Classics: Classical Civilizations, BALAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Classics, Classical Civilizations Concentration
Study of the fascinating languages, literatures, and material cultures of ancient Greece and Rome provides a simultaneously broad and deep education in the liberal arts that is crucial for 21st century career paths, whatever your goals in life may be. A Classics major helps you to think critically, read attentively, argue persuasively, understand compassionately. Classics majors are especially well prepared for careers in teaching, business, law, medicine, government, publishing, and more.
Whether you choose a major in our Classical Languages or our Classical Civilizations concentration, come study with us! You will encounter unforgettable texts like Homer’s Odyssey and Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the lyric poetry of Sappho and Catullus, powerful tragedies and delightful comedies, satires and epigrams, histories and oratory; you will learn about mythology and religion, gender and sexuality, everyday life in the ancient Mediterranean, and much more!
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Classics, Classical Civilizations Concentration
A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60 - 75 hours). Please see your adviser.
Departmental distinction: Students seeking departmental distinction must have at least a 3.5 average in relevant courses and should consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies at the earliest opportunity.
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours
Minimum required concentration course work: 44 hours
Minimum required 300- and 400-level courses in the concentration: 12 hours
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English, or completion of the third semester in two different languages other than English is required | 0-20 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation and Professional Development | ||
| LAS 101 | Design Your First Year Experience | 1 |
OR | ||
| LAS 100 & LAS 101 | Success in LAS for International Students and Design Your First Year Experience | 3 |
OR | ||
| LAS 102 | Transfer Advantage | 1 |
| Total Hours | 1 or 3 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Coursework | ||
| Students complete 32 credit hours of which 12 must be completed at the 300 or 400 level from the list below: | 32 | |
| Introduction to Ancient Greek Culture | ||
| Mythology of Greece and Rome | ||
| Introduction to Ancient Roman Culture | ||
| The Classical Tradition | ||
| Classical Archaeology, Greece | ||
| Class Archaeology, Rome-Italy | ||
| Archaeology of Israel | ||
| Ancient Greek & Roman Religion | ||
| Ancient Philosophy | ||
| Classical Allusions in Cinema | ||
| Exploring the Greek and Roman World | ||
| Odysseus and Other Heroes | ||
| Greco-Roman Antiquity and US Minority Cultures | ||
| How to Run an Ancient Empire | ||
| Ancient Engineering | ||
| Development of Ancient Cities | ||
| Ancient Greek Sanctuaries | ||
| Gender & Sexuality in Greco-Roman Antiquity | ||
| Sports and Society in Greece and Rome | ||
| Introduction to Greek and Roman Theater | ||
| The Comic Imagination | ||
| The Archaeology of Greece | ||
| The Archaeology of Italy | ||
| Classics Internship | ||
| Topics in Classical Literature | ||
| Topics Classic Arch & Civ | ||
| Senior Thesis | ||
| Independent Reading (may be repeated up to 8 hours) | ||
| Decolonizing the Body: Love and Thought in the Poetry of C.P. Cavafy | ||
| Supporting coursework, a minor, or a second major in an area of study chosen by the student and approved by the Department of the Classics Director of Undergraduate Studies | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 44 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Classics, Classical Civilizations Concentration
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Free Elective course | 1 | CLCV course | 3 |
| CLCV course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Language Other than English (4th level) | 4 |
| Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | Free Elective course | 2 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 30 | |||
| Second Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CLCV course | 3 | CLCV course | 3 |
| CLCV course | 3 | CLCV course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 30 | |||
| Third Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CLCV course | 3 | CLCV 300-or 400-level course | 3 |
| CLCV 300-or 400-level course | 3 | Supporting Coursework | 3 |
| Supporting Coursework | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 30 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CLCV 300- or 400-level course | 3 | CLCV 300-or 400-level course | 3 |
| Supporting Coursework | 3 | Supporting coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 30 | |||
Total Hours: 120
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Classics, Classical Civilizations Concentration
- Acquire a detailed knowledge of the culture of Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, especially the broader historical, social, and cultural contexts and their development.
- Acquire familiarity with contemporary methods of cultural and historical analysis to facilitate self-directed inquiry of Ancient Greek and Roman cultures.
- Acquire an awareness of the place of Ancient Greek and Roman culture in the western tradition in order to understand connections between past and present.
- Acquire an appreciation of how the careful engagement with other cultures can facilitate new ways of understanding and interpreting one’s own contemporary culture.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Classics, Classical Civilizations Concentration
Department of Classics
Classics Faculty
classics@illinois.edu
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
overview of college admissions & requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences