Classics & Early Christian Literature

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.

Get More Information

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.

Ready to Join Us?

Skills You will Gain

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.

Start your

APPLICATION

APPLY NOW
Get some

FINANCIAL AID

Get aid
Contact

ADMISSIONS

Contact us

MEET THE FACULTY

Professor of Classics

Email:

andrew.dinan@avemaria.edu

Phone:

(239) 280-1619

Office:

Henkels 2050

Read More

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

Email:

bradley.ritter@avemaria.edu

Phone:

(239) 280-1667

Office:

Canizaro Library 218

Read More

FAST FACTS

INTERNSHIPS & CAREERS

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.

REQUIRED 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)

Minor Programs

Students may choose to earn a minor in Latin or in Classical Languages (Latin and Greek) to complement or enrich their major in another discipline. A minor in Latin or classical languages is especially valuable to students majoring in theology, philosophy, history, music, or literature. Religious life, law, teaching, publishing, and journalism are some careers for which the classical languages provide valuable background. As in most disciplines at Ave Maria University, 24 credit hours are required. Minor in Latin: LATN 101, LATN 102, LATN 203, and three courses with a LATN prefix. Minor in Classical Languages: LATN 101, LATN 102, LATN 203, GREK 103, GREK 104, and either GREK 203 or an additional course with a LATN prefix.

DEPARTMENTAL MESSAGE

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.

TOOLS & RESOURCES

LEXICONS AND DICTIONARIES- ΛΟΓΕΙΟΝ- Lewis & Short’s Latin-English Dictionary- Glossarium Mediae et Infimae Latinitatis- Liddell-Scott-Jones Greek-English Lexicon- Woodhouse’s English-Greek Dictionary- David Morgan’s list of neo-Latin vocabulary- Whitaker’s WordsTEXTS & COLLECTIONS- Perseus Digital Library- Thesaurus Linguae Graecae- PHI Latin Texts- The Latin Library- Patrologia Latina- Library of Latin Texts (Brepolis)- Thomas Aquinas’ Opera Omnia- Augustine’s Opera Omnia- Bibliotheca Augustana- The Chicago HomerSACRED SCRIPTURE- Biblia Sacra Vulgata- Nova Vulgata- Douay-Rheims- Septuagint. See here for related tools & translations.TEACHING RESOURCES- VROMACLASSICAL ASSOCIATIONS- American Philological Association- CAMWS- Eta Sigma Phi

COURSE ROTATION

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

BSN HANDBOOK

Classics & Early Christian Literature

NEWS

No items found.

GO AHEAD AND APPLY!

Sunny skies, warm temperatures, a beautiful campus. What more could you want? How about a community-like atmosphere, quality instructors who care about your success, a wealth of spiritual activities, expert career guidance… and that’s only the beginning. Imagine your future at AMU. It all starts by filling out our free application today.

APPLY NOW