Who out of the AJCU schools has the best undergraduate classics program or department?
For an initial sense with respect to popularity, you can review IPEDS for the number of students who choose to major in classics at these colleges (e.g., https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Holy+cross&s=all&id=166124#programs). You might want to adjust for overall enrollment size for a fairer picture across schools.
Holy Cross has the largest classics department among liberal arts colleges after Bryn Mawr. Fordham and Georgetown also have decent classics departments.
Some signs of a strong classics department:
[ul][]Introductory and intermediate Greek offered every year (first four semesters)
[]Introductory and intermediate Latin offered every year (first four semesters)
[]At least 1 advanced course each in Greek and Latin available every semester (fifth semester and up)
[]At least 1-2 archaeology/civilization/lit in translation courses available every semester
[]At least four or five full-time tenured faculty members (ignore visiting, emeritus, and adjunct professors)[/ul]
Bonus points if the department:
[ul][li]Has a chapter of Eta Sigma Phi[/li][]Sponsors an excavation
[]Has ties with the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies and/or College Year in Athens
[]Sponsors its own summer programs[/ul]
Holy Cross offers two competitive full tuition scholarships each year, and a third one every four years (next for class of 2024) for prospective Classics majors.
https://www.holycross.edu/academics/programs/classics/full-tuition-scholarships
Boston College of course has an excellent program as well. Holy Cross as mentioned is excellent. BC has a small number of students graduates in this discipline as of 2017. Like 13 or so. Not counting graduate school students but when you add in theology, focused history and philosophy you’ll find more crossover and interdisciplinary peers. But it’s a small group. But most Jesuit schools have a love and connection. With the major.
Holy cross it seems has a bigger program.
I know BC also offers a year in Athens and/or Rome as an option. There’s a both major and a minor.
It seems like Latin is important if you go down the language and linguistics track. The only thing I could find on this is highlighted below—
“The Language Requirement
Proficiency in Latin may be demonstrated by a score of 4 or 5 on the AP exam, 600 or better on the SAT subject test reading exam, a score of I-5 or A on the ALIRA Latin exam, or by passing a placement test.
Satisfying the requirement through course work requires successful completion of the second semester at the intermediate level or one semester above the intermediate level, i.e. Advanced or Advanced Intermediate Latin.”
Does anyone have any experience with Loyola Chicago’s Classics Department? It looks to be a nice program. It’s also in the Midwest which is close to home.
Jesuit Schools always have a nice support structure around this major.
Especially if you will have a Latin track and reading original language text. But, I don’t know about this school’s program in particular. But it’s a very nice overall school in general.
Visit and talk to some professors or current students. They’ll be your best guides.
Browsing the department website and course offerings, it seems to be a very solid program.
If you’re an IL resident and you’re not dead set on a Jesuit school, you may want to check out U Illinois-Chicago as well. It has a respectable program in classics with a couple of big name professors. It’s pretty good for related fields such as archaeology as well, for that matter, particularly because it coordinates closely with the Field Museum.
@warblersrule Thanks for input. Good to know about UI Chicago.
WR. - A brief off topic turn.
I was not aware of UIC for some time. Confused it with the flagship. Does it have a defined campus. Is it more of commuter vibe or not. And what is the relative safety of the area off campus for walking around etc.
^
I’ve only been on campus for a couple of lectures while I was at UC for a year, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.
UIC has a fairly defined campus for an urban school (closer to Northeastern than BU, so to speak), but yes, it has a pretty large population of commuters. Both UC and UIC get less safe as you move further out from campus, but that depends somewhat on which direction you’re heading. As with any urban school, it’s prudent to pay attention while walking around and not have your nose in your phone.
Thank you - the Bu and NEU description makes a great reference point. And urban caution is applicable anywhere, as you state.