Classics is the study of the literature, languages, cultures and societies of ancient Greece and Rome. It is one of the oldest of the liberal arts disciplines.
The popularity of movies like 300, Gladiator, and Troy, have renewed students' interest in mythology and the study of classics.
Whether you choose to major in Classics or just take a few classes of interest, students in this field are exposed to the history, literature, art and architecture, archaeology, language, and religion of ancient times. Many classes are in English but some offer the subject matter in its original format of Greek or Latin. Many pre-med majors also find that an introduction to Latin vocabulary serves as an exceptional preparation for medical school where much of the terminology originated from Latin.
What can you do with a Classics major? Classics is an original liberal arts field and is designed to prepare students for any type of profession that emphasizes critical analysis, reading of dense texts, and oral and written communication. Law school is a popular destination after college, though certainly not the only option. A student's career choices after college will be guided by how they applied their coursework to real world applications during college. A student who volunteered and interned in museums and galleries may find work in that industry. A student who obtained work experience during college in library reference may pursue that line of work after graduation. The possibilities are numerous, and all students are encouraged to gain practical experience that complements the major.
Course of Study – Bachelor of Arts Degree
Complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science and with 36 of the 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered above 300) courses.
The College requires that students must complete in residence at UWM at least 15 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in their major. The College also requires that students complete at least 30 credits overall in residence at UWM. For additional residency and transfer credit limitations, see L&S Undergraduate Policies and Regulations.
Students are also required to complete University-wide General Education Requirements and the specific L&S requirements listed below.
To complete a major, students must satisfy all the requirements of the major as stated in this catalog. Students who declare their majors within five years of entering the UW System as a degree candidate may satisfy the requirements outlined in any catalog issued since the time they entered. Credits used to satisfy the major also may be used to satisfy other degree requirements.
University General Education Requirements (GER)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Oral and Written Communication | ||
| Part A | ||
| Achieve a grade of C or better in the following course: | ||
| ENGLISH 102 | College Writing and Research (or equivalent) | |
| Part B | ||
| Course designated as OWC-B; may be completed through a major-specific course requirement | ||
| Quantitative Literacy | ||
| Part A | ||
| Earn at least 3 credits with a grade of C or higher in one of the following courses or an equivalent course, or achieve a placement code of at least 30 on the mathematics placement test (or other appropriate test, as determined by the Mathematical Sciences Department) | ||
| Mathematical Literacy for College Students II | ||
| Contemporary Applications of Mathematics | ||
| Introduction to College Algebra | ||
| Algebraic Literacy II | ||
| Introduction to Logic - Critical Reasoning 1 | ||
or PHILOS 111 | Introduction to Logic - Critical Reasoning | |
| College Algebra | ||
Or equivalent course | ||
| Part B | ||
| Course designated as QL-B; may be completed through a major-specific course requirement | ||
| Arts | ||
| Select 3 credits | 3 | |
| Humanities | ||
| Select 6 credits | 6 | |
| Social Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits (at least two courses including one lab) | 6 | |
| UWM Foreign Language Requirement | ||
| Complete Foreign Language Requirement through: | ||
Two years (high school) of a single foreign language | ||
Two semesters (college) of a single foreign language | ||
Or equivalent | ||
| UWM Cultural Diversity Requirement | ||
| One course from the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences must also satisfy UWM's Cultural Diversity requirement | ||
- 1
Math 111 and Philosophy 111 are jointly offered and count as repeats of one another. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.
College of Letters & Science Requirements
The degree requirements in the College of Letters and Science build on the University General Education Requirements to provide a broad base of knowledge as well as an array of skills cited by employers as critical to professional success: critical thinking, problem solving, oral and written communication, ability to work well with others, and adaptability to change.
For the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), you must complete the UWM General Education Requirements as well as these L&S requirements: the International requirement, the Breadth requirement, and the Research requirement. The International requirement develops your potential for cross-cultural understanding in a globalizing world. The Breadth requirement ensures that you take classes in a wide variety of subjects, across humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. The Research requirement calls for you to build your critical thinking and oral and written communication skills through conducting an independent research project, usually in your major.
For the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) you will also complete the Language other than English requirement, to further develop your understanding of cultures through language.
I. Total Credits and Upper-Division Courses Requirement
Students must complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science and with 36 of the 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered above 300) courses.
