Greek and Latin Language and Literature

MEAMS offers students the chance to study Ancient Greek and Latin from beginner's to advanced levels. Students who have no experience in either language can begin learning Latin in any given fall semester, while Ancient Greek is offered starting in the spring. For those who have taken Latin or even Ancient Greek in high school, we offer advanced courses in both languages during the academic year. 

Greek and Latin Major

The Greek and Latin major provides thorough and rigorous training in Ancient Greek and Latin. Our majors have opened doors for graduates in various fields: teaching, scholarship (including PhD work in Classics/Ancient Mediterranean Studies, archaeology, etc.), and careers of all sorts. Specializing in one of the two languages (ancient Greek or Latin), students enrolled in this major take at least three semesters in one language of their choice plus at least two semesters of study in the other. The program is rounded out with coursework from subfields such as Mediterranean archaeology, ancient history, and ancient philosophy.

  • Requirements for the Major effective for students enrolled since Fall 2024

    Depending on prior exposure to the language, LAT 101, LAT 102, GRK 101 and GRK 102 may be required prerequisites for the major. With departmental approval, a special program may be devised that emphasizes both languages equally or in which one language predominates.

    Students interested in the major in Greek and Latin must complete the following requirements (10 courses in total):

    • 3 Courses beyond 102 in either ancient Greek or Latin (this will be the student’s primary language) (12 credits)
    • 2 Courses in the other, secondary, language (8 credits)
    • 5 Courses listed under Ancient Greek, Latin, or Ancient Mediterranean studies (GRK, LAT, AMS) or those chosen with the Undergraduate Director’s approval (20 credits)

    Please note the following: 

    • No more than three introductory (100-level) courses shall count toward the major.
    • Teaching practica (e.g. AMS 391, GRK 391, LAT 391) shall not count towards the major.
    • At least six courses must be taken at the 300-level or above. When selecting courses, students are advised to work with the Undergraduate Director to ensure that this requirement is met.
    • Any course in which a student receives the grade of P or D shall not count toward the major.
    • Students with high-school or other preparation in Latin or ancient Greek are placed at the appropriate level on the basis of individual consultation with faculty members or, in some cases, by placement tests. Incoming students approved for language study beyond the 101 level will need to consult with the Undergraduate Director regarding alternate routes to fulfilling major requirements.
    • Students wishing to apply for graduate programs in Ancient Mediterranean Studies/Classics (Masters, MAT, PhD) need to work closely with the Undergraduate Director in creating a program of study supportive of post-graduate work. In particular, students who are hoping to go on to study for an MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) in Latin should consult with the Undergraduate Director at their earliest convenience in order to ensure they build a roster of courses that will allow them to meet the language credit requirements of NYS and out of state universities, as these requirements can vary from school to school.
  • Requirements for the Major effective for students enrolled before Fall 2024

    Requirements - Total of 10 Courses

    • (4 Courses) beyond 102 in either ancient Greek or Latin.
    • (2 Courses) in the other language (ancient Greek or Latin).
    • (4 Courses) listed under Classical Studies (CLAS) or those chosen with departmental approval from other departmental offerings, or from archaeology, ancient history, ancient philosophy, ancient art or ancient literature.

    Please note the following: Depending on prior exposure to the language, LAT 101,102 and GRK 101 and 102 may be required prerequisites for the major. Not more than two introductory-level (100-level) courses may be counted toward the major.

Latin Major

The Latin program provides thorough and rigorous training in Latin. Students can leverage this major towards advancement in a variety of fields, including teaching (Majors of ours have gained admission to Master of Arts in Teaching [MAT] programs in Latin). Alternatively, the Latin major can supplement training in other disciplines, such as History, Medieval and Early Modern Studies, as well as PPL (Philosophy, Politics, and Law).  Students majoring in Latin will take at least six courses in Latin and additional courses in any aspect of ancient Mediterranean culture, history, language, literature, archaeology, philosophy, or art, as approved by the Undergraduate Director.

  • Requirements for the Major effective for students enrolled since Fall 2024

    Depending on prior exposure to the language, LAT 101 and 102 may be required prerequisites for the major.

    Students interested in the major in Latin must complete the following requirements (10 courses in total):

    • At least six Latin-Language (LAT) courses (24 credits)
    • Four additional courses in any aspect of ancient Mediterranean culture, history, language, literature, archaeology, philosophy, or art as approved by the Undergraduate Director (16 credits)

    Please note the following:

    • No more than three introductory (100-level) courses shall count toward the major.
    • At least six courses must be taken at the 300-level or above. When selecting courses, students are advised to work with the Undergraduate Director to ensure that this requirement is met.
    • Teaching practica (e.g. AMS 391, GRK 391, LAT 391) shall not count towards the major.
    • Any course in which a student receives the grade of P or D shall not count toward the major.
    • Students with high-school or other preparation in Latin are placed at the appropriate level on the basis of individual consultation with faculty members or, in some cases, by placement tests. Incoming students approved for language study beyond the 101 level will need to consult with the Undergraduate Director regarding alternate routes to fulfilling major requirements.
    • Students who are hoping to go onto study for an MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) in Latin should consult with the Undergraduate Director at their earliest convenience in order to ensure they build a roster of courses that will allow them to meet the language credit requirements of NYS and out of state universities, as these requirements can vary from school to school.
  • Requirements for the Major effective for students enrolled before Fall 2024

    Students majoring in Latin will take a minimum of five courses beyond the 102 level, one course in Roman History, and additional courses in culture, civilization, and so on to round out their program. 

    Total of 10 Courses

    • (5 Courses) Latin courses beyond 102.
    • (5 Courses) listed under Classical Studies (CLAS) or those chosen with departmental approval from other departmental offerings, or from ancient archaeology, ancient history, ancient philosophy, ancient art, or ancient literature.

    Please note the following:  Depending on prior exposure to the language, LAT 101 and 102 may be required prerequisites for the major. Not more than two introductory-level (100-level) courses may be counted toward the major.

Minor in Ancient Greek or Latin

Taking a minor in Ancient Greek or Latin is one way to leverage your interest in the ancient Mediterranean world since it is easily combined with another major, or even two, and can help you stand out when applying to Law or Med school.