Classics Minor - Classical Languages and Literature Minor

Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge to:

• Gain knowledge of the fundamental elements of Classics, through study of the languages, classes in Greek and Roman history, art and archaeology, and culture
• Develop their ability to read and analyze texts closely, whether in translation or in the original language
• Demonstrate their ability to write papers, drawing on research tools in the various subdisciplines — texts, documents, physical remains, scholarly articles and books, theoretical approaches and digital tools.
• Understand the legacy of the Greek and Roman world, its historical importance in our own culture
• Be encouraged to supplement classroom learning with experience abroad, whether as part of an archaeological expedition or study abroad program
  

The department of Classics is housed in the Academic Center. Classics courses are held in the department’s seminar room and in classrooms located both in the Academic Center and on the Academic Spine of the North Campus.

Rated nineteenth in the country in a recent survey of classics departments, the UB Department of Classics faculty regularly devotes some or all of their time to undergraduate teaching. Among them is the holder of the Andrew V.V. Raymond Professorship in Classics and the recipient of a SUNY Distinguished Professorship. Past and present members of the faculty have held the office of President in both the American Philological Association (APA)/Society for Classical Studies (SCS) and the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), the primary professional organizations for classicists in North America. The department also serves as home to the journal Arethusa, an internationally recognized periodical devoted to the publication of scholarship in classical studies, and the Tesserae Project, a ground-breaking initiative in the digital humanities. Other editorial affiliations by members of the faculty have included positions with the American Journal of Archaeology and Classical World. The department allows advanced graduate students to teach select classes.

The scope of study that classics provides includes historical, political, sociological, literary, philosophical, archaeological, and artistic dimensions. Classics offers a broad foundation for future study and professional experience, and its graduates have learned to appreciate the past and its relationship to the present. This undergraduate degree area is an excellent basis for graduate work and careers in law, medicine, business, public relations/advertising, publishing, social work, communications and the arts.

Employers are seeking candidates with broad-based experience and those who have developed their skills from that experience. These include data analysis, media literacy, critical imagination and reasoning, emotional intelligence, intercultural competency, and interpersonal communication, all of which are fostered through the study of classics. Internships, part-time, summer employment and/or further education can also enhance a graduate's employability in their chosen career area.