Two Roads to Classics at UIC
Students may major either in Classical Languages and Literatures (with a specialization in Ancient Greek or Latin) or in Classical Civilization.  All courses in the Classical Civilization major are taught in translation except for the collateral requirement of Ancient Greek or Latin 101-104 (or equivalent).  By fulfilling this collateral requirement for the Classical Civilization major, students satisfy at the same time the LAS requirement of two years of study of a foreign language.

Students majoring in Ancient Greek or Latin will ordinarily take courses at the 200 level designated as repeatable 299 "independent study" courses.  These are, in fact, regular reading courses, not independent study in the traditional sense, and meet on a weekly basis for a set number of hours, each with its own syllabus of readings.  One or two of these 299 courses will usually be made available by the department each semester so that the requirements for a major in Ancient Greek or Latin can be completed during two to three years of study.  The topics for these courses will be selected in consultation between faculty and prospective students.


Declaring a Classics Major
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required by the college to declare a major by the time they reach junior standing, but it is to a student's advantage to make this declaration as early as the freshman or sophomore year.  By doing so, the student gains access to advising which helps to insure that he or she will have completed all the requirements for the major by the date of intended graduation.  It is important that students work with an advisor who will assist in answering questions and help to design a program that fits the student's needs.

The department encourages its majors and minors to meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies at least once or twice each semester to review progress towards the degree.  This process also insures that the student is known to one or more members of the department so that faculty are in a better position to furnish letters of recommendation to students, especially those applying to graduate school or seeking employment upon graduation.

To declare a major, a student only has to fill out a short form available from the department on the 18th floor of University Hall. If a student has already declared another major and wishes to switch to Classics, or to add Classics as a second major, this same form should be completed.

The field of Classics and Mediterranean Studies encompasses the cultures of Ancient Greece, Rome, and the Arab world - their languages, literatures, histories, philosophies, religions, arts, and archaeology. Studies in this field are inherently interdisciplinary and can touch upon many other subjects, ranging from drama to astronomy, from mythology to geography, from sciences to gender studies, from philology to literary criticism, from political theory to sociology and anthropology - a complete liberal arts education in a single department.