Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, B.A.

Program Description

Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies is concerned with the civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean world, including the ancient Greeks, Romans, and the peoples of Egypt and the Near East. The study of these civilizations includes their languages and literatures, history and politics, religion and mythologies, philosophies, and material culture. All students in the major are particularly encouraged to participate in one of the Penn State Education Abroad Programs and/or archaeological field schools in the Mediterranean area. Approved archaeological fieldwork is required for the AMA Option. Up to 15 credits of appropriate education abroad courses may be applied to requirements for the major.

Students electing the CAMS major follow one of three options:

Ancient Languages Option

The Ancient Languages Option requires study of Greek or Latin, one or more of the languages of the ancient Near East, or a combination of languages, and is recommended especially for students planning to pursue any classical, Near Eastern, or Egyptian subject in graduate school; planning rabbinic or seminary study; or preparing to teach Latin or Greek at the secondary level. Students in the Language Option are urged to schedule at least one course in historical linguistics or comparative grammar.

Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology Option

The Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology (AMA) Option is designed for students interested in the physical evidence for ancient Mediterranean cultures, including the rise and development of settlements and cities; ceramics, metals, stone, and organic remains; and population changes over time.

Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies Option

The Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (CAMS) Option is suitable for students interested in a broadly interdisciplinary study of the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean and does not require study of language, although students are encouraged to study the appropriate ancient languages.

What is Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies?

Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (CAMS) is the study of ancient civilizations that arose and flourished around the Mediterranean basin (including Egypt, Greece, Rome, Anatolia, Israel, Mesopotamia, and North Africa) from the “cradle of civilization” in Mesopotamia (ca. 4000 BCE) to the end of Greco-Roman antiquity (ca. 600 CE). CAMS investigates the whole scope of the ancient Mediterranean world and trains students to interpret the linguistic and archaeological evidence of the greatest ancient cultures.

You Might Like This Program If...

• You want to learn the methods of archaeology and archaeological interpretation with the goal of reconstructing the social practices and historical development of different peoples in the ancient Mediterranean.
• You want to master an interdisciplinary subject with a long-term perspective on the human condition and on cultural achievements across diverse geographical regions.
• You want to pursue a career in education, archaeology, or law.

Entrance to Major

In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:

1. attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
2. have at least third-semester classification.

READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Arts degree in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, a minimum of 123 credits is required:

3 of the 24 credits for Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements are included in the Requirements for the Major, General Education, or Electives and 0-12 credits are included in Electives if world language proficiency is demonstrated by examination.

Per Senate Policy 83-80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of coursework in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Requirements for the Major

Common Requirements for the Major (All Options)

No more than 15 credits in courses numbered 099, 199, 299, 399, or 499 may count toward the requirements for the major.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
CAMS 5	Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations	3
CAMS 400W	Comparative Study of the Ancient Mediterranean World	3
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better
Select 3 credits in Greek or Roman literature and language, civilization, or archaeology from approved department list		3
Select 3 credits in Near Eastern literature and language, civilization, or archaeology from approved department list		3
Select 6 credits, at or above the 100 level, from approved department list 1		6
Requirements for the Option
Requirements for the Option: Require a grade of C or better
Select an option		12-16

¹

Appropriate offerings include ancient Near Eastern languages and literatures, ancient history, anthropology, art history, classics and ancient Mediterranean studies, Greek, Hebrew, Jewish studies, Latin, linguistics, philosophy, or religious studies.

Requirements for the Option

Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology Option (15-16 credits)

Students in this option must complete one season of approved archaeological fieldwork at an ancient Mediterranean or related site. Up to 6 credits of fieldwork may be applied to the Common Requirements for the Major.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
CAMS 440W	Studies in Classical and Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology	3
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better
Select 6 credits of the following:		6
CAMS 492	Intermediate Field Methods
CAMS 493	Intermediate Field Analysis
400-level fieldwork course in an approved archaeological project in the Mediterranean region or Near East in consultation with major adviser
Select 3 credits of the following:		3
CAMS 90	Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future
or JST 90	Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future
or RLST 90	Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future
CAMS 104	Ancient Egypt
or HIST 104	Ancient Egypt
or RLST 104	Introduction to Buddhism
CAMS 140	Classical Archaeology--Ancient Greece
or CAMS 150	Classical Archaeology--Ancient Rome
Select 3-4 credits of the following:		3-4
ANTH 410	Osteology
ANTH 420
or JST 420	Archaeology of the Near East
ANTH 426W	Archaeological Laboratory Analysis
or ANTH 428	Archaeological Methods and Theory

Ancient Languages Option (12 credits)

¹

At least 6 credits must be in one language.

