(file last updated: [8/10/1998 - 15:22:23])
The Department of ClassicalStudies offers courses in the languages, literatures, history,and archaeology of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, two culturesthat are the intellectual, social, political, legal, scientific,and artistic origin of Western civilization. Along with the HebrewBible, the scholarly study of these cultures, which goes backto the death of Alexander the Great, is the original subject ofuniversity study. Their brilliance and beauty has not ceased tobeguile and inform students for more than 2,000 years.
Undergraduate Concentration
A concentration in classicalstudies offers the opportunity to learn about all aspects of lifein Greece and Rome. Aside from its aesthetic, spiritual, moral,and intellectual value, that study can have practical use as well:for example, the study of Latin is a proven key to communicationskills in English and in the romance languages; moreover, Latinand Greek have long been and continue to be sources of technicalconcepts and vocabulary in all fields of study, from cyberneticsto political economy by way of astronomy and zoology.
Concentration in classicalstudies also enhances preparation for a wide number of professionalfields, including law and medicine, as well as for the graduatestudy of literature, history, fine arts, archaeology, anthropology,philosophy, religion, and classics itself. The requirements forconcentration are designed to be flexible, so that individualstudents can focus their program around a particular interestlike art and archaeology, history, or literature.
Graduate Program in Classics
The graduate program in classics(Greek and Latin), leading to the M.A. degree, is designed toprovide advanced training in Latin and Ancient Greek--languageand literature, in order to prepare students for advanced workin classics or related fields. The program is designed to be completedin one year, assuming that the candidate has acquired minimalcompetence in Latin or Greek before entering the program. We considerminimum competence to be successful completion of an introductorycourse in Latin or Greek grammar plus one additional semester-coursereading literature in the language of the grammar course. Candidatesrequiring course work in Latin or Greek to attain minimal competencemay apply for Special Student Status and take the necessary undergraduatecourses; or they may take courses to acquire minimal competencein one of the two languages while enrolled in the program on thebasis of having acquired minimal competence in the other of thetwo. In either case, such courses do not count towards the residencyrequirement.
Students who have had somebackground in Greek and Latin are encouraged to resume studyingthose languages as soon as possible after entering Brandeis, asthose skills are more difficult to retrieve after a passage oftime. Students who have had no background in these languages shouldtry to begin one of them as soon as possible after entering Brandeis.(Note that these courses usually begin only in the fall semester.)Often students find it effective to take Latin or Greek to satisfytheir language requirements and in the process can determine whethertheir interest in the classics is one they wish to pursue further.
The general requirements foradmission to the Graduate School, given in an earlier sectionof this Bulletin, will apply to candidates for admissionto the graduate program in classics. The Department of Classicswill evaluate applications received from the Graduate School witha view to a candidate's ability to perform sucessfully in theprogram. A writing sample should be part of a candidate's application.
Leonard Muellner, Chair
Greek and Latin, language andliterature.
Patricia Johnston, GraduateAdvising Head
Latin and Greek, language andliterature.
Ann Koloski-Ostrow
Roman and Greek art and archaeology.
Amélie OksenbergRorty
Greek and Roman philosophy.
Cheryl Walker, UndergraduateAdvising Head
Roman and Greek history.
Students wishing to concentratein classical studies may choose one of four options: classics,Greek, Latin, or classical archaeology and ancient history. Aconcentration in classics includes the Greek and Latin languagesand literatures, whereas a concentration in Greek language andliterature or in Latin language and literature includes only onelanguage. A concentration in classical archaeology and ancienthistory places less emphasis upon language and more upon coursesin ancient history, ancient art, and archaeology. A student interestedin an independent concentration in classical and English literatureor old world archaeology may petition for such through the Officeof Academic Affairs. Various archaeological excavation programs(with departmental approval) may be substituted for some requiredcourses.
Concentration in Classics
A.Eight semester courses in Greek and Latin numbered 30 or higher,with at least two in each language.
B.One semester in Greek, Latin, or allied fields as approved bythe student's advisor.
C.Two ancient history courses, one in Greek history and one in Romanhistory.
D.Additional requirement for students seeking honors: GRK or LAT99d.
E.Certification for teaching Latin in Massachusetts high schoolscan be obtained concurrently with the Brandeis bachelor's degree.For details see item E. under Concentration in Latin Languageand Literature.
