Complete List of Courses
Knowledge of Greek and Latin is NOT required for these courses, and students majoring in other fields are encouraged to enroll. Tulane's Language Learning Center has language-specific instructions for placement testing, information about and registration for proficiency testing, links to presentation recordings, and more.
Courses taught in other departments that may be counted toward the CLAS, GREK, or LATN majors can be found at the bottom of this page.
General Education Note: The general education requirements for incoming students beginning in Fall 2018 have been revised. Students who began before Fall 2018 will follow the previous requirements. For clarity, both sets of requirements will be listed for each course.
Fa18: General Education requirements for students entering in Fall 2018 or later.
Pre-Fa18: General Education requirements for students who entered in before Fall 2018.
Use this list as a guide, but please verify all questions with our Director of Undergraduate Studies.
UNDERGRADUATE CLASSICS COURSES
CLAS-1010: The Rise of Rome (3)
This course traces the history of Rome from its earliest foundations to the fall of the Roman republic. While learning about major historical events, we will also explore various aspects of Roman cultural and social history. Topics for discussion include politics, social status, gender roles, religion, warfare, murder and conspiracy, and ancient spectacle. The course is open to everyone with an interest in learning more about Roman History, and there are no prerequisites.
(Pre-Fa18: Not open to senior history majors. In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities or Social Sciences; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in History.)
CLAS-1030: The Greeks (3)
A look at life in ancient Greece. Topics include war, politics, religious festivals, athletics, courts and trials, wealth and poverty, freedom and slavery, gender and sexuality, theater, family life, education, and science.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Western Traditions requirement.)
CLAS-1040: Mythology (3)
This course will introduce you to the gods, heroes, and monsters of Greek and Roman mythology! The focus of the course involves reading and discussing selected works of ancient Greek and Roman literature in English translation, but we will also move beyond these narratives to examine how the Greeks and Romans portrayed their myths in other media, including art and architecture. Myths (from the Greek word μῦθος, meaning story or tale) are a way to explore, explain, and comment on human society, a cultural process that was of central importance to the ancient Greeks and Romans, and which we still share today.
CLAS-2020: High Roman Empire (3)
This course introduces the institutional, social, and cultural changes of the empire from Augustus to Diocletian. Emphasis is placed upon the birth of imperial administration, cultural change and continuity, and the rise of Christianity.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities or Social Sciences; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in History.
Fa18: NTC 1st Tier)
CLAS-2120: The Archaelogy of Israel (3)
This course explores the archaeology of the southern Levant from the Bronze Age to the creation of the state of Israel (ca. 3330 B.C.E. – 1948 C.E.). It provides an introduction to the methodology and theory of archaeology and an overview of the material cultures of the complex societies that inhabited the region. Special attention will be paid to cultures of the Israelites, Phoenicians, Philistines, and Arabs and the impact of external imperial rule (from the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Babylonians to the Greeks and Romans) on the life and culture of these societies. We will also investigate the transformation of the region from the rise of Christianity and the Muslim conquest through the emergence of Israel as a modern nation-state. Throughout we will focus on extant texts, inscriptions, material culture such as pottery, figurines, and sculpture, and public, religious, and domestic architecture to reconstruct a detailed picture of this region as a dynamic crossroads of civilizations.
(Fa18: NTC 1st Tier, Textual and Historical Perspectives, Global Perspectives)
CLAS-2200: New Testament: An Historical Introduction (3)
This course is a literary and historical introduction to the canonical New Testament. It will engage issues of authorship, dating, theology, genre, and special problems related to the "scientific" (or scholarly) study of the New Testament. There will be some engagement with literature outside of the canonical New Testament but only as it relates to special issues and topics in New Testament interpretation.
CLAS-2310: Tyrants and Democrats in Ancient Greece (3)
This course examines the origins and characteristics of basic Greek forms of government in their historical context, concentrating on tyranny and democracy in the archaic and classical periods. The course stresses the development of Greek political institutions and political thought.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities or Social Sciences; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in History.
Fa18: NTC 1st Tier)
CLAS-2320: Ancient Greek Religion (3)
What was the ancient Greek religion about? And how can we know about the religious experience of a population that is long gone? Both these questions are interconnected and represent the core of this course. Week after week, we will reconstruct the principles and articulation of religious beliefs and practice in ancient Greece, reflecting on the evidence we can use. We will discover the ways that religious system mirrors a specific understanding of human society and its place in the universe. And, with it, we will find that, surprisingly or not, that religious system provided a solid base to several modern religious practices.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities or Social Sciences; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in History.
Fa18: NTC 1st Tier)
CLAS-2330: Alexander the Great: History and Legend (3)
Alexander the Great (356-323), the king of Macedon, is justifiably one of the most celebrated figures of antiquity. Conquering all of the Greek world and Asia from the Mediterranean to the Indus River in Pakistan by the age of 30, he unquestionably changed the world, bringing Greeks, Macedonians, Persians, Egyptians and Jews into close contact and exchange. But who was the historical Alexander? Was he a charismatic strategist, a genius and visionary? Or a paranoid, alcoholic, and violent megalomaniac who brought about the end of his dynasty and left his empire, and much of the world, in chaos? What were his aims and aspirations? The problematic nature of the ancient sources presents serious difficulties in reconstructing an account of the ‘historical’ Alexander.
Simultaneously, the constant refashioning of the figure of Alexander in the legendary tradition of his life, the ‘Alexander Romance,’ written by Greek, Persian, Jewish, French and English authors from antiquity to the Medieval period has left us with rich tradition of the mythical Alexander. In various strains of this legendary tradition, Alexander becomes a Persian, bows down before the Jewish high priest, lives as pious Muslim, and explores Africa, the depths of the sea, and the cosmos.
Over the course of the semester will examine the historical figure of Alexander, his achievements and empire, along with his rich afterlife as a malleable and contested figure in legend and literature. We will explore various genres (history, fiction, myth, biography) and sources (literary, visual, archaeological) to analyze critically the sources and uses of Alexander in various periods and places of world history.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Western Traditions requirement.)
CLAS-2340: Troy: Beyond the Myth (3)
The Trojan War, famous heroes against each other, astute decoys, tragic deaths, plotting, intrigue, and the gods in the midst of it. All these stories were celebrated in the poetry of Homer, forever remembered as one of the pillars of Greek literature, and were represented on pots and temples. Was it all fiction? Or did something really happen between the city of Troy and the ancient Greek world? Come and find out what archaeologists have discovered, who were the real Agamemnon and Menelaus, and how Homer saved the day.
CLAS-2400: Ancient Medicine (3)
This course traces the evolution of the practice of medicine in Ancient Greece and Rome via a multitude of ancient literary, documentary, and material sources. Topics include medicine in mythology, theories of medicine, pharmacology, military medicine, medical tools, women's health, and physicians in society. Students will not only gain a knowledge of the foundation of medicine, but also better understand the practice of medicine as it exists today through guest lectures and field trip to the Pharmacy Museum in the French Quarter.
CLAS-2410: Race - Antiquity to U.S. (3)
What is race? This course examines how race is constructed by cultures, focusing on the ancient Mediterranean and the modern United States. Together, we will explore literary and artistic evidence to understand how the Greeks and Romans conceptualized the world and the humans within it. As we will see, ancient thinkers found numerous ways to explain human variety, none of which correspond precisely to modern notions of race. Flowing forwards and backwards in time, we will investigate how the authors of America’s racial caste system pressed Greece and Rome into the service of contemporary power structures, reimagining them as ancestors of White America. Additionally, we will study Black Americans—enslaved and free—who have pushed against this reconstruction, reclaiming the ancient Mediterranean as their own.
CLAS-2600: The Classical World in Film (3)
This interdisciplinary course investigates the use of themes from classical history, literature, and mythology in modern cinematography. Its focal point is the artistic appropriation of these themes in service of a fresh literary and cinematic vision. Films with classical themes are viewed as a part of the process of creative imitation and reinvention of a “classic”. Each segment of the course discusses a specific theme, starting with the thorough analysis of the relative ancient texts and material culture/archaeology. Reading assignments will include selections from Greek and Roman, such as epic, tragedy, history, lyric poetry, philosophy, and novel. The readings will be flanked by a selection of movies and clips that show modern adaptations of the same theme discussed in the readings.
CLAS-2610: Sex and Gender in Antiquity (3)
This course explores a wide range of topics related to sexuality and gender in the ancient Mediterranean. Using ancient literary sources, inscriptions, artwork, and modern scholarship, we will try to reconstruct Greek and Roman attitudes about sexuality and gender at different places and different times. In particular, we will focus on the depiction of female leadership in ancient literature, and will consider the following questions: How do the male writers of antiquity describe female leaders? Do they display the same attributes of leadership as their male counterparts, or is there something distinctly feminine about their mode of leadership? Are women depicted in leaders in various spheres of activity (battle, home, politics, etc.)? Is there always a sense of transgression or inferiority associated with female leadership? Do literary depictions match the primary evidence that documents the roles of women in their communities? How can these ancient texts inform the current debates about women in leadership roles?
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities or Social Sciences; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement.
Fa18: NTC 1st Tier, Elective for GESS major/minor.)
CLAS-2810: Special Topics (3)
Special topics in Classical Studies focused on particular areas and issues in the fields of ancient culture, religion, history, and/or archaeology.
CLAS-2811: Special Topics (3)
Special topics in Classical Studies focused on particular areas and issues in the fields of ancient culture, religion, history, and/or archaeology.
