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

Gen Ed: Diversity Emphasis · Gen Ed: Tier 1 Individuals & Societies/150 · Gen Ed Attribute: Writing · Gen Ed: Building Connections

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

Gen Ed: Tier 1 Traditions and Cultures/160 · Gen Ed Attribute: Writing · Gen Ed Attribute: World Cultures and Societies · Gen Ed: Building Connections

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

Gen Ed: Tier 1 Traditions and Cultures/160 · Gen Ed Attribute: Writing · Gen Ed Attribute: World Cultures and Societies · Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

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

Cross Listed

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

Cross Listed

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 224 – Love Through the Ages: Conceptions of Love in Ancient Greece, Rome, and Beyond

Gen Ed Attribute: Writing · Gen Ed Attribute: World Cultures and Societies · Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

In this course, you will use a humanists perspective to critically examine, analyze, discuss, and formulate arguments about ancient Greek and/or Roman conceptions of love and their enduring influence on the artistic, intellectual, and cultural development of subsequent societies.

CLAS 260 – Ancient Philosophy

Cross Listed · Gen Ed: Tier 2 Humanities · Gen Ed Attribute: Writing · Gen Ed Attribute: World Cultures and Societies · Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

Survey of Greek philosophy, from the pre-Socratic philosophers through Plato and Aristotle to post-Aristotelian philosophers, such as the Stoics, Epicureans. Questions to be explored include:
What is it to be the cause of something? What is it to be responsible in a world in which everything has a cause? What is it to learn something and to know something? Why do we live in groups, and why are those groups politically organized? What is it to live one's life well? What is it that drives us to do what we do? What is the world ultimately made of? Students will gain familiarity with theories about the nature of human experience among major schools of thought in ancient Greek and Roman philosophy.

CLAS 280 – Introduction to the Bible: New Testament

Cross Listed · Gen Ed: Tier 2 Humanities · Gen Ed Attribute: World Cultures and Societies · Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

This course introduces students to the New Testament in light of the contexts in which it was written and compiled, and as a window into reconstructing the world of early Christianity. The course will also examine how various Christian communities have understood the meaning and authority of the New Testament.

CLAS 300 – The Classical Ideal: From Greece and Rome through the 1930s

Cross Listed · Gen Ed: Tier 2 Humanities · Gen Ed Attribute: Writing · Gen Ed Attribute: World Cultures and Societies · Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

This is a course that explores the world of ancient Athens and Rome as it was viewed and interpreted in later periods. The learning activities inspire students to critically analyze and incorporate past and current art, historical, archaeological and cultural perspectives on ancient Greek life and culture. Then we learn about how people in America in the 1930s were inspired by ancient Greece. Students are expected to apply their knowledge by analyzing movies made in this period which focus on presenting classical culture in modern guise, especially those by the only major woman director of the era: Dorothy Arzner. Next, we look at ancient Rome. Since Americans have traditionally identified more with ancient Rome, we dedicate more time to the analysis of Rome and its influence. Finally, we look at the 1930s' vogue for the symbolism of classical culture in Fascist Italy under Mussolini and in Nazi Germany under Hitler.

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

Writing Emphasis Course

Classics 301A provides an introductory survey of Ancient Greek literature through English translations. The works to be studied include the earliest works of European literature and highlights from the subsequent millennium of Ancient Greek culture. We will read from a variety of genres, including epic and lyric poetry, tragedy, comedy, historiography, philosophy and the novel, and authors such as Homer, Sappho, Herodotus, Sophocles, Aristophanes, and Plato. Greek literature provides varied and fascinating perspectives on ancient Greek thought, history, and culture(s) and is also critical to appreciation of subsequent literatures and cultures in Europe and beyond.

CLAS 305 – Greek and Roman Religion

Cross Listed · Gen Ed: Tier 2 Individuals and Societies · Gen Ed Attribute: World Cultures and Societies · Gen Ed: Building Connections

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

CLAS 306 – Christianity in the Greco-Roman World

Cross Listed · Gen Ed: Tier 2 Individuals and Societies · Gen Ed Attribute: Writing · Gen Ed Attribute: World Cultures and Societies · Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

This course investigates the emergence of Christianity in the first four centuries of the Greco-Roman milieu. Topics may include: the interaction of early Christians with Jews, Romans, and Greeks; as well as differences and debates within the various forms of early Christianity itself.

CLAS 335 – The Roman Empire: Rulers and Ruled

Gen Ed: Tier 2 Humanities · Gen Ed Attribute: Writing · Gen Ed Attribute: World Cultures and Societies · Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Humanist

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 404A – History of Rome: The Republic to the Death of Caesar

Cross Listed

The Republic to the death of Caesar.

CLAS 420 – Archaic Greek Sanctuaries

Cross Listed · Writing Emphasis Course

This course therefore concentrates on the evidence for Greek sanctuary sites between 1000 and 600 B.C. We examine the excavated material from numerous sanctuary sites, including architectural remains (temples and/or altars), votive offerings of bronze and clay, and any other evidence revealing religious practices during these formative years. The role the sanctuaries played in society is also considered with a view to their political, social, economic and spiritual implications for Archaic Greek life.

CLAS 470 – Greek Philosophy

Cross Listed

Topics in Greek philosophy. May be selected from the pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and post-Aristotelian philosophy.

CLAS 474 – Archaeological Science

Cross Listed

To fully explore and understand the ways that past civilizations and societies interacted with the environment, innovated, thrived or survived, we need a toolkit as diverse as the different aspects of human life. In this course, you will learn the basic principles behind the wide range of scientific techniques used to provide clues about the human past. Through a series of case studies from various times and places around the world you will gain an overview of how methods combine to reveal new insights and explore the potential, limitations and future directions for such work.

CLAS 484 – Roman Art and Architecture

Cross Listed · Writing Emphasis Course

The origin and development of Italian architecture from the beginning of the Iron Age to the end of the Roman Empire, highlighting the development of construction techniques, materials used, the nature of the work force, principal monuments and patterns of urbanism. Focus is also placed on the imperial building programs of the Roman emperors and on the domestic architecture of Rome and its dependencies.

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 498H – Honors Thesis

Writing Emphasis Course

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.

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

Writing Emphasis Course

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

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

SUN# LAT 1102 - Beginning Latin II

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

LAT 201 – Intermediate Latin I

Gen Ed: Tier 2 Humanities · SUN# LAT 2201 - Intermediate Latin I

Review of Latin grammar with readings from prose writers.

LAT 202 – Intermediate Latin II

Gen Ed: Tier 2 Humanities · SUN# LAT 2202 - 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 426 – Roman Historians

Writing Emphasis Course

Readings in Latin from the Roman historians and biographers. May be repeated without duplication of readings.