Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in Classical Studies

Program Learning Outcomes for the BA Degree with a Major in Classical Studies

Upon completing the BA degree with a major in Classical Studies, students will be able to: 

  1. Identify and research texts, artifacts, institutions, personalities, places, and events that are integral to ancient Greek and Roman culture and contextualize them culturally and historically.
  2. Analyze and critically evaluate the significance of the aforementioned texts, artifacts, institutions, personalities, places, and events.
  3. Communicate both orally and in writing the historical significance of ancient Greek and Roman culture and their continuing influence on the modern world.
  4. Relate classical civilization to the modern world, and appreciate the profound influence classical civilization has had and continues to have on global culture.

Requirements for the BA Degree with a Major in Classical Studies

For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BA degree with a major in Classical Studies must complete:

  • A minimum of 10 courses (30 credit hours) to satisfy major requirements.
  • A minimum of 120 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
  • A minimum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) taken at the 300-level or above.
  • A maximum of 4 courses (12 credit hours) from study abroad or transfer credit. For additional program guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab.
  • The requirements for one area of specialization (see below for areas of specialization). The BA degree with a major in Classical Studies offers two areas of specialization:

The Classical Studies major offers instruction in the Greek and Latin languages, in Greek and Roman literature (studied in the original and in translation), in the classical civilizations surveyed as a whole, and in particular themes, genres, and periods of classical culture and their influence through subsequent ages. The program caters to students who wish to prepare for graduate school in classics as well as to students interested in Greek and Roman culture for other reasons and wish to take a less specialized approach. The program provides maximum flexibility without sacrifice of focus. Students will be able to explore ancient Greece and Rome from a variety of different angles and with whatever emphasis best suits their individual needs and goals. 

The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the major’s academic advisor, or where applicable, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.

Summary

Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Classical Studies30
Total Credit Hours Required for the BA Degree with a Major in Classical Studies120

Degree Requirements

Core Requirements
Select 2 courses from the following:6
GREEK CIVILIZATION AND ITS LEGACY
ROMAN CIVILIZATION AND ITS LEGACY
CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY: INTERPRETATION, ORIGINS, AND INFLUENCE
INTRO TO INDO-EUROPEAN
Area of Specialization
Select 1 from the following Areas of Specialization (see Areas of Specialization below):24
Classical Civilizations
Classical Languages
Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Classical Studies 130
Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements *59
University Graduation Requirements *31
Total Credit Hours120

Footnotes and Additional Information

Areas of Specialization

Students must complete the requirements as listed for one of the following areas of specialization as offered by the Classical Studies major. A total of 8 courses (24 credit hours) must be taken in the area of specialization.

Area of Specialization: Classical Civilizations

Students must complete a total of 8 courses (24 credit hours) as listed below to satisfy the requirements for the area of specialization in Classical Civilizations.

Select 8 courses from Classical Studies (CLAS), Greek (GREE), or Latin (LATI) course offerings 124
Total Credit Hours24

Footnotes and Additional Information

Area of Specialization: Classical Languages

Students must complete a total of 8 courses (24 credit hours) as listed below to satisfy the requirements for the area of specialization in Classical Languages.

Select 1 course from Greek (GREE) course offerings at the 200-level or above3
Select 1 course from Latin (LATI) course offerings at the 200-level or above3
Select 1 from the following:3
Select 1 course from Greek (GREE) at the 300-level or above
Select 1 course from Latin (LATI) at the 300-level or above
Select 5 courses from Classical Studies (CLAS), Greek (GREE), or Latin (LATI) course offerings 115
Total Credit Hours24

Footnotes and Additional Information 

Policies for the BA Degree with a Major in Classical Studies

Program Restrictions and Exclusions

Students pursuing the major in Classical Studies should be aware of the following program restrictions:

  • Students pursuing the major in Classical Studies may not additionally declare the minor in Classical Civilizations.
  • Students pursuing the major in Classical Studies may not additionally declare the minor in Greek Language and Literature.
  • Students pursuing the major in Classical Studies may not additionally declare the minor in Latin Language and Literature.

Transfer Credit 

For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s transfer credit advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities. 

Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines

Students pursuing the major in Classical Studies should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guidelines:

  • No more than 4 courses (12 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards the major.
  • Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director (and/or the program’s official transfer credit advisor) on an individual case-by-case basis.

Distribution Credit Information

The determination of distribution credit eligibility is done initially as part of the new course creation process. Additionally, as part of an annual roll call coordinated each Spring by the Office of the Registrar, course distribution credit eligibility is routinely reviewed and reaffirmed by the Dean’s Offices of each of the academic schools.  

Faculty and leadership in the academic schools are responsible for ensuring that the courses identified as distribution-credit-eligible meet the criteria as set in the General Announcements. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet graduation requirements by completing coursework designated as distribution-credit-eligible at the time of course registration. 

Distribution courses from the Department of Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures are broad in theme and scope and provide students with a substantial inquiry into literature, art, media, history, thought, and/or politics, including specific national traditions, linguistic contexts, and historical periods. Such courses involve a broad and often interdisciplinary spectrum of knowledge, providing students with the tools for thinking critically about the formation of modern culture, its colonial past, and its national and linguistic traditions from antiquity to the present.

Additional Information 

For additional information, please see the Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures website: https://cultures.rice.edu

Opportunities for the BA Degree with a Major in Classical Studies

Academic Honors

The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.

Additional Information 

For additional information, please see the Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures website: https://cultures.rice.edu

See https://humanities.rice.edu/student-life for tables of fellowships, prizes, and internships/practica that may be relevant to this major.