Concentration in Greek Languageand Literature
A.Four semester courses in Greek numbered 30 or higher.
B.One semester course in Greek history.
C.A combination of five semester courses selected from courses taughtin or crosslisted by the Department of Classical Studies, wheresuch courses have a significant classical component, as approvedby the student's departmental advisor.
D.Additional requirements for students seeking honors: GRK 99d.
Concentration in Latin Languageand Literature
A.Four semester courses in Latin numbered 30 or higher.
B.One semester course in Roman history.
C.A combination of five semester courses selected from among coursestaught in or crosslisted by the Department of Classical Studies,or from courses offered in other departments having a significantclassical component, as approved by the student's departmentaladvisor.
D.Additional requirement for students seeking honors: LAT 99d.
E.A concentrator in either Classics or Latin Language and Literaturemay obtain the Massachusetts certificate for Teacher of Latinand Classical Humanities at the high school level by additionallycompleting requirements of the Education Program (q.v.). Interestedstudents should meet with the program director as soon as possiblefor important further information.
Concentration in ClassicalArchaeology and Ancient History
A.Seven semester courses in ancient history, classical archaeology,and classical literature or ancient art, including at least onesurvey in the history of Greece, one survey in the history ofRome, one topics course in ancient history or classical archaeology,and one introductory course in archaeology.
B.One semester course in Greek or Latin numbered 30 or higher.
C.Additional requirement for students seeking honors: CLAS 99d.
Independent Concentration
A student interested in anindependent concentration in classical and English literaturemay petition for such through the Office of Academic Affairs.Normally, an independent concentration in classical and Englishliterature requires a minimum of five courses in English, fivein Greek and/or Latin at level 30 or higher, and a senior essay.
Minor in Classical Studies
A total of five courses isrequired, which may be any combination of ancient language coursesat level 30 or higher and any CLAS or cross-listed course. Threeof the five courses in the minor must be taught by members ofthe Department of Classical Studies.
NOTE: All classical studiescourses (CLAS) are taught in English, and assigned reading materialsare in English.
Program of Study
A.CLAS 200a (Proseminar in Classical Literature).
B.Six translation courses in Latin and/or Greek, at least two numbered200 or higher, and at least two numbered 100-199, plus one elective,chosen from the electives list, which is available from the graduateadvising head. Possible electives include courses in classicalart and archaeology, ancient history, and ancient philosophy.Alternatively, candidates may satisfy up to two of the translationcourse requirements by examination, replacing them with electiveschosen from the electives list. These replacements must be approvedin advance by the graduate advising head. The following coursessatisfy the language translation requirement: GRK 110b, 115b,120b, LAT 110b, 114b, 115a, 116b, 117a, 118a, 118b, 120a.
Residence Requirement
The minimum residence requirementis one year.
Examination Requirement
All candidates will completethe requirements for the M.A. by passing an examination and explicationof selected works in Greek and/or Latin.
HUM 10a The Western Canon
[ hum ]
Texts from the ancient portionof the canon from (from Homer to the New Testament), construedas masculine and feminine models of effective and empowering socialaction or as ineffective social action, alienation, and failure.Attempts to view each work in its own cultural context as wellas to explore its enduring value. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Muellner
CLAS 98a Directed Reading
Signature of the instructorrequired.
Usually offered every year.
Staff
CLAS 98b Directed Reading
Signature of the instructorrequired.
Usually offered every year.
Staff
CLAS 99d Senior Research
Signature of the instructorrequired.
Concentrators will be guidedby their major professor in writing their honors paper. Usuallyoffered every year.
Staff
CLAS 100a Survey of GreekHistory: Bronze Age to 323 B.C.E.
[ cl17 hum]
The political and social developmentof the Greek city-states from Bronze Age origins to the deathof Alexander. Usually offered in odd years.
Ms. Walker
CLAS 115b Topics in Greekand Roman History
[ wi hum ss ]
Topics vary from year to year;see Course Schedule for current topic. Usually offeredevery year.
Ms. Walker
CLAS 133b The Art and Archaeologyof Ancient Greece
[ cl5 cl17cl33 ca hum ]
Surveys the main forms andstyles of Greek art and architecture from the Bronze Age throughthe Hellenistic period in mainland Greece and on the islands ofthe Aegean. Archaeological remains and ancient literary evidencehelp explore the relationships between culture, the visual arts,and society. Usually offered in odd years.
