This interdisciplinary minor is for students with diverse interests in the material culture of the ancient world. Coursework combines the study of archaeology, literature, art, history, philosophy, myth, and religion. The scope of the minor is not limited to Greece and Rome but touches on all the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean and the heirs of late antiquity such as Byzantium and early Islam.
The minor represents foundation work crucial to graduate study in traditional departments of classical, near Eastern, or Mediterranean art and archaeology. Students should consult with the director for help in choosing a program of study that will complement their major.
Policies
Eight credits of coursework must be unique to the minor and students must complete all coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.00. For policies governing all minors, see AP.5.3.4 Minors.
Total credits: 18
Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
Core Courses
Select one course (3 credits) from each of the four categories below:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Near East and Northern Africa | 3 | |
| Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt | ||
| Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (Mason Core) | ||
| Beginnings of Christianity | ||
| Religion and History of Ancient Israel | ||
| Greece | 3 | |
| Classical Greece | ||
| Greek Art and Archaeology (Mason Core) | ||
| From Alexander the Great to Cleopatra: The Hellenistic World (Mason Core) | ||
| Rome/Late Antiquity | 3 | |
| Classical Rome | ||
| Topics in European History (when topic is Fall of the Roman Empire) | ||
| Roman Art and Archaeology (Mason Core) | ||
| Early Christian and Byzantine Art (Mason Core) | ||
| Archaeological Methods | 3 | |
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (Mason Core) | ||
| Field Techniques in Archaeology | ||
| Mortuary Archaeology | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Bioarchaeology | ||
| Human Osteology | ||
| Human Osteology Lab | ||
| Paleopathology | ||
| Art of the Islamic World (Mason Core) | ||
| Advanced Studies in Ancient Art | ||
| Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization (Mason Core) | ||
| Jesus and the Gospels | ||
| Muhammad: Life and Legacy | ||
| Judaism from Exile to Talmud | ||
| History of Western Philosophy: Ancient | ||
| Greek and Latin Elements in English | ||
| Classical Mythology (Mason Core) | ||
| The Legacy of Greece and Rome (Mason Core) | ||
| Roman Law and Society | ||
| Greek and Roman Epic (Mason Core) | ||
| Greek and Roman Tragedy (Mason Core) | ||
| Greek and Roman Comedy (Mason Core) | ||
| Greek and Roman Novels (Mason Core) | ||
| Topics in Classical Literature and Culture | ||
Course in core requirement list above that is not used to meet the core requirement | ||
Study Abroad course approved by the minor director | ||
Any undergraduate course in a relevant academic language (Arabic, French, German, Latin, ancient Greek) beyond the language requirement for the BA in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |