Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in Classical Studies
Program Learning Outcomes for the BA Degree with a Major in Classical Studies
Upon completing the BA degree with a major in Classical Studies, students will be able to:
- Identify and research texts, artifacts, institutions, personalities, places, and events that are integral to ancient Greek and Roman culture and contextualize them culturally and historically.
- Analyze and critically evaluate the significance of the aforementioned texts, artifacts, institutions, personalities, places, and events.
- Communicate both orally and in writing the historical significance of ancient Greek and Roman culture and their continuing influence on the modern world.
- Relate classical civilization to the modern world, and appreciate the profound influence classical civilization has had and continues to have on global culture.
Requirements for the BA Degree with a Major in Classical Studies
For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BA degree with a major in Classical Studies must complete:
- A minimum of 10 courses (30 credit hours) to satisfy major requirements.
- A minimum of 120 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) taken at the 300-level or above.
- A maximum of 4 courses (12 credit hours) from study abroad or transfer credit. For additional program guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab.
- The requirements for one area of specialization (see below for areas of specialization). The BA degree with a major in Classical Studies offers two areas of specialization:
The Classical Studies major offers instruction in the Greek and Latin languages, in Greek and Roman literature (studied in the original and in translation), in the classical civilizations surveyed as a whole, and in particular themes, genres, and periods of classical culture and their influence through subsequent ages. The program caters to students who wish to prepare for graduate school in classics as well as to students interested in Greek and Roman culture for other reasons and wish to take a less specialized approach. The program provides maximum flexibility without sacrifice of focus. Students will be able to explore ancient Greece and Rome from a variety of different angles and with whatever emphasis best suits their individual needs and goals.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the major’s academic advisor or, where applicable, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Classical Studies | 30 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the BA Degree with a Major in Classical Studies | 120 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| GREEK CIVILIZATION AND ITS LEGACY | ||
| ROMAN CIVILIZATION AND ITS LEGACY | ||
| CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY: INTERPRETATION, ORIGINS, AND INFLUENCE | ||
| INTRO TO INDO-EUROPEAN | ||
| Area of Specialization | ||
| Select 1 from the following Areas of Specialization (see Areas of Specialization below): | 24 | |
Classical Civilizations | ||
Classical Languages | ||
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Classical Studies 1 | 30 | |
| Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements * | 59 | |
| University Graduation Requirements * | 31 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| * | Note: University Graduation Requirements include 31 credit hours, comprised of Distribution Requirements (Groups I, II, and III), FWIS, and LPAP coursework. In some instances, courses satisfying FWIS or distribution requirements may additionally meet other requirements, such as the Analyzing Diversity (AD) requirement, or some of the student’s declared major, minor, or certificate requirements. Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements include general electives, coursework completed as upper-level, residency (hours taken at Rice), and/or any other additional academic program requirements. |
| 1 | A minimum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) must be taken at the 300-level or above. |
Areas of Specialization
Students must complete the requirements as listed for one of the following areas of specialization as offered by the Classical Studies major. A total of 8 courses (24 credit hours) must be taken in the area of specialization.
Area of Specialization: Classical Civilizations
Students must complete a total of 8 courses (24 credit hours) as listed below to satisfy the requirements for the area of specialization in Classical Civilizations.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 8 courses from Classical Studies (CLAS), Greek (GREE), or Latin (LATI) course offerings 1 | 24 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 24 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| 1 | A minimum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) must be taken at the 300-level or above. |
Area of Specialization: Classical Languages
Students must complete a total of 8 courses (24 credit hours) as listed below to satisfy the requirements for the area of specialization in Classical Languages.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 1 course from Greek (GREE) course offerings at the 200-level or above | 3 | |
| Select 1 course from Latin (LATI) course offerings at the 200-level or above | 3 | |
| Select 1 from the following: | 3 | |
Select 1 course from Greek (GREE) at the 300-level or above | ||
Select 1 course from Latin (LATI) at the 300-level or above | ||
| Select 5 courses from Classical Studies (CLAS), Greek (GREE), or Latin (LATI) course offerings 1 | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 24 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| 1 | A minimum of 1 course (3 credit hours) must be taken at the 300-level or above. |
Policies for the BA Degree with a Major in Classical Studies
Program Restrictions and Exclusions
Students pursuing the major in Classical Studies should be aware of the following program restrictions:
- Students pursuing the major in Classical Studies may not additionally declare the minor in Classical Civilizations.
- Students pursuing the major in Classical Studies may not additionally declare the minor in Greek Language and Literature.
- Students pursuing the major in Classical Studies may not additionally declare the minor in Latin Language and Literature.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the designated transfer credit advisor for the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content). The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with the applicable transfer credit advisor as well as their academic program director when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the major in Classical Studies should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guideline:
- No more than 4 courses (12 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards the major.
Distribution Credit Information
The determination of distribution credit eligibility is done initially as part of the new course creation process. Additionally, as part of an annual roll call coordinated each Spring by the Office of the Registrar, course distribution credit eligibility is routinely reviewed and reaffirmed by the Dean’s Offices of each of the academic schools.
Faculty and leadership in the academic schools are responsible for ensuring that the courses identified as distribution-credit-eligible meet the criteria as set in the General Announcements. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet graduation requirements by completing coursework designated as distribution-credit-eligible at the time of course registration.
Distribution courses from the Department of Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures are broad in theme and scope and provide students with a substantial inquiry into literature, art, media, history, thought, and/or politics, including specific national traditions, linguistic contexts, and historical periods. Such courses involve a broad and often interdisciplinary spectrum of knowledge, providing students with the tools for thinking critically about the formation of modern culture, its colonial past, and its national and linguistic traditions from antiquity to the present.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures website: https://cultures.rice.edu/.
Opportunities for the BA Degree with a Major in Classical Studies
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures website: https://cultures.rice.edu/.