Overview


The Department of Classical Studies encompasses the study of all aspects of the Ancient Mediterranean world. The program is highly interdisciplinary in nature, bringing together the fields of history, literature, religion, philosophy, human communication and theatre, art history, archaeology, anthropology, political science, and so forth. The Department offers four majors: Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Greek, Latin, and Classical Languages. Ancient Mediterranean Studies is a major in ancient culture and does not require a language, although language courses do count toward this degree. Courses offered through the Departments of Art and Art History, History, Human Communication and Theatre, Philosophy, Political Science, Religion, and Sociology and Anthropology form part of the program of the Department of Classical Studies. The program offers an excellent focus for a liberal arts education and combines well with majors in other fields in both the humanities and sciences.

Students interested in graduate work in Classical Studies or related fields should be advised early on that a knowledge of both languages is essential for work in a good graduate school. The requirements for the major are only a minimum, and students preparing for graduate study should start language courses as soon as possible. Note that courses credited towards the major in one field (Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Greek, Latin, or Classical Languages) may also be credited toward a minor in another but may not be credited towards a second major in the Department.

The Minors


Classical Studies at Trinity is highly interdisciplinary in nature, bringing together the fields of history, literature, religion, philosophy, speech and drama, art history, archaeology, anthropology, political science, and so forth. The Department of Classical Studies offers three minors: Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Greek, and Latin. Ancient Mediterranean Studies is a minor in ancient culture and does not require a language, although language courses do count toward this degree. 


Language Skills


Greek and Latin

Courses under the headings Greek and Latin are directed to the acquisition of those languages, respectively.

Classics Courses in English

All courses under the heading Classics Courses in English are taught through the medium of English translation and no knowledge of Greek or Latin is required. 

The following courses from other departments are accepted as Classics Courses in English. 

Course IDCourse Title
ANTH-1304Introduction to Classical Archaeology
ANTH-1309Pirates, Merchants, and Marines: Seafaring in the Ancient Mediterranean
ANTH-4172/ANTH-4272/ANTH-4372Archaeological Practicum
ARTH-1407Art History I: Prehistoric through Medieval Art
ARTH-1413Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt
ARTH-2428The First Cities: The Urban Revolution in Early Mesopotamia
ARTH-2429The Art of Empire: Assyria, Babylonia, and Persia
ARTH-3320The Minoan-Mycenean Civilization
ARTH-3325Art and Power in Ancient Rome
ARTH-3330Art and Architecture in the Late Classical World
ARTH-3391Topics in Art History (where appropriate)
ARTH-4395Seminar in Art History (where appropriate)
ENGL-2320The Epic Legacy: Classical Reception in the Middle Ages
HIST-1310Ancient Greece and Rome
HIST-1311Gender and Identity in the Ancient World
HIST-1312Greeks, Romans, and Barbarians
HIST-3310Archaic and Classical Greece
HIST-3314The Mediterranean World in the Hellenistic Age
HIST-3318Ancient Rome: Late Republic and Early Empire
HIST-3319World of Late Antquity
HIST-3192/HIST-3292/HIST-3392/HIST-3492Special Topics in History (where appropriate)
HCOM-2350Classical Rhetorical Theory
ITAL-3371Introduction to Romance Linguistics
FREN-3371Introduction to Romance Linguistics
PHIL-2460Ancient Science and Medicine
PHIL-3410Classical Greek Philosophy
PHIL-3411Hellenistic Philosophy
PHIL-3361Theorizing Myth
PLSI-3361Classical Political Thought
RELI-3338Greek Religious Experience
RELI-3353The Gospels, Jesus, and Christian Origins
RELI-3454The Letters of Paul
RELI-3455Early Christian Literature Beyond the Canon
SPAN-3371Introduction to Romance Linguistics
THTR-3377Reimagining Tragedy
Course Offerings: Classics (CLAS)
Course Offerings: Greek (GREK)
Course Offerings: Latin (LATN)

Greek (GREK)

