Classics  {SF State Bulletin 2015 - 2016}

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Classics

 

College of Liberal & Creative Arts

Dean: Andrew Harris

 

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
Graduate Coordinator: Michael Anderson

 

Faculty

Professor: Leitão

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 Bachelor of Arts in Classics is an interdisciplinary program that 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 Master of Arts 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 graduate students must fulfill the same basic program requirements (see below), but will, with the help of an advisor, tailor their coursework and schedule of exams in accordance with their 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) that 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 graduate 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 undergraduate 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.

 

Complementary Studies

Bachelor of Arts students must complete at least twelve units of complementary studies outside of the primary prefix for the major. (Note: Students may not use an alternate prefix that is cross-listed with the primary prefix for the major.)

 

Students who complete two majors or a major and a minor automatically complete the complementary studies requirement. Additional ways to complete the CS requirements for students in the classics major is to complete 12 units in Greek (GRE) or Latin (LATN) or some combination.

 

Classics (B.A.) — 43 - 44 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

Core courses for all Classics Majors (12 units)

Three of the following:
Emphasis in Single Language (31 units)
Emphasis in Two Languages (32 units)
Emphasis in Classical Archaeology (31 units)
Emphasis in Philosophy (31 units)

 

Minor in Classics

Classics (Minor) — 18 - 19 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

Emphasis in Greek (19 units)

Emphasis in Latin (19 units)

Emphasis in Classical Archaeology (19 units)

Emphasis in Ancient Mediterranean Studies (18 units)

Master of Arts in Classics

Admission to the Program

The ideal applicant to the Master of Arts in Classics 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 graduate program, and submit directly to the department a two to three page statement of purpose, an eight to ten 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).

 

Classics (M.A.) — Minimum 30 units

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

Core Requirements (18 units)

Electives (9 units)

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.

Culminating Experience (3 units)

One of the following options:

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 or course for reading knowledge taken at SF State or elsewhere. This requirement must be satisfied by the end of the student’s third semester in the program.

 

 

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