Gonzaga University
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Classical Civilizations
Degree: B.A. in Classical Civilizations
The Classical Civilizations major will:
- Become familiar with the languages, literature, history, and cultures of the major Mediterranean and Near Eastern civilizations, in particular those of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
- Achieve, at a minimum, intermediate fluency in reading unabridged texts in either Latin or Greek (Attic or Biblical). They will learn fundamental linguistic concepts and terminology. They will also develop an understanding of the contributions these languages have made to later languages, in particular English.
- Come to appreciate the literature of the ancient Greeks and Romans, both in the original languages and in translation. Students will develop the skills of close reading and textual analysis. While the primary goal will be to understand the texts in their own historical contexts, students will also be encouraged to relate the themes and lessons of the texts to their own lives. Students will have a sense of the lasting influence of these works over the Western tradition and broader human history.
- Become familiar with the history and material culture of the ancient Greeks, Romans, and their neighbors. Students will be able to trace not only the important individuals but also the broader social forces that shaped the development of these societies. Students will be able to demonstrate how Greece and Rome influenced later history and how their study continues to have relevance today to Western Civilization.
- Develop a deeper comprehension and appreciation of the broader discipline through the completion of an individual thesis project during their senior year. Majors will choose a topic of interest relating to one of the discipline’s numerous subfields (e.g. the classical languages, ancient history, archaeology, literature) and, through completion of a project of substantial length and depth, will develop more advanced research and communication skills as they increase their familiarity with the primary and secondary resources used in the discipline.