Classics  {SF State Bulletin 2013 - 2014}

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Classics

College of Liberal & Creative Arts

Dean: Paul Sherwin

 

Department of Classics

HUM 377
Phone: 415-338-2068
E-mail: clas@sfsu.edu

Chair: David D. Leitão
Undergraduate Advisors: M. Anderson, D. Leitão, G. McIntosh, A. Pappas, D.G. Smith, P. Vaughn
Graduate Coordinator: Michael Anderson

 

Faculty

Professors: Leitão, Vaughn

Associate Professors: Anderson, Smith

Assistant Professors: McIntosh, Pappas

 

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 art and archaeology enables students to reconstruct ancient cultures and to examine critically the importance which they continue to have in the world of today. Students also learn the methods of archaeological, art historical, and philological approaches to the past. The student may choose from one of four emphases within the major: single ancient language (Latin or Greek); two ancient languages (Latin and Greek); classical archaeology; or ancient philosophy. Students who pursue the minor may choose one of four emphases: Greek language, Latin language; classical archaeology; or ancient Mediterranean studies.

 

Graduate Program. The M.A. in Classics introduces students to advanced methodologies used in the study of the ancient languages, the interpretation of ancient texts, and the analysis of material culture. All M.A. students must fulfill the same basic program requirements (see below), but each student will, with the help of an advisor, tailor his coursework and schedule of exams in accordance with his career plans.

 

Latin Teaching Credential. The department offers a Certification of Single Subject Matter Preparation in Latin, recognized by the State of California, for students interested in teaching Latin in California public middle and high schools.

 

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 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 12 units of core courses specified below. There are four emphases within the major.

 

Emphasis in Single Language. Students elect to concentrate on the study of Greek or Latin.

 

Emphasis in Two Languages. Students elect to concentrate on the study of 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 advisor regularly throughout their undergraduate years.

 

Classics Graduation Examination. All B.A. students must pass a graduation exam that tests oral and written skills in Latin and/or Greek. The exam has three parts: oral declamation of a prose passage; written transcription of a prose passage dictated by a test administrator; and oral declamation of passage of poetry (scansion) in dactylic hexameter.

 

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.

 

B.A. in Classics

Core courses for all Classics Majors

Course Title Units
CLAS 400 Approaches to Classics 3
Three of the following: 9
CLAS 410 Ancient Greek Literature
CLAS 415 Ancient Roman Literature
CLAR 420 Greek Art and Archeology
CLAR 425 Roman Art and Archeology

Total Core Units: 12

 

Emphasis in Single Language

Course Title Units
GRE 101/
GRE 202
    or
LATN 101/
LATN 202
Elementary Ancient Greek
Intermediate Ancient Greek
 
Elementary Latin
Intermediate Latin
10
4 upper-division Greek or Latin courses 12
3 electives on advisement 9

Total Units for Emphasis: 31

 

Emphasis in Two Languages:

Course Title Units
GRE 101/
GRE 202
Elementary Ancient Greek
Intermediate Ancient Greek
10
LATN 101/
LATN 202
Elementary Latin
Intermediate Latin
10
4 upper division courses in Greek and/or Latin 12

Total Units for Emphasis: 32

 

Emphasis in Classical Archaeology:

Course Title Units
GRE 101/
GRE 202
    or
LATN 101/
LATN 202
Elementary Ancient Greek
Intermediate Ancient Greek
 
Elementary Latin
Intermediate Latin
10
3 upper division courses in Greek or Latin 9
4 electives in Classical Archaeology 12

Total Units for Emphasis: 31

 

Emphasis in Philosophy

Course Title Units
GRE 101/
GRE 202
    or
LATN 101/
LATN 202
Elementary Ancient Greek
Intermediate Ancient Greek
 
Elementary Latin
Intermediate Latin
10
3 upper division course in Greek or Latin 9
3 electives taken in the Philosophy Department, on advisement 9
CLAS 490 History of Ideas in the Ancient Classical World 3

Total Units for Emphasis: 31

 

Total Units for B.A.: 43 - 44

 

