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Great Texts of the Western Tradition Major and Minor

The Great Texts major is a major concentration of study toward the Bachelor of Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students pursuing a major in Great Texts will find a sustained curriculum in the greatest works of human intellectual and creative achievement which will be a profound asset in any profession or graduate study. Students pursuing a B.A. in the College will see the Great Texts major as foundational study for graduate work in any traditional humanities discipline. Students in the applied arts may want to pursue a second major or a minor in Great Texts in order to strengthen their liberal arts background and broaden their educational horizons. B. A. students in the sciences will see the Great Texts major as a chance to read broadly in the history of human thought, including the history of science. All the courses will be taught in a seminar format for better reading and discussing these great works.

Requirements for a Major in Great Texts of the Western Tradition

  1. All specific and group requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree
  2. Thirty semester hours including the following:
    1. Six semester hours including:
      1. GTX 2301: Intellectual Tradition of the Ancient World
      2. GTX 2302: Medieval Intellectual Tradition
    2. Fifteen semester hours including:
      1. GTX 3320: Middle Ages
      2. GTX 3321: Early Modern Age
      3. GTX 4320: Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
      4. GTX 4321: Twentieth Century
      5. GTX 4343: Great Texts Capstone Course
    3. Nine additional semester hours of GTX (with at least six hours from the 3000-4000 level):
      1. GTX 1301: Introduction to Great Texts
      2. GTX 3330: Great Texts by Women
      3. GTX 3331: Great Texts of Christian Spirituality
      4. GTX 3340: Master Works in Art
      5. GTX 3341: Master Works in Drama
      6. GTX 3343: Great Texts in the Origins of Science
      7. GTX 3350: Great Texts in Leadership
      8. GTX 3351: Great Texts in Business
      9. GTX 4330: Dante and the Italian Renaissance
      10. GTX 4331: Augustine and Aquinas
      11. GTX 4340: Master Works in Music
      12. GTX 4341: Great Works in Modern Science
      13. GTX 4351: Confessions & Autobiography
      14. GTX 4371: Epic and Romance in the High Middle Ages
      15. GTX 4V99: Special Topics in Great Texts

Requirements for a Minor in Great Texts of the Western Tradition

  1. Eighteen semester hours including the following:
    1. At lease one course from GTX 2301 and 2302
    2. At least twelve semester hours of GTX at the 3000-4000 level

Student in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core (BIC) Program who complete the BIC requirements through the second-year level can receive credit for GTX 2301 and 2302 toward the major or minor.