Classics

The mission of the undergraduate program in Classics is to provide students with a broad background centered on the literature and material culture of ancient Greece and Rome, including Greek and Latin language, literature, philosophy, history, art, and archaeology. At Stanford, students in the Classics program also explore the connections between ancient cultures and the modern world as well as specialized fields such as ancient economics, law, papyrology, and science. The program's faculty approaches Classics from an interdisciplinary perspective that crosses geographical, temporal and thematic territories. The program is concerned not only with Greek and Roman civilization but also with the interaction of cultures and societies that influenced the ancient Mediterranean basin and continue to influence human society across the globe.

Those interested in majoring in Classics are encouraged to declare by spring of sophomore year, but are urged to discuss their plans with the undergraduate director as early as possible. Students who choose the Greek and Latin field of study (option 5 below) should begin the curriculum as soon as possible because it is difficult to complete the language requirements without an early start; those with no previous knowledge of Latin or Greek should begin study in the freshman year, in a summer program following freshman year, or at the beginning of the sophomore year.

How to Declare

To declare the major, a student must fill out the Declaration of Major on Axess and meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Classics. At that time, the Director Undergraduate Studies assigns the student a department adviser. To build a mentoring relationship, students should meet with their adviser at least once a quarter. At the time of declaration, the student should also schedule an orientation with the Department of Classics' student services officer. Each student’s progress towards fulfillment of the major requirements is recorded in a file kept in the student services officer’s office. It is the student’s responsibility to work with the adviser and student services officer to keep this file up to date.

Grade and Course Requirements

A letter grade is required for all courses taken for the major. No course receiving a grade lower than ‘C’ is counted toward fulfilling major requirements. Enrollment in an independent study section (CLASSICS 198 Directed Readings) requires the prior approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies, and a maximum of three such enrollments for a maximum total of 10 units may be counted toward the major.  University credit earned by placement tests or advanced placement work in secondary school is not counted towards any major requirement in the department.  Work done at other universities or colleges is subject to department evaluation and the university's transfer credit process. Counting graduate courses or cognate courses towards the major requires advance approval by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students are encouraged to meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to discuss options for pursuing a period of study in the Mediterranean region (see Study Abroad below).

The B.A. degree may be earned by fulfilling the requirements for one of the following fields of study. These fields of study are declared on Axess; they appear on the transcript but not on the diploma. The fields of study are:

• Classical Studies
• Ancient History
• Greek
• Latin
• Greek and Latin

The Philosophy and Literature focus described below may be added to some of the major plans. This focus is not declared on Axess, and does not appear on the transcript or diploma.

A. Classical Studies

This major is recommended for students who wish to study classical civilizations in depth but do not wish to study the languages to the extent required by the Greek, Latin or Greek and Latin options described below. It is not suitable for students who wish to do graduate work in Classics or to teach Latin or Greek in high school, as the language work is insufficient for these purposes.

B. Ancient History:

C. Greek

D. Latin

E. Greek and Latin

F. Philosophy and Literature Focus:

Students may apply a focus in Classics and Philosophy to the Classical Studies, Latin, or Greek major tracks.  A focus is not reflected in the transcript or diploma, but provides a guided curriculum for those interested in this interdisciplinary study.  Students who choose this focus must still complete the Majors' Seminar and language courses required by their chosen track.  In addition, all students must take a set of core requirements and breadth requirements as described below.

Core Requirements for all Philosophy and Literature Focuses

Breadth Requirements for Classical Studies: Philosophy and Literature Focus

Breadth Requirements for Greek: Philosophy and Literature Focus

Breadth Requirements for Latin: Philosophy and Literature Focus

Requirements

• Coalition Application or Common Application
• $90 nonrefundable application fee or fee waiver request 
• (counselor verification required)
• Official testing (SAT with Essay or ACT with Writing) sent from the College Board or ACT
• School report including counselor letter of recommendation
• Official transcript(s)
• Letters of recommendation from two teachers
• Midyear transcript
• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), although not required, is strongly recommended for non-native speakers of English.