Classics (BA)
Program Mission
The mission of the Classics program is to develop proficient readers and translators of Latin and/or Greek. Learners will also demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the history, culture, and literature of the ancient world and their contribution to our world today.
Program Outcomes
- Graduates will have mastered enough Latin and Greek grammar to read and appreciate Latin and Greek texts.
- Graduates will be able to translate passages accurately and thus, by analyzing different nuances of expression, improve their own power of thought and expression.
- Students will appreciate Greek and Roman life, philosophy and political institutions, from the time of small city-states to a larger, culturally and ethnically diverse empire, and evaluate the Classical contribution to the development of Western Civilization, helping students become better equipped to live in the diverse society of their own day.
Program Requirements
Benedictine College offers a major in Classics, and minors in Latin and Classics. The Classics major is an interdisciplinary major with two components: Language study and the study of related disciplines.
Transfer students may transfer in up to 60% of the requirements of the Classics major.
Students who have taken Latin previously and wish to be placed in a course above LATN-1000 must contact the Department Chair to take a Latin placement exam.
Language Courses
(First-year sequences in Greek and Latin plus 18 credits at 3000 level or above)
Latin Specialization
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LATN-1010 | Latin I | 3 |
| LATN-1030 | Latin 2 | 3 |
| GREK-1010 | Ancient Greek 1 | 3 |
| GREK-1030 | Ancient Greek 2 | 3 |
| Any six advanced Latin courses (level 3000 or above) | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Latin and Greek Specialization
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LATN-1010 | Latin I | 3 |
| LATN-1030 | Latin 2 | 3 |
| GREK-1010 | Ancient Greek 1 | 3 |
| GREK-1030 | Ancient Greek 2 | 3 |
| Any six advanced Latin and Greek courses (level 3000 or above) | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Latin, Greek, and Hebrew Specialization
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LATN-1010 | Latin I | 3 |
| LATN-1030 | Latin 2 | 3 |
| GREK-1010 | Ancient Greek 1 | 3 |
| GREK-1030 | Ancient Greek 2 | 3 |
| THEO-2010 | Biblical Hebrew I | 4 |
| THEO-2020 | Biblical Hebrew II | 4 |
| Any four advanced Latin or Greek classes (level 3000 or above) | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 32 | |
Note: Students who enter college with three or four years of high school Latin training and who score high enough on the placement examination may begin upper-division work as freshmen, with the approval of the department chair.
Required for all Majors
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CLSC-4440 | Classics Capstone | 2 |
| CLSC-COMP | Senior Comprehensive Exam | NULL |
Interdisciplinary Component
Students must complete 15 hours from the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST-3520 | Ancient Greece | 3 |
| or HIST-3521 | Ancient Rome | |
| GRBK-1500 | Great Books: Ancient Greece | 3 |
| GRBK-1550 | Great Books: Ancient Rome | 3 |
| Select six additional hours of the following: | 6 | |
| Architectural History I | ||
| Art History I | ||
| Classical Mythology | ||
| Ancient Greece | ||
| Great Books: Medieval World | ||
| Ancient Rome | ||
| Greek & Roman History | ||
| Byzantine History | ||
| Ancient Philosophy | ||
| Medieval Philosophy | ||
| Hist of Catholic Church I: Apost-16th C | ||
| Theatre History & Literature to 1640 | ||
Suggested Sequence of Courses for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Classics
Classics: Latin Specialization (BA)
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| ENGL-1010 | English Composition | 3 |
| THEO-1100 | Introduction to Theology | 3 |
| LATN-1010 | Latin I | 3 |
| Two Foundations courses 1 | 6-7 | |
| GRBK-1500 | Great Books: Ancient Greece | 3 |
| Hours | 18-19 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PHIL-2100 | Principles of Nature | 3 |
| EXSC-1115 | Wellness for Life | 1 |
| Two Foundations courses 1 | 6-7 | |
| GRBK-1550 | Great Books: Ancient Rome | 3 |
| LATN-1030 | Latin 2 | 3 |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| LATN-3110 | Survey of Latin Prose Authors | 3 |
