CLASSICS
AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

The Classics Program at the University of Alabama aims to bring students into intimate contact with the ancient world, primarily through the study of Greek and Roman literature in the original languages, but also by an exploration of all facets of ancient culture. The student who completes this program of study can expect to have a better understanding of language, grammar, and rhetoric, as well as the great ideas and values that shaped the Western tradition.

But is Classics a practical major? Students who major in Classics (the study of Greek and Latin) have fared very well because of their exceptional ability to think, reason, and write clearly. Some, of course, teach high school upon graduation or opt for graduate training in Classics. Others go on to professional schools to study law, medicine, finance, marketing, librarianship, theology, or journalism. Still others become writers, editors, museum curators, public relations officers, advertising agents, and bankers. Recently we sent one of our graduates to Oxford as a Rhodes scholar for further study.

ENTERING STUDENTS

Students who have had Latin in high school and enroll at The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, can easily continue studying Latin. Here's how.

Students may place higher than they think, perhaps on the 200 or even 300 level:

• If a student places in LA 201 (second year, first semester) and attains a grade of "C" or above in this 3-credit course, he or she can petition to receive 3 additional credit hours for LA 102 with a grade of PASS. These credits count towards their degree.
• If a student places in LA 202 (second year, second semester) and attains a grade of "C" or above in this 3-credit course, he or she can petition to receive 6 (yes, SIX) additional credit hours (three credits for LA 102 and three more credits for LA 201). These additional six hours with a grade of "PASS" count toward their degree!
• Better yet, if a student places in a 300- or 400-level class and earns a grade of "C" or better in that class, he or she may petition to receive an additional 9 hours of Latin credit with a grade of "PASS"! (3 credits of LA 102, 3 credits of LA 201, 3 credits of LA 202)! These additional nine hours count toward their degree!

REQUIREMENTS FOR A LATIN MINOR

• A Latin minor is easily accomplished, whether a student begins with LA 102, 201, 202 or ANY upper-level Latin course:
  18 credit hours of Latin, Greek, and Classics courses.
• The courses must include

a) nine hours of Latin or LA 301 or 302
b) any two of the following: Classics 130 (Roman Heritage), Classics 385 (History of Greece) and Classics 386 (History of Rome)
c) other classes related to classics and approved by the faculty (such as Mythology, Medieval History, Renaissance Literature)
d) a minimum of six hours on the 300 or 400 level must be earned on this campus.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CLASSICS MAJOR

Classsics majors have two choices: they can either purse a degree that emphasizes the Greek and Latin languages (called the "Classics" track), or one that emphasizes Classical culture (called the "Classical Studies" track), with fewer language courses. Both tracks are described below in detail. For more information contact Dr. Kirk Summers.

Classics Track (with emphasis on the languages):

• 33 credit hours of Latin, Greek and Classics courses.
• Students can choose either to emphasize Latin or Greek. For the student emphasizing Latin the courses must include

a) LA 301, Survey of Latin Literature of the Roman Republic
b) LA 302, Survey of Latin Literature of the Empire
c) LA 490, Readings in Latin Literature
d) CL 386 (History of Rome) and 6 hours of Greek
e) a minimum of 12 hours of 300 or 400 level must be earned on this campus.

Classical Studies Track (with emphasis on the culture):

• 33 credit hours of Classics courses, with the following requirements:

a) 6 hours of Greek taken on this campus
b) 6 hours of Latin taken on this campus
c) Classical Civ. 385 (Greek History)
d) Classical Civ. 386 (Roman History)
e) 15 more hours of Classical Studies/Civilization courses or upper level Greek and Latin; related courses from other departments must first receive the approval of the Classics adviser.
f) 12 hours must be on the 300 level or above.

• N.B.: Many of the Classical Studies courses will be in the form of Classics 380 (Special Topics), which will be offered once or twice per year. The topic will vary according to the strengths and interests of the current faculty. Topics might include, "Science and Technology in the Ancient World," "Greek and Roman Religion," "Women in Antiquity," "Ancient Drama," "The Black Athena Debate." Classics 380 also serves as the rubric for the Alabama-in-Greece program.

THE PERRY AWARD

We have a limited number of scholarships available for incoming freshmen wishing to study Classics (Greek, Latin, or both) in Tuscaloosa. The money will come from the Charles D. Perry Endowed Scholarship Fund. Although the amount varies from year to year, traditionally it has covered anywhere from forty percent to one-hundred percent of tuition. Preference will be given to students whose academic records, college entrance examination scores, recommendations of counselors and teachers, character, and motivation indicate a high probability of success at the University of Alabama. For information write to Prof. Kirk Summers, Classics Advisor, Department of Romance Languages and Classics, Box 870246, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0246. Deadline, MARCH 1 of each year.

FACULTY

O. Kimball Armayor, D. Phil., Literae Humaniores (Oxford), Greek History and Historical Writers. Kirk Summers, Ph.D. (University of Illinois); CLASSICS ADVISOR; Latin Prose, Greek and Roman Philosophical Literature, Neo-Latin. Tatiana Tsakiropoulou-Summers, Ph.D. (University of Illinois), Hellenistic and Augustan Poetry; Tragedy; Poetic Theory; Women in Antiquity.

This document was created using PageMill 3.0. It was last updated October 13, 1998.