UNCA Catalog: Courses of Instruction
UNCA Catalog: Table of Contents

Classics (CLAS)

Associate Professors Mills (Chair), Dvorsky-Rohner; Assistant Professors Holland, Hook

The department offers four concentrations: Greek, Latin, Greek and Latin, or Latin with Teacher Licensure. All programs draw on a common core of material, but their emphases are different, and all aim to give the student as complete a background in Greco-Roman culture as possible. Strong emphasis is placed both on acquiring the linguistic skills necessary to be able to read the ancient texts in their original languages and on gaining an understanding of the cultures in which Western culture is firmly rooted. A Classics degree is an excellent general intellectual training, and does not limit the student to any one future career.

Concentration in Greek

This program is recommended for students interested in Classics, archaeology, ancient history, linguistics, philosophy, theology or law school.

1. Required courses in the major--30 hours, including CLAS 211, 495; 3 hours from the classical Culture courses; 21 additional hours chosen from 320, 330, 340, 360, 400, 410, 450, 460. Special topics courses covering such topics as Greek prose composition, ancient religion, ancient history or others may be substituted with prior approval of department chair.
2. Required courses outside major--None. Courses dealing with Greco-Roman world offered by other departments may be substituted for the Culture course with prior approval of department chair.
3. Foreign languages requirement--The major program satisfies the requirement, but additional competency on the intermediate level in Latin, German or French is recommended.
4. Other departmental requirements--Major and oral competency will be demonstrated by a final examination consisting of 4 hours of written Greek translation and a one-hour oral examination on literature, history and culture based on student readings over the course of the major and on content of the thesis completed for CLAS 495. Computer competency will be demonstrated through successful completion of CLAS 495.

Concentration in Latin

This program is recommended for students interested in Classics, linguistics, medieval studies, ancient history, archaeology, secondary school education licensure or law school.

1. Required courses in the major--30 hours, including CLAS 212, 495; 3 hours from the classical Culture courses; 21 additional hours chosen from 313, 332, 352, 412, 422, 432, 452, 462, 468. Special topics courses covering such topics as Latin prose composition, medieval Latin, ancient religion, ancient history or others may be substituted with prior approval of department chair.
2. Required courses outside major--None. Courses dealing with Greco-Roman world offered by other departments may be substituted for the Culture course with prior approval of department chair.
3. Foreign languages requirement--The major program satisfies the requirement, but additional competency on the intermediate level in Greek, German or French is recommended.
4. Other departmental requirements--Major and oral competency will be demonstrated by a final examination consisting of 4 hours of written Latin translation and a one-hour oral examination on literature, history and culture based on student readings over the course of the major and on content of the thesis completed for CLAS 495. Computer competency will be demonstrated through successful completion of CLAS 495.

Concentration in Greek and Latin

This program is recommended for students interested in graduate study in Classics, or with an interest in comparative literature, linguistics, art history, archaeology, or ancient history, or who simply wish to develop a high level of general education.

1. Required courses in the major--36 hours, including CLAS 211, 212, 495; 3 hours from the classical Culture courses; 24 additional hours (with at least 6 hours in each language) chosen from 313, 320, 330, 332, 340, 352, 360, 400, 410, 412, 422, 432, 450, 452, 460, 462, 468. Special topics courses covering such topics as Greek and Latin prose composition, medieval Latin, ancient religion, ancient history or others may be substituted with prior approval of department chair.
2. Required courses outside major--None. Courses dealing with Greco-Roman world offered by other departments may be substituted for the Culture course with prior approval of department chair.
3. Foreign languages requirement--The major program satisfies the requirement, but additional competency on the intermediate level in German or French is recommended.
4. Other departmental requirements--Major and oral competency will be demonstrated by a final examination consisting of 4 hours of written Greek and Latin translation and a one-hour oral examination on literature, history and culture based on student readings over the course of the major and on content of the thesis completed for CLAS 495. Computer competency will be demonstrated through successful completion of CLAS 495.

Latin with Teacher Licensure

Licensure as a teacher in Latin requires the completion of the Latin program. See Education section for additional required professional education courses.

Declaration of Major in Classics

Declaring a major in Classics requires the student to complete a Declaration of Major form that must be signed by the department chair. Before declaring a major, students must satisfy the LANG 102 requirement.

Minor in Classics

A student may minor in Classics with either a Greek or a Latin emphasis.

Greek emphasis: 18 hours beyond the introductory level including CLAS 211; 15 hours from courses in Greek or courses in Culture.

Latin emphasis: 18 hours beyond the introductory level including CLAS 212; 15 hours from courses in Latin or courses in Culture.

Courses in Greek

103 Greek for General Education I (3)

Introductory study of Greek as the vehicle of our Classical and Christian heritage. May be used to satisfy the General Education foreign language requirement. Fall and Spring.

104 Greek for General Education II (3)

Continuation of CLAS 103, using the same methods. Fall and Spring.

211 Intermediate Greek I (3)

Review and further study of the fundamentals of grammar and translation; introduction to elements of classical culture. Prerequisite: CLAS 104. Fall and Spring.

Note: CLAS 211 or proficiency demonstrated to the satisfaction of the instructor is the prerequisite for all the following courses in Greek authors (CLAS 320-495). There is no linguistic prerequisite for any of the Culture courses (CLAS 250, 350, 355, 491, 493).

320 New Testament Greek (3)

This course is an alternative to Greek 310, focusing instead on the forms and constructions common in New Testament, rather than Classical Greek. See department chair.

330 Attic Orators (3)

Translation from Andocides, Lysias and/or Isocrates. Course will include discussion of style, rhetorical strategies and historical and cultural background. See department chair.

340 Homer (3)

Translation from selected books of the Iliad and/or Odyssey. Course includes discussion of epic poetry, oral composition, and practice in Homeric morphology and scansion. See department chair.

360 Early Greek Poetry (3)

Translation of selected texts including Hesiod and early Greek lyric. Course includes historical and cultural discussion and practice in hexameter and Greek lyric metre. See department chair.

400 Hellenic Historians (3)

Translation and discussion of works of Herodotus and/or Thucydides. Course includes discussion of historical and cultural background. See department chair.

410 Plato's Middle Dialogues (3)

Translation and discussion of Plato's middle dialogues (Phaedo, Symposium, Gorgias, Republic). Includes discussion of theory of forms and other philosophical issues arising from texts. See department chair.

450 Attic Tragedy (3)

Translation and discussion of selected tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. Course will include historical and cultural material and scansion practice, and a reading of Aristotle's Poetics in translation, comparing his theory of tragedy with tragedians' actual practice. See department chair.

460 Attic Comedy (3)

Translation and discussion of selected comedies of Aristophanes. Course will include historical and cultural material and scansion practice. See department chair.

495 Senior Research Thesis (3)

Supervised independent study on a departmentally approved research topic of the student's choice, leading to completion of a thesis. (IP grades are approved for this course.) Prerequisite: senior standing. See department chair.

499 Undergraduate Research in Classics (1-6)

Independent research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. An IP grade may be awarded at discretion of instructor. May be repeated for a total of 6 hours credit. See department chair.

Courses in Hebrew

105 Hebrew for General Education I (3)

Introduction to Hebrew language, literature and culture. Intended specifically for the fulfillment of the General Education foreign language requirement. This course is a practical introduction to the reading and understanding of Hebrew, including writing and pronunciation and the minimum of grammatical work consistent with the understanding of Hebrew literature. Includes basic information on Hebrew and Jewish culture as revealed through its classical literature. See department chair.

106 Hebrew for General Education II (3)

Continues the work of CLAS 105. Mastery of more vocabulary and grammatical points to enable understanding of increasingly complex material in the literature of culture. See department chair.

365 Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (LIT 365) (3)

An introduction to the literature of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) in translation. Examines the many forms of literature in the biblical library through close reading; explores the history, culture and religion of ancient Israel against the backdrop of the ancient Near East and introduces students to several modern critical approaches to the study of the Hebrew Bible. Odd years Fall.

Courses in Latin

101 Latin for General Education I (3)

Introductory study of Latin as the vehicle of our Western heritage from Rome. May be used to satisfy the General Education language requirement. Fall and Spring.

