What is the study of ancient Mediterranean civilizations?

In studying the classics, you’ll explore fundamental questions of human life and discover how these have been answered by thinkers, artists and writers from the ancient world. You’ll study topics including ancient Greek and Roman history, language, mythology, politics and culture. The flexibility of the ancient Mediterranean civilizations degree option provides the opportunity to take courses covering neighboring populations in Europe, North Africa and the Near East. The program is well-suited for students wishing to pursue a double major.

Why study ancient Mediterranean civilizations at UNH?

At UNH, you’ll have the opportunity to pursue your own interests and will be encouraged to study course offerings outside the classics department in areas such as archaeology, ancient philosophy, linguistics and English literature. We are part of the consortium of universities that supports the Intercollegiate Center for the Classical Studies in Rome, and our department also manages a popular January-term course in the ancient city, as well as programs in Greece and Budapest.

Potential careers

Business owner
Diplomat
Government consultant
Journalist
Lawyer
Linguist
Museum curator
Teacher
Translator
Writer

Curriculum & Requirements

01

Program Description

The Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations (AMC) option balances language study with the opportunity for students to select from a wide range of courses covering many aspects of the Greek and Roman worlds, as well as the neighboring peoples in Europe, North Africa and the Near East. The flexibility of this option makes it especially attractive for students who wish to double major in another subject. It is generally not suitable, however, for those who wish to pursue related graduate study or a career in teaching Latin. AMC majors can, however, supplement the requirements with additional coursework to keep these options open.

02

Degree Plan

Sample Degree Plan

This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall		Credits
LATN 401 or GREK 401	Elementary Latin I or Elementary Classical Greek I	4
CLAS 401	Classical Mythology	4
ENGL 401	First-Year Writing	4
Elective		4
	Credits	16
Spring
LATN 402 or GREK 402	Elementary Latin II or Elementary Classical Greek II	4
CLAS 404	Introduction to Roman Civilization	4
Discovery Course		4
Elective or Discovery Course		4
	Credits	16
Second Year
Fall
LATN 503 or GREK 503	Intermediate Latin I or Intermediate Classical Greek I	4
CLAS 520A	Classical Society, Politics and Ethics: Democracies and Republics	4
Discovery Course		4
Elective Course		4
	Credits	16
Spring
LATN 504 or GREK 504	Intermediate Latin II or Intermediate Classical Greek II	4
CLAS Course		4
Discovery Course		4
Elective Course		4
	Credits	16
Third Year
Fall
LATN 605 or GREK 753	Readings in Latin Literature (or Elective Course) or Advanced Study in Athenian Literature	4
CLAS 601	Classical Myth II: The Power and Persistence of Myth	4
Elective Course		4
Elective Course		4
	Credits	16
Spring
CLAS 677 or HIST 677	History of Ancient Rome or History of Ancient Rome	4
CLAS 701W	Capstone Course	4
Discovery Course		4
Elective Course		4
	Credits	16
Fourth Year
Fall
Major Elective Course		4
Elective Course		4
Elective Course		4
Elective Course		4
	Credits	16
Spring
Major Elective Course		4
Elective Course		4
Elective Course		4
Elective Course		4
	Credits	16
	Total Credits	128

03

Requirements for the Program

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits

Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH

Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*

Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements

Foreign Language Requirement: Yes

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program. Bachelor of arts candidates must also satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement.

Classics majors may use two major-required courses to satisfy two Discovery category requirements.

The required minimum overall GPA in major coursework is 2.0.

To complete the AMC option of the classics major, a student must complete 10 courses (40 credits), distributed as follows:

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Language Proficiency
Demonstrate proficiency by taking at least 8 credits in GREK or LATN at the 503 level or above		8
Other Courses
Select at least 32 additional credits in CLAS, GREK, or LATN courses, including: ¹		32
CLAS 403	Introduction to Greek Civilization
or CLAS 404	Introduction to Roman Civilization
At least 8 credits from courses at the 600 level or above
Capstone Experience
Select an approved capstone experience of the following:
CLAS 701W	Capstone Course
Senior thesis
Honors thesis

At least 4 credits in 700-level LATN or GREK courses
Approved internship
Approved semester study abroad focused on the classical world
Total Credits		40

¹: No more than 8 credits may come from CLAS courses at the 400 level, with up to an additional 8 credits from LATN and GREK courses at the 400 level. There are also courses taught outside of the program that are approved substitutes for CLAS courses, and the department will accept up to 8 credits from such courses. An up-to-date list of these courses is available from departmental advisers and additional exceptions are allowed with the written approval of the adviser.

04

Student Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

Analyze and critique the cultural and historical importance of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Recognize and assess the relative value, and to integrate, the distinct categories of evidence from antiquity: material and textual.
Demonstrate an understanding of the steps of the intellectual process as developed in classical antiquity, including: identifying and defining essential questions; research in the best and fullest range of evidence; reasoned critique of the evidence; insightful synthesis of all relevant evidence; critical evaluation and integration of previous interpretations; creating an argument, including in essays or papers, which takes into account all the evidence
Translate key Latin and/or Greek texts at the intermediate level and demonstrate a knowledge of Latin or Greek vocabulary, morphology, and syntax at an intermediate level.
Show a familiarity with the essential literary sources from classical antiquity, and how they have been received in later periods.