The undergraduate program in Classics offers a challenging and rewarding course of study in the unified field of Graeco-Roman culture. It is designed to accommodate both the aspirant to graduate studies in Classics or related fields and the student primarily interested in an undergraduate, liberal arts major. For more information regarding the advantages of a classics degree please see our About the Major section.
Emphases
The UCSB Classics major must select one of three emphases: (1)Language and Literature, (2) Classical Civilization, or (3) Classical Archaeology. For each emphasis the student must begin the study of Greek and/or Latin, and take both general Classics courses and courses in his/her chosen area of emphasis.
Language and Literature
The Language and Literature emphasis focuses on examining the Graeco-Roman world through an exploration of ancient texts in their original languages. Like Classics as a field, this emphasis is strongly interdisciplinary. Reading in Greek and/or Latin texts offer the student a sampling of poetry, drama, history, philosophy, oratory, etc.
Students who wish to pursue graduate studies in Classics must take the Language and Literature emphasis, but this emphasis also serves well students with interdisciplinary interests who seek a challenging liberal arts major and who enjoy small classes in which they receive significant personal attention.
Students completing courses in a second classical (Greek or Latin) language may substitute up to 12 units of such work for Classics 37, 38, 40.
20 Units - Latin 1, 2, 3, 100, 101 or Greek 1, 2, 3, 100, 101
12 Units - Classics 37, 38, 40
4 Units - History 4A
4 Units - Writing 109HU
Upper-Division
36 upper-division units are required, distributed as follows:
28 Units - Selected from upper-division Greek or Latin courses, not used in the preparation for the major. Up to 12 units of the 28 may be from upper-division Classics courses.
4 Units - One course chosen from the following: Classics 150; History 111A-B-C, 113A-B
4 Units - Classics 185AA-ZZ (or Classics 199RA for Honors)
Classical Civilization
The Classical Civilization emphasis allows the student to explore a broad range of subjects - literature, history, philosophy, art history, religion, social history - through courses about the ancient world with readings in English translation.
This emphasis is ideal for the student with interdisciplinary interests seeking an undergraduate degree with a strong, liberal arts major.
3) Classics 102, 104, 109, 110, 120, 125, 130, 175, or any upper-division Greek or Latin courses not used in the preparation for the major.
8 Units - Classics 180A-B
4 Units - Classics 185AA-ZZ (or Classics 199RA for Honors)
Classical Archaeology
The Classical Archaeology emphasis brings together classical art history, classical archaeology, anthropology, and ancient history into a coherent program of study.
This emphasis is for students with an interest in archaeology looking for a strong, liberal arts major, or for students planning to pursue graduate studies in Classical Archaeology.
Students completing courses in a second classical (Greek or Latin) language may substitute up to 12 units of such work for Classics 37, 38, 40.
20 Units - Latin 1, 2, 3, 100, 101 or Greek 1, 2, 3, 100, 101
16 Units - Classics 37, 38, 40, 50
4 Units - Art History 6A
4 Units - History 4A
4 units - Writing 109HU
Upper-Division
36 upper-division units are required, distributed as follows:
4 Units - Anthropology 100
12 Units - Three courses from: Classics 160, 165, 170; Art History 186B
8 Units - Two courses from Classics 100A-B, 101, 102, 108, 109, 110, 125, 130, 175, 180A-B, plus any upper-division Greek or Latin courses not used in the preparation of the major.
8 Units - Two courses from Classics 125 (if not used above), 150, 171; History 111A-B-C-P, 113A-B-P; Art History 101A-B-C, 102, 103A-B-C, 104
4 Units - Classics 185AA-ZZ (or Classics 199RA for Honors)
Pass/No Pass Grading Option
Up to 8 units total of Greek 199 and Latin 199 may be taken pass/no pass for major credit; all other courses must be taken for letter grades, including those applied to the major from other departments.
Substitutions
Substitutions in the major requirements are permissible only by petition to the department chair or to the undergraduate advisor.
Residence Requirements
At least 20 upper division units in the major must be completed while the student is in residence at UCSB.
G.P.A. Requirements
At least 2.0 overall average in a) all upper-division major courses; and b) all major courses (Preparation and Upper Division) while in the University of California.
Double Majors
With the approval of each department chairperson, up to a total of 8 units may be applied simultaneously to both upper-division majors.
