2026-2027 Course Catalog

Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/classics-balas/classical-languages/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Classics, Classical Languages Concentration

Study of the fascinating languages, literatures, and material cultures of ancient Greece and Rome provides a simultaneously broad and deep education in the liberal arts that is crucial for 21st century career paths, whatever your goals in life may be. A Classics major helps you to think critically, read attentively, argue persuasively, and understand compassionately. Classics majors are especially well prepared for careers in teaching, business, law, medicine, government, publishing, and more.

Whether you choose a major in our Classical Languages or our Classical Civilizations concentration, come study with us! You will encounter unforgettable texts like Homer’s Odyssey and Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the lyric poetry of Sappho and Catullus, powerful tragedies and delightful comedies, satires and epigrams, histories and oratory; you will learn about mythology and religion, gender and sexuality, everyday life in the ancient Mediterranean, and much more!

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Classics, Classical Languages Concentration

A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60 - 75 hours). Please see your adviser.

Departmental distinction: Students seeking departmental distinction must have at least a 3.5 average in relevant courses and should consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies at the earliest opportunity.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours\ Minimum required concentration course work: 48 hours\ Minimum required 300- and 400-level courses in the concentration: 12 hours

University Requirements

Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.

The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.

General Education Requirements

Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Composition I | | 4-6 | | Advanced Composition | | 3 | | Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | | 6 | | Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | | 6 | | Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | | 6 | | Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | | 6-10 | | Language Requirement | | 0-20 | | fulfilled by GRK 101, GRK 102, 201, 202; and/or LAT 101, LAT 102, 201, 202 | | |

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Orientation and Professional Development | | | | LAS 101 | Design Your First Year Experience | 1 | | OR | | | | LAS 100 & LAS 101 | Success in LAS for International Students and Design Your First Year Experience | 3 | | OR | | | | LAS 102 | Transfer Advantage | 1 | | Total Hours | | 1 or 3 |

Classical Languages Concentration

Students choose one of three tracks: Ancient Greek, Latin, or Ancient Greek & Latin

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Ancient Greek Track | | 48 | | GRK 101 | Elementary Greek I | 4 | | GRK 102 | Elementary Greek II | 4 | | GRK 201 | Classical & Koine Greek I | 4 | | GRK 202 | Classical & Koine Greek II | 4 | | GRK 411 | Greek Prose Composition | 3 | | CLCV 114 | Introduction to Ancient Greek Culture | 3 | | 11 hours of Upper-Division GRK courses from the following: | | 11 | | GRK 401 | Survey of Greek Literature | | | GRK 491 | Readings in Greek Literature | | | GRK 492 | Senior Thesis | | | GRK 493 | Independent Reading | | | One additional CLCV or GRKM course chosen from the following: | | 3 | | CLCV 115 | Mythology of Greece and Rome | | | CLCV 116 | Introduction to Ancient Roman Culture | | | CLCV 120 | The Classical Tradition | | | CLCV 131 | Classical Archaeology, Greece | | | CLCV 132 | Class Archaeology, Rome-Italy | | | CLCV 133 | Archaeology of Israel | | | CLCV 160 | Ancient Greek & Roman Religion | | | CLCV 203 | Ancient Philosophy | | | CLCV 206 | Classical Allusions in Cinema | | | CLCV 220 | Exploring the Greek and Roman World | | | CLCV 221 | Odysseus and Other Heroes | | | CLCV 224 | Greco-Roman Antiquity and US Minority Cultures | | | CLCV 225 | How to Run an Ancient Empire | | | CLCV 230 | Ancient Engineering | | | CLCV 231 | Development of Ancient Cities | | | CLCV 232 | Ancient Greek Sanctuaries | | | CLCV 240 | Gender & Sexuality in Greco-Roman Antiquity | | | CLCV 250 | Sports and Society in Greece and Rome | | | CLCV 322 | Introduction to Greek and Roman Theater | | | CLCV 323 | The Comic Imagination | | | CLCV 443 | The Archaeology of Greece | | | CLCV 444 | The Archaeology of Italy | | | CLCV 450 | Classics Internship | | | CLCV 490 | Topics in Classical Literature | | | CLCV 491 | Topics Classic Arch & Civ | | | CLCV 492 | Senior Thesis | | | CLCV 493 | Independent Reading | | | GRKM 260 | Decolonizing the Body: Love and Thought in the Poetry of C.P. Cavafy | | | Supporting coursework, a minor or a second major in an area of study chosen by the student and approved by the Department of Classics Director of Undergraduate Studies | | 12 |

