, taken on the UWMadison campus

Honors in the Major

Students may declare Honors in the Classical Humanities Major in consultation with the Classical Humanities undergraduate advisor.

Honors in the Major in Classical Humanities: Requirements

To earn Honors in the Major in Classical Humanities, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major and the following additional requirements:

• Earn a 3.300 University GPA
• Earn a 3.500 GPA in all CLASSICS, GREEK, HEBR-BIB, and LATIN courses, and all courses accepted in the major, at the upper-level
• Complete the following coursework:
  • 9 credits, taken for Honors, with a grade of B or better, from the list of Literature and Culture requirements above
  • A two-semester Senior Honors Thesis in CLASSICS 681 and CLASSICS 682, for a total of 6 credits

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate knowledge of ancient Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern societies and cultures.
2. Demonstrate competence in the critical methodologies of textual and material analysis with a view to social and cultural interpretation.
3. Compare and critique ancient Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern societies and cultures to demonstrate intercultural competence and ethical reasoning.
4. Create new knowledge in ancient Greek, Roman, or Near Eastern studies.

Four-Year Plan

This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major.

First Year

• Fall: LATIN 103 or GREEK 103, one CLASSICS or related course at Elementary level, Communication Part A, Biological Science Breadth
• Spring: LATIN 104, GREEK 104, or LATIN 391, one CLASSICS or related course at Elementary level, Quantitative Reasoning Part A, Ethnic Studies

Second Year

• Fall: CLASSICS 320 or 322, Physical Science Breadth, Social Science Breadth, continue language study or elective
• Spring: one CLASSICS or related course at Intermediate level, Quantitative Reasoning B, Social Science Breadth, continue language study or elective

Third Year

• Fall: one CLASSICS or related course at Intermediate level, Social Science Breadth, Science Breadth, elective
• Spring: one CLASSICS or related course at Intermediate level, Social Science Breadth, Science Breadth, elective

Fourth Year

• Fall: one CLASSICS or related course at Intermediate level, electives
• Spring: CLASSICS 591, electives

Advising and Careers

The department provides advising for students to plan their academic and professional paths.

Declare or Cancel This Major

Please follow the process described on the Classical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies website.

Advising

Advisors can speak to you about course content, which courses fit best with your interest areas, and what kinds of courses might work best with your learning style.

Careers

Humanities majors enable students to consider just about any type of career or educational pursuit. Our coursework builds the critical thinking and communication skills needed to succeed in careers ranging from politics and education to business and law.

Resources and Scholarships

Study Abroad

The department offers two options for summer study, UWClassics in Greece and UWClassics in Italy.

Scholarships and Prizes

• Ruth M. Kuhlman Undergraduate Scholarship
• Gertrude E. Slaughter Summer Study Scholarship
• Logan Prize for Greek Translation
• Pillinger Prize for Latin Translation