CLAS-3050: Archaeology Lab: Ashkelon, Israel (3)
The field archaeology lab in Ashkelon Israel will introduce students to process of artifact analysis, cataloguing, and recording. Students will work alongside professional staff sorting, cleaning, registering, and analyzing finds from the current excavat will
CLAS-3060: Greek Drama (3)
In this class, we will read several ancient plays (in English translation) written in 5th century Athens alongside a series of 20th and 21st century plays from Nazi occupied France, apartheid-era South Africa, and Nigeria (during the Iraq War) that draw on these ancient plays for inspiration in radically different political and cultural climates.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Western Traditions requirement.)
CLAS-3080: Inventing Socrates (3)
Socrates has greater name recognition than almost anyone in antiquity and yet he left behind no record of his teachings. Instead, his legacy has been shaped by the accounts of others - former students, bemused comedians, admirers and even a few detractors. In this course, we will examine the many faces of Socrates bequeathed to us by his contemporaries, investigate the world of 5th century Athens in which he lived, and survey important moments in his posthumous reception.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Western Traditions requirement.)
CLAS-3090: Law & Society in Ancient Rome (3)
In this course we will focus on the law of the Roman family, covering such topics as personal status, marriage, divorce, and inheritance, as well as the situation of women and children within the Roman family.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities or Social Sciences; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in History.)
CLAS-3120: Etruscans & Early Rome (3)
From the Late Bronze Age until their assimilation into the Roman world, the Etruscans were building cities, decorating tombs, and establishing trade networks at home and abroad. While their literature and written history are lost, their extensive material culture survives. In this course, students will learn how to examine a culture known primarily from its artifacts, and discover how it influenced early Rome.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities, Fine Arts, or Social Sciences; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in Art History.
Fa18: NTC 1st Tier)
CLAS-3140: Jews in the Greco-Roman World (3)
This course will explore Jewish interaction and conflict with Greeks and Romans from the Babylonian exile through the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. We will examine the rich body of literature and material culture from this period to reconstruct the Jewish experience in both Palestine and the Diaspora communities in Egypt, Asia Minor, and Rome. The course will consider texts written by Jews as well as Greeks and Romans, representing both sides of this exchange, and archaeological evidence that sheds light on daily life in the period. Topics will include: the Maccabean Revolt, the Hasmonean dynasty, Herod the Great, the Alexandrian riots of 38 CE, Jewish religion and sectarianism, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Jewish Revolts.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the majors in Jewish Studies and History.)
CLAS-3160: The Aegean Bronze Age (3)
The civilizations that populated the Aegean during the Bronze Age were later remembered in mythology, fabulous tales, and epic poetry. Homer sang about the cultural wealth of those earlier kingdoms, from Crete to Mainland Greece. This course offers you the chance to explore their rich and varied archaeological remains. From the majestic palaces to the elaborate frescoes, the decorated pottery, the administrative records, and other material evidence, we will reconstruct the life and activities of the populations of the Aegean from the beginning to the end of the Bronze Age. In our journey, we will also stop and discuss the archaeological methodologies and the current topics of investigation on the Aegean Bronze Age.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities, Fine Arts, or Social Sciences; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in Art History.)
CLAS-3170: Greek Art & Archaeology (3)
In this course, we will explore the archaeological remains and the development and use of specific artistic trends of the ancient Greek culture. Human inhabitation of Greece left the remains of a rich and complex society, with grandiose public architecture, elaborate vase painting, and a legacy that still lives on. Working together as a class, we will explore how to use these material remains to find the Greeks, interpret their lives, and understand their choices and the impact they had on their culture. By studying a variety of archaeological remains, from pottery to art and architecture, we will bring the Greeks back to life, in class, with us! We will cover aspects of Greek political organization, trade and contact with other civilizations in the ancient Mediterranean, funerary habits. At the same time, we will be discussing about our modern approach to the study of the Greeks, focusing on the use of art and archaeology in politics and propaganda, current problems and controversies in Greek archaeology, archaeological methods, and issues of archaeological ethics.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities or Fine Arts; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in Art History.)
CLAS-3180: Roman Art and Archaeology (3)
The Roman Empire encompassed the entire rim of the Mediterranean Sea and much of western Europe. This course will undertake an intensive analysis of the material culture of ancient Rome through its art and archaeology. In successfully completing the semester, you will gain a thorough knowledge of the art and archaeology of ancient Rome and its world, focusing especially on changes through time and on the political, social, and economic developments that are illuminated by material remains. We will also discuss current issues related to Roman antiquities and the preservation of world cultural heritage. Working together as a class, we will learn how to use the archaeological record to reconstruct the past, while at the same time examining our own culture and its role in human history.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities or Fine Arts; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in Art History.)
CLAS-3190: Pompeii: Life in a Roman Town (3)
The Roman city of Pompeii, utterly destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 C.E., has captured the world’s imagination for nearly three centuries. This semester, we will examine the material remains of Pompeii, analyzing how evidence as diverse as standing architecture, monumental inscriptions, portable and permanent art, and even garbage and graffiti can be used to reconstruct ancient lives. Working together as a class, we will investigate the development of Pompeian studies from the earliest systematic excavations of the 1750s to current projects utilizing groundbreaking technologies, and propose new directions for future research in a city that has many more secrets to reveal.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities, Fine Arts, or Social Sciences; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in Art History.)
