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Concentration in Classical Languages and Literatures

The Department of the Classics offers two concentration tracks: Classical Civilizations and Classical Languages and Literatures. The Classical Languages and Literatures concentration track is for students wishing to emphasize the study of Greek and Latin literature in the original languages.

The basic requirements for each track are 12 courses. The two differ primarily in the distribution between courses in Greek and/or Latin and courses requiring only English. No prior knowledge of a classical language is necessary to pursue either track. In the course of their study, students will acquire some language proficiency in each track.

The following is a simplified version of the requirements for our Classical Languages and Literatures Track. For complete details, please see Classics in "Fields of Concentration" or email classicsDUS@fas.harvard.edu.

Classical Languages and Literatures

  • Basic requirements: 12 courses.
  • Two courses providing a broad introduction to Classical civilization, normally Classical Studies 97a and 97b.
  • Six courses in Greek and/or Latin, at least two of which must be numbered 100 or above, and at least one of which must be selected from the following list: GREEK 112A, GREEK 112B, GREEK 175, LATIN 112A, LATIN 112B, LATIN 175 (or equivalent in the case of Byzantine/Modern Greek and Medieval Latin).
  • Three additional courses from among those with the prefix BYZGRK, CLASSIC, CLASARCH, CLASPHIL, CLS-STDY, GREEK, LATIN, MEDLATIN, or MODGRK on courses.my.harvard.edu. Further courses may be considered for cross-listing by petition to the DUS.
  • One semester of Classics 98, a small-group tutorial emphasizing the development of research skills (must be taken for a letter-grade).

Note: Two courses counted for concentration may be taken Pass/Fail or, in the case of approved Freshman Seminars, SAT/UNS.

Additional requirements for Honors eligibility

  • A senior thesis, together with two semesters of the senior tutorial, Classics 99.