Bulletin

Classics

College of Humanities
Dean: Nancy McDermid

Department of Classics
HUM 377
415-338-2068
Chair: Barbara McLauchlin
Undergraduate Advisers: Stanley, Vaughn
Graduate Coordinator: McLauchlin

Faculty

Professors—Bertrand, Stanley

Associate Professors—Ellis, L., McLauchlin

Assistant Professor—Vaughn

Lecturer—Bernstein, M.

Programs

B.A. in Classics

Minor in Classics

M.A. in Classics

Program Scope

Undergraduate Program. The B.A. in Classics is an interdisciplinary program which provides students with the means to explore the ancient cultures of the Mediterranean and Near East, including Egypt. The study of ancient languages, literature (in the original languages and in translation), and the materials of daily life enables students to reconstruct ancient cultures and to examine critically the importance which they maintain in the world of today. Students also learn the methods of archaeological, art historical, and philological approaches to the past.

The student may choose one of several emphases within the major and minor: in a single ancient language (Latin or Greek), in two ancient languages (Latin and Greek), in Classical Archaeology or in Philosophy.

Graduate Program. The M.A. in Classics emphasizes the advanced study of the ancient Greek and/or Latin languages and literature, in the cultural and historical context of the Mediterranean world. The program provides students with the basic methods and skills of classical scholarship, as well as with the opportunity to explore related areas of classical studies, such as archaeology and philosophy. The graduate program in classics is designed to guide the student in a study of individual authors and problems in literary and historical periods, literary genres, and cultural history.

The student may select a field of emphasis in one of four areas of study: Latin, Greek, Classics, or Classical Archaeology.

Career Outlook

The undergraduate degree in classics is designed for students who wish to gain an interdisciplinary and broad liberal arts education. Students will find training in classics valuable in professional programs (in law or medicine, for example) which increasingly emphasize the importance of the humanities. The undergraduate degree also provides a sound foundation for students who wish to continue work in classics at the graduate level.

The classics major with an emphasis in a single language (Latin) is approved by the State of California as a subject matter preparation program for the Single Subject Teaching Credential in Foreign Languages.

The M.A. degree is of particular value for students who intend to pursue a doctoral degree in classics or who plan to teach at the high school or community college levels. Students with goals in other academic areas, including museum studies, history, philosophy, theology, modern languages, or comparative literature, can also benefit from a master's degree in classics.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN CLASSICS

All Classics majors are expected to take nine units of core courses specified below. There are three basic emphases within the major.

Emphasis in Language. Students elect to concentrate on the study of Greek, Latin, or both Greek and Latin.

Emphasis in Classical Archaeology. Students elect to concentrate on the study of Classical Archaeology.

Emphasis in Philosophy. Students elect to concentrate on the study of Classical or Medieval Philosophy (this emphasis involves taking courses in the Philosophy Department and in the Classics Department).

Advising

To insure adequate planning of a student's program, all majors must consult an adviser regularly throughout their undergraduate years.

Courses for this program are listed in alphabetical sequence (see Classics discipline in the "Announcement of Courses" section).

Core Courses for All Classics Majors

							Units
CLAS 410	Classical Culture: Greece or
	CLAS 415	Classical Culture: Rome		 3
CLAR 507-508	Ancient Roman Civilization (3 each) or
	CLAR 515-516	Ancient Greek Civilization 
			(3 each)			 6
Field of Emphasis (chosen from alternatives below)	36
		Total for the major			45

Emphasis in Language

Concentration in a single language:

Greek or Latin						27
CLAS 360	Greek and Roman Mythology 
		(or equivalent)				 3
Upper division electives on advisement			 6

Concentration in two languages:

Greek							12
Latin							12
Upper division courses in either Greek or Latin*	 9
CLAS 360	Greek and Roman Mythology (or 
		equivalent)				 3

Emphasis in Classical Archaeology

Greek and/or Latin* **					18
Upper division course in either Greek or Latin		 3
Upper division courses in Classical Archaeology 
(excluding core courses)				15

Emphasis in Philosophy

Greek or Latin						12
Upper division courses in either Greek or Latin		 3
Selected course offerings of the Philosophy Department 
on advisement						21

*Three to six units of Sanskrit may be substituted in this category.