CLAS-3230: Ancient Christianity (3)
In this course we examine the development of Christianity in the Roman Empire during the first four centuries CE. We will consider both the development of the Church from its beginnings as a religious movement to its becoming one of the dominant institutions in the Roman Empire. We will investigate how the Church gained converts, how it was structured, the relationship between orthodox Christianity and ‘heresies,’ the Church's conflicts with the Roman Empire, and the changes in the Church resulting from the conversion of Constantine in the early fourth century.
(Pre-Fa18: This course is designed to introduce students to the history of the Ancient Christian movement within the Roman Empire. It illustrates the historical developments through the discussion of the use of the scripture, the production of new literature and emergence of the canon of the New Testament writings from the second through the fourth centuries.)
CLAS-3320: Death & Dying from Greece to Rome (3)
Death is a universal human experience. Cutting across time, culture, gender, age, and any other divisions humans might create between ourselves, it affects everyone on earth. Studying death, however, does not have to be morbid; indeed, the evidence for individual and cultural reactions to death has been created entirely by the living. In examining death, therefore, we find an excellent path of inquiry into life. This semester, we will analyze Greek and Roman experiences of death in order to better understand ancient lives. Topics will range widely, with time given to both the literary and material evidence, learning how the two come together to illuminate ancient life. Furthermore, we will consider our contemporary notions of death, particularly its unique role in the culture of New Orleans.
CLAS-3510: The Ancient Novel (3)
We are all familiar today with the literary form called the novel: a lengthy fictional narrative in prose. It was ancient Greek and Latin authors, however, who first created this form. Many of these works survive and they always intrigue and delight readers with their highly sophisticated plotting of love affairs, comical depictions of pirates, and teasing explorations of sexuality. We will closely read, in English translation, the major ancient novels and some of their literary predecessors in order to understand the originality of the form and content of the novels. The class concludes with a consideration of the ancient novels contribution to the development of fiction in the West.
(Fa18: NTC 1st Tier)
CLAS-3810: Special Topics (3)
Special topics in Classical Studies focused on particular areas and issues in the fields of ancient culture, religion, history, and/or archaeology.
CLAS-3811: Special Topics (3)
Special topics in Classical Studies focused on particular areas and issues in the fields of ancient culture, religion, history, and/or archaeology.
CLAS-4050: Intro to Field Archaeology: Ashkelon I (3)
This is an interdisciplinary course of archaeological fieldwork based in experiential learning at a complex, multi-period Tell site on the southern Levantine coast. Students work five full days plus one half-day in the field uncovering artifacts and learning archaeological field techniques.
CLAS-4060: Classical Epic (3)
This course will offer a detailed survey of Greek and Roman epic poetry from Homer’s Iliad to Lucan’s Bellum Civile, with specific attention paid to the production and performance contexts of each text. Over the course of the semester, students will become familiar with the central themes and issues of the epic genre and consider what differentiates poems written in different times and places. Specific topics to be investigated include the role of the gods in mortal affairs, tensions between fate and human agency, how to negotiate personal tragedies within larger conflicts, the relationship between individuals and their society, and the intimate connection between poet and his subject. All texts will be read in translation.
(Fa18: NTC 1st Tier)
CLAS-4080: Seminar in Ancient Society and Economy (3-4)
Seminar on topics involving ancient society and economy, for example, Slavery in Ancient Society or Family in Ancient Rome. May be repeated when the topic is different. (NOTE: 3 credits/4 credits when offered as Tier 2 writing intensive). (Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities or Social Sciences; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in History. Fa18: NTC 1st Tier)
CLAS-4110: Leadership in Classical Antiquity (3)
Who is a good leader, or a bad leader? Why? How do you know? How do you become one or the other? Our answers to these questions can often be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who are not only summoned up as models for modern leaders, but who also told stories, sang songs, and debated about what leadership means. This course will combine texts and objects, ancient and modern sources, lecture and discussion in a thorough exploration of leadership in antiquity. Assignments will include readings, self-diagnostic quizzes, essays, reflective journals, and a collaborative final project.
CLAS-4170: Seminar in Greek Art and Archaeology I (3-4)
The seminar features topics in Greek art and archaeology that are studied through the use of primary texts (histories, literature, inscriptions) as well as secondary scholarship. The topics offered under this heading may include Monuments of Ancient Athens, Greece in the Archaic Age, Knossos & Its Afterlife, and Mycenaean Citadels.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities or Fine Arts; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in Art History.
