Skip to content

Classics

Classics Program

The Classics Program includes the study of all facets of the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome, including history, philosophy, drama, history of science, textual criticism, religion, archeology and art history. In addition to comparative genre courses and film courses, Classics studies also include reception theory, Western traditions, and the vast influence of Greek and Roman myths, literature, and culture on contemporary and later literature and theory.

The undergraduate program in Classics provides the student with a thorough philological training in the ancient languages of Greek and Latin and their literatures. The Greek program includes the study of Homer, Greek tragedy, Herodotus, Plato and the New Testament. An emphasis in Latin includes the study of Plautus, Lucretius, Catullus, Horace, Virgil and Livy. The program enables students to work under the guidance of award-winning teachers and scholars and complete a capstone project which demonstrates their competence in the ancient languages, their writing skills, and their abilities to organize comparative and multidisciplinary data.

 

Classics Major (BA)

Students majoring in Classics choose between a specialization in ancient Greek or Latin language and literature. The program consists of a year of language acquisition with focus on the phonology, morphology, grammar and syntax of Greek and Latin. A second year of Intermediate Greek or Latin introduces the student to key authors such as Homer and Plato or Cicero and Virgil. Upper division courses offer intensive studies of major authors in both prose and poetry with offerings in epic, drama, lyric poetry, philosophy and history. The capstone allows the student to choose a specific area and topic for a project which demonstrates his/her skills in language, theory and writing.

Required Courses

Total Credits

Completed at least 1 of the following

WLC2010 Introduction to the Study of Literature and Culture (3)
WLC2020 Language in Society (3)

Practicum

Completed one practicum (3) - see Advisor for options

Greek Specialization Courses

30 - 33 Total Credits

Completed the following

GREEK1020 Beginning Ancient & New Testament Greek II (4)
GREEK2010 Intermediate Classical Greek I (4)
GREEK2020 Intermediate Classical Greek II (4)
GREEK3610 Third-Year Prose (3)
GREEK3620 Third-Year Poetry (3)
GREEK4610 Fourth-Year Prose (3)
GREEK4620 Fourth-Year Poetry (3)

Completed at least 2 of the following

CL CV1550 Classical Mythology (3)
CL CV1560 The Greeks (3)
CL CV1570 The Romans (3)
CL CV2770 Ancient Greece and Rome in the Cinema (3)
CL CV2780 Graeco-Roman Sport as Culture and Religion (3)
CL CV3790 Ancient Epic (3)
CL CV3570 Images of Women in Ancient Greece and Rome (3)
CL CV3630 Greek Drama (3)
CL CV4550 Ancient Myth and  Religion (3)
CL CV4580 Ancient Culture (3 - 6)

Latin Specialization Courses

30 - 33 Total Credits

Completed the following

LATIN1020 Beginning Classical Latin II (4)
LATIN2010 Intermediate Classical Latin I (4)
LATIN2020 Intermediate Classical Latin II (4)
LATIN3610 Third-Year Prose (3)
LATIN3620 Third-Year Poetry (3)
LATIN4610 Fourth-Year Prose (3)
LATIN4620 Fourth-Year Poetry (3)

Completed at least 2 of the following

CL CV1550 Classical Mythology (3)
CL CV1560 The Greeks (3)
CL CV1570 The Romans (3)
CL CV2770 Ancient Greece and Rome in the Cinema (3)
CL CV2780 Graeco-Roman Sport as Culture and Religion (3)
CL CV3790 Ancient Epic (3)
CL CV3570 Images of Women in Ancient Greece and Rome (3)
CL CV3630 Greek Drama (3)
CL CV4550 Ancient Myth and  Religion (3)
CL CV4580 Ancient Culture (3 - 6)

Minimum Degree Hours

122 Total Credits

Minimum Major Hours

36 Total Credits

All classes must be passed with a C or better
Students must take at least 15 credits of the major in residence at the University of Utah

GREEK SPECIALIZATION REQUIREMENTS  LATIN SPECIALIZATION REQUIREMENTS  WLC Practicum Options

Classics Minor

Students minoring in Classics can choose from a Classics Minor with a specialization in either Greek or Latin, or a minor in Classical Civilizations. Students are required to declare their minor at least two semesters before their expected graduation date.

Latin Minor Courses

17 Total Credits

Completed the following

LATIN1020 Beginning Classical Latin II (4)
LATIN2010 Intermediate Classical Latin I (4)
LATIN2020 Intermediate Classical Latin II (4) 

Earned at least 5 credits from LATIN  3000 - 5999

Greek Minor Courses

17 Total Credits

Completed the following

GREEK1020 Beginning Ancient & New Testament Greek II (4)
GREEK2010 Intermediate Classical Greek I (4)
GREEK2020 Intermediate Classical Greek II (4)

Earned at least 5 credits from GREEK 3000 - 5999

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Degree Hours: 17

All classes must be passed with a C or better
At least 6 credits of minor requirements must be taken in residence at the University of Utah

