Classical Studies
The Classical Studies Program provides an interdisciplinary examination of the ancient Mediterranean world, from the era of the Bronze Age to the great transformations of late antiquity. The program centers on the cultures of Greece and Rome and is inclusive of other cultures of the region. In the Classical Studies Program students study the Ancient World through a diverse disciplinary lens, with courses offered in History, Literature, Philosophy, Political Science, Visual Arts, and more.
Questions regarding major or minor requirements may be directed toward the Program Coordinator via the Virtual Advising Center (VAC). Other questions can be directed to [email protected].
People
Program Directors
Mira Balberg
Professor, History
Matthew T. Herbst
Director, Making of the Modern World Program
Program Coordinator and Academic Advisor
Jennifer Dieli
Program Coordinator and Academic Advisor
Ridge Walk Academic Complex - Arts and Humanities Building, 6th Floor, Room 655
[email protected]
Current UC San Diego undergraduate students, please use the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) for all advising questions.
Faculty
Mira Balberg
History
Denise Demetriou
History
Thomas Gallant
History
Matthew T. Herbst
Director, Making of the Modern World Program
Monte Johnson
Philosophy
Dayna Kalleres
Literature
Edward Kelting
Literature
Patricia Marechal
Philosophy
Jacobo Myerston
Literature
Christopher Shields
Philosophy
Edward Watts
History
Major
Classical Studies Major
Language Emphasis Track
Cultures Emphasis Track
The purpose of this track is to offer a pathway for students who are interested in a cross-disciplinary study of antiquity but do not wish to pursue intensive language study. This track requires three lower division courses, which could be completed through two alternative paths. One path, which does not include any language studies, requires 2 survey courses (LTWL 19AB/BC/AC or HUM 1-2 or MMW 11-12) + any lower division classes from the list of approved courses. The other path, meant for students who are interested in pursuing a reduced load of language studies, consists of a sequence of 3 courses in one language (LTGK 1-2-3 or LTLA 1-2-3). The emphasis in this track is on a broad, well-rounded acquaintance with classical civilizations and exposure to a variety of disciplinary approaches. To that end, students will be expected to take their 12 upper-division electives from at least three different departments, as per our course listings. There is no restriction on how many courses from each department should be taken.
Resources:
Minor
Classical Studies Minor
A minor in Classical Studies consists of 7 courses (28 units), 4 (16 units) of which must be upper division.
A knowledge of the ancient languages is not required. All requirements for the minor in Classical Studies must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C- or better.
Resources:
- Classical Studies Minor Checklist (Fillable PDF)
- Classical Studies Approved List of Courses
- How to Declare a Minor
Sample of Proposed Courses for Minor Declaration
0-3 Lower Division Courses and 4-7 Upper Division Courses | ||||||
Level | Subject Code | Course No. | Title | Institution | Units | Grade Options |
LD/UD | TBA | XX | LD/UD Program Elective | UCSD | 4.00 | Letter |
LD/UD | TBA | XX | LD/UD Program Elective | UCSD | 4.00 | Letter |
LD/UD | TBA | 1XX | LD/UD Program Elective | UCSD | 4.00 | Letter |
UD | TBA | 1XX | UD Program Elective | UCSD | 4.00 | Letter |
UD | TBA | 1XX | UD Program Elective | UCSD | 4.00 | Letter |
UD | TBA | 1XX | UD Program Elective | UCSD | 4.00 | Letter |
UD | TBA | 1XX | UD Program Elective | UCSD | 4.00 | Letter |
Resources
UC San Diego Undergraduate Student Resources
Course Offerings
Course Offerings
Refer to the official UC San Diego General Catalog for a complete list of approved courses that will count toward a major or minor in Classical Studies.
Course offerings are constantly changing. Please refer to the Schedule of Classes for the most up-to-date listing.
(*) Indicates course may be petitioned for credit. Instructions on How to Petition Courses.
Fall 2024
- LTWL 19A. Introduction to the Ancient Greeks and Romans
- HUM 1. The Foundations of Western Civilization: Israel and Greece
- HUM 3. Renaissance, Reformation, and Early Modern Europe
- PHIL 31. Introduction to Ancient Philosophy
- MMW 11. Pre-History and Ancient Foundations
- LTGK 1. Beginning Greek
- LTLA 1. Beginning Latin (4)
- LTLA 100. Introduction to Latin Literature
- LTWL 100. Mythology
- LTGK 103. Greek Drama
- *HIEU 144P. Topics in European History: Nonspecialist Roman History
- HINE 100. The Hebrew Bible and History
- PHIL 110. History of Philosophy: Ancient
- PHIL 287. Greek Reading Group (1-2)
- PHIL 288. Latin Reading Group (1-2)
- PHIL 290. Directed Independent Study (2-4)
- POLI 110A. Citizens and Saints: Political Thought from Plato to Augustine
- MMW 121. Exploring the Pre-Modern World
Honors Program
Honors Program
Honors is intended for the most talented and motivated students majoring in Greek, Latin, Classics, or Greek and Hebrew. Requirements for admission to the honors program are:
- Junior standing
- Overall GPA of 3.5
- GPA in the major of 3.7
Qualified students majoring in Greek, Latin, or Classics may apply at the end of their junior year to the program faculty on the basis of 1) a thesis proposal (three to four pages) worked out in advance with a classical studies faculty member; and 2) a recommendation from that faculty member. It is strongly advised that the proposal be based upon a class paper or project from a course taken towards completion of the major.
The core of the honors program is an honors thesis. The research and writing of the thesis will be conducted over the winter and spring, or fall and winter terms of the senior year. Up to four hours of 196 credit to this end may be counted towards the major in place of one of the courses in English translation. The thesis will be read and evaluated by the thesis advisor and another member of the program faculty. If the thesis is accepted and the student maintains a 3.7 GPA, departmental honors will be awarded. The level of honors-distinction, high distinction, or highest distinction-will be determined by the program faculty.
Events
Upcoming Events 2022-2023
TBD
Past Events
2021-2022
April 12, 2022
Navigating the Philosopher/Priest Divide after Black Athena
Work in Progress Showcase featuring Professor Edward Kelting
February 28, 2022
Towards a More Comprehensive History of the Ancient Mediterranean
Work in Progress Showcase featuring Professor Denise Demetriou
February 2, 2022
Excess, Defect, and Balance in Ancient Medicine and Ethics
Work in Progress Showcase featuring Professor Monte Johnson
January 27, 2022
Magic, Word Vectors, and Other Strange Things: New Approaches to Ancient Greek Lexicography
Work in Progress Showcase featuring Professor Jacobo Myerston Santana
October 25, 2021
Why the Decline and Fall of Rome Still Matters Today (YouTube Link)
A Conversation with Ed Watts on his new book, The Eternal Decline and Fall of Rome (Oxford University Press, 2021)
2020-2021
May 5, 2021
Hegeso and Me
Lecture featuring Page duBois, Distinguished Professor of Classics and Comparative Literature at UC San Diego
April 21, 2021
Penelope's Odyssey, Sappho's Tale: Studying Women's Songs from Ancient to Modern Greece (YouTube Link)
Lecture featuring Andromache Karanika, Associate Professor and Chair of Classics at the University of California, Irvine
February 18, 2021
Negotiating Class and Gender in Classics and in the Real World (YouTube Link)
Lecure featuring Edith Hall, Professor of Classics at King's College London
February 4, 2021
Classics, Creativity, and Survival (YouTube Link)
Lecture featuring Sarah Nooter, Professor of Classics and Theater and Performance Studies at the University of Chicago
2019-2020
February 26, 2020
Annual Ranglas Lecture: Oresteia and Athenian Politics
Lecture featuring Dr. Constance Carroll, Chancellor of the San Diego Community College District
February 3, 2020
Annual Vassiliadis Lecture - Late Antique Caesarea - A City of Interreligious and Intercultural Encounters
Lecture featuring Maren Niehoff, Max Cooper Professor of Jewish Thought at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem
November 25, 2020
Alien or Alienable? Some Notes on the Greeks' View of Phoenicians
Lecture featuring Carolina Lopez-Ruiz, Professor, Department of Classics, The Ohio State University
November 18, 2020
Thessaloniki: A Metro-Polis Through the Centuries
Lecture featuring Dr. Polyxeni Adam-Veleni, Director General of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage in the Hellenic Ministry of Culture
November 6, 2020
Defending Democracy from Extremism: The Rise and Apparent Fall of the Greek Golden Dawn (Co-sponsored with International Institute Faculty Group on Fascism @ Authoritarian Populism)
Lecture featuring Antonis Ellinas, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Cyprus
November 4, 2020
Jews, Greeks, and the American Racial Imagination (Co-sponsored with Jewish Studies)
Lecture featuring Devin E. Naar, Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Washington
October 30, 2020
Cities on the Edge of War: Teaching Greek History Through a Strategy Role-Playing Game
Lecture featuring Eric Robinson, Professor, Department of History, Indiana University Bloomington
October 14, 2020
Reading Boredom: Pliny the Younger, Praise and Competition in the Panegyrici Latini
Lecture featuring Macro Formisano, Professor, Department of Literary Studies, Ghent University
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Please see below for responses to commonly asked questions. If you have further questions, please contact the Classical Studies Program through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC).
Can I take courses P/NP for the Classical Studies major or minor?
No, P/NP courses cannot be used towards the major or minor. Courses must be taken for a letter grade and be passed with a grade of C- or better.
Do I have to know Latin or Greek to minor?
A knowledge of the ancient languages is not required for the minor; however, you are welcome to take Latin or Greek courses to count towards the minor.
Can I test into a higher level of Greek or Latin?
Yes, please contact the Literature Department through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) for testing and placement information.
I took a course not listed on the course catalog, can I count it toward my Classical Studies major/minor?
In order for a course to be eligible for petition, 50% of the course content must be related to Classical Studies.
Instructions on How to Petition Courses
Can I minor in Greek or Latin?
Yes, please see the Department of Literature website for more details.