Fa18: NTC 2nd Tier, Textual and Historical Perspectives)
CLAS-4180: Seminar in Greek Art and Archaeology II (3-4)
This seminar features topics in Greek art and archaeology where the analysis of material culture and what it can illuminate about Greek society are emphasized. Methods and scholarship from the social sciences are included. Students should expect to do close readings of second scholarship and perform independent research. Topics in this seminar may include Greek Pottery, Greece in the Iron Age, and Topics in Aegean Prehistory.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities or Fine Arts; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in Art History.
Fa18: NTC 2nd Tier, Social and Behavioral Sciences)
CLAS-4190: Seminar in Greek Art and Archaeology III (3-4)
This seminar features topics in Greek art and archaeology that employ
methods of art history, including the appreciation of the aesthetics of ancient art. Topics may include Greek Vase Painting, Greek Sculpture, and Classical Athens.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities or Fine Arts; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in Art History.
Fa18: NTC 2nd Tier, Aesthetics and Creative Arts)
CLAS-4200: Seminar in Roman Art and Archaeology I (3-4)
The seminar features topics in Roman art and archaeology that are studied through the use of primary texts (histories, literature, inscriptions) as well as secondary scholarship. The topics offered under this heading may include Monuments of Ancient Rome, Building the City of Rome, and the World of Augustus.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities or Fine Arts; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in Art History.
Fa18: NTC 2nd Tier, Textual and Historical Perspectives)
CLAS-4210: Seminar in Roman Art and Archaeology II (3-4)
This seminar features topics in Roman art and archaeology where the analysis of material culture and what it can illuminate about Roman society are emphasized. Methods and scholarship from the social sciences are included. Student should expect to do close readings of secondary scholarship and perform independent research. Topics in this seminar may include Gender in Roman Archaeology and The Roman Way of Death.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities or Fine Arts; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in Art History.
Fa18: NTC 2nd Tier, Social and Behavioral Sciences)
CLAS-4220: Seminar in Roman Art and Archaeology III (3-4)
This seminar features topics in Roman art and archaeology that employ methods of art history, including the appreciation of the aesthetics of ancient art. Topics include Roman Painting and Mosaics and Roman Sculpture in Context.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities or Fine Arts; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in Art History.
Fa18: NTC 2nd Tier, Aesthetics and Creative Arts)
CLAS-4320: War and Power in Ancient Greece (3)
In this course we will look at ancient Greek warfare and state formation, including how states developed and changed, how and why the ancient Greeks interacted and fought with each other and with outsiders, and what were the immediate outcomes and long-term consequences of endogenous and exogenous power struggles. Students will gain an understanding of the particular roles played by factors such as geography, military innovations, socio-political institutions, individual leaders, ideological shifts, and specific series of decisions and events. Prerequisite: CLAS 3310 or HISA 3080.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Cultural Knowledge requirement for either Humanities or Social Sciences; it also fulfills the Western Traditions requirement. May be counted towards the major in History.
Fa18: NTC 1st Tier.)
CLAS-4810: Special Topics (3)
Special topics in Classical Studies focused on particular areas and issues in the fields of ancient culture, religion, history, and/or archaeology.
CLAS-4811: Special Topics (3)
Special topics in Classical Studies focused on particular areas and issues in the fields of ancient culture, religion, history, and/or archaeology
CLAS-4900: Seminar in Classical Culture (3-4)
The seminar features topics that examine aspects of society and culture in the Greek and/or Roman world. While these topics are approached primarily through literature in translation and historical texts, where appropriate, these topics may also include some units on material culture and art. Topics of this course may include The Age of Perikles, Individuals & Communities in Greece and Rome, Alexandria Cosmopolis, Greeks and Barbarians, and Afterlives of Antigone.
(Pre-Fa18: In the Core Curriculum, this course fulfills the Western Traditions requirement.
NTC 2nd Tier, Textual and Historical Perspectives)
CLAS 4910, 4920 Independent Studies (3-4)
Independent study on particular areas or issues of ancient culture, religion, history, and/or archaeology. Open to superior students provided approval of department is granted and an appropriate faculty director is available.
CLAS 4930 Directed Undergraduate Research (3)
This course involves independent study based on work that the student has done during the previous summer, such as in an archaeological excavation.
CLAS 4990-5000 Honors Thesis (3, 4)
Course reserved for students writing an honors thesis for a major in classical studies. Requires approval of the department and an appropriate faculty director.
CLAS 5010 Special Readings in Classics (3)
UNDERGRADUATE GREEK COURSES
Note: Courses in ancient Greek and Latin may be used to satisfy the foreign language requirement.
GREK-1010: Elementary Greek (4)
The study of ancient Greek language offers students an exciting opportunity to gain a nuanced sense of how language works as well as develop the skills to read Homer, Plato, the New Testament, etc. without the filter of translation. Designed to get students reading Attic Greek with facility, this course follows a grammar-based approach that moves students from learning the alphabet to reading real Greek as quickly as possible. This course requires no language background.
GREK-1020: Intermediate Greek (4)
This course is a continuation of GREK 1010 in which students will continue to acquire greater facility in reading unabridged passages of ancient Greek. Prerequisite: GREK 1010 or equivalent.