Minor in Classics

Emphasis in Greek

Course Title Units
GRE 101/
GRE 202
Elementary Ancient Greek
Intermediate Ancient Greek
10
2 Upper-division courses in Greek 6
CLAS 410
    or
CLAR 420
Ancient Greek Literature
 
Greek Art and Archaeology
3

Total Units for Emphasis: 19

 

Emphasis in Latin

Course Title Units
LATN 101/
LATN 102
Elementary Latin
Intermediate Latin
10
2 Upper-division courses in Latin 6
CLAS 415
    or
CLAR 425
Ancient Roman Literature
 
Roman Art and Archaeology
3

Total Units for Emphasis: 19

 

Emphasis in Classical Archaeology

Course Title Units
GRE 101/
GRE 202
    or
LATN 101/
LATN 202
Elementary Ancient Greek
Intermediate Ancient Greek
 
Elementary Latin
Intermediate Latin
10
CLAR 420/
    or
CLAR 425
Greek Art and Archaeology
 
Roman Art and Archaeology
3
2 electives in Classical Archaeology 6

Total Units for Emphasis: 19

 

Emphasis in Ancient Mediterranean Studies

Course Title Units
CLAR 250 Archaelogy of the Ancient World 3
CLAS 490 History of Ideas in the Ancient Classical World 3
2 electives in Classics 6
2 electives in Classical Archaeology 6

Total Units for Emphasis: 18

 

Total Units for Minor: 18 - 19

 

Master of Arts in Classics

Admission to the Program

The ideal applicant to the M.A. program is someone with (1) undergraduate major in classics (or equivalent learning experience); and (2) sufficient proficiency in both Latin and Greek to take graduate seminars in those languages. The Graduate Division also requires that applicants have a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA. The department does admit students who have less than the ideal preparation described above; in those cases, the applicant is admitted conditionally (subject to meeting certain conditions for progress through the program).

 

Applicants must take the GRE, complete the online application to the MA program, and submit directly to the department a 2-3 page statement of purpose, an 8-10 page writing sample, and one letter of recommendation (sent directly by the recommender).

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Satisfied by the writing sample submitted as part of the application process.
Level Two: Satisfied by the culminating experience project (either the literature survey that accompanies the oral exam (CLAS 896) or the thesis (CLAS 898).

 

On-line course descriptions are available.

 

Core Requirements

Course Title Units
CLAS 700 Proseminar in Classical Studies: Texts and Contexts 3
CLAS 720 Seminars in Classical Languages and Literature (variable topic) 3
CLAR 820 - 890 Seminars in Classical Archaeology--Cultures and Civilizations 3
Choose one additional course from either CLAS 720 or CLAR 820 - 890. 3
Graduate courses in ancient literature (courses with GRE and/or LATN prefixes) 6
Electives
Three electives, one of which may be from outside the department. All electives taken within the department (CLAS, CLAR, GRE, LATN) must be graduate level. Any course taken outside of the department must be approved by an advisor; such a course may be upper division. 9
Culminating Experience
One of the following options: 3
CLAS 896 Directed Reading in Classics and
    Master's Comprehensive Oral Examination
CLAS 898 Master's Thesis and Prospectus

Minimum total: 30

 

Comprehensive Oral Examination. Upon completion of course work, the student not writing a thesis must pass a comprehensive oral examination administered by a committee of at least two faculty members on a specified group of works in the student's area of emphasis.

 

Master's Thesis and Prospectus. A written and oral presentation of the thesis prospectus is required before the writing of the thesis. The student's committee of at least two faculty members must approve the prospectus before the student files the Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement form with the Graduate Division.

 

Written M.A. Examinations

Upon completion of course work, students must pass two of the following exams: Greek Translation; Latin Translation; Classical Archaeology.

 

Modern Language Requirement

Students must demonstrate proficiency in at least one modern language (French, German, or Italian) by passing a two-hour translation examination (with dictionary), set by the department; or by obtaining a minimum grade of B in one upper division foreign language course at SF State or in a course for reading knowledge.

 

 

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