Classics & Early Christian Literature

Classics & Early Christian Literature

at a glance

Major icon MAJOR

Rediscover the roots of our Western culture and find fellowship with the greatest thinkers and artists of the Greco-Roman world. Classics and Early Christian Literature is a rigorous academic program that will help you develop proficiency in Latin and Greek as you take part in a literary study of our Western heritage from Homer to the Fathers of the Church.

Careers: Law, Medicine, Classics, Humanities, Religious Life

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Strengthen Your Mind Through Christian Tradition

In the Classics & Early Christian Literature program, you’ll learn the languages of our Western heritage and study a broad range of authors, genres and subjects, in the original Latin and Greek. By discovering the depth of this heritage, you’ll build an excellent foundation for a successful career and a life informed by the highest ideals of Western and Catholic culture.

light bulbFast Fact: Classics majors have the highest success rates of any majors in law school and consistently have some of the highest scores on GREs of all undergraduates. – Harvard Magazine

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Classics & Early Christian Literature

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Skills you will gain with

a Classics & Early Christian Literature DEGREE

  1. A deeper knowledge of Catholic doctrine and practice. Get to know not only what the Church teaches, but why. Explore the scriptural and historical foundations of Catholic thought and practice as well as the harmony between faith and reason.
  2. Research and critical thinking. Many of our courses have research papers that challenge you to dig deeper into specific topics and compare and evaluate the insights of different writers.
  3. Writing and communication. With some of the brightest minds in the Western heritage as your example, learn to articulate your ideas clearly and thoroughly, and to persuade your listeners.
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A look into the

Classics & Early Christian Literature DEPARTMENT

A major in Classics & Early Christian Literature is an excellent foundation for a successful career and for a life informed by the highest ideals of western and Catholic culture. The heart of the major is the study of the Greek and Latin languages through the close reading of works from various genres of ancient literature. We are proud that at AMU our students encounter not only the notable authors of pagan antiquity, but also the intellectual pillars and Fathers of the Catholic Church in the original Latin and Greek.

The fruits of this study are many: students gain access to the origins of western culture and society; they hone the skills of analysis, critical thinking, observation, accuracy, and careful writing, which are highly prized by employers and professional schools. The mastery of Latin and Greek grammar leads to a deeper understanding of English grammar, and the acquisition of a solid vocabulary in Latin and Greek enriches the understanding of countless English words. Students find that the classical languages are an excellent foundation for the study of modern languages, such as Spanish, French, and Italian.

According to The Princeton Review,

We can’t overestimate the value of a Classics major … according to Association of American Medical Colleges, students who major or double-major in Classics have a better success rate getting into medical school than do students who concentrate solely in biology, microbiology, and other branches of science … Furthermore, according to Harvard Magazine, Classics majors (and math majors) have the highest success rates of any majors in law school … Even furthermore, Classics majors consistently have some of the highest scores on GREs of all undergraduates.

Those who major in Classics at AMU have gone on to graduate degrees in Law, Medicine, Classics, and the Humanities; some have entered the seminary and religious life; others have undertaken careers in teaching (a resurgence of interest in classical education has led to a great need for Latin teachers at the primary and secondary levels as well as in homeschooling groups). For all these reasons, a Classics major is an excellent preparation for a career in business, politics, publishing, library science, diplomacy, government, or any occupation in which critical thinking and a superior command of language are prized.

Dayami Abella, Ph.D. (candidate)

Instructor of Modern Language (Spanish)

Dayami AbellaEducation: A.A., Spanish, Florida Gulf Coast University; B.A., Spanish Philology, University of Navarre, Spain; M.A., Teaching English and Spanish, University of Navarre, Spain; Ph.D. (candidate), Latin American Literature, University of Navarre, Spain
Office: Canizaro Library 253
Email: dayami.abella@avemaria.edu
Phone: (239) 280-2532

ANTHONY ANTUNES, PH.D. (CANDIDATE)

INSTRUCTOR OF CLASSICS

Anthony AntunesEducation: B.A., Classics and Early Christian Literature, Ave Maria University; M.A., Philosophy, University of Dallas; M.A., Spoken Koine Greek and Biblical Hebrew; Ph.D. (candidate), Classics, University of Toronto
Office: Canizaro Library 250
Email: anthony.antunes@avemaria.edu
Phone: (239) 304-7393

Andrew Dinan, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Classics

Andrew DinanEducation: B.A., Liberal Studies, University of Notre Dame; M.T.S., Moral Theology, John Paul II Institute for Studies in Marriage & Family; M.A., Greek & Latin, Catholic University of America; Ph.D., Greek & Latin, Catholic University of America
Office: Henkels 2050
Email: andrew.dinan@avemaria.edu
Phone: (239) 280-1619

Bradley Ritter, Ph.D.

