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Division of Humanities
James Morrison (chair),
Jane Joyce; student: Ryan New
The subject of classical studies is the study of ancient Greece and Rome. This includes literature, philosophy, history, art, architecture, science, and religion and mythology. The classical studies major is thus quite broad, encompassing language, history, and culture in its fullest sense. Clearly, classical studies students will develop and analyze basic knowledge about the ancient world, especially to gain an appreciation of its breadth and diversity. Students will learn to think across traditional disciplinary boundaries, developing such linguistic skills as reading ancient texts in the original and such critical skills as researching, analyzing, and synthesizing diverse data from fields relevant to classical studies. Students will build on their training in classical studies to make connections to other academic disciplines.
Requirements for the Major
A. Language:
1. Basic skills at entrance in an ancient language (Greek, Hebrew, Latin); or CLA 120 or CLA 121 with a grade of "C-" or higher.
2. Three further courses in an ancient language, no more than one of which may be at the beginning level.
B. Civilization:
1. CLA 301 or 302.
2. CLA 342 or 344.
3. One of CLA 321-329.
4. One of CLA 330-339.
C. Electives: any two of the following (or other courses with approval of the Classical studies committee):
ANT 120 Introduction to Physical Anthropology and Archaeology
ANT 130 Introduction to Archaeology
ART 260 Survey of Western Art-I
ART 360 Classical Art
CLA 301, 302, 321-339, 342, 344 (when not used for "Civilization" requirements)
DRA 133 Foundations of Western Theatre-I
GOV 300 Western Political Theory-I
PHI 210 Ancient Philosophy
REL 110 Biblical History and Ideas
REL 315 New Testament Literature
REL 320 Early Christianity
Requirements for the Minor
A. Language:
1. Basic skills at entrance in an ancient language (Greek, Hebrew, Latin); or CLA 120 or CLA 121 with a grade of "C-" or higher.
2. Two courses in an ancient language at the intermediate level or higher.
B. Civilization:
1. CLA 301 or 302.
2. CLA 342 or 344.
C. Electives: any two courses from elective list under major requirements.
Classical Studies Courses
CLA 110, 120 Latin Fundamentals-I,
II (four credit hours each)
An introduction to the grammar, morphology, and syntax of classical
Latin with concentration on the works of Eutropius, Caesar, and Catullus.
Throughout the two courses, attention is paid to Roman mythology, history,
and culture. Prerequisite: CLA 110 for 120.
CLA 111 Introduction to Ancient Greek (four credit hours)
A course designed to develop the ability to read elementary Greek
and to prepare students to read Homer, Plato, and the New Testament in
the original. Includes an introduction to Greek epic poetry.
CLA 121 New Testament Greek (four credit hours)
After a review of grammar, this course studies passages from the Greek
New Testament (the Gospels, Acts, Revelation), leading to possible further
course work in Greek epic, tragedy, or philosophy. Prerequisite: CLA 111
or permission of the instructor.
CLA 210, 310 Roman Literary Masterpieces-I, II
Selected readings from two or three Latin authors in Latin. Readings
vary from year to year and may include Cicero, Pliny, Lucretius, Propertius,
Ovid, etc. Also includes a general review of the primary structures of
the language. CLA 210 may be repeated as CLA 310, in which case a commensurately
higher level of performance is expected. Prerequisite: CLA 120 for 210
or placement; 210 for 310 or placement. Offered in fall term.
CLA 220, 320 Republican and Imperial Latin Literature-I, II
A concentrated study of one Latin author or work in Latin. Topics
vary from year to year and may include Juvenal, Horace's satires and odes,
Vergil, Catullus, etc. CLA 220 may be repeated as CLA 320, in which case
a commensurately higher level of performance is expected. Prerequisite:
CLA 210 for 220 or placement; 220 for 320 or placement. Offered in spring
term.
CLA 301 History of Ancient Greece
A survey of ancient Greece from prehistory through the Roman Conquest.
Topics include: Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations, the rise of the polis,
Greece colonization, the invention of science and philosophy, Athenian
democracy, the invasion of Xerxes, the Golden Age of Athens, the Peloponnesian
War, the campaigns of Alexander the Great, the Alexandrian Library, and
Cleopatra. This survey relies on primary sources, while also venturing
to consider politics, warfare, citizenship, slavery, the status of women,
religion, and the alphabet. A course in translation. (Also listed as HIS
301.)
CLA 302 History of Ancient Rome
A study of ancient Rome from its founding to the fall of the empire.
Topics include: prehistory, founding, establishment of the Republic, the
Punic Wars, expansion of Rome, provincial administration, the careers
of Cicero and Julius Caesar, the civil wars, citizenship, slavery, status
of women, the destruction of Pompeii, rule by the emperors, the coming
of Christianity, and theories explaining the end of the empire. A course
in translation. (Also listed as HIS 302.)
CLA 303 Ancient Rome, Renaissance Florence, Modern Italy
Seventeen days in Italy, exploring the literature, history, art, and
culture of Ancient Rome, Renaissance Florence (and Rome) and modern Italy.
Includes visits to museums, archaeological sites, churches, and modern
businesses in Rome, Naples, Florence, Padua, and Venice. Emphasis is on
continuity and tradition over the past 3000 years.
CLA 321-329 Topics in Classical Literature in Translation
CLA 330 Introduction to Classical Mythology
The "biographies" of the major divinities of Greek mythology
are studied in depth, using various ancient texts in translation and secondary
materials from such related fields as anthropology, archaeology, linguistics,
and psychology. Near Eastern and Roman mythologies are compared with the
Greek. A course in translation.
CLA 331-339 Topics in Classical Mythology
CLA 342 Heroism and Democracy in Ancient Greece
An exploration of the distinctive and influential features of ancient
Greek culture. Focus is on three areas: a detailed exploration of Homer's
Iliad with a consideration of oral poetry, archaeology, religion, heroism
and the heroic code, Achilles in Vietnam, etc.; Athenian democracy with
an exploration of its development--and how it contrasts with modern democracy
and the Spartan constitution, position of women, tragedy, comedy, and
panhellenism; and philosophy and science with a look at its origins and
culmination with Hippocratic medicine and the Aristotelian world-view.
A course in translation.
CLA 344 Roman Culture
An examination of Roman public and private life as revealed by literary
and artistic sources. A course in translation.