Undergraduate programs of Classics

The program in Classics covers the civilizations of Greece and Rome in their entirety: Greek and Latin languages and literatures, ancient history, art and archaeology, religion, mythology, and philosophy.

• Honours BA with Specialization in Greek and Roman Studies
• Major in Greek and Roman Studies
• Minor in Greek and Roman Studies

Explore the structure of each program in this academic discipline

List of Themes and Authors for 2015-2016

• View list on website

Some tips for choosing your courses

• It’s always tricky trying to choose courses in Classics because there is such a wide variety of courses to choose from. But here are some basic tips that will always help in your selection.

Honours specialization and Major

1. Start with one of the languages, either Latin or Greek. It doesn’t matter which one, since whichever you take first will make the second one easier, so pick the one that interests you the most (ignore the fact that Latin is 1000-level and Greek is 2000-level). Don’t worry about any perceived lack of English grammar you may have; you’ll be taught everything you need to know. It isn’t a good idea to start both Latin and Greek for the first time in the same year.
2. If they fit into your timetable, it’s best to do the basic histories, CLA 2101 and 2102 (Greek) and 2103 and 2104 (Roman), in your first year. It gives you so much more flexibility during the rest of your programme, especially if you aren’t doing much Greek and Latin. If that isn’t possible, take the pair of courses, Greek or Roman, that interests you the most first.
3. By taking the second-year histories in your first year, you’ll be able to take the associated third-year histories starting in your second year and the fourth-year histories starting in your third year (see no. 5, below).

Other tips

1. The remaining tips all depend upon what your future plans are. If you would like to continue on in Classics and pursue an MA or PhD in the field, the two main criteria that you will be measured by will be (1) an honours specialization (neither a major nor a minor will lead to graduate work in Classics) and (2) Greek and Latin, even if you want to do history or archaeology. If you cannot read BOTH Latin AND Greek, you will not get far without difficulty. Greek is necessary for both Greek and Roman studies, and while Latin is of little value for studying the evidence from ancient Greece, a surprising amount of modern scholarship on the Greek world has been written in Latin, including translations of texts originally written in non-Classical languages. And it’s important for Byzantine studies. In addition, if you plan to look for a job after your doctorate (and no doubt even while you’re still a doctoral student), no matter where you go, you’ll probably be asked to teach Latin. (If you can’t, they will be able to find someone else who can). So if you plan on becoming a professor in Classics, take every Greek and Latin course that we offer in your second, third, and fourth years.
2. If you are doing a major or a minor, or if you are doing the honours specialization but don’t plan to go into graduate work in Classics, you will want to be sure to take as many fourth-year CLA courses in your third and fourth years as possible. The offerings each year can be limited, and you may not be able to complete your 4000-level requirements if you are not taking Latin or Greek and leave your 4000-level CLAs to your last year.
3. If you are interested in archaeology, you will want to think about joining an archaeological dig or field survey over the summer, once you have taken CLA 2110. You can find out more about digs here.
4. 3000- and 4000-level LCL and CLA courses tend to have a three-year rotation, so if you see a course you’re interested in, take it! You may not see it again.
5. If you have any problems or questions about your courses or course selection, NEVER HESITATE to send an e-mail to one of the Classics professors in the department for advice. That’s one of the reasons we are here, and you should never be afraid to consult us.