Classical Studies

The Classical Studies Program provides an interdisciplinary examination of the ancient Mediterranean world, from the era of the Bronze Age to the great transformations of late antiquity. The program centers on the cultures of Greece and Rome and is inclusive of other cultures of the region. In the Classical Studies Program students study the Ancient World through a diverse disciplinary lens, with courses offered in History, Literature, Philosophy, Political Science, Visual Arts, and more.

UC San Diego undergraduate students: Please use the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) for all advising questions. Use the "Meet with Advisor" page to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor.

For all others, or undergraduate students who need to submit petitions: caesar@ucsd.edu

People

Program Directors

Mira Balberg
Professor, History

Matthew T. Herbst
Director, Making of the Modern World Program

Academic Advising

UC San Diego undergraduate students: Please use the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) for all advising questions. Use the "Meet with Advisor" page to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor.

Faculty

Mira Balberg
History

Denise Demetriou
History

Zachary Dunseth
Anthropology

Thomas Gallant
History

Matthew T. Herbst
Director, Making of the Modern World Program

Monte Johnson
Philosophy

Edward Kelting
Literature

Patricia Marechal
Philosophy

Kourtney Murray
Lecturer, Literature

Jacobo Myerston
Literature

Christopher Shields
Philosophy

Edward Watts
History

Major

Classical Studies Major

Classical Studies offers a choice between two tracks for a major: A Language Emphasis track and a Cultures Emphasis track. For both tracks, a major in classical studies consists of a choice of twelve upper-division courses (forty-eight units) approved for the program and listed below. All courses used to meet requirements for a major in classical studies must be taken for a letter grade and be passed with a grade of C– or better.

Note: Students' degree audits will automatically display the "language emphasis track." If you are interested in switching to the "cultures emphasis track," please send "Classical Studies" a message in VAC requesting to switch.

Language Emphasis Track

This track is intended for students who are interested in intensive language study of Greek and Latin. For this track, before commencing upper-division work in Greek and Latin literature (LTGK and LTLA), students must complete LTGK 1-2-3 and LTLA 1-2-3, or demonstrate the equivalent with transfer credit. Two additional lower-division elective courses (from the list of courses approved by the Classical Studies Program) are also required. Six of the twelve upper-division courses must be distributed between upper-division LTLA and LTGK courses, three in one language and three in the other. CLAS 109 or CLAS 110, as well as Greek or Latin reading courses in other departments, are acceptable as well. The remaining six courses may be selected from the list of approved courses from anthropology, history, literature, philosophy, political science, theatre and dance, and visual arts. These must be from at least two departments. Graduate courses may be taken by undergraduates with consent of the instructor. The faculty of the program welcome qualified undergraduates in graduate courses.

Cultures Emphasis Track

The purpose of this track is to offer a pathway for students who are interested in a cross-disciplinary study of antiquity but do not wish to pursue intensive language study. This track requires three lower division courses, which could be completed through two alternative paths. One path, which does not include any language studies, requires 2 survey courses (LTWL 19AB/BC/AC or HUM 1-2 or MMW 11-12) and any lower division class from the list of approved courses. The other path, meant for students who are interested in pursuing a reduced load of language studies, consists of a sequence of 3 courses in one language (LTGK 1-2-3 or LTLA 1-2-3). The emphasis in this track is on a broad, well-rounded acquaintance with classical civilizations and exposure to a variety of disciplinary approaches. To that end, students will be expected to take their 12 upper-division electives from at least three different departments, as per our course listings. There is no restriction on how many courses from each department should be taken.

Resources:

Minor

Classical Studies Minor

A minor in Classical Studies consists of 7 courses (28 units), 4 (16 units) of which must be upper division.

A knowledge of the ancient languages is not required. All requirements for the minor in Classical Studies must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C- or better.

Resources:

Resources

UC San Diego Undergraduate Student Resources

Course Offerings

Refer to the official UC San Diego General Catalog for a complete list of approved courses that will count toward a major or minor in Classical Studies.

Course offerings are constantly changing. Please refer to the Schedule of Classes for the most up-to-date listing.

(*) Indicates course may be petitioned for credit. Instructions on How to Petition Courses.

