courses & curriculum

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 and theology. Both minors require the completion of six courses and allow the student some choice in course selection depending on interest and educational objectives.

Students interested in either of the Classics minors should consult with the department chair for further details.

Classics Departmental Minor:

Classical language: two semesters of Latin or Greek
(CLL OR CLG)
(6 credits)
CLS 103 Greek History
OR
CLS 104 Roman History (3 credits)
CLS 205 Mirror of the Past: Greece
OR
CLS 206 Mirror of the Past: Rome (3 credits)
Classics electives: two upper-level (200 or above,
including FAH 210 and 213) CLG, CLL, or CLS courses
(6 credits)
Total (6 courses) (18 credits)
Classics Interdepartmental Minor:

Classical language: two semesters of Latin or Greek
(CLL OR CLG)
(6 credits)
Classics elective: one course (3 credits)
Interdepartmental electives: three courses
(FAH 101, 210, 213; HIS 106; PHI 350; PSC 110;
RST 215, 250, 251, 321, 405)
(9 credits)
Total (6 courses) (18 credits)

COURSES: 2007 - 2009

CLS 103 Greek History 3 credits
Social, political, and intellectual history of the Greeks from the end of the Bronze Age to the Hellenistic period. (AS IV, ICD) Fall 2008-2009 only


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


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


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


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


CLS 208 Epic Heroes 3 credits
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) Fall 2007-2008 only


FAH 210 Ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern Art 3 credits
(Accepted for Classics minor credit)
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) Spring 2007-2008 only


FAH 213 Greek and Roman Art 3 credits
(Accepted for Classics minor credit)
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) Spring 2008-2009 only


CLS 214 Classical Drama 3 credits
(Accepted for WST credit)
Greek and Roman tragedy and comedy, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Menander, Plautus, Terence and Seneca. Origins, cultural setting, staging, performance and influence. (AS III) Fall 2008-2009 only


CLS 300 Roman Law and Society 3 credits
Exploration of major concepts and principles of Roman law and the society in which they developed. Studies of cases from the writings of Roman jurists. Spring 2007-2008 only.


CLS 308 Pagans and Christians 3 credits
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) Spring 2007-2008 only


CLS 309 Greek and Roman Religion 3 credits
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) Fall 2008-2009 only


CLS 311 Alexander the Great 3 credits
Philip II and the rise of Macedon. Alexander’s personality, his conquests, and their social, political and intellectual consequences. Hellenistic culture. Fall 2008-2009 only.


CLS 312 The Greek Enlightenment 3 credits
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) Spring 2008-2009 only


CLS 313 The Roman Revolution 3 credits
Political, social and intellectual environment of the last century of the Roman Republic. Augustus’ consolidation of power. Cicero’s philosophical essays, speeches and letters. Sallust, Livy and influential poets of the time. Fall 2008-2009 only.


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


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


CLG 301-302 Readings in Greek 6 credits
Readings in selected Greek authors, genres, or themes. Fall/Spring


CLG 303-304 Readings in Greek 6 credits
Readings in selected Greek authors, genres, or themes. Fall/Spring


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


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


CLL 301-302 Readings in Latin 6 credits
Readings in selected Latin authors, genres, or themes. Fall/Spring


CLL 303-304 Readings in Latin 6 credits
Readings in selected Latin authors, genres, or themes. Fall/Spring



1 Joint appointment with the History Department.