University of Southern Maine

Classical Humanities Major

Classics has always been anchored by the study of Latin and Ancient Greek language and literature, but Classics also comprises the study of ancient civilizations, which necessarily includes art, architecture, archaeology, history, religion, and philosophy.  The field of Classics, therefore, is highly specialized and academically rigorous in that it requires intensive language study but at the same time inherently interdisciplinary and diverse. 

The Classical Humanities major is grounded in the core values/goals/outcomes of Classics as a keystone for general education and the study of the humanities while at the same time cognizant of the practical demands facing most students after graduation from USM. 

The minimum number of credits (exclusive of the University’s Core curriculum) for the self-designed major in Classical Humanities: 48.  For grade requirements, please refer to the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures section of the catalog. Students have a great deal of choice within the major and will be advised by the coordinators to select courses that follow a logical sequence and build upon one another. 

Required Courses:

I.  Language (12-14 credits, depending on language preparation and courses taken):

Three semesters of Latin or ancient Greek, at least one of which must be above the 100-level

and

One semester of CLA 171E Etymology for Everyone or ENG 330 History of the English Language

II.  Literature (9 credits):

CLA 283H Epic Hero or CLA 270 Homer’s Odyssey and Joyce’s Ulysses

and

284H Tragic Hero

and

      One additional literature course with a non-CLA designation, such as PHI 215 Philosophy of Literature [prerequisite: any PHI 1xx] or GER 281H The German Novelle

III.  History, Culture, and Civilization (12 credits)

CLA 291I Golden Age of Greece or HTY 303 History of the Ancient Near East and Greece

and

CLA 292I Rome, Republic to Empire or HTY 304 History of Rome

Students may substitute HON 101G/H/I Wisdom Stories from Antiquity or HTY 101I Western Civilization for one of the courses listed in III.1 and III.2

and

PHI 101-110E Introduction to Philosophy—choose one

and

CLA 285I Classical Mythology

IV.  Material Culture (3 credits)

ARH 111G Art History:  Prehistoric to Medieval or CLA 321 The Art, Architecture, and Archaeology of the Ancient World or 3 credits of study abroad in Greece or Rome (Centro, College Year in Athens, Lesbos, USM in Tuscany) or ANT 103 Introduction to Archaeology or ANT 202I Origins of Civilization

     Note: CLA 321 is equivalent to ARH 321 Classical Art

V.  Applied Skills (3 credits—choose one or propose your own)

            ANT 260       Public Interpretation in Anthropology

            ENG 201F     Creative Writing

            ENG 202F     Memoir and Autobiography

            ENG 203       Topics in Writing

            ENG 299-304           Stonecoast Writers’ Conference

            ENG 300F     Fiction Writing

            ENG 301F     Poetry Writing

            ENG 302F     Fiction Workshop

            ENG 303F     Poetry Workshop

            ENG 304       Advanced Memoir

            ENG 309       Newswriting

            GEO 108       GIS Applications

            GEO 208       Cartography I

            THE 102F     Acting: Performance

            THE 170F     Public Speaking

            THE 175F     Oral Interpretation

            THE 250       Playwriting

      Any Studio Art course

      Note: Students should be aware that ENG 201F is a prerequisite for other creative writing courses. Students should also be aware that the Art Department offers six foundation courses that are prerequisites for any advanced work in studio art.

VI.  Electives (6 credits—choose two from the list below or suggest another; electives must be 300-level or above, except as noted below.) 

            ANT 306       Analysis of Archaeological Materials

            ARH 321       Classical Art

            ARH 322       Medieval Art

            ARH 323       Renaissance Art

            ENG 245       Introduction to Literary Studies  

            ENG 262       Introduction to Poetry

            ENG 264       Introduction to Drama

The following English 300-level courses from the designations Ancient,   Medieval, and Renaissance: ENG 315, 316, 317, 320, 325, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 357, 360, 361, 362, 363

      ENG 330       History of the English Language

      ENG 396       James Joyce

            HTY 305       The Historical Jesus

            HTY 306       Roman Sexuality and Early Christianity

            HTY 307       Judaism, Christianity, and Islam:  Origins and Interactions

            HTY 311       Medieval Civilization

            HTY 312       Renaissance Civilization

            PHI 310I       History of Ancient Philosophy

            PHI 320I       History of Medieval Philosophy

            POS 390        Political and Social Thought I

THE 351        Dramatic Literature and Theater History I:  Origins to 15^th Century

            Any course in Latin or ancient Greek beyond the first semester and beyond that required for the major.

            Any modern language course beyond the third semester.

            Any studio art course that builds upon that taken to fulfill requirement V (Applied Skills)

            Any creative writing course that builds upon that taken to fulfill requirement V (Applied Skills)

VII.  Capstone Experience (3 credits)