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.
4+1 BA/MEd Accelerated Program for High School Latin Teachers (with the College of Education and Human Development)
The accelerated +1 program offers students following the concentration in Classical Languages and Literature in the College of Liberal Arts the exciting opportunity to complete their undergraduate degree and a Master of Education in Secondary Education with one year of study beyond the BA. Students take several graduate-level courses while still an undergraduate student. The MEd meets the Pennsylvania Department of Education's program requirements for Teacher Certification as a Latin teacher. See the College of Education and Human Development for more details.
Contact Information
Department Office
330 Mazur Hall
215-204-8267
Karen Hersch, Department Chair
327 Mazur Hall
215-204-5345
khersch@temple.edu
Robin Mitchell-Boyask, Undergraduate Advisor
327 Mazur Hall
robin@temple.edu
Jacquelyn Sullivan, Administrator
220 Mazur Hall
215-204-8267
jacquelyn.sullivan@temple.edu
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 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, Cybersecurity and Human Behavior, 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)
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Seven of the following: 1,2 | 23 | |
| Ancient Greek 1 | ||
| Ancient Greek 2 | ||
| Ancient Greek 3 | ||
| Ancient Greek 4 | ||
| Readings in Greek Literature II | ||
| Latin 1 | ||
| Latin 2 | ||
| Latin 3 | ||
| Latin 4 | ||
| Readings in Latin Literature II | ||
| One of the following Writing Capstone Seminars: | 3 | |
| Readings in Greek Literature I | ||
| Readings in Latin Literature I | ||
| One course in mythology: | 3 | |
| Classical Greek and Roman Mythology | ||
| One Writing Intensive elective in Greek and Roman Classics | 3 | |
| Writing Seminar | ||
| Ancient City: Hellenistic Alexandria | ||
| Ancient City: Augustan Rome | ||
| Ancient City: Jerusalem | ||
| Major Elective | 3 | |
One Greek and Roman Classics elective that does not overlap with any of the above requirements. | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 35 | |
- 1
Select two courses in Greek (Ancient) and/or Latin languages. If exempt from beginning Greek (Ancient) and/or Latin courses through placement, substitute additional electives until a total of seven language courses is completed.
- 2
May include advanced courses in Greek (Ancient) and/or Latin. Or may include related courses in other departments, per departmental approval.
Suggested Academic Plan
Bachelor of Arts in Classics: Classical Languages and Literature Concentration
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW] or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Ancient Greek 1 | ||
| Latin 1 | ||
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 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 Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 2000+ Course | 3 | |
| One 0800-4999 Elective in Any School or College | 2 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Ancient Greek 3 | ||
| Latin 3 | ||
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| CLA 1002 | Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Ancient Greek 4 | ||
| Latin 4 | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective | 2 | |
| CLA/CST 2000+ Course | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 2000+ Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CLA/CST 2000+ Social Science/CST Course | 3 | |
| Greek & Roman Classics 1003-4999 Elective | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 2000+ Course | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Readings in Greek Literature II | ||
| Readings in Latin Literature II | ||
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CLA/CST 2000+ Social Science/CST Course | 3 | |
| Greek (Ancient) or Latin Language 1000+ Course | 3 | |
| Greek & Roman Classics Writing Intensive elective | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 2000+ Course | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Greek (Ancient) or Latin Language 1000+ Course | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 2000+ Course | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective | 3 | |
| One 0800-4999 Elective in Any School or College | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Readings in Greek Literature I [WI] | ||
| Readings in Latin Literature I [WI] | ||
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| 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 | |
| GRC 2011 | Classical Greek and Roman Mythology | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 123 | |
Accelerated Programs
Students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.
The following accelerated program may be of interest to students in the Classics BA with the Classical Language and Literature concentration:
College of Education and Human Development