Canisius College

Classics, the study of the civilizations of the ancient Greeks and Romans, has always been an integral part of liberal arts education in general and of Jesuit education in particular. Classical art, literature, mythology, religion, philosophy, history, archaeology, and the Greek and Latin languages are some of the major components of the discipline.

The intrinsic interest, timeless value, and immense influence of its subject matter, together with the precision of thought and clarity of expression fostered through the study of Greek and Latin, have earned international respect for classics. The acceptance rate of classics students into a variety of graduate programs and into schools of law and medicine consistently ranks very high. Many professions also prize the combination of intelligence and discipline identified with classics. These considerations make classics courses worthwhile, popular electives and distinguish the minor in classics as an ideal complement to any academic major.

Students interested in exploring classics may do so in several ways:

a. All students may choose classics courses as electives or to satisfy requirements of the core curriculum, e.g., Area III: courses dealing with classical literature, drama, and myth in English translation; Area IV: courses in Greek and Roman history; Area V: a course in Greek thought; Area VI: a course in Greek and Roman religious experience; Area VIII: courses in the Greek and Latin languages from elementary to advanced levels.

b. Minors. The department offers two minor programs:

1) a departmental minor requiring courses in classical language, history and literature;

2) an interdepartmental minor combining courses from the departments of Classics, Art History, History, Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies. Both minors require the completion of six courses and allow the student some choice in course selection depending on interest and educational objectives.

Classics Departmental Minor:

Classics Interdepartmental Minor:

COURSES: 2005 - 2007

CLS 103 (HIS 103) Greek History to 323 B.C.  3
Social, political, and intellectual history of the Greeks from the end of the Bronze Age to the Hellenistic period. (AS IV, ICD)

CLS 104 (HIS 104) Roman History: Origins to Late Antiquity  3
Social, political, and intellectual history of Rome from the foundation of the city to Late Antiquity. (AS IV, ICD)

CLS 205 Mirror of the Past: Greece  3
Fundamental social, political, moral, religious and intellectual aspects of the human condition as reflected in a variety of Greek writers. (AS III, ICD)

CLS 206 Mirror of the Past: Rome  3
Fundamental social, political, moral, religious and intellectual aspects of the human condition as reflected in a variety of Roman writers. (AS III, ICD)

CLS 207 Mythology and Literature  3
Major classical myths: origin, content and interpretation. Modern approaches to mythology. Influence upon literature. (AS III, ICD)

CLS 208 Epic Heroes  3
Portrayal of heroes in Gilgamesh, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, Apollonius’ Argonautica and Virgil’s Aeneid. Influence of ancient epic heroes on literature, art and film from antiquity to the present. (AS III, ICD) 2005-2006 only.

CLS 210 (FAH 210) Ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern Art  3
Introduction to the formal and cultural analysis and interpretation of the painting, sculpture and architecture of ancient Egypt and the Near East. (AS III, ICD) 2005-2006 only.

CLS 213 (FAH 213) Ancient Art: Greece and Rome  3
A look at the temples, tombs, pottery, painting and sculpture of the Greek and Roman worlds — what these objects meant to their creators and how they have influenced the things we see around us and our feelings about beauty and art. (AS III, ICD) 2006-2007 only.

CLS 214 (WST 214) Classical Drama  3
Greek and Roman tragedy and comedy, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Menander, Plautus, Terence and Seneca. Origins, cultural setting, staging, performance and influence. (AS III) 2005-2006 only.

CLS 308 (HIS/RST 308) Pagans and Christians  3
Religious thought and action from the 3rd through 8th centuries A.D.. The idea of the holy; manifestations of the sacred; body, soul, cosmos; Christianity and classical culture; Neoplatonism. (AS VI) Prerequisite: RST 101. 2005-2006 only.

CLS 309 (RST 309) Greek and Roman Religion 3
Religious thought and action in ancient Greece and Rome from Homer through the 2nd century A.D.. Polytheism, anthropomorphism, ritual, cult and sacrifice. (AS VI) Prerequisite: RST 101. 2006-2007 only.

CLS 312 (HIS 312) The Greek Enlightenment  3
Greek thought from Homer to Plato. Lyric poets, Hippocratic texts, Presocratics and Sophists, Athenian tragedy, Thucydides, Aristophanes and Plato. Impact of literacy on Greek thought. Greek Philosophy in its social and historical context. (AS V) 2006-2007 only.

CLS 311 (HIS 311) Alexander the Great  3
Philip II and the rise of Macedon. Alexander’s personality, his conquests, and their social, political and intellectual consequences. Hellenistic culture. 2006-2007 only.

CLS 314 (HIS 314) Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire  3
Imperial crisis and recovery of the third century, Constantine and Christianity, barbarian invasions, social, political, and intellectual developments in the Byzantine East and Latin West. 2005-2006 only.

CLG 101-102 Elementary Greek  6
Intensive introduction to grammar, syntax and vocabulary of classical Greek. Selected readings in second semester. (AS VIII)

CLG 201-202 Intermediate Greek  6
Readings in selected Greek authors, genres, or themes. (AS VIII)

CLG 301-302 Readings in Greek  6
Readings in selected Greek authors, genres, or themes.

CLG 303-304 Readings in Greek  6
Readings in selected Greek authors, genres, or themes.

CLL 101-102 Elementary Latin  6
Intensive introduction to grammar, syntax and vocabulary of classical Latin. Selected readings in second semester. (AS VIII)

CLL 201-202 Intermediate Latin  6
Readings in selected Latin authors, genres, or themes. (AS VIII)

CLL 301-302 Readings in Latin  6
Readings in selected Latin authors, genres, or themes.

CLL 303-304 Readings in Latin  6
Readings in selected Latin authors, genres, or themes.