Admissions to the Classics BA/BS have been suspended as of summer 2024 and will be discontinued as of summer 2028. If you have any questions, please contact the department.
See the Classical Humanities major instead.
Please consult the Classical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies advisor (advising@canes.wisc.edu) with questions about the Classics major.
How to Get in
Admissions to the Classics BA/BS have been suspended as of summer 2024 and will be discontinued as of summer 2028. If you have any questions, please contact the department.
See the Classical Humanities major instead.
Declaring the Major
For more information about the Classics major, contact advising@canes.wisc.edu
Students who declare the Classics major may not combine this major (“double major”) with the Classical Humanities major starting Fall 2023.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. The College of Letters & Science allows this major to be paired with either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree requirements.
Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements
| Mathematics | Complete two courses of 3+ credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level in MATH, COMP SCI, or STAT subjects. A maximum of one course in each of COMP SCI and STAT subjects counts toward this requirement. |
| Language | Complete the third unit of a language other than English. |
| L&S Breadth | Complete: • 12 credits of Humanities, which must include at least 6 credits of Literature; and • 12 credits of Social Science; and • 12 credits of Natural Science, which must include 6 credits of Biological Science and 6 credits of Physical Science. |
| Liberal Arts and Science Coursework | Complete at least 108 credits. |
| Depth of Intermediate/Advanced Coursework | Complete at least 60 credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level. |
| Major | Declare and complete at least one major. |
| Total Credits | Complete at least 120 credits. |
| UW-Madison Experience | Complete both: • 30 credits in residence, overall, and • 30 credits in residence after the 86th credit. |
| Quality of Work | • 2.000 in all coursework at UW–Madison • 2.000 in Intermediate/Advanced level coursework at UW–Madison |
Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major
Non–L&S students who have permission from their school/college to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.
Requirements for the Major
A major in Classics allows students to place primary emphasis on learning Greek or Latin, yet gain some language training in both. Whether the primary language of study is Greek or Latin, the major requires 23 credits and assumes students have taken the first two semesters of both languages prior to entering the major.
Classics–Latin Emphasis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GREEK courses: | ||
| GREEK 305 | Third Semester Ancient Greek | 3 |
| GREEK 306 | Fourth Semester Ancient Greek | 3 |
| LATIN courses: | ||
| LATIN 305 | Third Semester Latin | 4 |
| LATIN 306 | Fourth Semester Latin | 4 |
| LATIN 401 | Readings in Latin Literature | 3 |
| Two LATIN courses at the 500 level, select from: | 6 | |
| Elementary Prose Composition | ||
| Vergil | ||
| Latin Poetry | ||
| Roman Drama | ||
| Roman Satire | ||
| Roman Novel | ||
| Latin Historical Writers | ||
| Latin Philosophical Writers | ||
| Latin Oratory | ||
| Mediaeval Latin | ||
| Total Credits | 23 | |
Classics–Greek Emphasis
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LATIN courses: | ||
| LATIN 305 | Third Semester Latin | 4 |
| LATIN 306 | Fourth Semester Latin | 4 |
| GREEK courses: | ||
| GREEK 305 | Third Semester Ancient Greek | 3 |
| GREEK 306 | Fourth Semester Ancient Greek | 3 |
| GREEK 401 | Readings in Greek Literature | 3 |
| Two GREEK courses at the 500 level, select from: | 6 | |
| Greek Prose Composition | ||
| Homer | ||
| Hesiod | ||
| Greek Lyric Poets | ||
| Greek Comedy | ||
| Greek Tragedy | ||
| Herodotus | ||
| Thucydides | ||
| Attic Orators | ||
| Hellenistic Greek | ||
| Total Credits | 23 | |
Residence and Quality of Work
- 2.000 GPA in all CLASSICS and major courses
- 2.000 GPA in at least 15 credits of upper-level work in the major1
- 15 credits in CLASSICS, taken at UW–Madison
Honors in the Major
Students may declare Honors in the Classics Major in consultation with the Classics undergraduate advisor.
Honors in the Major Requirements
To earn Honors in the Major in Classics, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements:
- Earn a 3.300 University GPA
- Earn a 3.500 GPA in upper-level work in the major
- Complete the following coursework, with a grade of B or better:
- CLASSICS 591 and
- Senior Honors Thesis (CLASSICS 681 &CLASSICS 682) for a 6 credits
Footnotes
1 Courses at the Intermediate and Advanced levels are considered upper-level in this major.
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize, identify, and explain forms, syntax, and vocabulary of the classical and biblical languages.
- Demonstrate close reading skills that emphasize accuracy and nuance in translation.
- Demonstrate critical reading skills which emphasize textual analysis, interpretation, and evaluation.
- Demonstrate competency with texts and authors from the classical and near eastern tradition.