GREK-2030: Attic Prose (4)
This course focuses on reading selections from a range of prose authors, e.g., Plato, Herodotus, Xenophon. In addition to improving their proficiency in reading Greek, students develop further familiarity with prose styles and begin to acquire skills in literary, historical, or philosophical analysis. Prerequisite: GREK 1020 or equivalent.
GREK-3070: Select Authors (3)
This course focuses on reading selections from a range of authors in prose and/or poetry. In addition to improving their proficiency in reading Greek, students develop further familiarity with prose styles and begin to acquire skills in literary, historical, or philosophical analysis. Prerequisite: GREK 2030 or equivalent.
GREK 3910, 3920 Independent Study (1-3, 1-3)
Students wishing to maintain and improve their skill in reading Greek may enroll in a reading course for one, two, or three credits. The reading will sometimes be part or all (depending on the amount of credit sought) of the assigned reading in an existing 3000-level course. Independent study in Greek is open to superior students provided that departmental approval is given and an appropriate faculty director is available.
GREK-4030: Tragedy (3)
This course offers students the opportunity to study Athenian tragedy through an in-depth study of the work of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and/or Euripides. Seminars will usually focus on a single author and work, but in some instances will investigate important themes across multiple works to give students a nuanced understanding of Athenian tragedy in comparative perspective.
(Fa18: NTC 1st Tier, NTC 2nd Tier)
GREK-4040: Greek Comedy (3)
Comedy of the fifth century B.C.E., known as Old Comedy, focused on political issues, while Greek comedy of the fourth century B.C.E., known as New Comedy, focused on domestic entanglements. Eleven plays of Aristophanes survive from Old Comedy, and large fragments of seven plays by Menander survive from New Comedy. Several comedies of Aristophanes and selected fragments of Menander will be read in this course.
(Fa18: NTC 1st Tier, NTC 2nd Tier)
GREK 4050 Plato (3)
In this course students will study one or more works of Plato to gain a sense of his style and argumentation, as well as his place in ancient literary, cultural, political, and/or philosophical traditions. Work(s) read will be chosen at the discretion of the instructor.
(Fa18: NTC 1st Tier, NTC 2nd Tier)
GREK 4060 Greek Historians (3)
This course offers students an in-depth study of one or more major figures in the Greek historiographical tradition, e.g., Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon.
(Fa18: NTC 1st Tier, NTC 2nd Tier)
GREK 4070 Greek Lyric Poetry (3)
Greek Lyric includes a wide range of non-hexameter poetry composed throughout the ancient Greek world in a variety of genres and dialects from the 7th century onward. This category of poetry includes laments and celebrations for every occasion from war to love. Major authors include Alcman, Sappho, Theognis, Solon, and Pindar.
(Fa18: NTC 1st Tier, NTC 2nd Tier)
GREK-4080: Greek Orators
Greek orators of the fifth and fourth centuries B.C.E. wrote speeches for the law courts, for political assemblies, and for display. Readings for this course will be selected from the speeches of Gorgias, Antiphon, Andocides, Lysias, Isokrates, Demosthenes, and Aischines.
GREK-4090: Greek Epic Poetry
Readings in Greek epic poetry, typically Homer or Hesiod, but other authors may be included, depending upon the desires and needs of the students enrolled.
GREK 4110 Special Authors (3)
Readings from ancient Greek authors not covered in other courses.
(Fa18: NTC 1st Tier, NTC 2nd Tier)
GREK 4150 The Letters of Paul (3)
This course will survey the primary writings of Paul in Greek. This course will examine Paul's theology, ethics, and literary style. The course will include an introduction to the koine Greek of the New Testament.
GREK 4880 Writing Practicum (1)
Prerequisite: successful completion of the First-Year Writing Requirement. Fulfills the school intensive-writing requirement.
(Fa18: NTC 1st Tier, NTC 2nd Tier)
GREK 4910, 4920 Independent Study (1-3, 1-3)
Students wishing to maintain and improve their skill in reading Greek may enroll in a reading course for one, two, or three credits. The reading will sometimes be part or all (depending on the amount of credit sought) of the assigned reading in an existing 4000-level course. Independent study in Greek is open to superior students provided that departmental approval is given and an appropriate faculty director is available.
GREK H4990-H5000 Honors Thesis (3, 4)
Course reserved for students writing an honors thesis for a major in Greek. Requires approval of the department and an appropriate faculty director.
UNDERGRADUATE LATIN COURSES
Note: Courses in ancient Greek and Latin may be used to satisfy the foreign language requirement.
LATN-1010: Elementary Latin (4)
In this course, students learn the fundamentals of Latin grammar and syntax so that they can begin reading snippets of Latin literature. Prerequisite: none.