II. Language other than English Requirement
Students doing the BA must fulfill the language other than English requirement by either successfully completing the fourth semester of university work or equivalent in one language other than English, or by successfully completing the second semester of university work or equivalent in two languages other than English (including all world languages and American Sign Language).
Language courses (including American Sign Language) other than English taken in high school may be used to satisfy all or part of this requirement. One year of high school language equates to one semester of college work. Proficiency tests approved by the Languages faculty may be used to satisfy all or part of this requirement.
Completion of the L&S Language Requirement also satisfies the university-wide Language other than English GER, but not vice versa.
III. International Requirement
To meet the International Requirement, students must successfully complete some three course (minimum 9 credits) combination of
- language other than English (not including American Sign Language) at 3rd semester level or above, and/or
- non-language courses with L&S approved international content (see Courses Approved for the L&S International Requirement for course options).
IV. Breadth Requirement
In addition to completing the University General Education Requirements, L&S students must complete the Breadth requirement.
The L&S Breadth requirement calls for 6 credits each in L&S courses designated L&S Humanities, L&S Natural Sciences, and L&S Social Sciences breadth. One of the L&S Natural Science breadth courses must be a laboratory or fieldwork course. These courses must be beyond and in addition to courses in those areas used to satisfy General Education Requirements.
Please refer to the list of Courses Approved for the L&S Breadth Requirement.
V. The Major
The College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA in all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. Individual departments or programs may require higher GPAs for graduation. Some departmental majors require courses from other departments. Contact your major department for information on whether those credits will count as part of the major GPA. The College requires that students must complete in residence at UWM at least 15 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in their major.
Research Requirement
Within their majors, students must complete a research experience approved by the L&S faculty. A list of courses satisfying the research requirement in each major can be found here.
VI. The Minor
Students are encouraged to consider completing a minor, but it is not required. To complete a minor, the College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA in all credits in the minor attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all minor credits attempted, including any transfer work. The minor must contain at least 9 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 and above) courses.
Major Requirements
There are three major concentrations:
- Classical Civilization
- Ancient Greek Language and Literature
- Classical Latin Language and Literature
Students who major in a Classics Program concentration must complete at least 15 credits of the major in 300 level or above courses in residence at UWM. All students must complete a research experience in their major. The College requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at UWM, including any transfer work.
Classical Civilization Major Concentration
This concentration is intended for students who wish to study classical literature and culture without a focus on the original languages. Courses in ancient Greek and Latin are optional and may count toward fulfilling major requirements. A total of 15 credits of all courses in the major must be at the 300 level or above taken in residence at UWM.
Students must complete the L&S research requirement in the context of a Classic, Greek, or Latin course of their choosing at the 300 level or above, under the supervision of the instructor of that course. The student should inform the instructor of their intention to use the course for the L&S research requirement at the start of the course.
Completion of the major requires a minimum of 30 credits distributed as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Choose one from the following 100 level courses: | 3-4 | |
| Words Matter: How Greek and Latin Shape Our Language | ||
| Classical Mythology | ||
| First Semester Greek | ||
| First Semester Latin | ||
| Choose two from the following 200 level courses: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Greek Life and Literature | ||
| Introduction to Roman Life and Literature | ||
| Alexander the Great to Augustus | ||
| Ancient Egyptian Civilization | ||
| Select 9 additional credits in Classic, Greek, or Latin courses at the 300 level or above. Examples include the following: | 9 | |
| The Life and Literature of Classical Athens: Herodotus and Dramatists | ||
| War and Politics in Ancient Greece | ||
| The Life and Literature of the Roman Empire | ||
| The Graeco-Roman World: | ||
| Ancient Epic Oral Traditions | ||
| Ancient Greek Religion | ||
| Hittite Myth and History | ||
| Egyptian Mythology | ||
| Readings in Ancient Greek Literature: | ||
| Readings in Classical Greek Prose: | ||
| Readings in Ancient Greek Poetry: | ||
| Readings in Latin Literature: | ||
| Readings in Latin Prose: | ||