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Latin Track | | 48 | | LAT 101 | Elementary Latin I | 4 | | LAT 102 | Elementary Latin II | 4 | | LAT 201 | Intermediate Latin | 4 | | LAT 202 | Intro to Latin Literature | 4 | | LAT 411 | Intermediate Prose Composition | 3 | | CLCV 116 | Introduction to Ancient Roman Culture | 3 | | 11 hours of Upper-Division LAT courses chosen from the following: | | 11 | | LAT 401 | Survey of Latin Literature | | | LAT/MDVL 460 | Medieval Latin | | | LAT 491 | Readings in Latin Literature | | | LAT 492 | Senior Thesis | | | LAT 493 | Independent Reading | | | One additional CLCV or GRKM course chosen from the following: | | 3 | | CLCV 114 | Introduction to Ancient Greek Culture | | | CLCV 115 | Mythology of Greece and Rome | | | CLCV 120 | The Classical Tradition | | | CLCV 131 | Classical Archaeology, Greece | | | CLCV 132 | Class Archaeology, Rome-Italy | | | CLCV 133 | Archaeology of Israel | | | CLCV 160 | Ancient Greek & Roman Religion | | | CLCV 203 | Ancient Philosophy | | | CLCV 206 | Classical Allusions in Cinema | | | CLCV 220 | Exploring the Greek and Roman World | | | CLCV 221 | Odysseus and Other Heroes | | | CLCV 224 | Greco-Roman Antiquity and US Minority Cultures | | | CLCV 225 | How to Run an Ancient Empire | | | CLCV 230 | Ancient Engineering | | | CLCV 231 | Development of Ancient Cities | | | CLCV 232 | Ancient Greek Sanctuaries | | | CLCV 240 | Gender & Sexuality in Greco-Roman Antiquity | | | CLCV 250 | Sports and Society in Greece and Rome | | | CLCV 322 | Introduction to Greek and Roman Theater | | | CLCV 323 | The Comic Imagination | | | CLCV 443 | The Archaeology of Greece | | | CLCV 444 | The Archaeology of Italy | | | CLCV 450 | Classics Internship | | | CLCV 490 | Topics in Classical Literature | | | CLCV 491 | Topics Classic Arch & Civ | | | CLCV 492 | Senior Thesis | | | CLCV 493 | Independent Reading | | | GRKM 260 | Decolonizing the Body: Love and Thought in the Poetry of C.P. Cavafy | | | Supporting coursework, a minor or a second major in an area of study chosen by the student and approved by the Department of the Classics Director of Undergraduate Studies | | 12 |

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Ancient Greek & Latin Track | | 52 | | GRK 101 | Elementary Greek I | 4 | | GRK 102 | Elementary Greek II | 4 | | GRK 201 | Classical & Koine Greek I | 4 | | GRK 202 | Classical & Koine Greek II | 4 | | LAT 101 | Elementary Latin I | 4 | | LAT 102 | Elementary Latin II | 4 | | LAT 201 | Intermediate Latin | 4 | | LAT 202 | Intro to Latin Literature | 4 | | GRK 411 | Greek Prose Composition | 3 | | or LAT 411 | Intermediate Prose Composition | | | Additional GRK or LAT coursework at 400-level | | 2 | | One additional CLCV or GRKM course chosen from the following: | | 3 | | CLCV 114 | Introduction to Ancient Greek Culture | | | CLCV 115 | Mythology of Greece and Rome | | | CLCV 116 | Introduction to Ancient Roman Culture | | | CLCV 120 | The Classical Tradition | | | CLCV 131 | Classical Archaeology, Greece | | | CLCV 132 | Class Archaeology, Rome-Italy | | | CLCV 133 | Archaeology of Israel | | | CLCV 160 | Ancient Greek & Roman Religion | | | CLCV 203 | Ancient Philosophy | | | CLCV 206 | Classical Allusions in Cinema | | | CLCV 220 | Exploring the Greek and Roman World | | | CLCV 221 | Odysseus and Other Heroes | | | CLCV 224 | Greco-Roman Antiquity and US Minority Cultures | | | CLCV 225 | How to Run an Ancient Empire | | | CLCV 230 | Ancient Engineering | | | CLCV 231 | Development of Ancient Cities | | | CLCV 232 | Ancient Greek Sanctuaries | | | CLCV 240 | Gender & Sexuality in Greco-Roman Antiquity | | | CLCV 250 | Sports and Society in Greece and Rome | | | CLCV 322 | Introduction to Greek and Roman Theater | | | CLCV 323 | The Comic Imagination | | | CLCV 443 | The Archaeology of Greece | | | CLCV 444 | The Archaeology of Italy | | | CLCV 450 | Classics Internship | | | CLCV 490 | Topics in Classical Literature | | | CLCV 491 | Topics Classic Arch & Civ | | | CLCV 492 | Senior Thesis | | | CLCV 493 | Independent Reading | | | GRKM 260 | Decolonizing the Body: Love and Thought in the Poetry of C.P. Cavafy | | | Supporting coursework, a minor or a second major in an area of study chosen by the student and approved by the Department of the Classics Director of Undergraduate Studies | | 12 |

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Classics, Classical Languages Concentration

Sample Sequence

This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.

Ancient Greek Track

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree General and Education Requirements page. Fulfilled by GRK 101, GRK 102, GRK 201, GRK 202.

Total Hours: 120

Latin Track

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree General and Education Requirements page. Fulfilled by LAT 101, 102, 201, 202.

Total Hours: 120

Ancient Greek & Latin Track

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree General and Education Requirements page. Fulfilled by GRK 101, 102, 201, 202, & LAT 101, 102, 201, 202.

Total Hours: 120

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Classics, Classical Languages Concentration

1. Acquire and retain a detailed knowledge of Greek and Latin grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and modes of expression so as to be able to read literary and subliterary texts composed in Greek and Latin between roughly 800 BCE and 500 CE.
2. Situate knowledge of the languages within the cultural contexts in which they were used in order to understand the crucial role of language in social dynamics and cross-cultural communication.
3. Acquire facility with contemporary methods of literary and historical analysis sufficient to carry out original, self-directed research into cultures that made use of the Greek and Latin languages.
4. Acquire critical awareness of the place of Greek and Latin in western literary history in order to appreciate the powerful role of tradition in interpreting the texts and events of the past.
5. Acquire a detailed knowledge of the culture of Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, especially the broader historical, social, and cultural contexts and their development.

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Classics, Classical Languages Concentration

Department of Classics

Classics faculty\ classics@illinois.edu

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Overview of College Admissions & Requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences\