Ancient Greek & Roman Studies Curriculum

At Gettysburg College, Ancient Greek & Roman Studies opens a gateway to the ancient world and equips students with timeless skills for today’s complex global society. The curriculum explores the languages, literature, history, philosophy, and material culture of ancient Greece and Rome. Whether you are delving into Homeric epics, decoding ancient inscriptions, or analyzing Roman political rhetoric, the program offers a rich and multidisciplinary foundation that fosters critical thinking, analytical precision, and cultural awareness.

Curriculum

Gettysburg College’s Ancient Greek & Roman Studies curriculum immerses students in ancient cultures through language, history, literature, and philosophy, emphasizing Greek and Latin language mastery. Courses like "Introduction to Classical Archaeology" delve into the material culture of the ancient Mediterranean, examining artifacts to understand past societies, while "Homer and Greek Epic" offers an in-depth exploration of epic poetry and oral traditions. Additionally, "The Roman Republic" covers Roman history, political dynamics, and social evolution. This curriculum fosters analytical skills and a deep cultural awareness, preparing students for careers in diverse fields through a robust liberal arts education.

Through rigorous study, students gain critical analytical skills, enhancing their understanding of Western intellectual traditions. The program’s focus on interpreting complex texts and diverse cultural perspectives provides a strong foundation for careers in law, history, linguistics, and education. Gettysburg’s hands-on learning approach, including access to ancient artifacts and close mentorship, enriches the experience and fosters critical thinking, making it an ideal environment for Classics enthusiasts seeking an in-depth liberal arts education.

100-Level Introductory Courses

Classics These courses provide basic introductions to the discipline of Classics as a whole, including survey-style definition of the subject matter, chronological and geographical scope, linguistic and literary heritage, artistic and archaeological remains, canonical texts, and other source material relevant for studying the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean world, as well as their legacy in subsequent societies. Through various sorts of writing assignments, performances, evaluations, and/or presentations, students are expected to demonstrate synthesis and evaluative consideration of many ancient texts and some relevant modern scholarship, integration of multiple intellectual approaches to these sources, and broad familiarity with one or more sub-disciplines within the field of Classics.

First-year Greek or Latin Students completing this sequence not only learn the fundamentals of the ancient language but also intensively read a significant quantity of edited/adapted passages. They should be able to pronounce the language clearly and fluidly according to proper conventions, demonstrate a working vocabulary of over 1000 words, recognize and understand essential morphology and syntax, exhibit a high level of reading comprehension, and translate smoothly using appropriate English idiom.

200-Level Analysis Courses

Classics These courses provide more in-depth coverage of the major subfields and conceptual frameworks of Classics. Students thoroughly explore key sources, themes, research tools, and concepts in each field through assessment of modern scholarship and/or relevant creative activity, such as full performance of an ancient drama. Students should demonstrate engagement in the formal processes by which they are able to pose their own scholarly questions, as well as the research skills and analytical modes of thought necessary to address them.

Second-year Greek or Latin Students completing this sequence build upon foundations acquired in previous language courses by both reading authentic ancient prose and poetic texts in the original language and translating them into English. They should demonstrate pronunciation mastery, full reading comprehension, and a significant expansion of their working vocabulary, as well as accuracy and confidence in recognizing morphology and syntax, including rarer archaic forms and dialects. Students should be able to recognize and produce the basic patterns of poetic meter, and they should also demonstrate proficiency in their use of an array of important philological tools, including lexica, grammars, commentaries, and digital research aids. Additionally, students should be able to address key themes and concepts associated with the ancient texts they study.

300-400 Level Advanced Seminars

Classics These courses emphasize students’ independent and profound engagement with a variety of ancient texts and/or material culture in a critical manner, as well as significant consideration and evaluation of modern scholarly work concerning such texts/remains. Students should demonstrate the ability to define and organize the subject matter, locate and utilize relevant source materials, make judgments about their value, synthesize them for discussion of specific research questions, and compose reasoned arguments as answers to such scholarly inquiry. Through oral presentations, performances, in-class discussions or essays, and very substantial research and writing assignments outside of class, students should exhibit expertise regarding a selected body of ancient texts/material remains and modern approaches to it.

Advanced Greek and Latin courses These seminars involve the directed, collaborative reading of large portions (or all) of the texts in question in the original language, as well as more extensive reading on an individual basis, in order to increase students’ ability, fluency, speed, and confidence in understanding morphology, syntax, vocabulary, and meter. Students also should become fluent with commentaries, critical scholarship, and advanced scholarly research tools. Through reading a significant amount of ancient source material as well as modern scholarly texts, students should also exhibit a deep analysis and understanding of a particular topic/text and engage in critical dialogue about it.

Ancient Greek & Roman Studies Major

The new Ancient Greek & Roman Studies Major is open to students starting with those in the graduating class of 2021 (current juniors).

Because Ancient Greek & Roman Studies is multidisciplinary, the major includes a number of courses cross listed with History, Anthropology, WGS, Art History, and Philosophy in addition to Latin and Greek language courses and Latin and Greek Literature and culture courses.

Students to complete the major with or without Latin or Greek study. Students who learn Latin or ancient Greek can include in the major Latin 102 and Greek 102 and any Latin (LAT) or Greek (GRK) literature courses focused on reading Classical authors in their original languages, or add a Latin or Greek minor to their program (with approval from the department). Students who choose language study other than Latin or Greek can also major in Ancient Greek & Roman Studies. Requirements:

  • 9 CLA, Latin, or Greek courses:
    • Any CLA 100-level courses and ANTH 106: students may count up to 2
    • Latin 102 and Greek 102: students may count both (not required)
    • CLA, Latin, or Greek courses at the 200 or 300 level and above: at least 1 must be at the 300-level
  • 1 Extra-disciplinary Approach Course:
    • ANTH 221, 227, 300
    • ENG 299, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 221, 223, 310, 312, 315, 316, 317 ES 230
    • HIST 208, 300 POL 102
    • REL 204, 205
    • THA 203
    • or other course approved by the Department.
  • Capstone Seminar or approved CLA 464 or other approved 400-level course.
  • Ancient Greek & Roman Studies Minor

    Six courses are required: Any Classical Studies course beyond the 100-level, or any Greek or Latin course at any level. May include two from the following: CLA 103, 104, 130, CLA/HIST 102, ANTH 106.

    Greek Minor

    A minor in Greek (GRK) shall consist of any six courses at any level OR any five courses in Greek (GRK) at any level, plus one course in Classics (CLA) at any level. (See course offerings under “Greek.”)

    Latin Minor

    Any six courses in Latin (LAT) at any level OR any five courses in Latin (LAT) at any level, plus one course in Classics (CLA) at any level. (See course offerings under “Latin.”)


    Courses

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