Major in Classical Studies | Department of Classical Studies

CLST Major tracks

The Major in Classical Studies can take any one of three different tracks:

Track 1: Classical Languages and Literature caters to students for whom Latin and/or Greek are central to their coursework.
Track 2: Classical Civilizations is the most flexible track: it can accommodate many different combinations of courses, with no language requirement. At the same time, however, students are encouraged to pursue a concentration in one or more of the following specific areas: archaeology, history, intellectual culture, language, literature, reception.
Track 3: Mediterranean Archaeology centers on the content and methods of archaeology and material culture.

Note on choice of major: Students who intend to do graduate work in literary studies, ancient philosophy, archaeology, or ancient history should gain facility in both Latin and Greek. Those who intend to teach Latin in secondary schools are encouraged to take at least one year of Greek.

Track 1: Classical Languages and Literatures

Cluster 1 (Core Introductory Courses)

2 required courses providing a chronological and cultural survey: ANCH 0101 Ancient Greece and ANCH 0102 Ancient Rome. [Old 3-digit numbers = 026, 027.]

Cluster 2 (Fields of Classical Studies)

Any 4 courses at the 1000-level in Ancient History (ANCH) or Classical Studies (CLST), or at the introductory level (0000–0299) in Greek (GREK) or Latin (LATN); courses in other departments by approval of the Undergraduate Chair. [Old 3-digit numbers: "100-level".]

The purpose of this requirement is to introduce students to different fields of study within classical studies. Each 100-level course delineates a different area such as the study of myth, reception, archaeology, philosophy, imperial history, and ancient language (Latin, Greek).

Cluster 3 (Advanced Topics)

6 courses, of which 3 must be at the 3000-level in Greek (GREK) and/or Latin (LATN) and 3 must be at the 3000-level or above; the other 3 must be at the 3000-level or above in Ancient History (ANCH) or Classical Studies (CLST) or at the 0300-level or above (i.e. intermediate or advanced) in Greek (GREK) or Latin (LATN), or courses in other departments, at the 2000-level or above, by approval of the Undergraduate Chair. [Old 3-digit numbers: 3 "300-level" language courses plus 3 courses at 200- or 300-level.]

The purpose of this requirement is to allow students to explore one or more specialized topic, often with a research component, and focusing on advanced reading in Greek and/or Latin.

Equity Requirement

In the course of meeting the above coursework, students declaring a major in Classical Studies or Ancient History after May, 2022 are required:

EITHER to take one class that centrally addresses a methodological problem in the study of ancient inequalities and/or their reception,
OR to complete a course paper or project that addresses these questions. (This project must be pre-approved by the course instructor and the undergraduate chair.)

For information about current courses or research projects that would fulfill the requirement, please see our Equity Requirement page.

Honors Option

CLST 4998 Senior Research Paper (fall), which may be counted toward Cluster 3. This option requires the proposal of a Senior Research Paper, writing of the paper, and departmental approval of Honors for the completed paper. [Old 3-digit number: 399.]

Combined B.A./M.A. in Classical Studies

A student pursuing a major in Classical Languages and Literature may apply to "submatriculate" and thereby work toward an M.A. at the same time as the B.A. Submatriculation allows an outstanding and committed undergraduate to pursue a substantial program of graduate-level coursework and research, which culminates in the senior year.

Track 2: Classical Civilizations

Cluster 1 (Core Introductory Courses)

2 required courses providing a chronological and cultural survey: ANCH 0101 Ancient Greece and ANCH 0102 Ancient Rome. [Old 3-digit numbers = 026, 027.]

Cluster 2 (Fields of Classical Studies)

Cluster 3 (Advanced Topics)

Any 6 courses at the 3000-level or above in Ancient History (ANCH) or Classical Studies (CLST), or at the 0300-level or above (i.e. intermediate to advanced) in Greek (GREK) or Latin (LATN); courses in other departments, at the 2000-level or above, by approval of the Undergraduate Chair. [Old 3-digit numbers: 6 courses at 200- or 300-level.]

The purpose of this requirement is to allow students to explore one or more specialized topic, often with a research component, but without any specific language requirement.

Note on concentrations: Each student in the Classical Civilizations major will be encouraged to pursue a concentration in one (or a combination) of the following specific areas: archaeology, history, intellectual culture, language, literature, reception. The student should consult closely with the Undergraduate Chair in devising a coherent course plan that will allow this concentration.

Equity Requirement

In the course of meeting the above coursework, students declaring a major in Classical Studies or Ancient History after May, 2022 are required:

EITHER to take one class that centrally addresses a methodological problem in the study of ancient inequalities and/or their reception,
OR to complete a course paper or project that addresses these questions. (This project must be pre-approved by the course instructor and the undergraduate chair.)

For information about current courses or research projects that would fulfill the requirement, please see our Equity Requirement page.

Honors Option

Track 3: Mediterranean Archaeology

Cluster 1 (Introductory)

2 required courses providing a chronological and cultural survey: ANCH 0101 Ancient Greece and ANCH 0102 Ancient Rome. [Old 3-digit numbers = 026, 027.]

Cluster 2 (Fundamentals)

4 courses as follows:

CLST 1300 Introduction to Mediterranean Archaeology. [Old 3-digit number: 111.]
1 introductory course in mediterranean archaeology (e.g., CLST 1301 Great Discoveries in Archaeology; CLST 1480 Food and Fire; CLST 3301 Excavating Ancient Cities; and comparable courses). [Old 3-digit numbers: 123, 148, 228.]
1 archaeological science course (e.g., CLST 2221 Material World in Archaeological Science; CLST 2267 Living World in Archaeological Science; ANTH 230 Forensic Anthropology; ANTH 3215 Archaeology of Animals; and comparable courses). [Old 3-digit numbers: 244, 2267, 3230, 3215.]
1 required theory course (e.g., CLST 1303 Material Past in a Digital World; CLST 3307 Introduction to Digital Archaeology; and comparable courses). [Old 3-digit numbers: 127, 362.]

Cluster 3 (Advanced Study)

Either: any 6 courses in mediterranean archaeology, of which 4 must be at the 3000-level or above. [Old 3-digit number: 200- and 300-levels.]

Or (language option): any 4 courses in mediterranean archaeology and 2 courses in an ancient language (typically Greek [GREK] or Latin [LATN]); of these 6 courses, 4 must be at 3000-level or above. [Old 3-digit number: "300-level or above".]

Note on language-preparation: Students considering study of archaeology in a classical archaeology graduate program should begin by taking Greek and Latin early in the degree, as one or two years of these languages are required by many graduate programs in the U.S. Reading ability in at least one modern language (French, German, Italian) is also desirable.

Note on course-selection: Cluster 3 requirements can regularly be fulfilled not only by ANCH and CLST courses, but also by courses at the 300-, 400-, and 500-levels (and above) in Art History (ARTH), Anthropology (ANTH), the Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials (CAAM), and other departments dealing with archaeology and/or ancient material culture; and also graduate-level courses (by instructor approval) in the graduate program in the Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World (AAMW), such as the AAMW proseminar (AAMW 526), offered each fall and including a comprehensive introduction to the Penn Museum as well as seminar discussion on method, theory, and ethics in Mediterranean archaeology. For further advice, please discuss with the Undergraduate Chair as well as with faculty specializing in archaeology.

Equity Requirement

In the course of meeting the above coursework, students declaring a major in Classical Studies or Ancient History after May, 2022 are required:

EITHER to take one class that centrally addresses a methodological problem in the study of ancient inequalities and/or their reception,
OR to complete a course paper or project that addresses these questions. (This project must be pre-approved by the course instructor and the undergraduate chair.)

For information about current courses or research projects that would fulfill the requirement, please see our Equity Requirement page.

Field-work requirement

The Department will seek to facilitate involvement in a field project for students in the Mediterranean Archaeology track, sometimes with the support of a Museum fellowship or internship. A museum internship may be substituted for this field school with the permission of the Undergraduate Chair. Museum internships are encouraged at any point in the Track.

Honors option

The Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials (CAAM)

Students majoring in Mediterranean Archaeology will want to consider the various opportunities offered by CAAM, which include specialized course-offerings, intensive courses, laboratory-experience, internships, research opportunities, and work-study and volunteering. Some students have found it useful to supplement their major with a Minor in Archaeological Science.