Chair of the Classics and Early Christian Literature Department, Associate Professor of Classics

Bradley RitterEducation: B.A., Classics, University of Florida; M.A., Latin, University of California, Berkeley; Ph.D., Classics, University of California, Berkeley
Office: Canizaro Library 218
Email: bradley.ritter@avemaria.edu
Phone: (239) 280-1667

In addition to the core curriculum, classics majors take the following courses

Required Courses for the Major

  • GREK 103 Elementary Greek
  • GREK 104 Intermediate Greek
  • GREK 203 Greek Readings: Prose
  • LATN 101 Elementary Latin
  • LATN 102 Intermediate Latin
  • LATN 203 Latin Readings
  • LATN 204 Golden Age Poetry
  • LATN 304 Latin Church Fathers
  • LATN 310 Latin Prose Composition

Elective Major Courses (one required)

  • CLAS 415 Topics in Classics and Early Christian Culture
  • GREK 204 Greek Readings: Poetry
  • GREK 304 Greek Church Fathers
  • GREK 310 Greek Prose Composition
  • GREK 403 Greek Poetry
  • GREK 415 Greek Special Topics
  • LATN 403 Scholastic Latin Texts
  • LATN 404 Latin Epistolary Writing
  • LATN 415 Latin Special Topics

Classics & Early Christian Literature Major, Latin Option

Required Courses for the Major (in addition to LATN 101 and LATN 102 or the equivalent)

  • LATN 101 Elementary Latin
  • LATN 102 Intermediate Latin
  • LATN 203 Latin Readings
  • LATN 204 Golden Age Poetry
  • LATN 304 Latin Church Fathers
  • LATN 310 Latin Prose Composition

Elective Major Courses (four required)

  • CLAS 415 Topics in Classics and Early Christian Culture
  • LATN 403 Scholastic Latin Texts
  • LATN 404 Latin Epistolary Writing
  • LATN 415 Special Topics (can be repeated with a variety of texts and authors)
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Lexicons and Dictionaries

Texts & Collections

Sacred Scripture

Teaching Resources

Classical Associations

A major in Classics & Early Christian Literature is an excellent foundation for a successful career and for a life informed by the highest ideals of western and Catholic culture. The heart of the major is the study of the Greek and Latin languages through the close reading of works from various genres of ancient literature. We are proud that at AMU our students encounter not only the notable authors of pagan antiquity, but also the intellectual pillars and Fathers of the Catholic Church in the original Latin and Greek.

The fruits of this study are many: students gain access to the origins of western culture and society; they hone the skills of analysis, critical thinking, observation, accuracy, and careful writing, which are highly prized by employers and professional schools. The mastery of Latin and Greek grammar leads to a deeper understanding of English grammar, and the acquisition of a solid vocabulary in Latin and Greek enriches the understanding of countless English words. Students find that the classical languages are an excellent foundation for the study of modern languages, such as Spanish, French, and Italian.

According to The Princeton Review,

We can’t overestimate the value of a Classics major … according to Association of American Medical Colleges, students who major or double-major in Classics have a better success rate getting into medical school than do students who concentrate solely in biology, microbiology, and other branches of science … Furthermore, according to Harvard Magazine, Classics majors (and math majors) have the highest success rates of any majors in law school … Even furthermore, Classics majors consistently have some of the highest scores on GREs of all undergraduates.

Those who major in Classics at AMU have gone on to graduate degrees in Law, Medicine, Classics, and the Humanities; some have entered the seminary and religious life; others have undertaken careers in teaching (a resurgence of interest in classical education has led to a great need for Latin teachers at the primary and secondary levels as well as in homeschooling groups). For all these reasons, a Classics major is an excellent preparation for a career in business, politics, publishing, library science, diplomacy, government, or any occupation in which critical thinking and a superior command of language are prized.

❀❀❀

For those looking for jobs in teaching Greek or Latin, the American Classical League hosts a placement service here. Recent university-level job openings can be found at the American Philological Association’s website here.

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