Ms. Koloski-Ostrow
CLAS 134b The Art and Archaeologyof Ancient Rome
[ cl5 cl17cl33 ca hum ]
Surveys the art and architectureof the ancient Romans from the 8th century B.C.E. to the end ofthe empire in Sicily, mainland Italy (with focus on Rome, Ostia,Pompeii, and Herculaneum), and in the Roman provinces. Usuallyoffered in even years.
Ms. Koloski-Ostrow
CLAS 145b Topics in Greekand Roman Art and Archaeology
[ cl17 cl33hum ]
Enrollment limited to 35.
Topics include: Pompeii; lifeand art in the Roman provinces; and Jews and Judaism in the Graeco-Romanworld. See Course Schedule for current topic and description.Usually offered every year.
Ms. Koloski-Ostrow
CLAS 165a Survey of LatinLiterature in Translation
[ cl17 hum]
Famous Roman texts (200 B.C.E.-200C.E.) are read from various viewpoints. The concept of "Romandecadence"--the exotic, private, and unconscious forces ofdisruption and decay influencing these works--is explored andchallenged. The impact of the Roman accomplishment on the literatureof subsequent periods is also considered. Usually offered everythird year. Will be offered in the fall of 1998.
Ms. Koloski-Ostrow
CLAS 170a Classical Mythology
[ cl8 cl17cl48 hum ]
An introduction to Greek andRoman mythology. Usually offered every third year. Last offeredin the fall of 1994.
Staff
CLAS 171a Greek Epic andAthenian Drama
[ hum ]
Surveys Greek epic poetry andthe tragic and comic drama produced in the city-state of Athens(Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes). The intentionis to convey the place of these works in the social, political,religious, and intellectual life of ancient Greece as well astheir enduring universality. Usually offered every fourth year.Last offered in the fall of 1996.
Mr. Muellner
Greek and Latin Courses
All Greek and Latin coursesnumbered 40 or higher require reading knowledge of the respectivelanguage.
GRK 10a Beginning AncientGreek
The basics of Ancient Greeklanguage and an initiation into the artistic, religious, social,political, and psychological dynamics of Ancient Greece. Aftertaking its sequel, GRK 20b, students can read Homer or Plato inthe original. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Muellner
GRK 20b Continuing AncientGreek
Prerequisite: GRK 10a.
Fundamentals of Greek grammarthrough reading. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Muellner
GRK 30a Intermediate AncientGreek: Literature
[ fl ]
Prerequisite: GRK 20b orequivalent (consult instructor).
Readings from Plato's Apologyand Herodotus's Histories in Greek. Usually offered everyyear.
Ms. Johnston
GRK 98a Directed Reading
Signature of the instructorrequired.
Generally reserved for thosestudents who have exhausted regular course offerings. Usuallyoffered every year.
Staff
GRK 98b Directed Reading
Signature of the instructorrequired.
Generally reserved for thosestudents who have exhausted regular course offerings. Usuallyoffered every year.
Staff
GRK 99d Senior Research
Signature of the instructorrequired.
For seniors writing an honorsthesis under direction. Usually offered every year.
Staff
GRK 110b Greek Epic
(Formerly GRK 14b)
[ fl hum ]
Prerequisite: GRK 20b orequivalent (consult instructor). Students who have taken GRK 14bmay not take GRK 110b for credit.
Selections from Homer's Iliador Odyssey, in Greek. Usually offered in even years.
Mr. Muellner
GRK 115b Ancient Greek Drama
[ hum ]
The plays of Aeschylus, Aristophanes,Euripides, and Sophocles in Greek. A different playwright is studiedeach year. See Course Schedule for current topic. Usuallyoffered every year. Last offered in the spring of 1996.
Mr. Muellner
GRK 120b Greek Prose Authors
[ hum ]
Selections from Herodotus,Thucydides, Plato, Aristotle, Demosthenes, and other prose authors,in Greek. See Course Schedule for current topic. Usuallyoffered every third year. Last offered in the spring of 1998.
Mr. Muellner
LAT 10a Beginning Latin
An introduction to Latin grammar,based on Latin authors. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Walker
LAT 20b Continuing Latin
Prerequisite: LAT 10a orpermission of the instructor.
See LAT 10a for course description.Usually offered every year.