GREK-1301 Elementary Classical Greek I
Description
3 class hours a week for 1 semester. Spring
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
GREK-1302 Elementary Classical Greek II
Description
3 class hours a week for 1 semester. Fall. Prerequisite: GREK 1301 or the equivalent.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
GREK-2301 Intermediate Classical Greek
Description
3 class hours a week for 1 semester. Spring Prerequisite: GREK 1302 or the equivalent.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Foreign Language
GREK-2303 Readings in the New Testament
Description
Selections from the Greek New Testament. Emphasis on developing reading skills in Biblical Greek. Fall, as required. Prerequisite: GREK 2401 or the equivalent. May either substitute for or be taken in addition to GREK 2402.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
GREK-2402 Readings in Classical Greek Literature
Description
Selections from Greek authors; emphasis on developing reading skills. Fall. Prerequisite: GREK 2301 or the equivalent.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Lower Division
GREK-3190 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
1 credit
Level
Upper Division
GREK-3191 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variation in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
1 credit
Level
Upper Division
GREK-3290 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
2 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-3291 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variation in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
2 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-3390 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-3391 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variation in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-3401 Homer and Greek Epic
Description
Selections from the Iliad and Odyssey. May also include other epic poets. Prerequisite: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-3402 Attic Prose
Description
Readings in Attic prose writers, especially Plato, Xenophon, and the orators. Prerequisite: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-3403 Greek Drama
Description
Readings from Greek drama. Prerequisite: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-3404 Greek Historians
Description
Readings in Greek historians, especially Herodotus and Thucydides. Prerequisite: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-3405 Greek Lyric
Description
A survey of Greek lyric texts in both their historical and literary contexts. Authors to be considered include Sappho, Theocritus, Theognis, and Pindar. Prerequisite: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-3490 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-3491 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variation in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-3591 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variation in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
5 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-3691 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variation in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
6 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-4190 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
1 credit
Level
Upper Division
GREK-4191 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variation in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
1 credit
Level
Upper Division
GREK-4290 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
2 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-4291 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variation in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
2 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-4390 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-4391 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variation in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-4490 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-4491 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variation in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-4591 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variation in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
5 credits
Level
Upper Division
GREK-4691 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variation in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: GREK 2402, 2303, or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
6 credits
Level
Upper Division

Latin (LATN)

LATN-1401 Elementary Latin I
Description
3 class hours a week for 1 semester.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Lower Division
LATN-1402 Elementary Latin II
Description
3 class hours a week for 1 semester. Spring. Prerequisite: LATN 1401 or the equivalent.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Lower Division
LATN-2301 Intermediate Latin I
Description
3 class hours a week for 1 semester. Fall Prerequisite: LATN 1402 or the equivalent.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Foreign Language
LATN-2302 Intermediate Latin II
Description
Selections from Latin authors; emphasis on developing reading skills. (Offered every Spring.) Prerequisite: LATN 2301 or the equivalent.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
LATN-3160 Roman World Lab
Description
