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Classics
The Classics program embraces all aspects of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. It encompasses the art, archaeology, history, religion, language, and literature of over two thousand years. The artistic and intellectual achievements of Greece and Rome have served as models by which American and European cultures may be compared and judged.
Like few other fields of knowledge, classics allows us to view two vast and complex ancient societies from a historical and critical perspective so as to assess their daily lives, their extraordinary cultural achievements (and tragic failures), their unique beliefs, customs, and ideologies, and, ultimately, their ends. And by focusing intently upon these two cultures, we begin to grow acutely aware of analogous functions in our own society. Gazing upon two remote civilizations gives us a global perspective of our place in the modern world. The institutions of ancient Greece and Rome underlie and brace our own; classical studies make us keenly aware of the application (and misapplication) of that rich cultural inheritance.
Because classics is concerned primarily with the critical appreciation of language and literature, some knowledge of Greek or Latin is fundamental. The emphasis on language helps students to develop advantageous speaking and writing skills. In addition, Classics students learn to analyze classical mythology, art, and architecture, and they read the likes of Homer, Euripides, Plato, and Vergil in their original Greek or Latin and in translation
Program Overview
Classics majors are required to take courses in history, humanities, and elementary Greek or Latin, depending upon which of the emphases is selected. All majors must take a course in Western civilization and a course in a related area. Students may choose an area of emphasis in classical humanities, classical language, or Latin for the teaching credential. All Classics majors prepare a senior portfolio for graduation.
Classics is a liberal arts major and, therefore, is an excellent preparation for graduate studies in many fields besides Classics, including archaeology, history, language, literature, linguistics, law, library science, and philosophy. Many classics majors also major in English, history, and other areas.
Special Features
- Umanisti, the department student organization, offers extracurricular activities to interested students and sponsors lectures and social events.
- Eta Sigma Phi, the national Classics honor society, annually inducts students of Greek or Latin.
- The Friends of Classics, a community support group, helps to foster Classics through sponsorship of lectures, films, and scholarships for Classics majors.
- Three Classics scholarships are offered annually to outstanding students of Greek and Latin. Three $1,500 scholarships are also available to first-year Classics majors. One $2,000 scholarship is offered to our most outstanding Classics major.
- Advanced Latin and Greek courses are all structured as special study tutorials.
- The Gail A. Burnett Classics Seminar Room, located in Arts/Letters, Room 109, is a unique facility. In addition to a special library for Classics students and faculty, there are works of art and comfortable surroundings in which to conduct small classes, to hold lectures and meetings, or just to relax with friends or study in private.
Faculty Highlights
The faculty occasionally conducts travel-study tours abroad and all have lived, studied, or traveled in Greece and Italy. Faculty also actively support student activities.
Because the number of Classics majors is comfortably small, faculty get to know their students well and encourage them to participate in the small, informal class setting. Every graduating major takes the senior seminar and works closely with a faculty mentor in preparing a senior portfolio.
Career Opportunities
An education in classics is many things, but it remains essentially a major laying great emphasis in the art of the critical reading and evaluation of texts. While our concept of "text" is continually modified, expanded, and adapted to ever changing media and cultural phenomena, the skills of interpreting and evaluating all manner of texts is finely developed and magnified by the ever robust and vital traditions of learning to read ancient languages. Classicists are sharp readers and they apply their skill to great affect in industries and professions where the precise interpretation of language, rhetoric, and argument is of importance.
There are countless entry level positions in the business world in which classicists can apply their reading and communication skills to their (and their bosses’) advantage. While that is so, classics majors also make for highly qualified candidates for advanced studies toward professional degrees beyond the bachelor’s degree.
To further explore career options in this field, visit the Career Services Web site.
General Catalog
You can view more complete information regarding the Classics program in the General Catalog. All students are responsible for reading and knowing the information pertinent to their areas of study available in the General Catalog. It contains requirements for all academic majors, course descriptions, policies, and regulations governing progress at the University. Catalogs are distributed at all Academic Orientation programs. To order a catalog, call (619) 594-7535.
Contact Information
Mailing address:
Classics & Humanities Department
College of Arts and Letters
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-6064
Email: mbolthou@mail.sdsu.edu
Telephone: (619) 594-5186
Fax: (619) 594-1004
Office location: Arts & Letters 662
Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. -
4:30 P.M.