The Classics: Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations major at UNH explores fundamental questions of human life through the study of ancient Greek and Roman history, language, mythology, politics, and culture. This program offers flexibility to include courses on neighboring regions in Europe, North Africa, and the Near East, making it ideal for double majors. Students are encouraged to pursue interests in related fields like archaeology and ancient philosophy. Students earn a cutting-edge liberal arts education and have access to a range of courses and opportunities, including a January-term course in Rome, and programs in Greece and Budapest.
What is the study of ancient Mediterranean civilizations?
In studying the classics, you’ll explore fundamental questions of human life and discover how these have been answered by thinkers, artists and writers from the ancient world. You’ll study topics including ancient Greek and Roman history, language, mythology, politics and culture. The flexibility of the ancient Mediterranean civilizations degree option provides the opportunity to take courses covering neighboring populations in Europe, North Africa and the Near East. The program is well-suited for students wishing to pursue a double major.
Why study ancient Mediterranean civilizations at UNH?
At UNH, you’ll have the opportunity to pursue your own interests and will be encouraged to study course offerings outside the classics department in areas such as archaeology, ancient philosophy, linguistics and English literature. We are part of the consortium of universities that supports the Intercollegiate Center for the Classical Studies in Rome, and our department also manages a popular January-term course in the ancient city, as well as programs in Greece and Budapest.
Potential careers
- Business owner
- Diplomat
- Government consultant
- Journalist
- Lawyer
- Linguist
- Museum curator
- Teacher
- Translator
- Writer
Curriculum & Requirements
The Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations (AMC) option balances language study with the opportunity for students to select from a wide range of courses covering many aspects of the Greek and Roman worlds, as well as the neighboring peoples in Europe, North Africa and the Near East. The flexibility of this option makes it especially attractive for students who wish to double major in another subject. It is generally not suitable, however, for those who wish to pursue related graduate study or a career in teaching Latin. AMC majors can, however, supplement the requirements with additional coursework to keep these options open.
Sample Degree Plan
This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| LATN 401 or GREK 401 | Elementary Latin I or Elementary Classical Greek I | 4 |
| CLAS 401 | Classical Mythology | 4 |
| ENGL 401 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| LATN 402 or GREK 402 | Elementary Latin II or Elementary Classical Greek II | 4 |
| CLAS 404 | Introduction to Roman Civilization | 4 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Elective or Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| LATN 503 or GREK 503 | Intermediate Latin I or Intermediate Classical Greek I | 4 |
| CLAS 520A | Classical Society, Politics and Ethics: Democracies and Republics | 4 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| LATN 504 or GREK 504 | Intermediate Latin II or Intermediate Classical Greek II | 4 |
| CLAS Course | 4 | |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| LATN 605 or GREK 753 | Readings in Latin Literature (or Elective Course) or Advanced Study in Athenian Literature | 4 |
| CLAS 601 | Classical Myth II: The Power and Persistence of Myth | 4 |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CLAS 677 or HIST 677 | History of Ancient Rome or History of Ancient Rome | 4 |
| CLAS 701W | Capstone Course | 4 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Major Elective Course | 4 | |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Major Elective Course | 4 | |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 128 | |
Degree Requirements
All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.
Major Requirements
Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program. Bachelor of arts candidates must also satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement.
Classics majors may use two major-required courses to satisfy two Discovery category requirements.
The required minimum overall GPA in major coursework is 2.0.
To complete the AMC option of the classics major, a student must complete 10 courses (40 credits), distributed as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Language Proficiency | ||
| Demonstrate proficiency by taking at least 8 credits in GREK or LATN at the 503 level or above | 8 | |
| Other Courses | ||
| Select at least 32 additional credits in CLAS, GREK, or LATN courses, including: 1 | 32 | |
CLAS 403 | Introduction to Greek Civilization | |
or CLAS 404 | Introduction to Roman Civilization | |
At least 8 credits from courses at the 600 level or above | ||
| Capstone Experience | ||
| Select an approved capstone experience of the following: | ||
CLAS 701W | Capstone Course | |
Senior thesis | ||
Honors thesis | ||
At least 4 credits in 700-level LATN or GREK courses | ||
Approved internship | ||
Approved semester study abroad focused on the classical world | ||
| Total Credits | 40 | |
- 1
No more than 8 credits may come from CLAS courses at the 400 level, with up to an additional 8 credits from LATN and GREK courses at the 400 level. There are also courses taught outside of the program that are approved substitutes for CLAS courses, and the department will accept up to 8 credits from such courses. An up-to-date list of these courses is available from departmental advisers and additional exceptions are allowed with the written approval of the adviser.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Analyze and critique the cultural and historical importance of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
- Recognize and assess the relative value, and to integrate, the distinct categories of evidence from antiquity: material and textual.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the steps of the intellectual process as developed in classical antiquity, including: identifying and defining essential questions; research in the best and fullest range of evidence; reasoned critique of the evidence; insightful synthesis of all relevant evidence; critical evaluation and integration of previous interpretations; creating an argument, including in essays or papers, which takes into account all the evidence
- Translate key Latin and/or Greek texts at the intermediate level and demonstrate a knowledge of Latin or Greek vocabulary, morphology, and syntax at an intermediate level.
- Show a familiarity with the essential literary sources from classical antiquity, and how they have been received in later periods.
