The ideas and principles of ancient Greece and Rome resonate throughout modern Western culture. Study the languages, literatures, and civilizations of the ancients, and you’ll gain a deeper understanding of today’s liberal arts and sciences. At UMW, you can major in Latin or in classics with a concentration in classical civilization or classical archaeology.
Areas of Study
Major in Latin at UMW and you’ll choose from courses including elementary, intermediate, and advanced Latin language; survey courses in Latin literature; Roman drama; lyric and elegiac poetry; the writings of Roman historians; the works of Vergil, Horace, and Ovid; Roman philosophical thought; Roman satire; and more.
Classics offerings include Greek and Roman ideas and culture; Greek and Roman mythology in art and literature; the dramas of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides; epic traditions; Greek and Roman religion; Egyptian and Near Eastern art and archaeology; women in antiquity; the ancient city; and Greek and Roman archaeology.
Internships
Latin and classics majors have opportunities to conduct research and present their findings, to seek for-credit or paid internships, and to study abroad.
Honors
To earn honors in classics, you’ll need a GPA of at least 3.5 in the major and 3.2 overall. You’ll research, write, and defend a thesis and complete an exit interview.
Requirements
Major Requirements
Students seeking a classics major can choose from concentrations in classical civilization (often paired with teaching licensure) or classical archaeology (preparation for museum or field work). Either concentration requires 33 credits in core and elective courses, including courses at the 300 level or higher.
Students seeking a Latin major will need 33 credits in core courses and electives, including at least 15 credits in Latin courses beyond the intermediate level and at least nine credits in approved courses relating to classical civilization.
Minor Requirements
Classics offers a museum studies minor, which requires 18 credits including core and elective courses.
Scholarships
Students who major in Latin and the classics can apply for several scholarships and awards through the Department of Classics, Philosophy, and Religion.