Ancient Cultures Concentration
Ten courses in ancient studies, at least six of which must be at the 300 level or above. At least one must be an archaeology course. The remaining courses may be chosen from any of the groups below. To ensure the interdisciplinary nature of the program, students must take courses from at least three groups. No more than three of these ten courses may be chosen from any one group except in the case of the language group, where no such restriction applies. In addition to achieving intermediate proficiency in at least one ancient language, students must take at least two additional courses in either an ancient language or an appropriate symbolic language. These two courses may be any two advanced courses (above the intermediate level) in the first ancient language; any two courses at any level in a second ancient language; or any two courses in mathematics and/or computer science above MAT 162 (Calculus II) and CSC 120 (Computer Science I). Students who use a symbolic language (mathematics or computer science) instead of an ancient language for this two-course requirement still must take at least ten courses in ancient studies.
Learning Goal
Achieve a critical awareness of (a) important historical and social dimensions of multiple cultures from the ancient world; (b) various tools and methods used in the study of those cultures; and (c) the relevance of these issues, tools, and methods for the study of humans in other cultures and time periods.
Objectives
- Students will study and demonstrate an appreciation for the material culture of the ancient world and the significance of such study for understanding an ancient society.
- Students will read extensively in primary textual sources (in translation) and demonstrate competency in the use of those sources for the study of historical and social developments in the ancient world.
- Students will explore scholarly points of view on the ancient world and demonstrate an ability to utilize and assess such scholarship.
- Students will study one or more relevant languages and demonstrate an intermediate proficiency in at least one ancient language.
- Students will become familiar with broader theoretical frameworks that help to integrate the study of ancient cultures into research in other relevant fields.
Integrated Learning Requirement
Majors in Ancient Studies must strengthen their skills in the study of antiquity by taking three complementary courses in the College of Arts and Sciences. No more than two of these courses may be taken in any one department. Students have considerable flexibility in choosing these courses because familiarity with a wide variety of issues, methods, and tools is vital to the study of antiquity. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the major (especially the Ancient Cultures concentration), the boundary between courses in the major and courses in the integrated learning requirement is inherently fluid. The three courses needed for the integrated learning requirement may be drawn from programs and departments that focus on (1) relevant cultural and historical contexts; (2) methodologies that are applied in the study of antiquity; (3) research tools that are employed in the study of antiquity. More specific recommendations are below, but students should consult with their advisors to determine what courses are best suited to their own interests. Courses listed in some departments may have prerequisites.
- Recommended for students in the Classics concentration interested in certification in Latin for Secondary Education: Students should take the required courses for certification. These include at least one linguistics course, which may be chosen from the following: LIN 101 Introduction to Linguistics; LIN 470 Topics in Linguistics. Students should also take the necessary educational courses, which include: EDU 150 Schools in Society; EDU 151 Educational Psychology; EDU 414-415 Instructional Techniques for Foreign Languages. Note that prerequisites for EDU 151 include PSY 100 Introductory Psychology.
- Recommended for other Students in the Classics concentration: Any three courses in ART, CSC, HIS, LIN, MAT, PHL, REL, or SOC that may complement the major concentration, chosen in consultation with the student's advisor. These courses may include other courses in ancient studies that are outside the field of Classics.
- Recommended for students in both the Classics concentration and Ancient Cultures concentration interested in archaeology: Students may take any courses in BIO, CHM, CSC, MAT, PHY, SOC beyond the courses used to satisfy the GEP and major requirements.
- Recommended for other students in the Ancient Cultures concentration: Any three courses in relevant cultures, history, language, methodologies, or research tools that may complement the major concentration.