LATN-1020: Intermediate Latin (4)
This course continues the introduction to the Latin language begun in LATN 1010, including pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, style, and translation. In addition to learning a lot of Latin, you can also anticipate learning about English grammar and vocabulary. Studying Latin is also an important way to learn about ancient Roman culture, especially Latin literature. Prerequisite: LATN 1010 or equivalent
LATN-2030: Intro to Literature (4)
This course provides an introduction to Latin prose and poetry through readings from some of the great works of Latin literature. While reading a broad selection of Latin texts, we will consider how Roman literature evolved along with the changing culture and politics of the city. We will also learn about important authors, historical figures, and events that you are likely to encounter again later in your studies. The class emphasizes precise and accurate translation, vocabulary building, and grammatical understanding. Prerequisite: LATN 1020 or equivalent. This course is only offered in the Fall semester.
LATN-3030: Readings in Latin Poetry (3)
Selections from Latin poets such as Catullus, Virgil, Ovid, Horace, and others. Prerequisite: LATN 2030 or equivalent.
LATN-3070: Readings in Latin Prose (3)
Selections from such authors as Cicero, Sallust, and Apuleius. Practice in Latin prose composition. Prerequisite: LATN 2030 or equivalent.
LATN 3910, 3920 Independent Studies (1-3, 1-3)
Prerequisite: approval of department. Students wishing to maintain and improve their skill in reading Latin may enroll in a reading course for one, two, or three credits. The reading normally will be part or all, depending on the amount of credit sought, of the assigned reading in an existing 3000-level course.
LATN-4010: Roman Comedy (3)
Selected plays of Plautus and Terence to suit the needs and desires of the students enrolled.
(Fa18: Tier One Writing)
LATN 4020 Catullus and the Elegiac Poets (3)
Readings in Catullus, and the elegies of Propertius, Tibullus, and Ovid.
(Fa18: Tier One Writing)
LATN 4030 Virgil (3)
Selected readings in Latin from the Aeneid, Eclogues, and/or Georgics.
(Fa18: Tier One Writing)
LATN-4040: Roman Philosophy
Readings in Latin from Lucretius, Seneca, and other authors.
(Fa18: Tier One Writing)
LATN 4070 Medieval Latin (3)
Survey of medieval Latin literature with special attention to the various styles and literary types, and to the cultural background.
(Fa18: Tier One Writing)
LATN 4080 Literature of the Age of Nero (3)
This course examines the reign of the emperor Nero through readings in the literature of that period. Particular focus will be placed upon the changing status of the emperor, the role of the emperor as patron of the arts, and the development of intellectual and political resistance to Nero and the principate.
(Fa18: Tier One Writing)
LATN-4110: Special Authors (3)
Readings in Latin from a Roman author.
(Fa18: Tier One Writing)
Apuleius: A close study of Apuleius’ Metamorphoses.
LATN 4130 Roman Historians of the Republic (3)
Readings in Livy’s history or Sallust’s Catiline and Jugurtha.
(Fa18: Tier One Writing)
LATN 4140 Roman Satire (3)
Readings in the satires of Horace, Persius, or Juvenal.
(Fa18: Tier One Writing)
LATN-4150: Roman Historians of Empire
Readings in the historical works of Tacitus and other historians of the Roman empire.
(Fa18: Tier One Writing)
LATN 4170 Cicero (3)
A study of the man and the period based on portions of his work.
(Fa18: Tier One Writing)
LATN-4180: Horace (3)
Close study of the Latin work of Rome’s most important poet.
(Fa18: Tier One Writing)
LATN 4880 Writing Practicum (1)
Corequisite: three-credit departmental course. Prerequisite: successful completion of the First-Year Writing Requirement. Fulfills the school intensive-writing requirement.
(Fa18: Tier One Writing)
LATN 4910, 4920 Independent Studies (1-3, 1-3)
Prerequisite: approval of department. Students wishing to maintain and improve their skill in reading Latin may enroll in a reading course for one, two, or three credits. The reading will normally be part or all, depending on the amount of credit sought, of the assigned reading in an existing 4000-level course.
LATN H4990-5000 Honors Thesis (3, 4)
Course reserved for students writing an honors thesis for a major in Latin. Requires approval of the department and an appropriate faculty director.
UNDERGRADUATE HISTORY COURSES
(may count towards CLAS, GREK, & LATN majors)
HISA 1000 The Ancient Near East and Greece (3)
In the light of the growth of civilization in the Near East, this survey course covers Greek political, intellectual, and cultural developments to 323 B.C.E. Emphasis is given to the archaic and classical periods of Greece.
HISA 3100 Select Topics in Greek History (4)
Readings and discussion of select topics in classical Greek history: Homer and the Trojan War; Athenian Empire (480-404 B.C.E.); Sparta and Macedon in the Age of Hegemonies (404-323 B.C.E.); or Greek Leagues and Macedonian Kings in the Hellenistic World (323-133 B.C.E.).
