Classic Thinking!

Reach advanced levels in the Greek and Latin languages and prepare yourself for graduate-level work in classics, archaeology, ancient history, or related fields.

Penn’s Classical Studies Program, the oldest and one of the most respected of its kind in the United States, offers the rigorous academic background you need to succeed.

Purpose of the Program

The Post-Baccalaureate Program in Classical Studies was founded in 1984 for students who already have a B.A. and some background in Latin and Greek, and who wish to continue their study without immediately entering an M.A. or Ph.D. program. The Post-Bac Program offers such students an opportunity for rigorous training in the languages, testing their motivation for graduate work, preparing them for further study, and allowing them to experience life in a large university. The program is officially housed in the College of Liberal and Professional Studies (see link in menu above left) and is jointly administered by the Department of Classical Studies.

Course of Study

The Post-Bac Program requires full-time study in residence for two semesters, although some students stay for up to four semesters. Each term two special Post-Bac Seminars are offered, one in Greek and one in Latin; these are advanced reading courses that challenge students to increase their reading pace and fluency. In addition to enrolling in these courses, most Post-Bac students take advantage of the other resources available to them at a top research university, including ongoing colloquia, special lectures from visiting scholars, attendance at museum events, and resources for research in the libraries. Some students, after consulting with the Post-Bac advisor, register for a third course. All students are expected to attend our biweekly noncredit proseminar, a series of brown-bag lunches in which faculty members and current graduate students meet with Post-Bac students to talk about their research, their path towards their current position, and give advice about graduate school and careers. Finally, each student receives both group and individualized advising about career planning and application to graduate schools.

Tuition and Fees

Students, with the exception of international students, are required to enroll for a minimum of two course units of work per semester. Tuition and fees for this are subject to change in each fiscal year. International students on the F-1 visa are required to enroll for a minimum of four course units per semester and may not register to audit courses. Click here for further information on tuition.

Credit

We cannot guarantee what credit, if any, from this program other institutions will apply to their graduate degree programs. Penn will award four undergraduate course units, equivalent to 12 or 16 semester hours elsewhere, for the four required courses (two Greek and two Latin). More credit is awarded if students register to take additional courses. Nevertheless, a year devoted to the concentrated, supervised study of both languages cannot help but improve a student's credentials for further work. In addition, such a year, free from the distractions and obligations of ordinary work towards a degree, can be an unusually fruitful educational experience in itself.

Further Graduate Study

The Post-Bac Program has been an unqualified success since its inception. While some students decide not to pursue further study after their year here, many go on to graduate work in Classics. Recent alumni of this program have enrolled at Berkeley, Brown, Bryn Mawr, Chapel Hill, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Michigan, Penn, Princeton, Vanderbilt and Yale.