**Students interested in Egyptian archaeology may use three units of CLAR 502 as partial fulfillment of this requirement.

MINOR IN CLASSICS

Core Courses for all Classics minors

							Units
CLAR 507-508	Ancient Roman Civilization (3 each) or
	CLAR 515-516	Ancient Greek Civilization 
			(3 each)			 6
CLAS 360	Greek and Roman Mythology		 3
Field of Emphasis (chosen from either of the 
alternatives below)					20
		Total for the minor			29

Emphasis in Language

Greek or Latin						17
Upper division electives on advisement			 3

Emphasis in Classical Archaeology

Greek and/or Latin					14
Upper division courses in Classical Archaeology		 6

MASTER OF ARTS IN CLASSICS

Admission to the Program

Students interested in this program must have:

An undergraduate major in Classics (or equivalent learning experience involving Latin and/or Greek).
A grade point average of 3.0 in the undergraduate major or consent of the department graduate adviser.
Sufficient proficiency in at least one classical language (Latin or Greek) so that the student can take graduate seminars in that language.

Students who have not met all of these requirements may be admitted to the program conditionally, with the consent of the graduate adviser, but cannot be advanced to candidacy until all requirements are met.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: the research paper required by the first seminar in a classical language must be over ten pages in length and demonstrate first level proficiency in written English to meet the approval of a committee of three Classics faculty members. Level Two: if a thesis is written, it must be suitable for publication. If a thesis is not written, the candidate's final seminar research paper is reviewed by the faculty committee of three.

Advancement to Candidacy

Besides meeting all general requirements for advancement to candidacy, applicants must, in addition, have completed with grades of B or better, two graduate seminars in one or more of the classical languages.

Courses for this program are listed in alphabetical sequence (see Classics discipline in the "Announcement of Courses" section). With the approval of the graduate adviser, all upper division courses offered by the Department of Classics may be considered for the master's degree.

							Units
CLAS 720	Seminar in Classical Languages and 
		Literature				  6
CLAR 820	Seminar in Classical Archaeology, 
		Cultures, and Civilizations		3-6
Courses selected from the following graduate offerings 
of other departments (or other courses upon approval 
of the Classics graduate adviser)			6-9
	HIST 710	Seminar in Ancient and Medieval 
			History
	PHIL 770	Seminar in a Classical Author
	PHIL 772	Seminar in a Classical College
	PHIL 775	Seminar in the History of 
			Philosophy
	WCL 896		Directed Reading (when topic 
			involves study of a classical 
			area)
Upper division or graduate courses in ancient 
literature (readings in the original languages)		6-9
Upper division or graduate courses in ancient 
literature (readings in the original languages) or 
courses in classical culture and civilization, art, 
archaeology						3-6
One of the following options:				  3
	CLAS 898	Master's Thesis
	One additional upper division or graduate 
		Classics course and
	Master's Comprehensive Oral Examination
		Minimum total				 30
and Written Ancient Language and Modern Language Examinations

Examination and Research Options

Written Ancient Language Examination

Upon completion of the course work, the student must pass a written translation examination on a specified group of works in the ancient language(s) in which s/he has specialized.

Comprehensive Oral Examination

Upon completion of the course work, the student not writing a master's thesis must take a comprehensive oral examination administered by a committee of three faculty members on a specified group of works in the literature, history, and culture of the ancient civilization in which s/he has specialized.

Master's Thesis

Each candidate who selects the option of a Master's Thesis must submit a draft. After the draft is approved by a three-member faculty committee, the Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement form is signed and filed in the Graduate Division. A final conference for approval of the completed thesis is held with the candidate and student's thesis committee.

Modern Language Requirement

Prior to the awarding of the Master of Arts in Classics, students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of one of the following modern languages at the upper division level: French, German, or Italian. Students may substitute an equivalent knowledge of another modern language upon approval of the department chair and the graduate adviser.

Bulletin 1994-96 Table of Contents, SFSU Home Page

last modified June 1, 1995