Fall 2024

LTWL 19A. Introduction to the Ancient Greeks and Romans
HUM 1. The Foundations of Western Civilization: Israel and Greece
HUM 3. Renaissance, Reformation, and Early Modern Europe
PHIL 31. Introduction to Ancient Philosophy
MMW 11. Pre-History and Ancient Foundations
LTGK 1. Beginning Greek
LTLA 1. Beginning Latin (4)
LTLA 100. Introduction to Latin Literature
LTWL 100. Mythology
LTGK 103. Greek Drama
*HIEU 144P. Topics in European History: Nonspecialist Roman History
HINE 100. The Hebrew Bible and History
PHIL 110. History of Philosophy: Ancient
PHIL 287. Greek Reading Group (1-2)
PHIL 288. Latin Reading Group (1-2)
PHIL 290. Directed Independent Study (2-4)
POLI 110A. Citizens and Saints: Political Thought from Plato to Augustine
MMW 121. Exploring the Pre-Modern World

Winter 2025

ANAR 143. Biblical Archeology - Fact or Fiction
HIEU 103. Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
HIEU 123. Ancient Greece in the Classical Period
HINE 125. Jews in the Greek and Roman World
HUM 1. The Foundations of Western Civilization: Israel and Greece
LTGK 2. Intermediate Greek
LTGK 104. Greek Prose
LTLA 2. Intermediate Latin
LTLA 105. Topics in Latin Literature: Ovid
LTWL 19B. Introduction to the Ancient Greeks and Romans - cancelled
*LTWL 102. Life and Death in Ancient Mesopotamia - cancelled
MMW 12. Transforming Traditions and Emerging World Communities
PHIL 100. Plato
*PHIL 177. Philosophy and Literature

Spring 2025

ANAR 138. Origins of Civilization in Mesopotamia
ANAR 155. Study Abroad: Ancient Mesoamerica
ANTH 3. Global Anthropology
HIEU 160. Topics in Ancient Greek History
HINE 115. Death and Dying in Antiquity
HUM 2. Rome, Christianity, and the Middle Ages
LTGK 3. Intermediate Greek
LTLA 3. Intermediate Latin
LTWL 19C. Introduction to the Ancient Greeks and Romans
LTWL 101. Death and Life in Ancient Egypt
MMW 13. New Ideas and Cultural Encounters
PHIL 101. Aristotle
PHIL 102. Hellenistic Philosophy
VIS 21A. Introduction to the Art of the Americas or Africa and Oceania

Summer Session I 2025

ANAR 153. The Mysterious Maya
HIEU 102. Roman History
HIEU 124. The Age of Alexander
HILD 10. East Asia: The Great Tradition
HUM 3. Renaissance, Reformation, and Early Modern Europe
HUM 3R. Renaissance, Reformation, and Early Modern Europe
VIS 21B. Introduction to Asian Art

Summer Session II 2025

ANTH 3. Global Archaeology
CLAS 120. Classical Diversities (meets Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion requirement)
HIEU 106. Egypt, Greece, and Rome
HUM 3. Renaissance, Reformation, and Early Modern Europe
HUM 3GS. Renaissance, Reformation, and Early Modern Europe
HUM 3R. Renaissance, Reformation, and Early Modern Europe

Fall 2025

CLAS 87. First year seminar: Jesus in Word and Deed (1-unit P/NP, does not apply to major/minor)
HIEU 108. Sex and Politics in the Ancient World
HILD 10. East Asia: The Great Tradition
HUM 1. The Foundations of Western Civilization: Israel and Greece (Revelle students)
HUM 3. Renaissance, Reformation, and Early Modern Europe (Revelle students)
LTGK 1. Beginning Greek
LTGK 104. Greek Prose
LTLA 1. Beginning Latin
LTLA 100. Introduction to Latin Literature
LTWL 19A. Introduction to the Ancient Greeks and Romans
LTWL 101. Death and Life in Ancient Egypt
MMW 11. Pre-History and Ancient Foundations (ERC students)
MMW 121. Exploring the Pre-Modern World (ERC transfer students)
PHIL 110. History of Philosophy: Ancient
POLI 110A. Citizens and Saints: Political Thought from Plato to Augustine
TDHT 21. Ancient and Medieval Theatre
VIS 120A. Greek Art

Winter 2026 Intersession

ANAR 135. Ancient Mediterranean Civilization (8) - Study abroad course

Winter 2026

CLAS 87. First year seminar: Jesus in Word and Deed (1-unit P/NP, does not apply to major/minor)
ANAR 154. The Aztecs and their Ancestors
ANAR 158. The Inca: Empire of the Andes
HINE 100. The Hebrew Bible and History
HINE 171. Topics in Early Judaism and Christianity
LTGK 2. Intermediate Greek (I)
LTLA 2. Intermediate Latin (I)
LTLA 104. Latin Prose
LTWL 19B. Introduction to the Ancient Greeks and Romans
LTWL 102. Life and Death in Ancient Mesopotamia
LTWL 103. Magic in the Ancient World
PHIL 31. Introduction to Ancient Philosophy
PHIL 100. Plato

Spring 2026

CLAS 87. First year seminar: Jesus in Word and Deed (1-unit P/NP, does not apply to major/minor)
ANAR 138. Mesopotamia: The Emergence of Civilization
ANAR 155. Study Abroad: Ancient Mesoamerica
HINE 115. Death and Dying in Antiquity
LTLA 3. Intermediate Latin (II)
LTGK 3. Intermediate Greek (II)
LTWL 19C. Introduction to the Ancient Greeks and Romans
LTWL 100. Mythology
PHIL 101. Aristotle
PHIL 102. Hellenistic Philosophy
*RELI 146. Topics in the Religions of Antiquity

Honors Program

Honors is intended for the most talented and motivated students majoring in Greek, Latin, Classics, or Greek and Hebrew. Requirements for admission to the honors program are:

Junior standing
Overall GPA of 3.5
GPA in the major of 3.7

Qualified students majoring in Greek, Latin, or Classics may apply at the end of their junior year to the program faculty on the basis of 1) a thesis proposal (three to four pages) worked out in advance with a classical studies faculty member; and 2) a recommendation from that faculty member. It is strongly advised that the proposal be based upon a class paper or project from a course taken towards completion of the major.

As for the proposal format: it should include a description of the topic and research question; explanation of the sources that will be used and methods that will be applied to them; and a preliminary bibliographical list. The proposal should be sent to caesar@ucsd.edu along with the faculty advisor's letter. Interested students are recommended to complete this by the end of August going into their senior year.

The core of the honors program is an honors thesis. Eight units of CLAS 196 (A+B) may be counted toward the major in place of two other upper-division courses. A thesis completed by the end of the senior year will be read and evaluated by the thesis adviser and another member of the program faculty. If the thesis is accepted and the student maintains a 3.5 GPA, departmental honors will be awarded. The level of honors—distinction, high distinction, or highest distinction—will be determined by the program faculty.

Events

Please find information about upcoming events and how to subscribe to the Institute of Arts and Humanities newsletter on the Events webpage.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Please see below for responses to commonly asked questions. If you have further questions, please contact the Classical Studies Program through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC).

Can I take courses P/NP for the Classical Studies major or minor?

No, P/NP courses cannot be used towards the major or minor. Courses must be taken for a letter grade and be passed with a grade of C- or better.

Do I have to know Latin or Greek?

A knowledge of the ancient languages is not requiredhowever, you are welcome to take Latin or Greek courses to count towards the major or minor. For the major, if you do not want to take language classes, see the "cultures emphasis track."

Can I test into a higher level of Greek or Latin?

Yes, please contact the Literature Department through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) for testing and placement information.

I took a course not listed on the course catalog, can I count it toward my Classical Studies major/minor?

In order for a course to be eligible for petition, 50% of the course content must be related to Classical Studies.

Instructions on How to Petition Courses

Can I minor in Greek or Latin?

Yes, please see the Department of Literature website for more details.

What should I do to register in CLAS 87?

CLAS 87 is a first-year seminar. If you have freshman standing, you should be able to enroll autoatically. All others can submit a request through EASy. Students who are first-years but have sophomore standing will be approved within three business days of submitting their requests. All other students will be approved during second pass.

Pandora Forum Student Club

Pandora Forum is the official club for all things Classical Studies at UC San Diego. We are a space for Classical Studies majors, minors, and any student interested in ancient Mediterranean studies to gather and learn together. The organization seeks to provide resources and advice regarding the Classical Studies program at UC San Diego; to discuss previous and current literature, essays, and scholarly works in ancient Mediterranean studies; to serve as a collaborative study and investigative space; and to serve as a center for students within the Classical Studies program.

We host weekly meetings which include student presentations, professor talks, crafts, snacks, etc. We also publish a journal called Musings for creative works related to Classical Studies. Musings is primarily an online publication, but publishes a print edition of featured work annually.

Find us on Instagram: @pandoraforumucsd
Visit our website: https://www.pandoraforumsd.com/