Classical and Ancient Mediterranean Studies Option (12 credits)

¹

Appropriate courses include ancient Near Eastern languages and literature, ancient history, anthropology, Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Jewish studies, linguistics, philosophy, or religious studies.

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
• Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Arts (GA): 3 credits
• Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
• Humanities (GH): 3 credits
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
• Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

• Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

• GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
• GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

• United States Cultures: 3 credits
• International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

B.A. Degree Requirements

World Language (0-12 credits): Student must attain 12th credit level of proficiency in one world language in addition to English. This proficiency must be demonstrated by either examination or course work. See the Placement Policy for Penn State World Language Courses.

B.A. Fields (9 credits): Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts, World Languages, Natural Sciences, Quantification (may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major; world language credits in this category must be in a second world language in addition to English or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the first language). Credits must be selected from the list of approved courses.

World Cultures (0-3 credits): Select 3 credits from approved list. Students may count courses in this category in order to meet other major, minor, elective, or General Education requirements, except for the University Cultural Diversity (US/IL) requirement.​

Integrated B.A. in Anthropology or B.S. in Anthropological Science, B.A. in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (CAMS), and M.A. in Anthropology

Requirements for the Integrated B.A. in Anthropology or B.S. in Anthropological Science, B.A. in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (CAMS), and M.A. in Anthropology can be found in the Graduate Bulletin.

Program Learning Objectives

• Critical Thinking: Students will have acquired the ability to read, interpret, and analyze a broad range of literary, historical, artistic, and social texts relating to the ancient Mediterranean world. Majors in the Language Track should have acquired the ability to read, interpret, and analyze literary texts in their relevant ancient languages.
• Cultural Competence: Students will have acquired the ability to interpret and analyze the historical and cultural development of at least one major ancient Mediterranean civilization or cultural sphere (Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Hebrew/Israelite, Greek, Roman), and learned salient facts concerning the main cultural traits of at least one other major ancient Mediterranean civilization.
• Geographic Awareness: Students will have learned salient facts concerning the geography and major archaeological monuments of at least one major ancient Mediterranean Civilization.
• Literary Analysis: Students will have acquired the ability to read, interpret, and analyze the landmarks of literary tradition associated with at least one major ancient Mediterranean civilization.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
Use the Liberal Arts Meet the Academic Advisers web page to see the contact information for the specific adviser(s) of this program

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

Classical and Ancient Mediterranean Option: Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, B.A. at University Park Campus and Commonwealth Campuses

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts students must take 9 credits in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fields (Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts; World Languages [2nd language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the 1st]; Natural Sciences; Quantification). The B.A. Fields courses may not be taken in the area of the student’s primary major. See your adviser and the Degree Requirements section of this Bulletin.

Bachelor of Arts students must take 3 credits in World Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as World Cultures courses.

Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology Option: Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, B.A. at University Park Campus and Commonwealth Campuses

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts students must take 9 credits in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fields (Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts; World Languages [2nd language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the 1st]; Natural Sciences; Quantification). The B.A. Fields courses may not be taken in the area of the student’s primary major. See your adviser and the Degree Requirements section of this Bulletin.

Bachelor of Arts students must take 3 credits in World Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as World Cultures courses.

Ancient Languages Option: Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, B.A. at University Park Campus and Commonwealth Campuses

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts students must take 9 credits in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fields (Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts; World Languages [2nd language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the 1st]; Natural Sciences; Quantification). The B.A. Fields courses may not be taken in the area of the student’s primary major. See your adviser and the Degree Requirements section of this Bulletin.

Bachelor of Arts students must take 3 credits in World Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as World Cultures courses.

Career Paths

The study of CAMS requires the mastery of skills in assessing a range of evidence, deliberation and argumentation, analytical thinking, and writing and communication. The perspectives and skills developed as a CAMS student are valued in a wide range of professions, and our graduates have entered a great variety of careers.

Careers

• Secondary and College Level Teaching
• Archaeology
• Secondary Teaching
• Business Leaders
• Law

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE CLASSICS AND ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES PROGRAM

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

Some of our majors plan academic careers in CAMS-related fields. Our students have enrolled in graduate programs in Classics, Ancient History, Near Eastern Studies, Egyptology, Biblical Studies, Archaeology, Art History, and related fields.

Professional Resources

• American Philological Association
• Archaeological Institute of America
• Association of Ancient Historians

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF CLASSICS AND ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES
108 Weaver Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-8851
bdw150@psu.edu

https://cams.la.psu.edu/