Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Classics is offered by the Department of Greek and Roman Classics. Students must select one of the following concentrations:

  • Classical Civilizations
  • Classical Languages and Literature.

The Department also offers the minor in Ancient Mediterranean Studies and the minor in Classical Languages and Literature. Students in these programs study the cultures and languages of two major civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean world. Classics is an interdisciplinary field of study which encompasses multiple disciplines of the liberal arts: languages, history, literature, art and philosophy.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: LA-CLAS-BA

Career Preparation

Classics offers a sound liberal arts background that prepares students for any career. Classics majors have held senior positions in government, law and public service organizations, have founded and headed companies and organizations, and have worked as correspondents and journalists. Recent Temple Classics majors have gone on to law school, veterinary school, graduate school, and business and teaching careers. To help prepare for careers, the Department of Greek and Roman Classics offers funding for internships that provide no remuneration.

Study Abroad

Classics majors and minors are encouraged to study a semester at Temple's Rome Campus. Majors are eligible to apply for funding for summer study in the Mediterranean through the Rudolph Masciantonio Traveling Summer Scholarship.

Undergraduate Associations

The organization for majors and minors is the Temple Classics Club, and there is a chapter of the national honorary society for Classics, Eta Sigma Phi, on campus.

Distinction in Major

Distinction in Major requires a senior thesis and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in Greek, Latin, or Greek and Roman Classics courses.

Contact Information

Department Office
330 Mazur Hall
215-204-5267

Karen Hersch, Department Chair
327 Mazur Hall
215-204-5345
khersch@temple.edu

Eleanor Mulhern, Undergraduate Advisor
328 Mazur Hall
215-204-8202
e.v.mulhern@temple.edu

Michelle Xu, Administrator
429 Mazur Hall
215-204-5628
xu.michelle@temple.edu

Stephen Walton, Academic Coordinator
330 Mazur Hall
215-204-8268
stephen.walton0002@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Classics.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2023-2024. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2023 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Degree Requirements

University Requirements

  • MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
  • All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. See below for a list of the specific courses required for your major.
  • Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program. See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details.

College of Liberal Arts Requirements

  • Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including: 90 credits in CLA/CST courses, 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999).
  • Distribution Requirement for Humanities majors: Six upper level credits must be earned in the Social Science, Science, and/or interdisciplinary subject areas. Select from the following CLA departments and programs: Africology & African American Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Asian Studies, Criminal Justice, Economics, Environmental Studies, Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies, Geography and Urban Studies, Global Studies, History, Jewish Studies, Latin American Studies, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies, Liberal Arts, Neuroscience (CLA), Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology, or any department in the College of Science and Technology.
  • A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in CLA/CST coursework, and in the major.
  • Only courses in which a student receives a grade of at least C- can satisfy GenEd, major, minor, or CLA Foreign Language and Global Studies requirements.
  • Professional Development Requirement
    • All students in the College of Liberal Arts are required to take a 1 credit seminar in professional development. CLA 1002 Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors is the appropriate course option for this major. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CLA College Requirements page. Only one course in this category may count towards graduation.
  • Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirements:
    • All students must complete the second level of a foreign language;
    • All students must complete at least one course from the GenEd Global/World Society category; and
    • All students must complete one of the following options:
      • Third level of a foreign language;
      • Demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language;
      • A second General Education Global/World Society course;
      • Study Abroad at an approved program; or
      • Take one Global Studies course from the list on the CLA College Requirements page.
  • General Electives are typically one-third of a student's program of study and can be focused on a second major, a minor, or towards some other personal enrichment or professional goals. See an academic advisor for assistance in developing an academic plan for these courses.

Major Requirements (a minimum of 35 credits in Ancient Greek, Latin, Greek and Roman Classics and related course work)

Required Courses
GRC 2101The Greeks3
GRC 2102The Romans3
Language Courses
Select two courses in Ancient Greek or two courses in Latin language:7-8
Ancient Greek 1
Ancient Greek 2
Latin 1
Latin 2
Writing Intensive Courses
Select two of the following:6
Ancient City: Periclean Athens
Ancient City: Hellenistic Alexandria
Ancient City: Augustan Rome
Ancient City: Jerusalem
Art History Course
Select one of the following:4
Roman Art and Archaeology
ARTH 2111
Art and Culture in Ancient Rome
Holy Image, Glittering Mosaic: The Art of the Byzantine Empire
Greek and Roman Sculpture
Greek and Roman Sculpture
Early Medieval Visual Culture
Greek & Roman Classic Courses
Select three of the following:9
Gender in Classical Antiquity
Classical Greek and Roman Mythology
Topics in Classical Culture
Ancient Greek Historians
Ancient Roman Historians
Writing Seminar
Select one course in a related department with consultation of your faculty advisor. This elective may be taken in Anthropology, Art History, History, Philosophy or Religion.3
Total Credit Hours35

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Arts in Classics: Classical Civilizations Concentration

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2023-2024 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
ENG 0802
Analytical Reading and Writing
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL
or Honors Writing About Literature
4
GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Select one of the following: 4
Ancient Greek 1
Latin 1
 Credit Hours15
Spring
IH 0851
Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life
3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Select one of the following: 4
Ancient Greek 2
Latin 2
 Credit Hours16
Year 2
Fall
IH 0852
Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good
3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GRC 2101 The Greeks 3
Select one of the following: 3
Ancient Greek/Latin III
GenEd Global/World Society Course
Internationally Focused Course From Approved List
 Credit Hours15
Spring
GRC 2102 The Romans 3
Greek & Roman Classic 1000+ Elective From the Approved List 3
CLA 1002 Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors 1
GenEd Breadth Course 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
CLA/CST 2000+ Course 3
 Credit Hours16
Year 3
Fall
CLA/CST 2000+ Social Science/CST Course 3
Greek & Roman Classic 1000+ Elective From the Approved List 3
Greek & Roman Classic Writing-Intensive 3000+ Course From the Approved List 3
Art History 2000+ Course From Approved List 4
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
CLA/CST 2000+ Social Science/CST Course 3
Greek & Roman Classic 2000+ Elective From the Approved List 3
Greek & Roman Classic Writing-Intensive 3000+ Course From the Approved List 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Year 4
Fall
Greek & Roman Classic Elective (Consult With Faculty Advisor for Approval) 3
CLA/CST 2000+ Course 3
CLA/CST 2000+ Course 3
CLA/CST 2000+ Course 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
CLA/CST 2000+ Course 3
CLA/CST 2000+ Course 3
CLA/CST 2000+ Course 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
One 0800-4999 Elective in Any School or College 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours123