BA in Classical Studies—Specialization in Ancient & Modern Greek

Spanning close to three millennia, from the Bronze Age to the present, the Greek language has one of the longest continuous written histories of any language in the world. The Specialization in Ancient & Modern Greek enables students to trace the development of the language, literature, and culture across this time span. Unlike our specialization in Classical Languages, this program offers a through-line to study the evolution of the Greek language and its ancient literature into the Christian era, and to trace the many grammatical and lexical changes in the language over time. In this context, the major offers a bridge, in literary, cultural, and linguistic terms, from our many course offerings in Ancient Greek to our Minor in Modern Greek.

Majors in Classical Studies with a Specialization in Ancient & Modern Greek learn to read key works of Ancient and Modern Greek in the original language, acquiring advanced skills in literary analysis, an understanding of the influence of Classical Greek culture on Modern Greek culture, and an understanding of the linguistic developments of the language over close to three millennia.

Students in this specialization learn to read, write, and think with clarity while gaining the critical tools needed to navigate the ethical and moral dilemmas of professional and personal life. A Specialization in Ancient & Modern Greek provides a superb foundation for students interested in comparative literature, linguistics, philosophy, religion, and a wide range of other humanistic disciplines; it also prepares students to enter into MA programs in Ancient or Modern Greek. Finally, the specialization provides a solid foundation for careers in numerous other fields, including law, business, medicine, or communications.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate broad understanding of the history and culture of ancient and modern Greece.
• Read with comprehension works of Ancient and Modern Greek poetry and prose, demonstrating understanding of genre, style, and cultural context.
• Communicate clearly and persuasively, both orally and in writing, ideas about Ancient and Modern Greek language and culture.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the influence of Classical culture on Modern Greek language and culture.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the linguistic developments in the Greek language between antiquity and the present.

Requirements

All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in any area of Classical Studies will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy most BU Hub requirements in Philosophical, Aesthetic & Historical Interpretation, as well as most of the requirements in Scientific and Social Inquiry, Communication, and the Intellectual Toolkit. In addition, some BU Hub requirements may be earned in Diversity, Civic Engagement & Global Citizenship through specific breadth and elective courses. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences.

Classical Studies majors will also satisfy College of Arts & Sciences requirements, described here.

A Specialization in Ancient & Modern Greek requires a minimum of ten 4-unit courses with a grade of C or higher. The requirements are as follows:

• CAS CL 101 (The World of Greece) or CAS CL 321 (Greek History)
• CAS CG 101 (World of Modern Greece)
• Seven courses in Ancient and Modern Greek, including one course in Ancient Greek at level CL 162 (second-term Ancient Greek) or higher and one course in Modern Greek at level CG 112 or higher
• One course at the 400 level or higher, in either language or in a topic in Classical or Modern Greek culture or history

Honors Requirements

The department encourages work towards graduation with Honors in the Major. For students majoring in Classical Studies, the primary requirement is successful completion of a two-term program of directed research and writing in their senior year, culminating in an honors thesis and oral defense with a minimum of two examiners. The thesis should exhibit knowledge of primary and secondary sources—with bibliography (if a research paper) or the equivalent at the discretion of the readers—and ordinarily should not exceed 10,000 words. For students completing a written honors project, the submission of a detailed outline by the end of the fall term is also required.

To qualify for the honors track, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a department GPA of no less than 3.4, must submit an application to their Faculty Project Advisor in the spring of their junior year, and must have approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies and Department Chair.