Classics, BA
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.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 30 | |
| L&S Requirements (general and major requirements) | 75 | |
| Electives | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Credit numbers reflect total possible credits towards degree. Due to the ability to count courses towards more than one requirement, credit amounts will vary. Please work with your academic advisor on your plan of study.
Preparatory Coursework
Based on individual placement results, some students may be required to complete preparatory coursework before enrolling in the courses listed here. This may include English language or composition preparation, developmental math, introductory chemistry, and/or student support courses for students participating in the First Year Bridge program.
General Education Requirements (GER)
UW-Milwaukee has General Education Requirements that must be met in order to earn a bachelor’s or associate degree. They include at minimum 30 credits (10 courses) in six categories that are designed to assure basic student competencies and provide a broad body of knowledge as a context for specialization.
Some degree requirements may fulfill GERs. Please review the requirements and consult with your academic advisor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Categories and Credits | ||
| Civics and Perspectives (CP) | 6 | |
| Communication and Literacy (CL) | 6 | |
| Humanities and Arts (HA) | 6 | |
| Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (MQR) | 3 | |
| Natural Science and Wellness (NSW/NSWL) | 6 | |
| Social and Behavioral Science (SBS) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Letters and Science Course of Study – Bachelor of Arts Degree
Complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science with 36 of the 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered 300 or above) 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.
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.), students must complete the UWM General Education Requirements as well as these L&S requirements: the International requirement, the Breadth requirement, a Natural Science Lab requirement, the Research requirement, and a Language other than English requirement. The International requirement develops student potential for cross-cultural understanding in a globalizing world. The Breadth requirement ensures that students take classes in a wide variety of subjects, across humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. The Research requirement calls for students to build critical thinking and oral and written communication skills through conducting an independent research project in their major. The Language other than English requirement further develops student proficiency in a language other than English. And, the requirement that students take an L&S Natural Science lab ensures exposure to and practice with the scientific method in action.
I. Total Credits and Upper-Division Courses Requirement
Students must complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science with 36 of those 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered 300 and above) courses.
II. Language other than English Requirement
Students doing the B.A. must fulfill a 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 languages other than English 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.
III. International Requirement
To meet the International Requirement, students must successfully complete some two-course (minimum 6 credits) combination of:
- Courses with L&S approved international content (see Courses Approved for the L&S International Requirement for course options).
- Any study abroad course(s).
Students who graduate secondary school in a country other than the U.S. are exempt from this requirement.
IV. Breadth Requirement
In addition to completing the University General Education Requirements, L&S students must complete the Breadth requirement to obtain deeper experience across our three substantive divisions.
The L&S Breadth requirement calls for 9 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 include a laboratory or fieldwork experience.
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. Students should contact their 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 taken at UWM.
Major Requirements
Listed below are the requirements for the Classics Major. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all credits taken at UWM and a cumulative GPA 2.0 on all credits taken at UWM plus any transfer credits. Students must consult with their college advisor and the Classics Program Coordinator to ensure they stay on track to complete their Classics degree.
A Classics major includes course work of the student’s choosing in Classics, Greek, or Latin courses and, if desired, up to 9 elective credits at the 300 level and above from related disciplines, for a minimum total of 30 credits. At least 15 of the 30 credits must be completed at the 300 level or above taken in residence at UWM.
Students must complete the L&S research or the Classics major capstone 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. Students seeking to use a course to satisfy the L&S research requirement must seek approval of the course instructor in advance.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Choose at least nine credits from among any of the 100- or 200-level courses offered from Classics, Greek, and Latin: | 9 | |
| Words Matter: How Greek and Latin Shape Our Language | ||
| Classical Mythology | ||
| Introduction to Greek Life and Literature | ||
| Introduction to Roman Life and Literature | ||
| Alexander the Great to Augustus | ||
| Internship in Classics, Lower Division | ||
| UROP Apprenticeship | ||
| Study Abroad: | ||
| Ad Hoc: | ||
| First Semester Greek | ||
| Second Semester Greek | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Third Semester Greek | ||
| Internship in Greek, Lower Division | ||
| Ad Hoc: | ||
| First Semester Latin | ||
| Second Semester Latin | ||
| Intensive Latin | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Third Semester Latin | ||
| Internship in Latin, Lower Division | ||
| Ad Hoc: | ||
| Choose at least nine credits from among any of the 300- to 500-level courses offered from Classics, Greek, and Latin: | 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 | ||
| Internship in Classics, Upper Division | ||
| Study Abroad: | ||
| Ad Hoc: | ||
| Directed Reading | ||
| Readings in Ancient Greek Literature: | ||
| Internship in Greek, Upper Division | ||
| Ad Hoc: | ||
| Readings in Classical Greek Prose: | ||
| Readings in Ancient Greek Poetry: | ||
| Directed Reading | ||
| Readings in Latin Literature: | ||
| Internship in Latin, Upper Division | ||
| Ad Hoc: | ||
| Readings in Latin Prose: | ||
| Readings in Latin Poetry: | ||
| Latin Prose Composition | ||
| Directed Reading | ||
| Electives (see below) | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Electives
For the 12 remaining elective credits, choose at least 3 credits from among any Classic, Greek, or Latin courses and up to 9 credits from courses in related disciplines from the list below. At least 6 of the 12 total elective credits must be 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 |
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.