Classical Studies (Minor)

Minor: Classical Studies
Program Code: M230

Classical studies explores the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome and thus the roots of Western history, literature, and culture. As an interdisciplinary field, classical studies encourages students to develop multiple intellectual skills and to think about the world around them from different perspectives. Current course offerings include Greco-Roman literature, mythology, history, archaeology, philosophy, political science, rhetoric, and of course, Latin and Greek.

Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements. 

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Institutional Minor Requirements

The following institutional requirements apply to all CMU minors. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.

  • A minor consists of 15-24 semester hours. There may be prerequisites required for the minor which will increase the total number of credit hours for a student who has not already taken those prerequisites.
  • Courses taken to satisfy Essential Learning, major requirements, or electives can be counted toward the minor if applicable.
  • At least 33 percent of the credit hours required for the minor must be in courses numbered 300 or above.
  • At least 25 percent of the classes must be taken at CMU.
  • 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher for the courses used for the minor.
  • A minor is not a degree by itself and must be earned at the same time as a baccalaureate degree.
  • A minor must be outside the major field of study.
  • A student may earn up to five minors with any baccalaureate degree at CMU.
  • The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements sheet you should follow.
  • See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.

Program Specific Minor Requirements

(24 semester hours)

Required Courses
Greek or Latin: 16
FLGK 111
& FLGK 112
Introductory Greek I
and Introductory Greek II
FLLT 111
& FLLT 112
Introductory Latin I
and Introductory Latin II
Select two of the following: 26
ENGL 222
Mythology-GTAH2
ENGL 301
Classical Greek and Latin Literature
HIST 430
The Ancient Mediterranean World
Restricted Electives12
POLS 452
Political Theory: Classical and Medieval
ENGL 335
The Bible as Literature
ENGL 370
Major Author 4
ENGL 386
Roots of Modern Rhetoric
ENGL 494
Seminar in Literature 4
FLAV 390
Special Studies in Foreign Languages 6
HIST 396
Topics 4
HIST 435
Classical Archaeology
HIST 440
Early and Medieval Christianity
HNRS 396
Topics 4
FLGK 111
& FLGK 112
Introductory Greek I
and Introductory Greek II 3
FLLT 111
& FLLT 112
Introductory Latin I
and Introductory Latin II 3
ENGL 222
Mythology-GTAH2 5
ENGL 301
Classical Greek and Latin Literature 5
HIST 430
The Ancient Mediterranean World 5
Total Semester Credit Hours24
1

Students must take at least six hours in one language.  If students complete both Greek and Latin sequences, the additional credits will apply towards Restricted Electives.

2

If all three courses are completed, the additional course will apply towards Restricted Electives.

3

Both 111 and 112 must be completed to count towards Restricted Electives. Do not double count with Greek/Latin requirement above.

4

ENGL 370, ENGL 494, HIST 396, and HNRS 396 may only count towards the Classical Studies minor if they focus on an author or topic directly related to the Greco-Roman world. Before taking one of these, students should meet with a faculty member affiliated with the classics minor in order to determine if it meets that qualification.

5

Do not double count with Required Courses above.

6

FLAV 390 is offered occasionally based on need for students who have already completed at least one year of Latin or Greek.

Advising Process and DegreeWorks

Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a minor. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and developing a suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended minor.

DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a minor. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head for the minor. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.

Graduation Process

A minor cannot be awarded by itself.  It must be combined with a baccalaureate degree outside the major field of study. Students should follow the graduation process outlined for the baccalaureate degree and list their majors and minors on the “Intent to Graduate” form.

If a student’s petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to consult the Registrar’s Office regarding next steps.