Ms. Johnston
LAT 30a Intermediate Latin:Literature
[ fl ]
Prerequisite: LAT 20b orpermission of the instructor. This course satisfies the foreignlanguage requirement.
Selections of Latin prose andverse from various periods. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Walker
LAT 98a Directed Reading
Signature of the instructorrequired.
Generally reserved for thosestudents who have exhausted regular course offerings. Usuallyoffered every year.
Staff
LAT 98b Directed Reading
Signature of the instructorrequired.
Generally reserved for thosestudents who have exhausted regular course offerings. Usuallyoffered every year.
Staff
LAT 99d Senior Research
Signature of the instructorrequired.
For seniors writing an honorsthesis under direction. Usually offered every year.
Staff
LAT 110b Advanced LatinComposition
[ hum ]
Poetry and prose composition.Offered on request. Last offered in the spring of 1990.
Ms. Johnston
LAT 114b Latin Prose Authors
[ hum ]
A close study of Cicero's writings.Usually offered every fourth year. Last offered in the springof 1998.
Staff
LAT 115a Roman Drama
[ hum ]
Selected plays of Plautus andTerence, in Latin. Usually offered every fourth year. Last offeredin the spring of 1995.
Ms. Johnston
LAT 116b Roman Satire
[ hum ]
The satires of Horace and Juvenal,in Latin. Usually offered every third year. Last offered in thespring of 1994.
Ms. Johnston
LAT 117a Lucretius, DeRerum Natura
[ hum ]
Close reading (in Latin) anddiscussion of poetic and philosophical dimensions of the poem.Usually offered every fourth year.
Ms. Johnston
LAT 118a Latin Lyric andElegiac Poetry
[ hum ]
Selections from Catullus, Horace,Propertius, Tibullus, and Ovid in Latin. Usually offered in evenyears.
Staff
LAT 118b Roman Historians
[ hum ]
Selections from the historiesof Julius Caesar, Sallust, Livy, and Tacitus, in Latin. Usuallyoffered every fourth year. Last offered in the spring of 1991.
Staff
LAT 119b Ovid: Metamorphoses
[ hum ]
Selections from Ovid's mythological-poetichistory of the universe, in Latin. Usually offered every fourthyear. Last offered in the fall of 1996.
Ms. Johnston
LAT 120a Vergil
[ hum ]
Selections from Vergil's Eclogues,Georgics, and Æneid in Latin. Usually offeredin odd years.
Ms. Johnston
LAT 125a Medieval Latin
[ hum ]
Prerequisite: LAT 20 orequivalent demonstration of an ability to read Latin. Enrollmentis limited to 20.
Surveys Medieval Latin proseand poetry, from the fourth to the 14th centuries, and their influenceon subsequent English, French, and Italian literature. Materialswill be studied in the original Latin and English. Usually offeredevery fourth year.
Ms. Johnston
SANS 10a Introduction toClassical Sanskrit I
An introduction to the formsand grammatical structures of the Sanskrit language. Studentswill learn Devanagari, the Sanskrit writing system. Offered onrequest.
Mr. Keiler
SANS 20b Introduction toClassical Sanskrit II
Prerequisite: SANS 10a orequivalent.
Continuation of the study ofthe forms and grammatical structures of the Sanskrit language.Simple yet representative texts, e.g., from the Sanskrit epics,will be read. Offered on request.
Mr. Keiler
CLAS 200a Proseminar in Classical Studies
Informs and inspires graduate students aboutscholarship in the field of classical studies. Each member ofthe department leads the seminar for three weeks in an in-depthinvestigation of a specific aspect of classical studies. Studentslearn the problems, tools, methods, and current creative pathsin that particular topic. Students undertake a small-scale researchproject for each three-week session. Usually offered every year.
Staff
Roman History to 455 C.E.
Greek and Roman Ethics: FromPlato to the Stoics
Ancient Greek-Speaking Judaismand Christianity
Introduction to the ComparativeStudy of Human Societies
Introduction to ArchaeologicalMethods
Materials Research in Archaeology,I
Materials Research in Archaeology,II
Beginning Literary Arabic
Continuing Literary Arabic
Intermediate Literary Arabic
Advanced Intermediate LiteraryArabic
NEJS 103a and b
Advanced Literary Arabic
Elementary Akkadian
Intermediate Akkadian
Beginning Persian
Classical Political Theory