Overview of Programs
The Undergraduate Program
The undergraduate program is designed to provide students with training in and appreciation for the literature and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. This reflects the Department's goals of: (a) training future scholars and secondary school teachers, (b) providing language education and work leading to majors in the related disciplines, and (c) offering general education courses appropriate to the University degree requirements in the humanities and elective options. The Department offers a major and also a minor, which allows students majoring in other disciplines to take a concentrated and coherent grouping of electives in Classics.
The major is divided into two tracks: an ancient language track for those who plan to proceed to advanced study on the graduate level in Classics or allied fields (e.g., archaeology, history, religion, philosophy, linguistics, philosophy) or those who plan to become secondary school Latin teachers, and a classical civilization track for those who want a broad liberal arts education focusing on the ancient world. This track also serves as an excellent general preparation for entry into professional schools (e.g. medicine, law).
Both tracks require students to complete the beginning sequence in Latin or ancient Greek (either by course work or through AP, IB, or SAT II credit) before entering the major. The ancient language track requires students to take three additional years of upper-division course work in either Latin or ancient Greek and a year or more of the other language.
Entry level courses in the Department help students who are not majors
fulfill the language and general education requirements of the College
of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Through its affiliation with the Center
for Greek Studies, the Department also offers instruction in Modern Greek
at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels as well as courses
in translation about the literature and culture of Modern Greece.
The Department offers a program leading to a Master of Arts in Classics with (a) a major in classics (i.e., both Greek and Latin languages) or (b) a major in Latin, either of which may be combined with a minor in history or philosophy. Students who intend to pursue a Ph.D. in Classics must do track (a), the combination of both languages. High school teachers seeking an M. A. usually follow the major in Latin. See below for full detail on these programs of study. The non-thesis degree, Master of Arts in Teaching, is also listed, with a major in Latin and is exclusively for those preparing to teach in high school. For specific requirements, procedures, and reading lists, see the graduate program information in appendix 19.
The total number of students working for the M.A. degree in 1997 is 16. Approximately half of these are high school teachers studying part time. At the graduate level the Latin master's program has been a considerable success in its two intended areas. UF is the major source in Florida for the training of secondary school Latin teachers, while it has also provided the intermediate step for many students planning further graduate work in Classics or related subjects. The implementation ten years ago of a full program of graduate courses in Greek, along with the hiring of a senior Hellenist, has greatly strengthened the master's program and has laid an excellent foundation for moving towards a doctoral program.
In 1984 a joint M.A. program with the University of South Florida was
approved. This allows students to complete one portion of their course
work (12 credits) at the University of South Florida, with the rest (18
credits) at UF. Since the program was approved, Professors Anton and Motto
of USF have been awarded Graduate Faculty Status at UF and several students
have received the joint degree. Four of these, for example, have then
gone on for the Ph.D. at UNC Chapel Hill, Northwestern, Boston University,
Loyola, and are now currently teaching classics at Wayne State University
(tenured), Xavier (tenure track), FSU (tenure track), and Ball State.
The University of Florida offers a Ph.D. in Classical Studies. The goal is to provide advanced education in classical languages (Greek and Latin), literature, and civilization. As even the name itself, Classical Studies, suggests, this degree program is decidedly not a traditional Classics Ph.D. While some graduates of the program may pursue employment as professors in four year liberal arts colleges and universities, we expect the majority of graduates to meet needs for levels and kinds of teaching which are largely unmet at the present time. Thus the program will assure its graduates of excellent prospects for such teaching positions and rewarding
