Course Schedule

CLAS 116B – Word Roots: Science and Medical Terminology

This course will focus on the history and structure of words including the use of Greek and Latin roots in the formation of technical terms in medicine and the sciences. Elements of word formation (prefixes, suffixes, and bases) will be intensively studied so that the words can by systematically analyzed and broken down into their component parts. Excellent preparation for standardized tests such as the GMAT, GRE, LSAT, and MCAT.

CLAS 150C1 – Pyramids and Mummies: The Pharaoh and Ancient Egyptian Society

Pyramids and Mummies focuses on the role of the pharaoh in ancient Egyptian Society and its portrayal in modern culture. It centers on the overarching question of how political rulers consolidate, exert, and maintain political power over their constituent populations. To do this, Pyramids and Mummies takes an interdisciplinary approach to Egyptian history, examining it from Natural Science, Social Science, Arts, and Humanities perspectives, assessing how Egyptian pharaohs utilized a diverse array of tactics to rule their kingdom. This course then moves from ancient to modern, analyzing the portrayal of ancient Egyptian kingship in the modern world, with a special focus on the ways in which issues of race, ethnicity, diversity, and equity are addressed in cinematic adaptations of ancient Egyptian culture and kingship. Upon completing this course, students will be able to critically analyze issues of political rule from a variety of disciplinary lenses, and synthesize these multifaceted strategies in clear, concise, and powerful written prose, and they will be able to address issues of race, equity, and inclusion in the reception and adaptation of ancient Egyptian culture.

CLAS 160B1 – Meet the Ancients: Gateway to Greece and Rome

Journey into the past to discover the worlds of the ancient Greeks and Romans. From democracy and republicanism to literature, philosophy and art, the contributions of these two cultures serve as the foundation for much of what has been described as ""western"" culture. This course explores who these peoples were, how these civilizations developed, what ideas and institutions they created, and why the Greeks and Romans matter today.

Through this exploration into the Greco-Roman world, this course builds connections between the multiple types of evidence that scholars draw upon to paint a picture of the ancient past. Close readings of texts provide a humanistic perspective on classical culture; archaeological data inform us about social scientific trends in demography and economics; environmental evidence from ice cores, botanical remains, and soil samples enable a natural science perspective on the past; and some of the world's most famous objects--from the Venus di Milo to Grecian vases--allow for artistic insights. In this course, students will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each disciplinary approach to understanding the past, and ultimately weave together multiple strands of evidence to create their signature assignment.

Upon completing "Meet the Ancients", students will not only have a better understanding of Greco-Roman history and culture, they will, above all, have a deeper understanding of the different perspectives used to approach ancient history and the skills to evaluate and synthesize diverse types of evidence.

CLAS 160D2 – Classical Mythology: Ancient Stories and What they Tell Us

The myths, legends, and folktales of the Greeks, Romans and the peoples of the ancient Near East have remained popular for thousands of years. Together we'll not only learn about these stories themselves, but also think about why these stories are so popular, where they came from, and what insights they give us into the various people and cultures who created and reinterpreted them across the millennia.

CLAS 204 – Ancient History: Greek History

A political, social and cultural history of Greek civilization from the Bronze Age to the death of Alexander the Great.

CLAS 205 – Ancient History: Roman History

This course offers a survey of Roman History from the prehistoric settlements in the area of the Seven Hills to the deterioration of the western Empire in the fifth century C.E. Special topics of interest include the material culture of the Roman world; the use of images in the pursuit of political agendas; classical notions of the divine; and concepts of gender, power, and identity. Popular representations of ancient Rome, specifically in film, will provide another area of consideration for comparison throughout the semester.

CLAS 301A – The Literature of the Ancient Greeks: From Homer to the Novel

Survey of the major authors and works of ancient Greece: from Homer to the Greek novel. All readings in English.

CLAS 303 – Crime and Punishment in the Ancient World

This course explores the history of criminal justice systems in the ancient Mediterranean through close examination of select primary sources. Its primary focus is Greece and Rome, but it will also cover Pharaonic Egypt and the Ancient Near East. We shall move chronologically, geographically, and topically, treating a broad range of literary and archaeological evidence. Of central importance to the course will be the issue of boundaries: between right and wrong, imprisonment and freedom, individual and state. Law codes from Mesopotamia, tomb robbery in the Egyptian New Kingdom, the trial and execution of Socrates, police in the streets of Rome, execution by gladiator, spiritual and allegorical punishment: the course encompasses it all!

CLAS 305 – Greek and Roman Religion

Religious beliefs and cult practices in ancient Greece and Rome. All readings in English.

CLAS 313 – Health and Medicine in Classical Antiquity

The course examines the mythology and practice of medicine in Greek and Roman times from Asclepius to Hippocrates and Galen, medical instruments and procedures, the religious manifestation of healing in Greek and Roman sanctuaries, the votive dedications by patients and cured, midwifery and child care, public hygiene and diseases. The topics cover a large spectrum of the medical practice and public health in the ancient societies of Classical antiquity, as well as how ancient worldviews, including religion and religious practice, shaped health and medicine in Greek and Roman civilization.

CLAS 323 – Ancient Empires

During this class, we will be exploring the diverse nations of the Mediterranean that pursued the acquisition of empire in the ancient world: Pharaonic Egypt, Achaemenid Persia, 5th century Athens, 4th century Macedon, and Imperial Rome. More than only the respective "rise and fall" of each empire, we will examine how the rulers of each civilization depicted and justified their policies of conquest, how the pursuit of empire changed the cultures of these civilizations, and how each empire paved the way for the next. In the end, we will be learning how empires in general (mis)function, and how empires are justified to their participants, subjects, and enemies.

CLAS 329 – Art History of the Cinema

This course is based on research and practices about art, film, and popular culture in France, England, Germany, and particularly in America. The learning activities inspire students to critically analyzing and incorporating past and current art perspectives in the arts and their influence on cinema. It is expected that students demonstrate skillful analysis and the latter description of theoretical and pragmatic solutions related to ideologies, art movements, and technology involved with the development of cinematography, through learning about different cultures, including ancient Greece and Rome, as well as America, France, and Germany over the centuries.

CLAS 335 – The Roman Empire: Rulers and Ruled

In this course, we will examine Rome and its Empire from several points of view and across Roman history. During this semester we will deal with those who ruled the empire, and those who were ruled by the Emperors. Through this class, we will explore how Romans thought about their own rule, and how citizens, subjects, and outsiders reacted to (and against) the Roman Empire.

CLAS 340A – Introduction to Greek Art and Archaeology

This course surveys the art and archaeology of Greece from the Early Bronze Age to the Hellenistic period (ca. 3000 BC-31 BC), focusing on iconic monuments in architecture, sculpture, ceramics, and minor arts that shaped ancient Greek civilization. Monumental projects, such as temples, tombs, fortifications, as well as miniature creations in luxurious materials will be examined within their larger political, social, religious, technological, and economic contexts in Ancient Greece. Athens, Delphi, Olympia, Crete, and the Aegean are just a few of the celebrated places explored in this course.

CLAS 353 – Heroes, Gods, Gore: Roman Epic in its Cultural Context

This course provides a survey of ancient Roman epic poetry (heroic, historical, didactic, and Ovidian), both within its unique cultural context and also as it was received by subsequent cultures and epochs.

CLAS 472A – Ancient Philosophy

A philosophical introduction to the major works of Plato.

CLAS 477 – Greek Architecture

This course examines the architectural developments in the Greek world from the Neolithic and Bronze Age through to the Classical and Hellenistic periods (6000-31 BC). We look at the various types of building structures including palaces, tombs, temples, theaters, town planning, and domestic architecture, and discuss sites such as Knossos, Mycenae, Pylos, Delphi, Athens, Corinth, and Olynthos. Students will consider issues such as the manner of construction of these buildings, the contexts in which they they were commissioned, built and used, and some of the architectural problems facing the architects.

