Classical Mediterranean and Middle East Major | Classical Mediterranean and Middle East Minor

General Distribution Requirement

All regular courses in the Department of the Classical Mediterranean and Middle East count toward the general distribution requirement in humanities except for elementary and intermediate language courses, CLAS 260, CLAS 270 and CLAS 283CLAS 260 and CLAS 283 count toward the fine arts general distribution requirement; CLAS 270 counts toward the social science general distribution.

General Education Requirements

Courses that meet the general education requirements in writing, quantitative thinking, internationalism and U.S identities and differences will be posted on the Registrar's web page in advance of registration for each semester.

Additional information regarding the general distribution requirement and the general education requirements can be found in the graduation requirements section of this catalog.

Honors Program

The Department of the Classical Mediterranean and Middle East participates in the honors program. Eligibility requirements, application procedures and specific project expectations for the department are available from either the department office or the Academic Programs and Advising Office.

Policy on Arabic, Greek, Hebrew and Latin Language Grades

In order to be accepted into the next higher language course in the Arabic, Greek, Hebrew or Latin sequences, a student must have received a grade of C- or higher in the previous course. For additional information regarding the language requirement, see the College requirements.

Topics Courses

CLAS 194, CLAS 294, CLAS 394, CLAS 494 

Occasional and often experimental courses focusing on special topics of interest to faculty and students. Recent offerings have included Rhyming Worlds: Hebrew and Arabic Poetry through the Middle Ages; Frenemies: The Byzantine Empire and Islamic Caliphate; Trauma and Drama; and Ancient Healing and Medicine. To be announced at registration. (4 credits)

Independent Study

The department offers independent study options in the form of tutorials, independent projects, internships, preceptorships and Honors independent projects. For more information contact the department and review the Curriculum section of the catalog.

Classical Mediterranean and Middle East Major

Major Requirements

Students earn a major by choosing among three tracks: Classical Civilization, Classical Archaeology or Classical Languages. Students should work carefully with their selected advisor to choose a track and a list of courses that match their interests and goals, but suggestions and guidelines can be found on the department website.

Classical Civilization

A major with an emphasis in Classical Civilization consists of at least ten courses and a study away experience. Courses must include:

a) CLAS 101 The Classical Mediterranean and Middle East

b) a context course providing a deep historical perspective on the classical periods of the Mediterranean and Middle East. These courses are numbered 121-191 in the department:

Occasionally courses may be counted from topics courses within the Department of the Classical Mediterranean and Middle East or from courses of other departments or from study abroad programs that survey classical periods of Mediterranean and/or Middle Eastern history. Pre-approval must be obtained from the chair of the department and noted in DegreeWorks.

c) study in a classical language to include at least one course at the intermediate level (Greek, Latin, Hebrew or Arabic);

d) a course that includes a major research project prior to the Senior Seminar,

e) CLAS 490 - Senior Seminar

f) and electives chosen from the offerings of the department. Select courses from other departments may be substituted when approved in advance by the Department of the Classical Mediterranean and Middle East. Please have this approval noted in DegreeWorks.

Classical Archaeology

A major with an emphasis in Classical Archaeology consists of at least ten courses, a study away experience and a field experience. Courses are to include:

a) CLAS 101 The Classical Mediterranean and Middle East

b) a context course providing a deep historical perspective on the classical periods of the Mediterranean and Middle East. These courses are numbered 121-191 in the department:

Occasionally courses may be counted from topics courses within the Department of the Classical Mediterranean and Middle East or from courses of other departments or from study abroad programs that survey classical periods of Mediterranean and/or Middle Eastern history. Pre-approval must be obtained from the chair of the department and noted in DegreeWorks.

c) study in a classical language to include at least one course at the intermediate level (Greek, Latin, Hebrew or Arabic)

d) CLAS 223 - Introduction to Archaeology

e) a course which includes a major research project prior to the Senior Seminar

f) CLAS 490 Senior Seminar, and

g) electives from the following, or a course otherwise approved in advance by the department:

Archaeology majors must also gain some form of field experience, such as participating in an excavation, interning in a museum, or pursuing study away that involves archaeological learning in an archival, laboratory or field context.

Classical Languages

A major with an emphasis in Classical Languages consists of at least ten courses and a study away experience. Courses must include:

a) CLAS 101 The Classical Mediterranean and Middle East

b) a context course providing a deep historical perspective on the classical periods of the Mediterranean and Middle East. These courses are numbered 121-191 in the department:

Occasionally courses may be counted from topics courses within the Department of the Classical Mediterranean and Middle East or from courses of other departments or from study abroad programs that survey classical periods of Mediterranean and/or Middle Eastern history. Pre-approval must be obtained from the chair of the department and noted in DegreeWorks.

c) seven courses involving classical languages and literatures in the original language (Greek, Latin, Hebrew or Arabic). Courses must be taken in at least two different languages and involve at least one class at the advanced level.*

d) a course which includes a major research project prior to the Senior Seminar

e) CLAS 490 - Senior Seminar.

* Seven courses in Arabic or six courses in Arabic plus an additional context course fulfills these requirements.

Study Away

Majors in all three tracks are required to study away. Students are encouraged to study in the Mediterranean region during this experience, but may participate in any approved program. In addition to semester abroad programs, all of the department’s international offerings, including January in Rome, January in Turkey and summer archaeological excavations, fulfill the study away requirement, as do other January and summer programs approved in advance by the department.

Classical Mediterranean and Middle East Minor

Minor Requirements

A minor with an emphasis in Classical Civilization consists of five courses to include: a) one context course providing a deep historical perspective on the classical periods of the Mediterranean and/or Middle East (CLAS 101 The Classical Mediterranean and Middle East ; CLAS 121 - The Greek World; CLAS 122 - The Roman World; CLAS 127 - Women, Gender and Sexuality in Ancient Greece and Rome; CLAS 129 - Greek Myths; CLAS 130 - Early Arab and Persian Empires; CLAS 135 - India and Rome; CLAS 145 - Pagans, Christians and Jews in Classical Antiquity: Cultures in Conflict; CLAS 155 - January in Rome: The Art, Archaeology, and Urban History of Ancient Rome) and b) four other courses from the offerings of the department.

A minor with an emphasis in Classical Archaeology consists of five courses to include: (CLAS 101 The Classical Mediterranean and Middle East; CLAS 121 - The Greek World; CLAS 122 - The Roman World; CLAS 127 - Women, Gender and Sexuality in Ancient Greece and Rome; CLAS 129 - Greek Myths; CLAS 130 - Early Arab and Persian Empires; CLAS 135 - India and Rome; CLAS 145 - Pagans, Christians and Jews in Classical Antiquity: Cultures in Conflict; CLAS 155 - January in Rome: The Art, Archaeology, and Urban History of Ancient Rome); b) CLAS 223 - Introduction to Archaeology; and c) three other archaeology electives offered or approved by the department. (See under Major in Classical Archaeology for a full list.)

A minor with an emphasis in Classical Languages consists of five courses to include: (CLAS 101 The Classical Mediterranean and Middle East; CLAS 121 - The Greek World; CLAS 122 - The Roman World; CLAS 127 - Women, Gender and Sexuality in Ancient Greece and Rome; CLAS 129 - Greek Myths; CLAS 130 - Early Arab and Persian Empires; CLAS 135 - India and Rome; CLAS 145 - Pagans, Christians and Jews in Classical Antiquity: Cultures in Conflict; CLAS 155 - January in Rome: The Art, Archaeology, and Urban History of Ancient Rome); b) four other courses from the Greek, Latin, Hebrew and/or Arabic offerings of the department, including at least one at the intermediate level.