Latin, BA

Location(s): Main Campus

The Latin program is designed to provide thorough and rigorous training in ancient Latin. Majors may leverage the training this major provides toward advancement in a variety of fields, including teaching (majors of ours have gained admission to Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) programs in Latin). Alternatively, the enrichment that Latin majors gain can supplement training in other disciplines, including Medieval and Early Modern Studies. Either way, this major holds many possibilities for students. Students majoring in Latin will take at least six courses in Latin and additional courses in any aspect of ancient Mediterranean culture, history, language, literature, archaeology, philosophy, or art, as approved by the Undergraduate Director.

Program Requirements

University General Education Requirements

All Binghamton University undergraduate students are required to fulfill this set of university-wide requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of a SUNY university undergraduate education. Please refer to the general education section in the Academic Policies and Procedures for Undergraduate Students or the General Education page for more information.

Harpur College Requirements

All students in Harpur College must fulfill additional requirements designated by Harpur College to complement and extend the general education requirements. Please refer to the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences page for more information.

Major Requirements

Depending on prior exposure to the language, LAT 101 and 102 may be required prerequisites for the major.

Course Requirements

Students interested in the major in Latin must complete the following requirements (10 courses in total):

At least six Latin-Language (LAT) courses (24 credits)
Four additional Courses in any aspect of ancient Mediterranean culture, history, language, literature, archaeology, philosophy, or art as approved by the Undergraduate Director (16 credits)

Additional Information About the Program

No more than three introductory (100-level) courses shall count toward the major. At least six courses must be taken at the 300-level or above. When selecting courses, students are advised to work with the Undergraduate Director to ensure that this requirement is met.

Teaching practica (e.g. AMS 391, GRK 391, LAT 391) shall not count towards the major. Students who are hoping to go onto study for an MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) in Latin should consult with the Undergraduate Director at their earliest convenience in order to ensure they build a roster of courses that will allow them to meet the language credit requirements of NYS and out of state universities, as these requirements can vary from school to school.

Any courses in which a student receives the grade of P or D shall not count toward the major.

Students with high-school or other preparation in Latin are placed at the appropriate level on the basis of individual consultation with faculty members or, in some cases, by placement tests. Incoming students approved for language study beyond the 101 level will need to consult with the Undergraduate Director regarding alternate routes to fulfilling major requirements.

Students looking for an additional challenge may do so by pursuing honors in Latin. More information on the Honors Program can be found on the Department of Middle Eastern and Ancient Mediterranean Studies website.

NOTE: Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that this may impede their ability to study abroad. Students who have concerns about such matters are advised to contact the office of International Education and Global Initiatives.

For more information on the Latin BA program, please refer to the Middle Eastern and Ancient Mediterranean Studies website. To apply to the Latin BA program, please visit the University Admissions website.