This humanities lab offers students research opportunities relating to Latin literature and Roman culture, with two main points of focus: ancient Roman religious culture and Latin literature. Students work together with faculty on long-term research projects, including the production of scholarly commentaries on ancient texts and the development of databases and other tools for philological and rhetorical analysis. Students in this course will work with texts in English translation, using the research methods of classical studies. This course typically meets in conjunction with CLAS 3160 and RELI 3160. May be repeated for up to six credit hours. (Offered every semester.) Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor
Credits
1 credit
Level
Upper Division
LATN-3190 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be repeated more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: LATN 2302 or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
1 credit
Level
Upper Division
LATN-3290 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be repeated more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: LATN 2302 or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
2 credits
Level
Upper Division
LATN-3301 Latin Prose Composition
Description
Drill in Latin grammar through the writing of Latin. Comparison of rhetorical devices of Latin with similar usages in English. Prerequisite: LATN 2302 or the equivalent.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
LATN-3390 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be repeated more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: LATN 2302 or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
LATN-3402 Virgil and Latin Epic
Description
Selected readings from the Eclogues, the Georgics, and/or the Aeneid together with consideration of Virgil's sources and his impact upon the pastoral, didactic and epic. May also include other epic poets. Prerequisite: LATN 2302 or the equivalent.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
LATN-3403 Latin Prose to 43 B.C.
Description
Study of prose writers of the Late Republic, such as Caesar, Cicero, Nepos, or Sallust. Prerequisite: LATN 2302 or the equivalent.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
LATN-3404 Lyric & Elegiac Poets
Description
Selections in lyric and elegiac poetry, from authors such as Catullus, Horace, Ovid, Propertius or Tibullus. Prerequisite: LATN 2302 or the equivalent.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
LATN-3405 Latin Prose from 43 BC
Description
Study of prose writers from the Augustan Age onwards, such as Livy, Pliny, Tacitus, or early Christian writers. Prerequisite: LATN 2302 or the equivalent.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
LATN-3406 Comedy & Satire
Description
Selections in comedy and in satire, from authors such as Plautus, Terence, Horace, Juvenal, Martial or Petronius. Prerequisite: LATN 2302 or the equivalent.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
LATN-3407 Imperial Roman Literature
Description
A study of Imperial Roman Literature in its social and historical contexts, with a special emphasis on post-Augustan texts. Prerequisite: LATN 2302 or the equivalent
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
LATN-3408 Ovid
Description
An intensive study of the poetry of Ovid, with a particular emphasis on the poet's engagement with Augustan ideology. Texts may include a variety of genres, including epic, elegy, exile poetry, and epistolary fiction. Prerequisite: LATN 2302 or the equivalent
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
LATN-3409 The Roman Novel
Description
An intensive investigation of Petronius' Satyrica and Apuleius' The Golden Ass, with special attention paid to issues of genre, religion, gender, and influence. Prerequisite: LATN 2302 or the equivalent
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
LATN-3490 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be repeated more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: LATN 2302 or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
LATN-4190 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: LATN 2302 or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
1 credit
Level
Upper Division
LATN-4191 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variations in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: LATN 2302 or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
1 credit
Level
Upper Division
LATN-4290 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: LATN 2302 or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
2 credits
Level
Upper Division
LATN-4291 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variations in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: LATN 2302 or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
2 credits
Level
Upper Division
LATN-4390 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: LATN 2302 or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
LATN-4391 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variations in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: LATN 2302 or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Foreign Language
LATN-4490 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: LATN 2302 or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
LATN-4491 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variations in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: LATN 2302 or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Foreign Language
LATN-4591 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variations in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: LATN 2302 or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
5 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Foreign Language
LATN-4691 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variations in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisites: LATN 2302 or the equivalent, and consent of the department chair.
Credits
6 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Foreign Language

Lower Division (CLAS)

CLAS-1301 Topics in Classical Studies
Description
Study of topics related to the ancient Mediterranean world and its legacy, such as Latin and Greek elements in the English language, classical civilization, etc. May be taken more than once, provided that topics vary.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
CLAS-1302 Literary Classics of Ancient Greek World
Description
A study of certain major works of ancient Greek literature in their entirety, and a survey of the major Greek authors and of their contribution to European literature. All works will be read in English translation.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
CLAS-1304 Introduction to Classical Archaeology
Description
An introduction to the history of archaeological activity in the Mediterranean, and archaeological theory and field techniques. Course will also examine major sites and monuments of ancient Greece and Rome. (Also listed as ANTH 1304.)
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | Life in the Ancient World
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | Death and Beyond
The Capacities | Historical Perspectives
CLAS-1305 Classical Mythology
Description
An introductory survey of the major myths of the classical world, drawing on evidence from ancient literature and art. Course may also explore modern theoretical approaches (anthropological, historical, political, linguistic, feminist, psychological, etc.) to the study of myth in general, and how these modern theories have been applied to classical myth.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | The Humanities
The Capacities | Historical Perspectives
CLAS-1307 Gender and Identity in the Ancient World
Description
An examination of the roles of women and men in the society, religion, and culture of the ancient world. Readings will include historical, religious, medical, legal, philosophical, and literary texts. Representations of men and women in the visual arts will also be considered. (Also listed as HIST 1311.)
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | The Humanities
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | Gender, Sex and Society
The Capacities | Historical Perspectives
CLAS-1308 Daily Life in Ancient Rome
Description
An introduction to the Roman world by way of the daily life of its inhabitants, with a focus on the urban experience. Evidence will include literary texts, inscriptions, epitaphs, graffiti, painting, sculpture, wills, letters, and the art and architecture of domestic space.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Global Awareness
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | Life in the Ancient World
CLAS-1309 Pirates, Merchants, and Marines: Seafaring in the Ancient Mediterranean
Description
This course explores how human relations with the sea affected the social, economic, military, political, and technological aspects of life in the ancient Mediterranean littoral. Evidence includes hulls and cargoes of shipwrecks, harborworks, inscriptions, graffiti, wall painting and mosaics, literary texts, and gravestones. A central focus will be an introduction to the methodology and technologies of archaeology, but the subject matter of this course and the nature of the discipline of maritime archaeology incorporate methodologies and substance also from the fields of Anthropology , Ethnography, Physical Sciences, Engineering, Art History, History, and Geography. (Also listed as ANTH 1309.)
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | Life in the Ancient World
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | The Social & Behavioral Sciences
CLAS-1310 Daily Life in Ancient Greece
Description
An introduction to the ancient Greek world by way of the daily life of its inhabitants, with a focus on the urban experience. Evidence will include literary texts, inscriptions, epitaphs, painting, sculpture, and the art and architecture of domestic public space.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Global Awareness
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | Life in the Ancient World
CLAS-1315 Afterlives of Antiquity: Underworlds in The Western Tradition
Description
In this course we trace an important, recurrent theme in the Western tradition, in which journey into the underworld, or katabasis, is closely linked to the encounters with the dead, or nekyiai. Each variation on that theme represents a way of asking, How might we respond to the fact of mortality, of death, in the immortal fictions of literature and art? Centering our study around the influential depiction of the underworld in Virgil's great epic, the Aeneid, we consider a wide range of authors and texts. (Offered every other year).
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | The Humanities
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | Death and Beyond
The Capacities | Historical Perspectives
CLAS-1317 Classical Traditions in Science Fiction
Description
In this course we explore how science fiction (SF), the genre perhaps most characteristic of the modern world, draws on and departs from ancient Greek and Roman literature, philosophy, myth, history, and art: in other words, how SF forms part of 'classical traditions' and constitutes a rich site for 'classical receptions,' both transmitting and transmuting ancient materials. Beginning with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818), evoking antiquity in its subtitle, The Modern Prometheus, we consider a wide range of materials--mainly literature and film--from several theoretical perspectives in the fields of SF studies and Classics. Readings from modern authors including Kafka, Borges, Herbert, Le Guin, and Dick; ancient authors including Homer, Aeschylus, Lucretius, Ovid, and Lucian; and screenings from directors including Wilcox, Tarkovsky, Kubrick, Cronenberg, and Scott. (Also listed as CMLT 1317.)
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | The Humanities
CLAS-1318 Ancient Athletics: From Olympians to Gladiators
Description
This course examines the sports and spectacles of ancient Greece and Rome through the close study of archaeological, artistic, and literary evidence relating to athletes, competitions, and festivals-e.g., ancient training facilities and performance spaces, statues, mosaics, coins, graffiti, inscriptions, and literary texts. The goal is a deeper understanding of the cultural values and practices associated with athletics in antiquity (including the differences between Greece and Rome) as well as of the general relationship between sports and their historical circumstances. Comparison of ancient and modern athletic practices and ideologies will be a regular feature of discussions and assignments. (Once every four semesters).
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | The Humanities
CLAS-2320 The Epic Legacy: Clas Recept in Mid Ages
Description
This course surveys the legacy of classical epic, especially Homer's Iliad and Virgil's Aeneid, in medieval European literature. We explore the ways in which authors in the Middle Ages imagined the ancient Mediterranean as a kind of other world, a fantastic alternative to their present that was at once familiar and exotic. All readings are in modern English translation. (Same as ENGL-2320)
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Written Communication
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | Great Books, Modern Ideas, Western Perspectives
CLAS-2406 Technology and the Classical World
Description
Surveys the technological achievements of the Greek and Roman civilizations, and how and why ancient attitudes differed from ours today. This course is intended to accomplish three objectives: (1) To expose participants to the breadth of this topic: the range of ancient Greek and Roman technologies, the varieties of evidence (ancient, comparative, scientific/analytic), and the different methodologies of modern inquiry. (2) That participants explore a specific topic in depth, and (3) That participants develop an effective oral and visual presentation of what they discover in the course of their explorations.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Oral and Visual Communication
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | Technology and Society

Upper Division (CLAS)