Classical Civilization Courses

18 Total Credits

Earned at least 18 credits from the following

CL CV1550 Classical Mythology (3)
CL CV1560 The Greeks (3)
CL CV1570 The Romans (3)
CL CV2770 Ancient Greece and Rome in the Cinema (3)
CL CV2780 Graeco-Roman Sport as Culture and Religion (3)
CL CV3790 Ancient Epic (3)
CL CV3570 Images of Women in Ancient Greece and Rome (3)
CL CV3630 Greek Drama (3)
CL CV4550 Ancient Myth and Religion (3)
CL CV4580 Ancient Culture (3 - 6)
ARTH3100 Antiquity: The Classical Ideal (3)
ARTH4110 Visual Arts of Ancient Greece (3)
ARTH4120 Ancient Rome: the Republic, the Empire (3)
HIST3005 Ancient Empires (3)
HIST3010 Classical Greece (3)
HIST3020 Age of Alexander (3)
HIST3030 The Byzantine Empire (3)
HIST4010 Roman Republic (3)
HIST4020 Roman Empire (3)
HIST4040 Christianity in the Ancient World (3)
HONOR2101 Honors Core in Intellectual Traditions I: Antiquity and the Beginning of the Common Era (3)
PHIL4110 Ancient Greek Philosophy (3)
PHIL5110 Issues in the History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy (3)

At least six credits must be upper-division coursework. Other relevant courses may be approved on an individual basis.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Degree Hours: 18

All classes must be passed with a C or better
At least 6 credits of minor requirements must be taken in residence at the University of Utah

CLASSICS MINOR GREEK EMPHASIS REQUIREMENTS  CLASSICS MINOR LATIN EMPHASIS REQUIREMENTS  CLASSICAL CIVILIZATION minor REQUIREMENTS

Learning Outcomes Assessment for Classics Majors (Greek and Latin Emphases)

Development of language proficiency in Greek and Latin will be track through a benchmark quiz administered at the beginning of GREEK and LATIN 1020 (the start of the Classics majors). This quiz will assess a student’s knowledge of vocabulary and grammar as well as their ability to comprehend and translate short passages appropriate after one semester of language instruction.

Progress in language proficiency will be tracked through the final exam in GREEK and LATIN 4620, (the highest required language level for majors). Students will demonstrate linguistic proficiency and comprehension through extended translation of original Greek or Latin texts.

Although the emphasis in the Classics majors is on language proficiency, we will also assess cultural competency and professional skills (in particular, academic research skills) through the completion of a research project through either WLC 3880 or an Honors Thesis. These two measurements will demonstrate the culmination of a student’s experience rather than track progress over the course of the major.

Student Experience

Learning Abroad

Learning abroad is the opportunity to live, study and intern abroad while completing your degree here at the University of Utah. Learning Abroad helps connect you to over 500+ program options in over 50 countries, many of which are great for improving your proficiency in another language. Learn more about Learning Abroad by visiting learningabroad.utah.edu and completing Learning Abroad 101

To get started, see below for program options for Ancient Greek, Modern Greek, and Latin. 

For questions, email Learning Abroad at learningabroad@utah.edu, call them at 801-581-5849, or visit in person at Union 159.


Exchanges

The U partners with universities around the world to offer you the opportunity to complete coursework in an immersive university environment alongside local students. Coursework can be quite flexible with students oftentimes completing major, minor, and general education requirements. Additionally, the cost of an exchange program is the same as paying U of U resident tuition, which makes exchanges one of our most affordable options!

Eta Sigma Phi Honors Society

Eta Sigma Phi is the national Honors society for students studying Greek and Latin languages, literatures and cultures. Any student completing one year's study of an ancient language is an eligible candidate for admission into Eta Sigma Phi. The local chapter of Eta Sigma Phi has been extremely active over the past several years and has sponsored several lectures by visiting scholars, Homerfest, the Ides of March Festival and several other events.

Resources for the Study of Classics

The Marriott Library's collection includes all the primary texts, secondary sources and journals necessary to complete an undergraduate course of study in Classics. The DiBona Center for Educational Technology complements the library's texts with a collection of images illustrating the sites, material objects and myths of ancient Greece and Rome.

The Nick Yengich Latin Competition

The Nick Yengich Latin Competition is an annual opportunity for university students of Latin to test their skills in translation on a "sight" passage from a Roman author. Each Spring students from the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and Utah State University compete for cash prizes in an event which evaluates their skills at the end of a year's instruction in Latin. Level I consists of students finishing their first year of Latin, who are challenged by a Latin prose artist such as Cicero or Caesar. Level II consists of undergraduates beyond their first year, who are challenged by a Roman poet such as Catullus or Martial. The Nick Yengich Latin Competition is unique in its statewide participants and in its cash prizes, which range from $200 to $25 on both levels. The project is supported by the Nick Yengich Foundation, which contributes the annual cash prizes, and by the Classics faculties of the participating universities, who create, administer and adjudicate the competition.

Faculty

Tenure-Line Faculty


Career-Line Faculty

Languages

Students majoring or minoring in Classics choose between a specialization in ancient Greek or Latin language and literature. We teach Ancient and Modern Greek, and Latin.

Modern Greek

Modern Greek refers to the Greek language spoken in modern times. Approximately 17 million people speak Greek today, mainly in Greece and Cyprus, where it is the official language. In addition, it is spoken by minority and immigrant  communities in many other countries.

We do not offer a major or minor in Modern Greek. If you are interested please look in to our Classics program which includes the study of Classical Greek and Latin, as well as all facets of the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome: history, philosophy, drama, history of science, textual criticism, religion, archeology and art history.

Ancient Greek

Information Coming Soon

Latin

Information Coming Soon

Take the Next Step
Last Updated: 7/14/23