The Classics Major and Minor

Why study Classics?

Classics is the interdisciplinary study of ancient Greek and Roman cultures, focusing on such areas as language, literature, history, art and archaeology, politics, philosophy, gender, and religion. Given the crucial importance of Greece and Rome to the development of Western culture, the theoretical and practical analysis of these ancient civilizations provides a critical background for appreciating the complexities of the modern world. A classics major will enable you to better understand and critique the Western tradition, for example in its various ways of representing relationships between the human and the divine, male and female, and different classes or ethnic groups. The study of classics will also provide you with a perspective on some issues important to many cultures around the world – like the conflict between tradition and innovation or the tension between conservatism and skepticism – and will help you learn to express your thoughts with precision and style. A recent survey of business recruitment officers found that "studying the classics developed intellectual rigor, communications skills, analytical skills, the ability to handle complex information, and, above all, a breadth of view which few other disciplines can provide."

Major requirements

All three of the following:

  1. Greek 1, 2 and 12; or Latin 1, 2 and 11; or Greek 1.9; or Latin 1.9. Students who have studied Greek or Latin extensively before coming to Brooklyn College may receive a waiver of this requirement from the chairperson.
  2. Classics 16 and 18.
  3. Twenty-four credits in courses chosen from the following: Greek 14 or higher; Latin 12 or higher; any Classics course numbered 13 or higher. Up to six credits may be counted toward this requirement from the following: Art 12.60, 12.70, Comparative Literature 42.1, English 50.2, 50.5, 50.7, History 21.4, 21.5, Philosophy 11.1, 11.3. One of these courses must be a Classics course designated as writing intensive (W). Students who successfully complete Greek 1.9 or Latin 1.9 may apply three credits toward this requirement.

N.B. These requirements were approved by Faculty Council on November 8, 2005. Students already matriculated at that point may elect to fulfill the previous major requirements, which did not include Greek or Latin as mandatory.

Minor requirements

One of the following options:

  1. Twelve credits in Classics, Greek, or Latin courses numbered 11 and higher.
  2. Eight credits from either Latin 1 and Latin 2 or Greek 1 and Greek 2, plus six credits in Classics, Greek, or Latin courses numbered 11 and higher.
  3. Nine credits from either Greek 1.9 or Latin 1.9, plus three credits from a Classics course numbered 13 and higher or a Greek or Latin course numbered 31 and higher.

All courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher.

For further information please contact Prof. Liv Yarrow (yarrow@brooklyn.cuny.edu), the department’s student adviser.