102 Latin for General Education II (3)

Continuation of CLAS 101, using the same methods. Fall and Spring.

212 Intermediate Latin (3)

Review and further study of the fundamentals of grammar and translation, introduction to elements of classical culture. Prerequisite: CLAS 102. Fall and Spring.

Note: CLAS 212 or proficiency demonstrated to the satisfaction of instructor is the prerequisite for all the following courses in Latin authors (CLAS 313-495). There is no linguistic prerequisite for any of the Culture courses (CLAS 250, 350, 355, 491, 493).

313 Ovid (3)

Translation and discussion of selected works of Ovid, such as the Ars Amatoria, Metamorphoses or Fasti. Includes historical and cultural background and practice in scanning hexameter and elegiac metre. Odd years Spring.

332 Roman Love Poetry (3)

Translation and discussion of selections from Catullus, Propertius, Tibullus and Ovid. Includes historical and cultural background and practice in scanning elegiac and other metres. Even years Fall.

352 Cicero (3)

Translation and discussion from selected speeches, philosophical works and/or letters of Cicero. Includes historical and cultural background. Odd years Spring.

412 Roman Historians (3)

Translation and discussion of Livy, Sallust or Tacitus' Annals. Course includes historical background. Odd years Fall.

422 Roman Didactic Poetry (3)

Translation and discussion of selections from Virgil's Georgics and Lucretius' De Rerum Natura. Course will include background in earlier and later didactic poetry. See department chair.

432 Virgil: Aeneid (3)

Translation and discussion of selections from Aeneid. Course will include background in earlier epic poetry. Odd years Spring.

452 Horace (3)

Translation and discussion of the Odes and Epodes of Horace. Includes discussion of historical and cultural background, Horace's models in Greek lyric poetry and Horatian lyric metre. See department chair.

462 Roman Satire (3)

Translation and discussion of selections from Lucilius, Horace or Juvenal. Includes cultural background and discussion of satire as a genre. See department chair.

468 Silver Latin Epic (3)

Translation and discussion of selections from Lucan, Statius, Valerius Flaccus and/or Silius Italicus. Includes historical and cultural background. See department chair.

495 Senior Research Thesis (3)

Supervised independent study on a departmentally approved research topic of the student's choice, leading to completion of a thesis. (IP grades are approved for this course.) Prerequisite: senior standing. See department chair.

499 Undergraduate Research in Classics (1-6)

Independent research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. An IP grade may be awarded at discretion of instructor. May be repeated for a total of 6 hours credit. See department chair.

Courses in Culture

Any of these courses may be taken in any of the four concentrations, and one must be taken to fulfill requirements of the Classics major. There are no linguistic prerequisites for these courses.

250 Mythology (3)

Survey of some of the best-known Greco-Roman myths, including their portrayal in literature and art, their significance for the culture of their time, and general theoretical treatments of myth. See department chair.

350 Women in Antiquity (3)

This course focuses on the socio-economic, religious, daily life, activities and legal aspects of women in ancient Greece and Rome by incorporating art, literary works and history to analyze women's position in the ancient world. See department chair.

355 Athenian Democracy (3)

This course focuses on governmental forms in antiquity, especially on the development of democracy in ancient Athens. It includes discussion of issues that are also relevant to modern societies. Extensive reading in Aristotle and Plato in translation provides basic texts. See department chair.

491 Greek Literature in Translation (3)

A survey of some texts and themes central to Greek culture and society. Course includes historical and cultural background and is designed for Classics majors and anyone interested in exploring texts highly influential in European literature. See department chair.

493 Roman Literature and Roman Life (3)

An introduction to the Romans through their literature in translation. A survey of some of the texts and themes central to Roman culture. Course includes historical and cultural background, and is designed for Classics majors and anyone interested in exploring texts highly influential in European literature. See department chair.

171-6, 271-6, 371-6, 471-6 Special Topics in Classics (1-6)

Courses not otherwise included in the catalog listing but for which there may be special needs. May be repeated for credit as often as permitted and as subject matter changes. See department chair.

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