Undergraduate Course Catalog 2015-2016
College of Liberal Arts
» http://cola.unh.edu
Classics (CLAS)
» http://cola.unh.edu/chi/program/classics-ba
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Professor: Robert Scott Smith, Stephen M. Trzaskoma
Associate Professor: Stephen Andrew Brunet
Assistant Professor: Harriet Fertik
Senior Lecturer: Richard E. Clairmont
Lecturer: Susan Curry, Anna Newman
Classics encompasses the interdisciplinary study of the Greeks and Romans, as well as the ways in which the ancient world’s influence extends to the Medieval Period, the Renaissance, and the modern world. Studying classics, therefore, is to investigate several thousand years of material through the study of languages, literature, history, politics, law, archaeology, art, mythology and folklore, gender and sexuality, religious studies, philosophy and more—all with methods derived from a variety of humanistic and social science perspectives. This breadth provides an excellent liberal arts education that prepares students for a variety of careers, as well as for further study. Classics majors from UNH have gone on to law school, medical school, and graduate school in classics and many related disciplines and have taken up careers in teaching, government service, the military, and business.
Classics majors have many opportunities at UNH to pursue their own interests in the ancient world while completing their requirements. Along with Greek and Latin, the Classics program offers Hittite and Sanskrit, the ancient languages of Anatolia and India. Students are encouraged to take courses offered outside the department that relate to the field of classics, such as those in ancient history, archaeology, ancient philosophy, classical art, modern languages, linguistics, and English literature. Some of these courses can even count for major requirements; a current list of approved courses is available from any departmental adviser. Study abroad is another way that many majors broaden their studies. Students have frequently spent semesters at many study abroad sites, including the Intercollegiate Center for the Classical Studies in Rome. (UNH is part of the consortium of Universities that supports this program.) The Department of Classics, Humanities, and Italian Studies regularly runs its own popular January Term course in Rome and manages study abroad programs in Ascoli Piceno, Italy and Budapest, Hungary that may be appropriate for classics majors, depending on their interests.
The program offers three different options for the classics major. In brief, the differences are (see below for detailed requirements):
The Classical Languages and Literatures (CLL) option allows for the most in-depth study of the ancient languages and requires knowledge of both Ancient Greek and Latin. It thus provides the strongest preparation for students considering graduate study in classics or related areas, and can also be an appropriate choice (with careful planning) for those thinking about teaching Latin in secondary schools. At the same time, it is designed for any student who desires a solid liberal arts education.
The Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations (AMC) option balances language study with the opportunity for students to select from a wide range of courses covering many aspects of the Greek and Roman worlds, as well as the neighboring peoples in Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. The flexibility of this option makes it especially attractive for students who wish to double major in another subject. It is generally not suitable, however, for those who wish to pursue related graduate study or a career in teaching Latin. AMC majors can, however, supplement the requirements with additional coursework to keep these options open.
The Latin and Latin Teaching (LLT) option is designed to provide a good foundational liberal arts education centered on Latin and the Roman world, but it also includes specific elements that make it particularly appropriate for students who are considering careers teaching Latin in secondary schools after graduation. This option does not lead directly to state certification, which can be pursued during a fifth year of study in the Department of Education.
Requirements
Classics: Classical Languages & Literatures (CLL option)
To complete the CLL option of the classics major, a student must complete 10 courses (40 credits), distributed as follows:
Language courses (12–24 credits)—Students must take at least one class (4 credits) at the 700 level in the primary language (GREK or LATN) and at least one class (4 credits) at the 504 level or above in the secondary language (LATN or GREK). Students must earn at least 12 credits in language courses at the 503 level or above and may count as many as 24 toward the CLL major option. No credits from language courses at the 400 level may be counted toward this option.
Non-language courses (16–28 credits)—Students must take at least 16 credits in CLAS courses and may count as many as 28 credits toward this option, but no more than 4 credits may come from courses at the 400 level. There are also courses taught outside of the program that are approved substitutes for CLAS courses, and the department will accept up to 8 credits from such courses. An up-to-date list of these courses is available from departmental advisers and additional exceptions are allowed with the written approval of the adviser.
In addition to coursework, students must complete an approved capstone experience from the following list: senior thesis; honors thesis; CLAS capstone course at the 700 level; at least 8 credits in 700-level LATN or GREK courses; approved internship; or approved semester study abroad focused on the classical world.
Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program. Bachelor of arts candidates must also satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement.
Classics majors pursuing the CLL option may satisfy their World Culture Discovery requirement with intermediate GREK or LATN courses, but, otherwise, major department courses may not be used to satisfy Discovery category requirements except in the case of a second or dual major.
The required minimum overall GPA in major coursework is 2.0.
Classics: Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations (AMC option)
To complete the AMC option of the classics major, a student must complete 10 courses (40 credits), distributed as follows:
Language proficiency (8 credits)—Students must demonstrate proficiency by taking at least 8 credits in GREK or LATN at the 503 level or above.
Other courses (32 credits)—Students must take at least 32 additional credits in CLAS, GREK, or LATN courses. These must include either CLAS 405 (Introduction to Greek Civilization) or 406 (Introduction to Roman Civilization). No more than 8 credits may come from CLAS courses at the 400 level and no credit at all may be used from 400-level LATN or GREK courses. At least 12 credits must be at the 600 level or above. There are also courses taught outside of the program that are approved substitutes for CLAS courses, and the department will accept up to 8 credits from such courses. An up-to-date list of these courses is available from departmental advisers and additional exceptions are allowed with the written approval of the adviser.
In addition to coursework, students must complete an approved capstone experience from the following list: senior thesis; honors thesis; CLAS capstone course at the 700 level; at least 4 credits in 700-level LATN or GREK courses; approved internship; or approved semester study abroad focused on the classical world.
Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program. Bachelor of arts candidates must also satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement.
Major department courses for the Classics AMC option may not be used to satisfy Discovery category requirements except in the case of a second major.
The required minimum overall GPA in major coursework is 2.0.
Classics: Latin & Latin Teaching (LLT option)
To complete the LLT option of the classics major, a student must complete 10 courses (40 credits), distributed as follows:
Latin language courses (20–24 credits)—Students must take at least 20 credits of LATN courses at the 504 level or above. At least 4 credits must come from LATN 631 and at least 4 credits must come at the 700 level.
Other courses (16–20 credits)—Students must take between 16 and 20 credits in approved CLAS courses. An up-to-date list of these courses is always available from department advisers, and these advisers can also approve exceptions in writing. (At present, the following CLAS courses do not count: 402, 405, 411–412, 413–414, 506, 525, 595/6, 694.) These must include CLAS 401 (Classical Mythology), CLAS 406 (Introduction to Roman Civilization) and either CLAS 601/701 (Classical Myth II) or 604/704 (Golden Age of Rome). Besides CLAS 401 and 406, no other 400-level courses may count. No Greek language courses are required for the LLT option, but students are encouraged to complete at least the introductory sequence (401–402).
There are also courses taught outside of the program that are approved substitutes for CLAS courses, and the department will accept up to 8 credits from such courses. An up-to-date list of these courses is available from departmental advisers and additional exceptions are allowed with the written approval of the adviser.
In addition to coursework, students must complete an approved capstone experience from the following list: senior thesis; honors thesis; CLAS capstone course at the 700 level; at least 12 credits in 700-level LATN courses; approved external internship; 4-credit internal Latin teaching internship (CLAS 694); or approved semester study abroad focused on the classical world.
Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program. Bachelor of arts candidates must also satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement.
Major department courses for the Classics LLT option may not be used to satisfy Discovery category requirements except in the case of a second major.
The required minimum overall GPA in major coursework is 2.0.
Please note that the LLT option does not by itself meet New Hampshire state certification requirements. Those who intend to pursue this certification should enroll in EDUC 500 as early as possible and then apply early in the fall of their year of graduation for a fifth year of internship and study through UNH’s Department of Education. Students are also encouraged strongly to consider taking some EDUC electives during their period of undergraduate study.
Classics Minor
A minor in classics consists of five courses (20 credits) in classics, Greek, and/or Latin.
Greek Minor
A minor in Greek consists of five courses (20 credits) in Greek.
Latin Minor
A minor in Latin consists of five courses (20 credits) in Latin.
The coordinator is Scott Smith, Murkland Hall; Department of Classics, Humanities, and Italian Studies; (603) 862-2388; e-mail scott.smith@unh.edu.