| Readings in Latin Poetry: | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select at least 12 credits (see below) | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 30-31 | |
Electives
For the remaining 12 credits, students may choose from among any Classic, Greek, or Latin courses or approved courses in related disciplines. Of these elective 12 credits, up to 9 credits can be taken in approved courses from the list below and at least 6 credits must be in courses at the 300 level or above.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Approved courses in related disciplines | ||
| ANTHRO 305 | The Celtic World | 3 |
| ANTHRO 306 | European Archaeology | 3 |
| ARTHIST 312 | Minoan and Mycenaean Art and Archaeology | 3 |
| ARTHIST 313 | Greek Art and Archaeology | 3 |
| ARTHIST 314 | Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East | 3 |
| ARTHIST 315 | Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt | 3 |
| ARTHIST 316 | Roman Art and Archaeology | 3 |
| ARTHIST 412 | Cities and Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece | 3 |
| ARTHIST 413 | Greek Sculpture | 3 |
| HIST 201 | The Ancient World: The Near East and Greece | 3 |
| CLASSIC/HIST 274 | Ancient Egyptian Civilization | 3 |
| HIST 202 | The Ancient World: The Roman Republic and Empire | 3 |
| HIST 303 | A History of Greek Civilization: The Greek City-State | 3 |
| HIST 304 | A History of Greek Civilization: The Age of Alexander the Great | 3 |
| HIST 307 | A History of Rome: The Republic | 3 |
| HIST 308 | A History of Rome: The Empire | 3 |
| HIST 370 | Topics in the History of Religious Thought: (Paganism in the Ancient World) | 3 |
| HIST 371 | Topics in European History: (Rome in the Age of Constantine – Society and Culture) | 3 |
| HIST 398 | Honors Seminar: (Pagans and Christians in the Roman Empire or Medicine and Healing in Ancient Greece and Rome) | 3 |
| PHILOS 430 | Great Thinkers of the Ancient Period | 3 |
| PHILOS 551 | Aristotle | 3 |
Ancient Greek Language and Literature Major Concentration
The Ancient Greek Language and Literature major concentration requires the completion of 33 credits, including the following. A total of 15 credits of all courses in the major must be at the 300 level or above taken in residence at UWM.
Students must complete the L&S research requirement in the context of a Classic, Greek, or Latin course of their choosing at the 300 level or above, under the supervision of the instructor of that course. The student should inform the instructor of their intention to use the course for the L&S research requirement at the start of the course.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| GREEK 103 | First Semester Greek | 4 |
| GREEK 104 | Second Semester Greek | 4 |
| GREEK 205 | Third Semester Greek (or equivalent) | 4 |
| CLASSIC 201 | Introduction to Greek Life and Literature | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select four additional courses in Greek at the 300 level or above | 12 | |
| Select six additional credits chosen from Greek, Latin, and/or Classic courses | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
Classical Latin Language and Literature Major Concentration
The Classical Latin Language and Literature concentration requires the completion of 33 credits, including the following. A total of 15 credits of all courses in the major must be at the 300 level or above taken in residence at UWM.
Students must complete the L&S research requirement in the context of a Classic, Greek, or Latin course of their choosing at the 300 level or above, under the supervision of the instructor of that course. The student should inform the instructor of their intention to use the course for the L&S research requirement at the start of the course.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| LATIN 103 | First Semester Latin | 4 |
| LATIN 104 | Second Semester Latin | 4 |
| LATIN 205 | Third Semester Latin (or equivalent) | 4 |
| CLASSIC 202 | Introduction to Roman Life and Literature | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select four additional courses in Latin courses at the 300 level or above | 12 | |
| Select six additional credits chosen from Latin, Greek, and/or Classic courses | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
Classics BA Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the Classics BA program will be able to:
- Understand, analyze, and contextualize textual and material remains of classical and ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern civilizations using the methods of one or more relevant disciplines (literary criticism, philology, history, archaeology, and art history).
- Locate, assess, and critique scholarly interpretations of textual and material evidence.
- Write clear and persuasive essays and research papers using the standard forms and conventions of one or more relevant disciplines.
- For students graduating with a language concentration: Use knowledge of syntax, morphology, and vocabulary to accurately read and analyze Greek or Latin texts.
- Understand, analyze, and contextualize foundational conceptions of statehood, governance, and citizenship in the classical tradition and their derivations in the modern world.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
The Undergraduate Faculty Advisor for Classics is Associate Professor Elisabetta Cova, covae@uwm.edu.
College of Letters and Science Dean's Honor List
GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.
Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.