CLAS 491 – Preceptorship

Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Requires faculty member approval, preceptor application on file with department.

CLAS 498 – Senior Capstone

A culminating experience for majors involving a substantive project that demonstrates a synthesis of learning accumulated in the major, including broadly comprehensive knowledge of the discipline and its methodologies. Senior standing required.

CLAS 498H – Honors Thesis

An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.

CLAS 510A – Methods in Classical Studies

Introduction to the various disciplines of classical scholarship: philology, textual criticism, paleography, papyrology, archaeology.

CLAS 510B – Thesis Preparation

This course is an introduction to thesis writing for students enrolled in the Master of Arts degree program in Classics. Topics and/or assignments include forming a thesis committee, the review of scholarship, and developing a thesis writing plan, in addition to discussion of second-year issues such as applying for PhD programs and/or jobs in Classics.

CLAS 577 – Greek Architecture

This course examines the architectural developments in the Greek world from the Neolithic and Bronze Age through to the Classical and Hellenistic periods (6000-31 BC). We look at the various types of building structures including palaces, tombs, temples, theaters, town planning, and domestic architecture, and discuss sites such as Knossos, Mycenae, Pylos, Delphi, Athens, Corinth, and Olynthos. Students will consider issues such as the manner of construction of these buildings, the contexts in which they they were commissioned, built and used, and some of the architectural problems facing the architects.. Graduate-level requirements include extensive reading and an in-depth paper.

CLAS 596A – Topics in Greek or Roman Literature, History or Archaeology

The development and exchange of scholarly information, usually in a small group setting. The scope of work shall consist of research by course registrants, with the exchange of the results of such research through discussion, reports, and/or papers.

CLAS 596J – Second Language Acquisition Research

The development and exchange of scholarly information, usually in a small group setting. The scope of work shall consist of research by course registrants, with the exchange of the results of such research through discussion, reports, and/or papers.

GRK 101 – Elementary Classical Greek I

Introduction to ancient Greek for students of the Bible and of the classical authors.

GRK 201 – Intermediate Classical Greek I

Selections from Greek prose texts.

GRK 402 – Greek Reading Course

Readings in major Greek authors including Homer, Plato, and the historians and dramatists.

GRK 502 – Greek Reading Course

Readings in major Greek authors including Homer, Plato, and the historians and dramatists. Graduate-level requirements include extensive reading and an in-depth paper.

LAT 101 – Elementary Latin I

An introduction to the basic morphology, syntax and vocabulary of Latin through reading and composition.

LAT 102 – Elementary Latin II

A second semester introduction to the basic morphology, syntax and vocabulary of Latin through reading and composition.

LAT 201 – Intermediate Latin I

Review of Latin grammar with readings from prose writers.

LAT 202 – Intermediate Latin II

Review of Latin grammar with readings from the poetry of Virgil's Aeneid.

LAT 400 – Prose of the Roman Republic

Extended readings from Sallust, Cicero and Caesar with some grammatical review; development of skills in rapid readings and sight reading.

LAT 421 – Latin Literature of the Imperial Age

Readings in Latin of major authors and works produced from the second decade of the first century CE to the last decades of the second century CE. Course content may vary and may include both prose and poetry.

LAT 498H – Honors Thesis

An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.

LAT 521 – Latin Literature of the Imperial Age

Readings in Latin of major authors and works produced from the second decade of the first century CE to the last decades of the second century CE. Course content may vary and may include both prose and poetry. Graduate-level requirements include extensive reading and a research paper.

LAT 579 – Second/Foreign Language Teaching and Learning

This class is intended to prepare students to teach a second/foreign language. It will provide students with the essential foundations in language teaching methodology and theory, pedagogical grammar, curriculum and materials development, classroom management, and formal and informal assessment techniques. In addition, students will gain practical knowledge through video practicum components, which allow them to watch and reflect on actual classroom teaching. Students will complete this program with the pedagogical knowledge and practical understanding necessary to be confident and effective language teachers.