What is Classics?
Classics, the study of the civilizations of the ancient Greeks and
Romans, includes components such as classical art, literature,
mythology, religion, philosophy, history, archaeology, and the
Greek and Latin languages.
Classics at Canisius
Classics 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 skills, intelligence,
and discipline identified with Classics.
Students interested in exploring Classics at Canisius may do so in
several ways.
a. Students may major in Classics. The department offers two
tracks within the major:
Greek and Hellenic Studies
Latin and Roman Studies
b. Students may minor in Classics. The department offers two
minor programs:
Departmental Classics Minor
Interdepartmental Classics Minor
Students interested in either of the Classics minors should
consult with the department chair for further details.
c. Any student may choose Classics courses as electives
or to satisfy requirements of the core curriculum, e.g.
Field 1: courses in Greek and Roman religious experience;
Field 2: a course in Greek thought and courses in which Greek
and Roman philosophical texts are studied in the original;
Field 3: courses dealing with classical literature, drama, and
myth in English translation and courses in which Greek and Latin
literary texts are studied in the original;
Field 4: courses in Greek and Roman history and courses in
which Greek and Roman historians and historical evidence are
studied in the original;
Field 5: a course on Roman law and society.
Various Classics courses also fulfill the Ethics, Global Awareness,
Justice, or Oral Communication attribute requirements of the
core.
Department Mission Statement
The Greek word paideia has a range of meaning encompassing
culture, education, and literature. When the Romans translated
this complex Greek term into Latin, they chose their word
humanitas. The Classics Department at Canisius College strives
to make accessible to as many of our students as possible all the
manifestations of the paideia and humanitas of ancient Greece
and Rome.
The Classics Department attempts to realize this goal while
maintaining the high level of intellectual integrity and
pedagogical rigor traditionally associated with the discipline of
classics. Because Christianity and, to a lesser but still important
degree, Islam and Judaism are products of classical antiquity,
and because this is no less true of much of contemporary
philosophy, political thought and action, and artistic and literary
theory and practice, the Classics Department considers this
mission as one vital to the achievement of the values-oriented
tenets of the mission statement of Canisius College itself.
Student Learning Goals
Classics majors and minors will:
Goal 1: Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental
grammar and syntax of either Greek or Latin or of both
languages necessary to translate ancient texts with the aid of a
dictionary and grammar.
Goal 2: Demonstrate an understanding of the complex
relationships between religion, language, literature, philosophy,
art and social structures.
Goal 3: Demonstrate an understanding of the historical
dimension of the human condition.
Goal 4: Demonstrate an appreciation of the legacy of classical
antiquity.