NEW MAJOR IN CLASSICS TRACKS

I. CLASSICAL LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES

The track is designed for students who wish to pursue an advanced degree in Classics or have interests in both Greek and Latin literature, culture, and history.

The track entails completion of 9 courses (a minimum of 27 credits), which must satisfy the following requirements:

• Primary Language Requirement:

One of the following advanced options in the primary language, Greek or Latin: 4100, 4105, 4106, 5139.

This requirement may be fulfilled by coursework at or above the 4000-level with the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

• Secondary Language Requirement:

One course in a secondary language, Greek or Latin, at or above the 2102-level.

• General Breadth Requirement:

Two courses on any aspect of the ancient Mediterranean and neighboring societies in translation.

II&III. GREEK OR LATIN

The tracks in Greek and Latin allow students to develop advanced knowledge of the literature, history, and culture of Greece or Rome. Students on these tracks select a primary ancient society, either Greece or Rome, and study its culture, literature, and history in the original and in translation, while also developing a general knowledge of the ancient Mediterranean and writing a senior thesis.

The track requires completion of 9 courses (a minimum of 27 credits), which must satisfy the following requirements:

• Advanced Language Requirement:

Three courses in one ancient language, Greek or Latin, at or above the 2102 level.

• Cultural Concentration Requirement:

Two courses on the history and culture of the chosen ancient language in translation.

• General Breadth Requirement:

Two additional courses on any aspect of the ancient Mediterranean.

• Independent Research Requirement:

Both of the following advanced research options in the chosen language: Major Seminar (3996) and Senior Thesis (3998).

IV. CLASSICAL AND ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS

The Classical and Ancient Civilizations track provides students the opportunity to focus on one ancient Mediterranean or neighboring civilization while also gaining broad exposure to the study of the ancient world and its reception.

The track requires completion of 9 courses (a minimum of 27 credit points)—no fewer than seven taught by faculty in Classics and Ancient Studies at Columbia and Barnard—which must satisfy the following requirements:

• Fundamental Breadth Requirement:

Two introductory courses on some aspect of the ancient Mediterranean.

• Cultural Concentration Requirement:

Three courses on one of the following core areas: Greece, Rome, Egypt, or the Ancient Near East.

• Advanced Study Requirement:

Two advanced courses on some aspect of the core area, typically at the UN3000- or GU4000-level.

Courses in an ancient language at or above the 2102-level may be used to satisfy this requirement.

• Reception and Comparative Study Requirement:

One course on reception of or comparative approaches to the ancient world. This requirement may alternatively be fulfilled by study of another language relevant to the student’s interests (such as Modern Greek, Egyptian, etc.)

• Independent Research Requirement:

Both of the following advanced research options: Major Seminar (3996) and Senior Thesis (3998).

NB: Some courses will satisfy more than one requirement. Ancient language courses at or above the 2102-level may be used to fulfill the Ancient Study and the Reception and Comparative Study Requirements.

V. CLASSICAL RECEPTION AND THE CLASSICAL TRADITION

The track in Classical Reception and the Classical Tradition provides the opportunity to explore the ancient Greco-Roman Mediterranean and its legacy in post-Classical societies.

The track requires completion of 9 courses (a minimum of 27 credit points)—no fewer than seven taught by faculty in Classics and Ancient Studies at Columbia and Barnard—which collectively must satisfy the following requirements:

• Ancient Breadth Requirement:

Two courses on any aspect of ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and/or Near Eastern literature, culture, or history in translation.

• Reception Study Requirement

Three courses on reception of the ancient world and/or classical reception in Medieval, Renaissance, and Hellenic studies, as well as in related disciplines, such as English and Comparative Literature.

• Theoretical Breadth Requirement:

One course on literary theory, translation studies, or comparative approaches to the ancient world.

• Advanced Study Requirement:

Three advanced courses, typically at the 3000- or 4000-level, on any aspect of the ancient world and/or its reception.

• Independent Research Requirement:

Both of the following advanced research options: Major Seminar (3996) and Senior Thesis (3998).

NB: Some courses will satisfy more than one requirement. Ancient language courses at or above the 2102-level may be used to satisfy Ancient Breadth, Reception Study, and Advanced Study Requirements.

Current Majors in the Department of Classics

[Available to students who have joined Columbia Fall 2024 and before]

B.A. in Ancient Studies​ & B.A. program in Classical Studies will be discontinued in May 2028. The major in Classics will be augmented to the new system (new tracks) in May 2028.

MAJOR IN CLASSICS

11 courses, minimum 34 credits

In the primary language:

• Four courses at or above the 2100-level

• Major seminar 3996

• Two courses from the Advanced Menu of four (4105, 4106, 5139, 3998; any others may count toward the four upper-level requirements)

In the secondary language:

• Two courses at or above the 2100 level

Two ancient culture courses, including:

• One in the culture of the primary language

• One in any aspect of ancient history or culture (HIST, AHIS, PHIL, CLLT, CLCV…)

A student must write a thesis (UN3998) to be considered for Departmental Honors and prizes.

MAJOR IN CLASSICAL STUDIES

11 courses, minimum 35 credits

• Five courses, at or above 1102, in either or both Latin and Greek

• Major Seminar 3996

• Four classes in ancient history, art, philosophy, religion, and civilization

• Senior thesis 3998

MAJOR IN ANCIENT STUDIES

12 courses, minimum 36 credits

Twelve courses on the ancient Mediterranean, of which two must be the major seminar 3995 and senior thesis 3998, and all of which must collectively satisfy the following criteria:

• Language study: two courses of an ancient language at or above the intermediate level

• Fundamental breadth: two introductory courses on some aspect of the ancient Mediterranean (e.g., HIST UN1010/1020, AHIS UN3248/3250, PHIL UN2101, CLLT UN3132)

• Advanced study: two advanced courses on the ancient Mediterranean

• Cultural concentration: four courses on the culture of the language chosen, including one history course

• Interdisciplinarity: courses taught in three different departments.