Classics and Religious Studies Major (B.A.)

Major code BA5219

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

Loren D. Lybarger, Chair, Department of Classics and Religious Studies
lybarger@ohio.edu

Program Overview

The BA in Classics and Religious Studies offers an interdisciplinary exploration of ancient civilizations and global religious traditions. Students examine the historical, linguistic, literary, and cultural legacies of Greece, Rome, and the Ancient Near East, alongside the role of religious ideas, leaders, and movements in shaping societies globally across time. The program emphasizes critical thinking, textual analysis, and cross-cultural understanding through coursework in history, archaeology, philology, and religious studies. Students have latitude to focus their studies, if they choose to do so, by selecting electives in the areas of Classical Languages (Greek and Latin), Classical Civilizations (history and literature in translation), or Religious Studies (comparative study of world religions). Study abroad is strongly encouraged and supported.

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

The Classics and Religious Studies (CARS) major equips students with essential skills identified by HR professionals as crucial to success across their various industries. These skills include critical thinking, ethical decision-making, teamwork, global awareness, effective communication, adaptability, and analytical reasoning. CARS graduates, who are known for their versatility, receive a broad training that enables them to thrive in diverse fields and respond to labor market shifts. Within a decade of earning their BA, many advance to leadership roles in management, communication, and product development, including in tech. Recent graduates from our department have pursued careers in business, law, medicine, public service (including the military and police), and education (K-12 and Higher Education). We prepare Ohio’s young adults for these vital roles through courses emphasizing cross-cultural study, ethical inquiry, critical analysis, and collaborative research.

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 .

Classics and Religious Studies Major Requirements

Class I–Breadth-of-Knowledge

Class I courses are meant to broaden students’ understanding of classical civilizations and religious traditions and develop critical thinking, analysis, and communication. In discussion with our advising coordinator, students will select and complete four (4) of the following courses for a total of twelve (12) credit hours:

JS 1000 - Introduction to Jewish Studies Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2000 - The Wonders of the Ancient Mediterranean Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2010 - Greek Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2020 - Roman Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2030 - Archaeology of the Ancient Near East Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2040 - Archaeology of Ancient Egypt Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2050 - Archaeology and the Bible Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2100 - Classical Athens Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2110 - Rome Under the Caesars Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2120 - Ancient Jerusalem: From Solomon to Suleiman Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2130 - Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic World Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2140 - Human Aspirations Among the Greeks and Romans Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2150 - Democracy and Republicanism in the Ancient World Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2170 - Food, Drink and Identity in the Ancient World Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2180 - Ancient Near Eastern Art and Architecture Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2190 - The Ancient World in Cinema Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2300 - Heroes in Classical Literature Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2310 - Classical Mythology Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2400 - Introduction to the Study of Religion Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2410 - The Global Occult: Ghosts, Demonology, and the Paranormal in World Religions Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2430 - The History of Yoga: From Ancient Discipline to Modern Movement Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2440 - Paganism, Judaism, and Christianity in the Roman Empire Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2500 - Difficult Dialogues: Religious Beliefs Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2510 - Difficult Dialogues: Religion, Gender and Sexuality Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2520 - What is Evil? Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2530 - Difficult Dialogues: Science and Religion Credit Hours: 4
CARS 2530A - Honors Experience: Difficult Dialogues: Religion and Science Credit Hours: 0
CARS 2800Z - Religion and American Civics- American Civic Literacy Credit Hours: 3
GK 1110 - Beginning Greek I Credit Hours: 4
GK 1120 - Beginning Greek II Credit Hours: 4
GK 2110 - Intermediate Greek I Credit Hours: 3
GK 2120 - Intermediate Greek II Credit Hours: 3
LAT 1110 - Beginning Latin I Credit Hours: 4
LAT 1120 - Beginning Latin II Credit Hours: 4
LAT 2110 - Intermediate Latin I Credit Hours: 3
LAT 2120 - Intermediate Latin II Credit Hours: 3

Class II–Depth-of-Knowledge

Class II courses are meant to deepen students’ knowledge of classical civilizations and religious traditions. These offerings encompass topical and comparative courses that involve complex analyses of ancient cultures and religions and/or connect Greek and Roman cultures and religions to other classical civilizations and religious systems. In consultation with our advising coordinator, students will select two (2) of the following courses for a total of six (6) credit hours. Students will not choose any courses that they have already taken for Class I or Class III purposes.