CLAS-3160 Roman World Lab
Description
This humanities lab offers students research opportunities relating to Latin literature and Roman culture, with two main points of focus: ancient Roman religious culture and Latin literature. Students work together with faculty on long-term research projects, including the production of scholarly commentaries on ancient texts and the development of databases and other tools for philological and rhetorical analysis. Students in this course will work with texts in English translation, using the research methods of classical studies. This course typically meets in conjunction with LATN 3160 and RELI 3160. May be repeated for up to six credit hours. (Offered every semester.) Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor
Credits
1 credit
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-3161 Early Book and Manuscript Lab
Description
In this humanities lab students undertake substantial original research in premodern and early modern literature. Students will learn how to transcribe and edit previously unpublished Greek or Latin manuscripts and early print material and prepare their work for electronic publication. May be repeated for up to six credit hours. (Offered every semester.) Prerequisite: LATN 1301 or GREK 1301 or Consent of Instructor.
Credits
1 credit
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-3172 Archaeological Practicum
Description
Participation in an approved excavation in the Mediterranean world, Western Europe, or the Near East. Students will be expected to receive instruction in excavation techniques and in the recording and study of the site and the material. Two weeks' work will normally be counted as equivalent to 1 credit, up to a maximum of 3 credits. (Also listed as ANTH 3-72.) (Offered occasionally.) Prerequisites: Approval of the department chair and of the excavation director.
Credits
1 credit
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-3190 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once as content varies. Prerequisite: Consent of the Department Chair.
Credits
1 credit
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-3272 Archaeological Practicum
Description
Participation in an approved excavation in the Mediterranean world, Western Europe, or the Near East. Students will be expected to receive instruction in excavation techniques and in the recording and study of the site and the material. Two weeks' work will normally be counted as equivalent to 1 credit, up to a maximum of 3 credits. (Also listed as ANTH 3-72.) (Offered occasionally.) Prerequisites: Approval of the department chair and of the excavation director.
Credits
2 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-3290 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once as content varies. Prerequisite: Consent of the Department Chair.
Credits
2 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-3301 Advanced Topics in Classical Studies
Description
Advanced study of topics related to the ancient Mediterranean world and its legacy, such as Neronian culture, ancient scripts, Hellenistic and Greek Imperial literature, the Byzantine world. May be taken more than once, provided that topics vary. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-3302 Greek and Roman Epic
Description
A study of such epics as Homer's Iliad and Odyssey and Virgil's Aeneid, read in English, with attention to changes in concepts of heroism and the self. Discussions will also focus on how the epics reflect cultural and political life. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | Life in the Ancient World
CLAS-3310 Antiquity and Diversity in Contemporary Literature
Description
In this seminar, we explore how contemporary American literature articulates issues in diversity and identity via themes, stories, and images drawn from classical (Greek and Roman) antiquity. Far from being 'dead letters' belonging solely to 'dead white men,' the classics are important sources of inspiration and creativity--as well as controversy and debate--for authors representing diverse American identities today, including African-American, Latinx, LGBTQ, Native American, religious minorities, regional identities, and more. To consider diversity in such categories as race and ethnicity, social class, gender and sexuality, immigration, regional identity, and religion, we focus on American literature since World War II, in connection with the most relevant ancient sources, in comparison with films, and in contexts of scholarship and criticism. (Offered every other year.) Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor; coursework in, or demonstrated knowledge of, classical or contemporary literature and relevant scholarly methods desirable but not required.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Understanding Diversity
CLAS-3311 Ancient Worlds in Film & Television
Description
In this seminar, we explore how ancient stories are transmitted and transmuted in film, television, and related media. Stories from the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds have been important sources for cinema since the invention of film as a medium in the late 19th century, and likewise movies, television shows, and other video formats have been among the most influential vehicles for modern imaginations of antiquity. We explore this rich area by considering roughly a dozen feature-length films, several episodes of television shows, and shorter pieces all spanning 120 years of cinema (including early and silent films), in connection with a wide range of ancient texts (mostly Greek and Roman, some Near Eastern) and in context of modern scholarship (classical-reception studies, film studies). Coursework in, or demonstrated experience with, Classical Studies or Film Studies recommended. (Offered every other year.) Prerequisite: upperclass standing or special permission of instructor
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | Film, Thought, and Culture
CLAS-3319 The World of Late Antiquity
Description
A study of the political, cultural, and religious life of the Roman Empire from the second to the fifth centuries CE-a vital transitional period between the classical and medieval worlds. Beginning with the "golden age" of the Antonine emperors, this course examines the military and political "crisis" of the third century, the Christianization of the empire in the fourth, and the religious and cultural conflicts that accompanied the fragmentation of power in the fifth. (Also listed as HIST 3319.) Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or Consent of Instructor
