Jun 08, 2026

Ohio University 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog

Classical Civilization Major (B.A.)

Major code BA5214

College of Arts and Sciences
Classics and Religious Studies Department
Ellis 201B
Phone: 740.597.2100
classics@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/cas/classics

Brian Collins, contact person
collinb1@ohio.edu

Ohio University has approved the inactivation of this program, contingent upon full approval of a new Bachelor of Arts degree program in Classics and Religious Studies by the Ohio Department of Higher Education and the Higher Learning Commission. Upon receiving these final approvals, OHIO will determine the semester the new program will begin. When the new program begins, all incoming students for the semester the program begins will start in this new program, while continuing students will be able to complete the degree requirements for their current program as outlined in accordance with the Undergraduate Catalog.

Program Overview

The classical civilization major equips our students to understand the ancient cultures of the Mediterranean through their languages, literature, art, and archaeology. The study of the classical world is of continuing value because we gain a deeper perspective on basic human questions such as the nature of love, family, war, community, and religious experience, through the eyes of these ancient peoples. Students learn to analyze the evidence from archaeology and literature, and apply the patterns they recognize to the modern world. Classical civilization students are encouraged to take Latin or Greek to fulfill the language requirement, to learn how to think like an ancient Greek or Roman, and so understand these cultures from the inside. Many of our classical civilization majors are also majors in English, history, and anthropology. Classical civilization majors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher can complete a departmental honors thesis in one or two terms for 3-6 credit hours in addition to the regular requirements for the major. Preapproved application and interview required.

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Change of Program Policy

No selective or limited admission requirements.

External Transfer Admission

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

Classical civilization graduates can apply skills in research, analysis and critical thinking, and familiarity with humanities to many jobs and professional programs. Our students have gone on to graduate programs in classics, archaeology, and museum studies, and have made careers in law, business, art gallery curatorship, contract archaeology, nonprofit organizations, and heritage tourism, among others. Potential employers include, but are not limited to, historical societies, libraries, the state and local government, retailers and consulting firms, institutions of higher education, etc.

Students can also browse through dozens of internship opportunities and full-time job postings for Ohio University students and alumni on Handshake, OHIO’s key resource for researching jobs, employers, and workshops and events for professional development.

Requirements

University-wide Graduation Requirements

Ohio University requires the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. This program can be completed within that 120-hour requirement. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other university-wide requirements, please review the Graduation Requirements – University-wide page.

Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirement

View the College and Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirements .

Classical Civilization Major Requirements

Complete 33 credit hours of classics and religious studies coursework, including all the requirements below.

Foundations: Greece and Rome

Greece Foundation

Complete two courses (6 credit hours) from the following list:

CARS 2010 - Greek Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2100 - Classical Athens Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2130 - Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic World Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2310 - Classical Mythology Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3420 - Women in the Ancient Mediterranean Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3510 - Aegean Bronze Age Archaeology Credit Hours: 3

Rome Foundation

Complete two courses (6 credit hours) from the following list:

CARS 2020 - Roman Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2110 - Rome Under the Caesars Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2150 - Democracy and Republicanism in the Ancient World Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2300 - Heroes in Classical Literature Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2440 - Paganism, Judaism, and Christianity in the Roman Empire Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3480 - War and Ethics in Ancient Mediterranean Society Credit Hours: 3

Classical Civilization Electives

Complete 18 credit hours. Six credit hours must be completed from the list of Class I Electives. Additionally, six credit hours must be completed from the list of Class II Electives. The remaining six credit hours can be any CARS **** course, JS **** course, or from the list of approved affiliate courses. Courses used to meet the Foundations: Greece and Rome requirement cannot also be used to meet the Classical Civilization Electives requirement.

Capstone in Classics and Religious Studies

Complete the following course or any other 4000-level CARS course designated as a capstone. Students can also meet this requirement with 3.0 credit hours of CARS 4900 or CARS 4930 .

CARS 4000 - Magic, Sorcery, and Witchcraft in Classical Civilizations and the World’s Religions Credit Hours: 3

Senior Honors Thesis

Students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher will have the option of researching and writing a senior honors thesis.

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