CARS 2120 - Ancient Jerusalem: From Solomon to Suleiman Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2600 - Hinduism Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2610 - Buddhism Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2700 - Comparative Slavery: Ancient and Atlantic Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2900 - Special Topics in Classics and Religious Studies Credit Hours: 1 to 15
CARS 3000 - The Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament, Jewish Tanakh) Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3010 - New Testament Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3020 - Introduction to Islam Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3030 - Political Islam Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3040 - Sufism-Mysticism and Asceticism in Islam Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3120 - Gandhi and the Gita: The Religious Roots of Nonviolent Resistance in Colonial India Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3200 - Self-denial and Religion: Virgins, Monks, Hermits and other Ascetics Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3210 - Religion and Violence Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3220 - Thinking About Death: Belief and Practice Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3240 - Theories of Religion Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3250 - Contemporary Religious Thought Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3260 - Myth, Ritual, and Symbolism Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3290 - Women and Religion Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3130 - Indian Epic: Mahabharata and Ramayana Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3410 - Technology in Greek and Roman Society Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3420 - Women in the Ancient Mediterranean Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3430 - Roman Social History Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3440 - Love in Antiquity Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3450 - Wisdom in Antiquity Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3460 - Ethnicity in the Ancient World Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3470 - Sex and the Bible Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3480 - War and Ethics in Ancient Mediterranean Society Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3500 - Greek Cities and Sanctuaries Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3510 - Aegean Bronze Age Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3520 - On-Site Survey of Greek History Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3530 - Archaeology and Art: Contexts and Controversies Credit Hours: 3
GK 3110 - Archaic Greek Poetry Credit Hours: 3
GK 3120 - Greek Drama Credit Hours: 3
GK 3130 - Greek Sophists and Philosophers Credit Hours: 3
GK 3140 - Greek Historians Credit Hours: 3
GK 3160 - The Greek New Testament and the Milieu of Early Christianity Credit Hours: 3
GK 4900 - Special Topics in Greek Literature Credit Hours: 3
GK 4930 - Independent Study in Greek Credit Hours: 1 - 3
HIST 3291 - Ancient Greece Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3292 - Ancient Rome Credit Hours: 3
LAT 3110 - Latin Prose and Poetry I Credit Hours: 3
LAT 3120 - Latin Prose and Poetry II Credit Hours: 3
LAT 4110 - Advanced Latin Literature I Credit Hours: 3
LAT 4120 - Advanced Latin Literature II Credit Hours: 3
LAT 4900 - Special Topics in Latin Literature Credit Hours: 3
LAT 4930 - Independent Study in Latin Credit Hours: 1 to 3
AH 3200 - Greek Art Credit Hours: 3
AH 3210 - Roman Art Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 2020 - Introduction to World Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3290 - Ancient Near East: Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Levant Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3293 - World of Late Antiquity: Culture and Society in the Late Roman Empire Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3463 - History of China from Antiquity to the Early Modern Era Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3520 - Roman Law & Society Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3531 - Vikings - Saxons - Franks: Western Europe, 476-1066 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3532 - History of the Crusades Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3540 - History of Early Christianity Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3541 - Medieval Christianity: Church and Society Credit Hours: 3
HIST 4536 - Eternal Rome: Piety and Power Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 2100 - History of Western Philosophy: Ancient Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 4180 - Plato Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 4190 - Aristotle Credit Hours: 3

Class III–Open Electives

Class III gives students latitude to choose courses they wish to take. In consultation with our advising coordinator, students may select classes from all three areas of the curriculum or focus their choices in one of the three curricular areas (Classical Language, Classical Civilization, or Religious Studies). Students will select and complete three (3) courses for a total of twelve (12) credit hours. Selected courses may not include classes students have taken to fulfill Class I or Class II requirements.