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | Life in the Ancient World
CLAS-3338 Greek Religious Experience
Description
A study of Greek religious festivals designed to produce a coherent image of a year in the religious life of the ancient Greeks. Through a combination of archaeological and literary evidence, we will attempt to reconstruct the rituals performed at the various festivals and explore the ways in which they organized and articulated the community through shared religious experience. We shall also consider the ways in which religion organized civic space and gave it meaning. (Also listed as RELI 3338.) Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Oral and Visual Communication
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | Life in the Ancient World
The Capacities | Historical Perspectives
CLAS-3350 Theorizing Myth
Description
A survey of theoretical approaches to myth from the eighteenth century to the present. This survey begins with the transition from renaissance belief that myth is a form of moral instruction conveyed by allegory to the romantic belief that myth is a symbolic mode of discourse offering insight into transcendental reality. We will then chart the evolution of this approach, beginning with its inspiration in Kantian metaphysics and early formulations by German romantics such as Schiller and proceeding on to Freud and Ricoeur. A second strand begins with Hegel's theories of "false consciousness" that would in time develop into interpretations of myth as ideology , under the influence of Marx, Adorno, and Althusser. A final strand begins with the earlier folklorists, the brothers Grimm, and would in time develop into functionalist approaches to myth by anthropologists such as Malinowski, Boas, and Levi-Strauss. The resulting big picture is as much an intellectual history of modernity as a history of theorizing myth. (Also listed as PHIL 3361.) Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | Great Books, Modern Ideas, Western Perspectives
CLAS-3371 Introduction to Romance Linguistics
Description
A study of the science of language as it applies to those tongues having their origin in spoken Latin, principally French, Italian, Portuguese, Rumanian, and Spanish. Attention will be given both to historical developments and to the current situations of such languages.(Same as FREN 3371, ITAL 3371, and SPAN 3371.) Prerequisite: two years or the equivalent of Latin, ancient Greek, or a Romance language.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-3372 Archaeological Practicum
Description
Participation in an approved excavation in the Mediterranean world, Western Europe, or the Near East. Students will be expected to receive instruction in excavation techniques and in the recording and study of the site and the material. Two weeks' work will normally be counted as equivalent to 1 credit, up to a maximum of 3 credits. (Also listed as ANTH 3-72.) (Offered occasionally.) Prerequisites: Approval of the department chair and of the excavation director.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-3377 Reimagining Tragedy
Description
This course explores the historical evolution and interpretation of classical and contemporary tragedy with a special emphasis on creativity as an interpretative tool. This course will feature performance, adaptation, and design as an integral part of the analysis and discussion of the dramatic texts. Texts and authors to be covered include Euripides, Sophocles, Seneca, Shakespeare, Anouilh, and O'Neill. (Also listed as THTR 3377.) (Offered every other year.)
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | Creative Expression
CLAS-3390 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once as content varies. Prerequisite: Consent of the Department Chair.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-3398 Honors Readings
Description
Independent study in selected areas in preparation for Honors Thesis. Prerequisite: Admission to Honors Program.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-3403 Greek and Roman Drama
Description
A study of Greek and Roman tragedies and comedies, read in English, with attention to how the plays reflect contemporary and enduring social, theatrical, and political concerns. Students will also produce, adapt, direct, and/or act in a performance of Greek or Roman drama. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | Creative Expression
CLAS-3404 The Ancient Novel
Description
A study of ancient prose fiction, which focuses largely on love and adventure. Discussions emphasize social, religious, and aesthetic issues raised by individual works, and special attention is paid to the ancient romance's relation to the medieval romance and the modern novel. (Offered every other year). Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | The Humanities
The Capacities | Historical Perspectives
CLAS-3405 Antiquity and Modernity
Description
Antiquity and Modernity explores the ways in which the ancient world is constructed through the lenses of modern art, literature, and scholarship, focusing especially on contemporary media. Topics to be covered include the influence of classical texts on modern constructions of sexuality; the links between the avant-garde of both the ancient world and the modern; the political uses and abuses of antiquity; and the production of 'camp.' The course also serves as an introduction to reception theory, a subfield of cultural criticism. All readings are in translation. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | The Humanities
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | Great Books, Modern Ideas, Western Perspectives
CLAS-3407 The Homeric Iliad
Description
The Homeric Iliad provides an intensive examination of a fundamental text of antiquity, including its historical, archaeological, and anthropological contexts. All readings are in English translation. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or Consent of Instructor.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Written Communication
CLAS-3408 The Homeric Odyssey
Description
The Homeric Odyssey provides an intensive examination of a fundamental text of antiquity, including its historical, archaeological, and anthropological contexts. All readings are in English translation. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of Instructor.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Written Communication
CLAS-3409 Epic Journeys
Description
