Spring Break
University offers classics degree
By: Stacy Edwards
Issue date: 10/30/07 Section: News
A degree in classics was made available Sept. 1 through the Department of European and Classical Languages and Cultures, EURO.
Richard J. Golson, the EURO department head, said there has already been a lot of interest in the major, even though it's only been available for a month or two.
"We've had at least seven to ten people say they want to major in it," Golson said. "It's really good for getting teacher certification and for going into law and medicine."
The department already has majors available in Russian, German and French, and a minor in Italian, Golson said.
Christoph Konrad, the associate professor of classics and assistant head director of Academic Programs, helped prepare the proposal of the classics major.
"Classics is an academic discipline that studies classical antiquity, or the world of ancient Greece and Rome," Konrad said. "It encompasses Greek and Roman literature, history, philosophy, archaeology and art, in each instance with the Greek and Latin languages at the core of academic work."
Konrad said the types of students who are interested in classical studies are those who have good analytical skills and see beyond mere facts.
"In Greek and Roman history and archaeology, the often fragmentary nature of the surviving evidence attracts students that see problems where others see mere facts, and enjoy solving them," Konrad said. "Because of its broad range of interconnected areas, classics appeals to students that want to avoid premature and narrow specialization, and who like the challenge of approaching a subject from a multitude of angles, employing a variety of methods."
Konrad said the degree could prepare students for a career in government because the degree was essentially the study of an alien culture. In addition, the education, which confronts students with unfamiliar concepts, enables them to excel in all teaching professions, in intelligence services and in academic research fields.
The classics program was a minor program established in 1990. Since then, 500 students have declared a minor in classical studies at A&M, two-thirds of which have been within the past nine years, Konrad said.
"Fundamentally, the University decided to establish the degree because there is demonstrated student demand, and because it ties in with the Vision 2020 Initiative," Konrad said. "Among all the institutions serving as a model or benchmark for A&M in that regard, there is not one that does not offer a bachelor's degree in classics."
Melissa Gann, a senior English and classics double major, said she started off as an English major and classics minor, but was able to fit in enough credits to graduate in May with a double major.
"I really got into the classics because of my Latin classes," Gann said. "I had to take four semesters of a language for the English degree, so I chose Latin sort of randomly. As it turns out, I really love it because of the logic of the grammar and language as a whole. I plan on getting a double teaching certificate in high school Latin and English."
Gann said in addition to becoming a teacher, graduates with the degree can continue with graduate studies in classics, pursue professorship or even become an archeologist.
"It involves way more than just the language aspect, but that is just the part I am particularly into," Gann said. "Other classics courses I've taken include Homer and the Trojan War, Ancient Athletics and Greek and Roman Epic. Mythology, Greek and Roman Drama, and other classes are also offered. Ancient Greek is offered as a language as well."
Although he's going into the land economics and real estate program at A&M after graduating, Aaron Borsellino said he chose to get an undergraduate degree in classics because he wanted to study something he loved.
"I've taken Latin since high school so that was an easy choice of classical languages, but what really interests me is the history," said Borsellino, a senior classics major. "History courses, especially those on the Romans, are my main interest. I have studied in Italy twice and so naturally I love anything to do with Italian history."
Borsellino said he saw A&M's program falling in step with other top classics programs in the country.
"One of those trips abroad was with Baylor, who has one of the top classics programs in the country," Borsellino said. "And considering how new our program here at A&M is, it seems to be headed in the right direction. Our staff here is great, all of my classics professors have been amazing and I'm sure with the establishment of this new major, it will only continue to get better."
To get information on the Classics major and degree plan, go to http://euro.tamu.edu/undergrad/majors.
Richard J. Golson, the EURO department head, said there has already been a lot of interest in the major, even though it's only been available for a month or two.
"We've had at least seven to ten people say they want to major in it," Golson said. "It's really good for getting teacher certification and for going into law and medicine."
The department already has majors available in Russian, German and French, and a minor in Italian, Golson said.
Christoph Konrad, the associate professor of classics and assistant head director of Academic Programs, helped prepare the proposal of the classics major.
"Classics is an academic discipline that studies classical antiquity, or the world of ancient Greece and Rome," Konrad said. "It encompasses Greek and Roman literature, history, philosophy, archaeology and art, in each instance with the Greek and Latin languages at the core of academic work."
Konrad said the types of students who are interested in classical studies are those who have good analytical skills and see beyond mere facts.
"In Greek and Roman history and archaeology, the often fragmentary nature of the surviving evidence attracts students that see problems where others see mere facts, and enjoy solving them," Konrad said. "Because of its broad range of interconnected areas, classics appeals to students that want to avoid premature and narrow specialization, and who like the challenge of approaching a subject from a multitude of angles, employing a variety of methods."
Konrad said the degree could prepare students for a career in government because the degree was essentially the study of an alien culture. In addition, the education, which confronts students with unfamiliar concepts, enables them to excel in all teaching professions, in intelligence services and in academic research fields.
The classics program was a minor program established in 1990. Since then, 500 students have declared a minor in classical studies at A&M, two-thirds of which have been within the past nine years, Konrad said.
"Fundamentally, the University decided to establish the degree because there is demonstrated student demand, and because it ties in with the Vision 2020 Initiative," Konrad said. "Among all the institutions serving as a model or benchmark for A&M in that regard, there is not one that does not offer a bachelor's degree in classics."
Melissa Gann, a senior English and classics double major, said she started off as an English major and classics minor, but was able to fit in enough credits to graduate in May with a double major.
"I really got into the classics because of my Latin classes," Gann said. "I had to take four semesters of a language for the English degree, so I chose Latin sort of randomly. As it turns out, I really love it because of the logic of the grammar and language as a whole. I plan on getting a double teaching certificate in high school Latin and English."
Gann said in addition to becoming a teacher, graduates with the degree can continue with graduate studies in classics, pursue professorship or even become an archeologist.
"It involves way more than just the language aspect, but that is just the part I am particularly into," Gann said. "Other classics courses I've taken include Homer and the Trojan War, Ancient Athletics and Greek and Roman Epic. Mythology, Greek and Roman Drama, and other classes are also offered. Ancient Greek is offered as a language as well."
Although he's going into the land economics and real estate program at A&M after graduating, Aaron Borsellino said he chose to get an undergraduate degree in classics because he wanted to study something he loved.
"I've taken Latin since high school so that was an easy choice of classical languages, but what really interests me is the history," said Borsellino, a senior classics major. "History courses, especially those on the Romans, are my main interest. I have studied in Italy twice and so naturally I love anything to do with Italian history."
Borsellino said he saw A&M's program falling in step with other top classics programs in the country.
"One of those trips abroad was with Baylor, who has one of the top classics programs in the country," Borsellino said. "And considering how new our program here at A&M is, it seems to be headed in the right direction. Our staff here is great, all of my classics professors have been amazing and I'm sure with the establishment of this new major, it will only continue to get better."
To get information on the Classics major and degree plan, go to http://euro.tamu.edu/undergrad/majors.
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