| GREK-1010 | Ancient Greek 1 | 3 |
| Natural World Foundation | 4 | |
| Philosophical Inquiry Foundation (can also serve as elective for Classics Major) | 3 | |
| Electives or Foundation | 3 | |
| EXSC Fitness Course | 1 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Faith Foundation (can also serve as elective for Classics Major) | 3 | |
| LATN-4110 | Survey of Latin Poets | 3 |
| Electives or Foundation | 6 | |
| GREK-1030 | Ancient Greek 2 | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Natural World Foundation | 4 | |
| Philosophical Inquiry Foundation (can also serve as elective for Classics Major) | 3 | |
| Electives or Foundation | 6 | |
| LATN-3130 | Cicero | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| LATN-3190 | Adv Latin Grammar & Prose Composition | 3 |
| Faith Foundation (can also serve as elective for Classics Major) | 3 | |
| Electives or Foundation | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Mathematical Reasoning Foundation | 3 | |
| LATN-3160 | Patristic Latin: Augustine | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | |
| CLSC-4440 | Classics Capstone | 2 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CLSC-COMP | Senior Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| LATN-4140 | Latin Epic | 3 |
| Electives | 11 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 128-130 | |
- 1
Student should select courses from the following Foundations during the freshman and sophomore years:
- Historical Inquiry (1 course)
- Natural World (1 course with or without lab)
- Person and Community (1 course; recommended freshman year)
- Faith (1 course; recommended sophomore or junior year)
Classics: Latin and Greek Specialization (BA)
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| ENGL-1010 | English Composition | 3 |
| THEO-1100 | Introduction to Theology | 3 |
| LATN-1010 | Latin I | 3 |
| One Foundations course 1 | 4 | |
| GRBK-1500 | Great Books: Ancient Greece | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PHIL-2100 | Principles of Nature | 3 |
| LATN-1030 | Latin 2 | 3 |
| EXSC-1115 | Wellness for Life | 1 |
| Two Foundations courses 1 | 7 | |
| GRBK-1550 | Great Books: Ancient Rome | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Natural World Foundation | 4 | |
| LATN-3110 | Survey of Latin Prose Authors | 3 |
| Philosophical Inquiry Foundation (some serve as electives for the Classics Major) | 3 | |
| GREK-1010 | Ancient Greek 1 | 3 |
| Electives or Foundation | 3 | |
| EXSC Fitness Course | 1 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Faith Foundation (some serve as electives for the Classics Major) | 3 | |
| LATN-4110 | Survey of Latin Poets | 3 |
| GREK-1030 | Ancient Greek 2 | 3 |
| Electives or Foundation | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Natural World Foundation | 4 | |
| GREK-3125 | Plato | 3 |
| LATN-3130 | Cicero | 3 |
| Philosophical Inquiry Foundation (some serve as electives for the Classics Major) | 3 | |
| Electives or Foundation | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| GREK-4125 | Homeric Greek | 3 |
| Faith Foundation (some serve as electives for the Classics Major) | 3 | |
| Electives or Foundation | 6 | |
| LATN-3190 | Adv Latin Grammar & Prose Composition | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| LATN-3160 | Patristic Latin: Augustine | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | |
| CLSC-4440 | Classics Capstone | 2 |
| GREK-3150 | Survey of Greek Patristic Literature | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| GREK-4120 | Greek Poets II | 3 |
| CLSC-COMP | Senior Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| Electives | 9 | |
| LATN-4130 | Vergil's "Aeneid" | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 128 | |
- 1
Student should select courses from the following Foundations during the freshman and sophomore years:
- Historical Inquiry (1 course)
- Natural World (1 course with or without lab)
- Person and Community (1 course; recommended freshman year)
- Faith (1 course; recommended sophomore or junior year)
Classics: Latin, Greek, and Hebrew Specialization (BA)
Follow the above model, and substitute THEO-2010 Biblical Hebrew I and THEO-2020 Biblical Hebrew II or any two Latin or Greek classes 3000 level or above. Hebrew is not offered every year, so consult with your advisor for planning.