Four-Year Plan
This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| LATIN 103 or GREEK 103 | 4 | LATIN 104 or GREEK 104 | 4 |
| Communication Part A (complete during first year) | 3 | Quantitative Reasoning A (complete during first year) | 3 |
| Physical Science Breadth | 3 | Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| Social Science Breadth | 4 | Biological Science Breadth | 3 |
| 14 | 13 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| LATIN 305 or GREEK 305 | 4 | LATIN 306 or GREEK 306 | 4 |
| GREEK 103 or LATIN 103 | 4 | GREEK 104 or LATIN 104 | 4 |
| Communication Part B | 3 | Quantitative Reasoning Part B | 3 |
| Social Science Breadth | 4 | Social Science Breadth | 3 |
| Science Breadth | 3 | Science Breadth | 3 |
| 18 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| LATIN 401 | 3 | LATIN 500-level course | 3 |
or GREEK 500-level course | or GREEK 500-level course | ||
| GREEK 305 or LATIN 305 | 3-4 | GREEK 306 or LATIN 306 | 3-4 |
| Social Science Breadth | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| 500-level LATIN or GREEK course | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 1 | Elective | 3 |
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Advising and Careers
Advising
If you like to plan, seeing your major advisor is very important; it can make the difference between fitting in Vergil or Homer before you graduate. Many students also try to complete more than one major or certificate, and discussing how you might be able to reach this goal is another primary role of your major advisor. Advisors can speak to you about course content, which courses fit best with your interest areas, and what kinds of courses might work best with your learning style. Any and all of these discussions can occur during your advising appointment.
In addition to discussing the major, advisors know a lot about:
- General Education requirements
- Breadth requirements
- Interpreting university policies and deadlines
- Connecting majors to careers
- Getting involved with campus organizations
- Finding volunteer and/or internship opportunities
- Talking about your challenges and difficulties
- Connecting with tutors
- Choosing a study abroad program
- Practicing for interviews
- Talking about graduate school
- Proofreading résumés and cover letters
Careers
Humanities majors enable students to consider just about any type of career or educational pursuit. Our coursework builds the critical thinking and communication skills needed to succeed in careers ranging from politics and education to business and law.
Think about what you learn in a classroom setting as well as what you do each day to be a successful student; the skills you develop are equally important in the workplace:
- critical reading, reflection, and analysis
- expanded world view and exposure to new ideas/ways of thinking
- effective teamwork to advance a common project/purpose
- effective time-management and self-motivation to complete projects independently
- demonstrated writing proficiency in short and long essay format
- discussion and debate strategies
- proper research design and methodology
- broader knowledge of career and graduate-study options
One of the more significant skills CANES majors develop is language acquisition. Study of Greek, Latin, or Biblical Hebrew sets you apart and demonstrates your willingness to explore and expand your understanding of history and culture. In addition, the study of ancient languages shows discipline and perseverance. Overall, you will have a wide variety of skills and talents to start you on the path to a rewarding career! Visit our Alumni page and our Career and Skill Development page for more information.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students
Resources and Scholarships
Study Abroad
The department offers two options for summer study, UW–Classics in Greece and UW–Classics in Italy. Each three-week program is offered alternating summers and guided by a department faculty member.
Scholarships and Prizes
In addition to routinely nominating or recommending exemplary undergraduate majors for national, regional, local, and university awards, CANES offers the following opportunities for financial support to our majors annually:
Ruth M. Kuhlman Undergraduate Scholarship
Established in 1998 with a bequest from Myron George Kuhlman in memory of his wife, Ruth Miller Kuhlman (BS in Education '32), this is a monetary award for undergraduates to benefit and advance their studies within the field of classics. The total amount of the award may be up to $2,500, and the award may not be granted every academic year depending on the quality of entries and availability of funds. This competition is open to majors only. The call usually goes out in November and closes in February.
Gertrude E. Slaughter Summer Study Scholarship
A monetary award in memory of Gertrude E. Slaughter, author and widow of Professor Moses S. Slaughter 1896–1923, for undergraduate students to advance their studies at an accredited center such as the American School in Athens or the American Academy in Rome, to participate in study abroad, or to participate in an active archaeological field project. Awards will be in the amount of up to $800. This competition is open to majors only. The call usually goes out in November and closes in February.
Logan Prize for Greek Translation
A monetary award in memory of Fellow of Classics, John Watson Logan (PhD '23), for the translation of a passage of ancient Greek. The passage will be selected each year by the chair of the Prize Committee and awards may not be granted every academic year depending on the quality of entries. This competition is open to all undergraduate students who have completed at least one semester of ancient Greek and is normally publicized in classes and to department majors in early April.
Pillinger Prize for Latin Translation
A monetary award in memory of Assistant Professor Hugh Edward Pillinger (1965-1970) for the translation of a passage in Latin. The passage will be selected each year by the chair of the Prize Committee and awards may not be granted every academic year depending on the quality of entries. This competition is open to all undergraduate students who have completed at least one semester of Latin and is normally publicized in classes and to department majors in early April.