Classics with Emphasis in Latin Language - Minor

About This Minor

Students involved in the study of pre-modern history will find great value in USU’s Latin Language minor.

Graduating with this minor prepares students to continue their study in pre-modern history by developing necessary research and critical thinking skills. Employment opportunities will vary depending on the major, but graduates will be well-suited to seek employment in the areas of philosophy, literature, law, or archival work.

What You Will Learn

The program focuses on classical Latin, and students will learn basic grammar and syntax and read selections from the works of Caesar, Ovid, Plautus, and many other Roman authors. This track also includes classes in Roman history and civilization to put the study of language into a broader context.

Becoming a Classics minor affords students the opportunity to explore the history and impact of the ancient Mediterranean world. America today is the direct heir of the Greco-Roman civilization that has dominated culture and life in the west for the last two millennia. Everything from our alphabet to our law codes to Christianity is a byproduct of our heritage from classical antiquity. By all measures, we are modern Romans. Learning about Rome is learning about yourself.

Our program provides an array of opportunities to engage with the ancient past. In our Ancient Languages Laboratory, students collectively translate newly discovered and as-yet untranslated Latin and Greek texts. At our semi-annual book club, all members of our program past and present gather to discuss new and ground-breaking works about ancient life. As undergraduate teaching fellows, students assist professors in the classroom and learn to be effective educators and communicators. And best of all, each April we host the Ludi Romani, an RPG in which as many as 100 players take on the identity of real Romans and battle for control the state. Vivant Romani (“Long Live the Romans!”)