A. Program Planning
A1. I am considering pursuing an Arts degree at the University of Alberta with a concentration in Classics. How can I get information about the program and the admission procedure?
To find out more about Classics at the University of Alberta, see the Department of History and Classics Course Guide. General information about admission to the University is set out in sections 13-14 of the University Calendar. Admission to the Faculty of Arts is discussed in section 15.2 of the Calendar. Information about the requirements of the Arts program is set out in section 43.3 of the Calendar.
For advice on your own specific circumstances, contact the Faculty of Arts Undergraduate Student Services Office. All decisions as to whether to admit or to grant credit are made by the Arts Faculty. The Department may be asked to make a recommendation about any request for admission credit, but the final decision rests with the Faculty.
A2. I would like to include Classics courses in my program. How can I decide which courses to take and when?
If you are taking, or considering taking, a major or minor in Classics (Classical Studies, Classical Language or Classics), there are program requirements (see section C: Major and section D: Minor below), but no specific course requirements.
If you are taking a major or minor in Greek and Latin, you will need to take the language courses in sequence.
Some points that you may wish to consider when choosing courses are:
- If you take a major or minor in Classics, senior courses (200 level or above) taken to complete the Arts Faculty core requirements (see question A4 below) will count towards your major or minor.
- Greek and Latin courses fulfil the "language other than English" requirement of the Arts Faculty core requirement.
- Some courses have prerequisites. You should plan to include in your program any courses that are prerequisites for the courses you wish to take.
- Many Classics courses complement courses offered in other disciplines within the Arts Faculty, including History, Anthropology, Philosophy, Fine Arts, Comparative Literature, and Religious Studies. (A subject specialist in Classics can advise you on choosing complementary courses.)
- If you are taking a major or minor in Greek and Latin, or if you wish to include Greek or Latin in your Classics major or minor, you should aim to complete the junior courses as early as possible in your program, so as to ensure that you can complete the sequence of courses within the normal time for your degree.
- If you plan to pursue an Honours degree in Classics, or to go on to graduate studies in Classics, you should consider including Greek or Latin in your program.
- There is a limited number of 400-level courses available in any single year. To increase your options, plan to be prepared to take one or more 400-level courses before your final year.
- A few 400-level courses in archaeology are offered only abroad during intersession, and only students participating in an excavation are eligible to register.
Some advice on selecting individual courses is provided in section F: Other Classics courses
A3. I understand that the requirements for the BA program have changed. Does that mean that I have to meet the new requirements?
You must meet the requirements of the year that you were admitted (or readmitted, if you had to reapply at any time). Your program form will state at the top of the page which year's calendar requirements you must meet. If you are unsure, contact the Faculty of Arts Undergraduate Student Services Office and request a program check.
A4. Which Classics courses can I take to fulfil Arts Faculty core requirements?
If you were admitted in Fall 2006 or later, the following Classics courses may be taken to fulfil the core requirements for a BA (full details of core requirements are set out in Section 43.3 of the Calendar):
Language other than English (LOE) (*6):
- GREEK 101 and 102, Beginners' Greek I and II (*3 and *3)
- LATIN 101 and 102, Beginners' Latin I and II (*3 and *3)
- Greek or Latin at the 300 level if a student has taken Greek or Latin, as applicable, for matriculation.
Breadth and Diversity (Group 2) (*6):
(Courses from programs emphasizing the study of cultures and cultural products)
- Any courses in CLASSICS
- Any courses in GREEK at the 300 level or above
- Any courses in LATIN at the 300 level or above
Note:
- No single course can be counted towards more than one of the basic requirements. (For example, if you take LATIN 301 and 302 to complete the "language other than English" requirement, you may not count these courses towards the "Breadth and Diversity" requirement.)
- Senior-level courses (i.e. 200 level or above) in the area of major or minor which meet a basic requirement must also be counted toward the major or minor requirements. For example, if you were doing a major in Classical Studies and you took CLASSICS 255 (Roman Art and Archeology) for your "Breadth and Diversity" Group 2 requirement, you must count that course when you are counting your courses towards your major in Classical Studies.
If you were admitted before Fall 2006, the old requirements apply. You can take the following Classics courses to fulfil the old "core" requirements.
Humanities core (*6):
- CLASS 110 The Ancient World (*3), with HIST 110 (*3), 111 (*3) or 112 (*3)
Fine Arts (*6):
- CLASS 254, Greek Art and Archaeology (*3)
- CLASS 255, Roman Art and Archaeology (*3)
- CLASS 356, Topics in Roman Art (*3)
Language other than English (LOE) (*6):
- GREEK 101 and 102, Beginners' Greek I and II (*3 and *3)
- LATIN 101 and 102, Beginners' Latin I and II (*3 and *3)
Note: Students who have taken Greek or Latin for matriculation may take senior-level courses in Greek or Latin to fulfil the LOE requirement.
Natural Sciences, Formal Studies and the Social Context of Science and Technology (*12)
Social Context of Science and Technology (maximum *6)
- CLASS 294, Ancient Science, Technology and Medicine (*3)
- CLASS 375, History of Medicine in the Ancient World (*3)
Note: Courses at the 200 or 300 level in the area of major or minor which meet a core requirement will also be counted toward the major or minor requirements. For example, if you take CLASS 352 and CLASS 353 to fulfil the Fine Arts requirement, you will have 6 credits towards a major or minor in Classics.
If you have any questions regarding core requirements, you should contact the Faculty of Arts Undergraduate Student Services Office.
A5. I would like to take a course that is listed in the University Calendar. It is not being offered this year. How do I know when it will be offered?
The University Calendar includes all courses in Classics. The Department's Course Guide lists all courses offered during the current academic year. Course offerings for each year are decided during the fall term of the preceding year. A tentative schedule for a three-year period is also maintained by the Department. Although this is subject to change, this draft schedule may assist you in planning your courses.
Generally speaking,
- courses that fulfil core Arts program requirements are offered every year,
- all 100- and 300-level Greek and Latin courses are offered every year,
- most 100- and 200-level Classics courses are offered every year,
- 300-level Classics courses are offered every year or every other year, and
- 400-level courses are offered less regularly (normally at least four 400-level courses in Classics are offered each year, as well as two in Greek and two in Latin; in addition, one 400-level course in Classics is taught at Cortona in the winter term; two 6-credit archaeological fieldwork courses are taught abroad during the spring/summer terms; courses are offered in a cycle).
The list of available courses can change and courses can be rescheduled. Courses can also be cancelled if they don't attract minimum enrolments. Check Beartracks or the Department's online course guide for the most current information on course offerings. For further information, contact the Department of History and Classics.
A6. I am currently in another faculty and I would like to transfer to the Arts Faculty and complete a major in Classics. What do I need to do and what courses that I have already completed will count towards my Arts degree?
Some information on transfer from other faculties is provided in Section 15.2.11 of the Calendar. You should contact the Undergraduate Student Services Office in the Faculty of Arts for further information. Many students have transferred from other faculties and successfully completed an Arts degree with a major in Classics. The main issue for students tends to be that credit may not be given for all the courses already completed in the other faculty. Students often find that they end up with more 100-level courses than they are permitted to count towards the Arts degree.
An Arts Faculty program adviser will be able to assess your program to date and advise on admission, Arts program requirements, transfer credit, etc., and explain the implications of transferring from another faculty to Arts. The Classics BA Adviser can assist you in planning your Classics courses to meet the requirements of the Classics major within a reasonable time.