HISA 3110 Select Topics in Roman History (4)
Readings and discussion of select topics in Roman history: The Making of Roman Italy (509-264 B.C.E.); The Punic Wars (264-146 B.C.E.); Roman Revolution (133-27 B.C.E.); or Rome and the Jews (167 B.C.E.- 135 C.E.).
HISA H4000 Colloquium in Ancient History (4)
Interdisciplinary seminar compares classical civilization of Greece or Rome with contemporary civilization of Near East, Central Asia, and East Asia. Stress is on political and military contact, cultural exchange, and comparison of institutions. Topics include The Birth of City-States in the Mediterranean and Near East (1000-500 B.C.E.); Greeks, Macedonians, and Persians: Birth of the Hellenistic World (600-250 B.C.E.); The Greeks in Iran and India (500 B.C.E.- 200 C.E.); or Imperial Rome and Imperial China (200 B.C.E.- 200 C.E.). Fulfills the school intensive-writing requirement.
HISA H4010 Colloquium in Late Antiquity (4)
Interdisciplinary seminar on the transformation of classical civilization into the institutions and values of early Medieval and Byzantine societies. Topics include Rome and the Northern Barbarians (100 B.C.- A.D. 700); Rome and Iran (100 B.C.- A.D. 650); The Conflict of Pagans and Christians in the Roman Empire (A.D. 30-565); or the Great Transformation of Society and Economy (A.D. 100-1100). Fulfills the school intensive-writing requirement.
HISA 6000 Seminar in Select Topics in Greek History (4)
Research seminar on select topics in Greek history: Archaic Greece (750-480 B.C.E.); Athenian Constitutional History; or Alexander the Great.
HISA 6010 Seminar in Select Topics in Roman History (4)
Roman Imperialism and Transmarine Expansion (264-50 B.C.E.); Roman Principate; Roman Provinces; Roman Imperial Army; or Later Roman Empire.
HISA 6090 Seminar in Select Topics in Byzantine History (4)
Research seminar on select topics in Byzantine history: The Age of Justinian (518-565); The Byzantine Dark Age (610-1025); The Iconoclastic Controversy; or Byzantium and the Crusades (1025-1204).
UNDERGRADUATE PHILOSOPHY COURSES
(may count towards CLAS, GREK, & LATN majors)
PHIL 2010 History of Ancient Philosophy (3)
A study of ancient Greek philosophy, focusing on the thought of the Pre-Socratics, Plato, and Aristotle.
PHIL 2110 Classics of Political Philosophy I (3)
This course is devoted to a study of classical works of political philosophy in the Western tradition, primarily Plato’s Republic and Aristotle’s Politics.
PHIL 3200 Plato (3)
An in-depth reading of one or more of the Platonic dialogues. Prerequisite: PHIL 2010 or approval of instructor.
GRADUATE CLASSICS COURSES
CLAS 6080 Seminar in Ancient Society and Economy (3)
See CLAS-4080
CLAS-6170: Seminar in Greek Art and Archaeology I (3)
See CLAS-4170
CLAS-6180: Seminar in Greek Art and Archaeology II (3)
See CLAS-4180
CLAS-6190: Seminar in Greek Art and Archaeology III (3)
See CLAS-6190
CLAS-6200: Seminar in Roman Art and Archaeology I (3)
See CLAS-4200
CLAS-6210: Seminar in Roman Art and Archaeology II (3)
See CLAS-4210
CLAS-6220: Seminar in Roman Art and Archaeology III (3)
See CLAS-4220
CLAS 6320 War and Power in Ancient Greece (3)
See CLAS-4320
CLAS 6810 Special Topics (3)
See CLAS-4810
CLAS 6811 Special Topics (3)
See CLAS-4811
CLAS-6900: Seminar in Classical Culture (3)
See CLAS-4900
GRADUATE GREEK COURSES
GREK 6030 Tragedy (3)
See GREK-4030
GREK 6040 Greek Comedy (3)
See GREK-4040
GREK 6050 Plato (3)
See CLAS-4050
GREK 6060 Greek Historians (3)
See GREK-4060
GREK 6070 Greek Lyric Poetry (3)
See GREK-4070
GREK 6080 Greek Orators (3)
See GREK-4080
GREK 6090 Greek Epic Poetry (3)
See GREK-4090
GREK 6110 Special Authors (3)
See GREK-4110
GRADUATE LATIN COURSES
LATN 6010 Roman Comedy (3)
See LATN-4010
LATN 6020 Catullus and the Elegiac Poets (3)
See LATN-4020
LATN 6030 Virgil (3)
See LATN-4030
LATN 6080 Literature of the Age of Nero (3)
See LATN-4080
LATN 6110 Special Authors (3)
See LATN-4110
LATN 6130 Roman Historians of the Republic (3)
See LATN-4130
LATN 6140 Roman Satire (3)
See LATN-4140
LATN 6150 Roman Historians of the Empire (3)
See LATN-4150
LATN 6170 Cicero (3)
See LATN-4170
LATN 6180 Horace (3)
See LATN-4180