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Courses and programs in Ancient Studies are offered by the Department of Languages and Cultures.
Note that Ancient Studies courses (ANCS) satisfy the BA humanities requirement 3(c), but courses in Latin and Greek do not, not, which however may be used to satisfy the 3(b) requirement for the BA. One of the language courses may be used to satisfy the 3(b) requirement of the Faculty of Arts, while the other courses in Ancient Studies may be used to satisfy the 3(c) requirement.
The Ancient Studies Program encompasses ancient languages, literature, history and culture in Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern societies and, as such, is a central, foundational element of an Arts education. The department offers a range of courses leading to a major (either Ancient Languages or Classical Civilization stream) or minor in Ancient Studies that encompass ancient Latin and Greek, as well as the history, archaeology, art, and literature of ancient Greece, Rome, and the Near East. The program at Saint Mary’s presents students with the core concepts, texts, and material culture of the Ancient Greeks and Romans, including courses on ancient history, literature in translation, women and gender, and archaeology. The core of the program, however, is distinctive in that it reflects a developing trend in the study of the ancient Mediterranean which positions the ancient civilizations of the Greeks and the Romans within the context of wider trends in Mediterranean cultural, intellectual, religious, artistic, and historical change and development. Top this end, the program also includes courses on the ancient Near East, Egypt, the Iron Age, the Bronze Age, archaeological theory, the tradition of ancient imperialism, and the fruitful interaction among the various peoples of the ancient Mediterranean, the Near East, and Europe. Many of our courses are cross-listed with other disciplines, including History and Women and Gender Studies, and our upper-level courses present to students the latest in current theory and method with respect to the study of archaeology, history, and the history of art. As such, there is some overlap with disciplines such as History, Anthropology, Geography, Geology, and Environmental Studies, and many of our students pursue double-majors in Ancient Studies and these other subject areas.
Students majoring in Ancient Studies must study at least one of the ancient languages. Entry to a graduate program in Ancient Studies normally means the successful completion of at least eighteen (18) credit hours at the undergraduate level in one ancient language (Latin or Greek) and twelve (12) credit hours in the other. Latin is a valuable asset for students majoring in French, German or Spanish.
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) is a well-established, foundational degree and requires the requirements listed below alongside general graduation requirements.
A major in Ancient Studies comprises forty-two (42) credit hours, eighteen (18) credit hours of which must be at the 3000 level or higher. There are two recommended tracks for our Ancient Studies majors:
The Ancient Languages track is recommended for students interested in pursuing a career in some aspect of Ancient Studies (e.g. Literature, History, Archaeology). Entry into a graduate program in Ancient Studies normally means the successful completion of at least eighteen (18) credit hours at the undergraduate level in one ancient language (Latin or Greek) and twelve (12) credit hours in the other. Latin is a valuable asset for students majoring in French, German or Spanish. Both Latin and Greek are useful to students interested in entering a seminary, studying theology, philosophy, medicine, European history, or linguistics.
Recommended credit hours to complete this track:
The Ancient Studies Civilizations track is recommended for students interested in acquiring a Liberal Arts style BA as a foundation degree for careers in law, law enforcement, education (Ancient Studies is recognized as a ‘teachable’ program by the Nova Scotia School Board), business, museum studies, cultural resource management, architecture, politics, among many other career possibilities.
ANCS courses only
To obtain a concentration in Ancient Studies in partial fulfillment of the B.A. General Degree (i.e. one with a Double Arts Concentration and a minimum of ninety (90) credit hours), a minimum of twenty-four (24) credit hours Ancient Studies is required, of which 12 credit hours must be at the 3000-level or above. At most 6 credit hours can be at the 1000 level. Also, the minimum grade point average is 2.00.
A minor in Ancient Studies consists of at least twenty-four (24) credit hours, twelve (12) of which must be at the 3000 level or above. To obtain a minor students much achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.00 (an average grade of C or better) in the courses of the minor.
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