CARS 2000 - The Wonders of the Ancient Mediterranean Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2010 - Greek Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2020 - Roman Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2030 - Archaeology of the Ancient Near East Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2040 - Archaeology of Ancient Egypt Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2050 - Archaeology and the Bible Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2100 - Classical Athens Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2110 - Rome Under the Caesars Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2120 - Ancient Jerusalem: From Solomon to Suleiman Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2130 - Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic World Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2140 - Human Aspirations Among the Greeks and Romans Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2150 - Democracy and Republicanism in the Ancient World Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2160A - Honors Experience: War and Society in Ancient Greece and Rome Credit Hours: 0
CARS 2170 - Food, Drink and Identity in the Ancient World Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2180 - Ancient Near Eastern Art and Architecture Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2190 - The Ancient World in Cinema Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2300 - Heroes in Classical Literature Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2310 - Classical Mythology Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2400 - Introduction to the Study of Religion Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2410 - The Global Occult: Ghosts, Demonology, and the Paranormal in World Religions Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2430 - The History of Yoga: From Ancient Discipline to Modern Movement Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2440 - Paganism, Judaism, and Christianity in the Roman Empire Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2500 - Difficult Dialogues: Religious Beliefs Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2510 - Difficult Dialogues: Religion, Gender and Sexuality Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2520 - What is Evil? Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2530 - Difficult Dialogues: Science and Religion Credit Hours: 4
CARS 2530A - Honors Experience: Difficult Dialogues: Religion and Science Credit Hours: 0
CARS 2600 - Hinduism Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2610 - Buddhism Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2700 - Comparative Slavery: Ancient and Atlantic Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2800Z - Religion and American Civics- American Civic Literacy Credit Hours: 3
CARS 2900 - Special Topics in Classics and Religious Studies Credit Hours: 1 to 15
CARS 3000 - The Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament, Jewish Tanakh) Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3010 - New Testament Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3020 - Introduction to Islam Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3030 - Political Islam Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3040 - Sufism-Mysticism and Asceticism in Islam Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3120 - Gandhi and the Gita: The Religious Roots of Nonviolent Resistance in Colonial India Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3130 - Indian Epic: Mahabharata and Ramayana Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3200 - Self-denial and Religion: Virgins, Monks, Hermits and other Ascetics Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3210 - Religion and Violence Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3220 - Thinking About Death: Belief and Practice Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3240 - Theories of Religion Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3250 - Contemporary Religious Thought Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3260 - Myth, Ritual, and Symbolism Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3290 - Women and Religion Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3400 - Greek and Roman Religions and Society Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3410 - Technology in Greek and Roman Society Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3420 - Women in the Ancient Mediterranean Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3430 - Roman Social History Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3440 - Love in Antiquity Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3450 - Wisdom in Antiquity Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3460 - Ethnicity in the Ancient World Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3470 - Sex and the Bible Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3480 - War and Ethics in Ancient Mediterranean Society Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3500 - Greek Cities and Sanctuaries Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3510 - Aegean Bronze Age Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3520 - On-Site Survey of Greek History Credit Hours: 3
CARS 3530 - Archaeology and Art: Contexts and Controversies Credit Hours: 3
GK 3110 - Archaic Greek Poetry Credit Hours: 3
GK 3120 - Greek Drama Credit Hours: 3
GK 3130 - Greek Sophists and Philosophers Credit Hours: 3
GK 3140 - Greek Historians Credit Hours: 3
GK 3160 - The Greek New Testament and the Milieu of Early Christianity Credit Hours: 3
JS 1000 - Introduction to Jewish Studies Credit Hours: 3
LAT 3110 - Latin Prose and Poetry I Credit Hours: 3
LAT 3120 - Latin Prose and Poetry II Credit Hours: 3
LAT 4110 - Advanced Latin Literature I Credit Hours: 3
LAT 4120 - Advanced Latin Literature II Credit Hours: 3
LAT 4900 - Special Topics in Latin Literature Credit Hours: 3
LAT 4930 - Independent Study in Latin Credit Hours: 1 to 3
AH 3200 - Greek Art Credit Hours: 3
AH 3210 - Roman Art Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 2020 - Introduction to World Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3290 - Ancient Near East: Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Levant Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3293 - World of Late Antiquity: Culture and Society in the Late Roman Empire Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3463 - History of China from Antiquity to the Early Modern Era Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3520 - Roman Law & Society Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3531 - Vikings - Saxons - Franks: Western Europe, 476-1066 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3532 - History of the Crusades Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3540 - History of Early Christianity Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3541 - Medieval Christianity: Church and Society Credit Hours: 3
HIST 4536 - Eternal Rome: Piety and Power Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 2100 - History of Western Philosophy: Ancient Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 4180 - Plato Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 4190 - Aristotle Credit Hours: 3

Capstone

Students will take CARS 4000 or any other CARS Course designated as a Capstone course. Students can also meet this with three (3) 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
CARS 4900 - Special Topics in Classics and Religious Studies Credit Hours: 3
CARS 4910 - Field Study in Mediterranean Archaeology Credit Hours: 6
CARS 4930 - Independent Study Credit Hours: 1 to 3

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