Program Overview

Overview of the Classical Humanities Program

The Classical Humanities major at Xavier University focuses on classical literature, history, and culture. Students take courses in a variety of topics, including ancient history, classical mythology, and Greek and Roman literature in English translation. A degree in Classical Humanities is designed to bring students into close contact with the world of the Romans and Greeks and helps prepare them for careers in education, law, and medicine among others.

Program Details

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Classical Humanities major includes a range of courses that provide students with a deep understanding of the literature, culture, and history of Greco-Roman civilization. The program emphasizes history and culture, allowing students to engage directly with the greatest minds of classical antiquity.

• First Year:
  • Fall:
    • Latin 101: 3cr.
    • Creative Perspective: 3cr.
    • Philosophy 100: Ethics as Intro to Philosophy: 3cr.
    • English 101: English Composition: 3cr.
    • First Year Seminar: 3cr.
    • Core 101: GOA: 0cr.
  • Spring:
    • Latin 102: 3cr.
    • Classics Elective: 3cr.
    • Theology 111: Theological Foundations: 3cr.
    • Historical Perspective: 3cr.
    • Mathematical Perspective: 3cr.
    • Core 102: GOA: 0cr.
• Sophomore:
  • Fall:
    • Classics 205: Literature and Moral Imagination: 3cr.
    • Writing Intense Elective: 3cr.
    • Philosophy 200: Philosophical Perspectives: 3cr.
    • Scientific Perspective: 3cr.
    • Humanities Elective: 3cr.
  • Spring:
    • Classics Elective: 3cr.
    • Classics Elective: 3cr.
    • Natural Science Elective: 3cr.
    • Theological Perspective: 3cr.
    • Social Science Elective: 3cr.
• Junior:
  • Fall:
    • Classics 310: Roman History: 3cr.
    • Classics Elective: 3cr.
    • Solidarity and Kinship Elective: 3cr.
    • Oral Communications Elective: 3cr.
    • Quantitative Reasoning Elective: 3cr.
  • Spring:
    • Classic 380: Classics in the Modern World: 3cr.
    • Classics Elective: 3cr.
    • E/RS Elective: 3cr.
    • General Elective: 3cr.
    • General Elective: 3cr.
• Senior:
  • Fall:
    • Classic 397: Senior Capstone: 3cr.
    • Classic Elective: 3cr.
    • General Elective: 3cr.
    • General Elective: 3cr.
    • General Elective: 4cr.
  • Spring:
    • Classic Elective: 3cr.
    • General Elective: 3cr.
    • General Elective: 3cr.
    • General Elective: 3cr.
    • General Elective: 3cr.

Outcomes

98% of Xavier students, including those in the Classical Humanities major, are working, volunteering, or in graduate school within six months of graduating (Class of 2023).

Professional Development

Xavier's Career Development Office assists students in their search for employment by offering individual career counseling sessions, conducting workshop series on interviewing and resume writing techniques, and maintaining an educational, vocational, and employer information resource center.

Sample Courses

• From Homer to Plato (CLAS 120): This course provides an understanding of the development of ancient Greek culture and history by examining the values, customs, institutions, and major historical events that shaped the Greek world.
• World Mythology (CLAS 240): The western tradition will be examined through in-depth comparative studies of classical mythology with the mythologies of the world.
• Gender & Sex/Ancient Gr & Rome (CLAS 236): This course considers what it means to be male, female, masculine, feminine, man, woman, boy, girl, and what can be discovered about you from the way(s) you have sex and with whom.
• Elementary Latin I (LATN 101): This course introduces students to the classical language of Latin, covering syntax, vocabulary, and morphology.

Clubs

• History Club: The History Club at Xavier University is dedicated to fostering a deep appreciation for history and historical scholarship within the community.
• Pre Law Society: The Pre-Law Society is a club for all students who are interested in going to law school after Xavier.

Related Programs

Related Majors

• BA in English
• BA in International Studies
• BA in History
• BA in Philosophy
• BA in Political Science
• BA in Theology

Related Minors

• Art History
• Classical Humanities
• History
• Philosophy
• Political Communication
• Political Science
• Political Thought
• Public History
• Theology

Related Graduate Programs

• Master of Arts in Theology

Program Features

Develop Essential Research Skills

With the help of faculty, students complete high-level research projects and present findings at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) and the Celebration of Student Research.

Immerse Yourself in Greek Culture

Students study abroad in Greece, where they take courses in theology, social sciences, and fine arts.

Get Connected to the Community

The Ohio Senior Classical League (OSCL) promotes classical studies through lectures and readings.

Located in a City of Opportunity

Our longstanding relationships with community organizations provide students with multiple out-of-classroom opportunities to learn from professionals in the field.

About Xavier University

Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."