A comparative study of epic traditions in literature and film. In the first half of the course, we focus on traditional epics, such as Gilgamesh, Homer's Odyssey, the Intuit tradition of the Fast Runner, and the Korean song tradition of Chunhyang, focusing especially on themes such as the heroic journey, exile and homecoming. In the second half of the course, we examine the reception of traditional epic in the modern Western literacy tradition and films. (Also listed as CMLT 3309.) Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Written Communication
CLAS-3490 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervision in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once as content varies. Prerequisite: Consent of the Department Chair.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4172 Archaeological Practicum II
Description
Students who have already taken CLAS 3-72 may obtain credit for one further season of work on the same conditions as for 3-72. (Also listed as ANTH 4-72.) (Offered occasionally.) Prerequisites: CLAS 3-72 and approval of the department and of the excavation director.
Credits
1 credit
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4190 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair.
Credits
1 credit
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4191 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variations in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once as content varies. Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair.
Credits
1 credit
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4197 Museum Internship
Description
Participation in a program of study to be deter mined by the Department and the Curator of the Ancient Art collection at the San Antonio Museum of Art. The program will focus on conservation, museum administration, original research on hold ings in the San Antonio Museum of Art, and object display. Each internship must be directed by a faculty member who will draw up an agreement bet ween the sponsoring institution, the student, and the Department outlining the scope and require ments of the course. One to 3 hours per semester, maximum 6 semester hours. Elective only. Pass/Fail only. Prerequisite: Approval of the department chair.
Credits
1 credit
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4290 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair.
Credits
2 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4291 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variations in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once as content varies. Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair.
Credits
2 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4297 Museum Internship
Description
Participation in a program of study to be determined by the Department and the Curator of the Ancient Art collection at the San Antonio Museum of Art. The program will focus on conservation, museum administration, original research on holdings in the San Antonio Museum of Art, and object display. Each internship must be directed by a faculty member who will draw up an agreement between the sponsoring institution, the student, and the Department outlining the scope and requirements of the course. One to 3 hours per semester, maximum 6 semester hours. Elective only. Pass/Fail only. Prerequisite: Approval of the department chair.
Credits
2 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4302 Advanced Seminar in Classical Studies
Description
A seminar on selected special topics in Classical Studies. May be taken more than once, as topics vary. Prerequisite: Classical Studies major with senior standing.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4372 Archaeological Practicum II
Description
Students who have already taken CLAS 3-72 may obtain credit for one further season of work on the same conditions as for 3-72. (Also listed as ANTH 4-72.) (Offered occasionally.) Prerequisites: CLAS 3-72 and approval of the department and of the excavation director.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4390 Directed Studies
Description
Individual work under supervisor in areas not covered by other courses. May be taken more than once, as content varies. Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4391 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variations in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once as content varies. Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4397 Museum Internship
Description
Participation in a program of study to be determined by the Department and the Curator of the Ancient Art collection at the San Antonio Museum of Art. The program will focus on conservation, museum administration, original research on holdings in the San Antonio Museum of Art, and object display. Each internship must be directed by a faculty member who will draw up an agreement between the sponsoring institution, the student, and the Department outlining the scope and requirements of the course. One to 3 hours per semester, maximum 6 semester hours. Elective only. Pass/Fail only. Prerequisite: Approval of the department chair.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4398 Honors Thesis
Description
Individual research and scholarly investigation under faculty supervision leading to the preparation of an Honors Thesis. To be taken only by senior Honors students in both semesters of their senior year.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4399 Honors Thesis
Description
Individual research and scholarly investigation under faculty supervision leading to the preparation of an Honors Thesis. To be taken only by senior Honors students in both semesters of their senior year.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4491 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variations in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once as content varies. Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair.
Credits
4 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4591 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variations in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once as content varies. Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair.
Credits
5 credits
Level
Upper Division
CLAS-4691 Selected Topics
Description
Special study in fields not covered by other courses. Variations in credit according to work performed, from 1-6 hours. May be taken more than once as content varies. Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair.
Credits
6 credits
Level
Upper Division

Classics (CLAS)

CLAS-1303 The Age of Augustus
Description
An introduction to the age of Augustus (b. 63 B.C.E.), the first Roman emperor, whose reign brought about a transformation of all facets of Roman society, and altered the course of world history in the process. The course will introduce students to the major cultural achievements of the Augustan era, including literary works, art and architecture, and social reforms, and situate these developments in their historical context.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | The Humanities
The Capacities | Historical Perspectives
CLAS-1307 Gender & Identity in Ancient Greece/Rome
Description
An examination of the roles of women and men in the society, religion, and culture of the ancient Greek and Roman world. Readings will include historical, religious, medical, legal, philosophical, and literary texts. Representations of men and women in the visual arts will also be considered. (Also listed as HIST 1311.)
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | The Humanities
The Interdisciplinary Clusters | Gender, Sex and Society
The Capacities | Historical Perspectives
CLAS-1312 Greeks, Romans, and Persians
Description
This course will explore the history and legacy of contact between Greek, Roman and Persian cultures through an examination of archaeology, visual sources and text. With the help of a number of primary and secondary historical and theoretical readings, we will analyze architecture, sculpture and 'minor' arts that both reflect, and reflect on, this cultural exchange. The course's primary focus will span from the sixth century BCE and the rise of Cyrus the Great, through the war between Alexander the Great and Darius the III in the fourth century BCE, and up to the 4th century CE with the Sasanian Empire and beginnings of the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine Empire. Though focused specifically on the relationship between Ancient Greece, Rome and Persia, this course will ultimately enable students to identify and reflect on parallels in modern discourse as they relate to the constructs of "West" and the "East." (Also listed as HIST 1312.)
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | The Humanities
The Capacities | Historical Perspectives
CLAS-1319 Monuments, Memory, and Power
Description
This course explores the meaning and function of monuments and other cultural artifacts from the ancient Mediterranean and the Classical world, both in their ancient context and in contemporary society. The course explores the topics of memory and power through an examination of issues in cultural heritage and preservation, and the use of the ancient world to mobilize power and authority over time. Discussions will cover topics in cultural heritage, archaeology and nationalism, and monuments and their role in the construction and/or destruction of memory.
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | The Humanities
The Capacities | Oral and Visual Communication
CLAS-2359 Ancient Rome: Pagans, Jews, & Christians
Description
This course introduces students to the complex and diverse city of ancient Rome, with a particular focus on the religious experience of its inhabitants. Students will learn about the development of the built city in the late republic and early empire (ca. 100 B.C.E. - 400 C.E.) and the ways in which ancient religious practice in particular impacted the built environment. Through a combination of readings and visits to archaeological sites and museums in Rome and its surroundings, students will learn to locate emerging Jewish and Christian literature, ideas, and debates within Roman imperial social and religious practices, institutions and ideology. (Also listed as RELI 2359.)
Credits
3 credits
Level
Lower Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Historical Perspectives
The Capacities | Oral and Visual Communication
CLAS-3312 Archaic and Classical Greece
Description
A study of Greek history from the age of colonization to the death of Alexander the Great (c. 750- 323 B.C.), with emphasis on the social and political institutions of Athens and Sparta, relations between Persia and the Greeks, the period of the Peloponnesian War, and the rise of Macedon. (Also listed as HIST 3312.)
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
The Capacities | Historical Perspectives
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | The Humanities
CLAS-3314 The Mediterranean World in the Hellenistic Age
Description
A study of the Hellenistic world, including Rome and Carthage, Ptolemaic Egypt, and other Hellenistic kingdoms, with emphasis on the range of Hellenistic culture and the growing power of Rome, from the death of Alexander to the battle of Actium (323-31 B.C.). (Also listed as HIST 1314.)
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | The Humanities
The Capacities | Historical Perspectives
CLAS-3318 Ancient Rome: Late Republic and Early Empire
Description
A study of the political, social, and cultural history of ancient Rome, with particular emphasis on the late Republic and early Empire (ca. 150 B.C.E. to 150 C.E.). (Also listed as HIST 3318.) (Offered every other year.)
Credits
3 credits
Level
Upper Division
Pathways:
Approaches to Creation and Analysis | The Humanities
The Capacities | Historical Perspectives
headshot of Nicolle Hirshfeld
Nicolle Hirschfeld, Ph.D.
Department Chair
Professor
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Erwin Cook, Ph.D.
Murchison Distinguished Professor
Headshot of Matthew Finnie
Matthew Finnie, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor
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Becky Kahane, J.D., Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor
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Sarah Perales
Academic Office Manager
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William Razavi
Administrative Support Specialist I
" "
Sira Schulz
Part-Time Faculty

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  Timothy O'Sullivan, Ph.D. (Acting Chair — Summer and Fall '23)

  Nicolle Hirschfeld, Ph.D. (Chair — Spring '24)


 

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