Academic Bulletin Classics - Course Descriptions - 2011-12

Classical Civilization

An introduction to the content and form of the major ancient myths, chiefly Greek. The emphasis will be on interpretation, with topics to include myth, folk-tale, and legend, myth and ritual, psychological uses of myth, and the structuralist school of Claude Lévi-Strauss. Particular attention will be paid to male/female archetypes, with secondary readings from Camille Paglia and Robert Bly. Comparison will also be made to several non-western mythologies. Counts towards Area of Cancentration in Gender Studies.  This course is offered in alternate years.  Next anticipated offerings will be fall semesters of 2012 and 2014.

A consideration of the art and architecture of Greece from an archaeological and art historical point of view. The course will cover material from the Bronze Age to the Hellenistic Age. The course is offered in alternate years.  Next anticipated offerings will be fall semesters of 2012 and 2014.

A consideration of the origin and development of Roman art and architecture from the Etruscans to late imperial Rome. This course is offered in alternate years.Next anticipated offerings will be spring semesters of 2013 and 2015.

A survey of Greek political, military, cultural, and literary history from the end of the Bronze Age (ca. 1100 B.C.) to the time of the Roman conquest of the Greek world (1^st century B.C.). A thematic focus will be the origins, evolution, and problems of the most important Greek political-social-cultural structure, the polis, or “city-state.” This course is offered alternate years in the fall semester. Next anticipated offerings will be fall semesters of 2013 and 2015.

A survey of Roman political, military, cultural, and literary  history from the Etruscan period (6^th and 5^th centuries B.C.) to the transformation of the Roman world to the Medieval (4^th and 5^th centuries A.D.). A thematic focus will be on the origins, nature, effects, and evolution of imperialism in Roman politics, culture, and society. This course is offered alternate years in the spring semester. Next anticipated offerings will be spring semesters of 2014 and 2016.

An introductory course that focuses on a specific topic in ancient literature and culture and requires no previous work.  Course may be repeated as topic changes.

An introductory course that focuses on a specific topic in ancient art or archaeology and requires no previous work.  Course may be repeated for credit as topic changes.

An introductory course that focuses on a specific topic in ancient history and requires no previous work.  Course may be repeated as topic changes.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

A survey of the ancient Greek philosophy, including Pre-Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle; Hellenistic philosophy may also be included.  This course focuses on acquiring  and inproving abilities in philosophical reading, thinking, and expression.  In class, the norm is close textual analysis through lectures and discussion.  Topics include the nature of the physical and human world, and questions about knowledge and ultumate being.  This course is offered in the fall semester.

An introduction to the social-historical study of the writings that came to be the New Testament of the Christian churches.  We will survey the social, political, and religious contexts of the Jewish and Greco-Roman worlds of the first century, the actions and teachings of Jesus fo Nazareth, and the missionary activity of Paul of Tarsus.  We will study most of the texts in the New Testament, as well as other ancient Jewish and early Christian writings to learn about the development of the various beliefs and practicies of these first Christian communities.

A more advanced course that focuses on a specific topic in ancient literature or culture and requires previous work. Course may be repeated as topic changes.

A more advanced course that focuses on a specific topic in ancient art or archaeology and requires previous work.  Course may be repeated for credit, since topic changes.

A more advanced course that focuses on a specific topic in ancient history and requires previous work. Course may be repeated as topic changes.

Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

Students desiring to perform independent study in Classical Civilization should plan their project with the instructor who is to supervise.

Prerequisite: Permission of the department chair is required.

Students desiring to perform independent study in Classical Civilization should plan their project with the instructor who is to supervise.

Prerequisite: Permission of the department chair is required.

Students desiring to perform independent study in Classical Civilization should plan their project with the instructor who is to supervise.

Prerequisite: Permission of the department chair is required.

Students desiring to perform independent study in Classical Civilization should plan their project with the instructor who is to supervise.

Prerequisite: Permission of the department chair is required.

Students desiring to perform independent study in Classical Civilization should plan their project with the instructor who is to supervise.

Prerequisite: Permission of the department chair is required.

Students desiring to perform independent study in Classical Civilization should plan their project with the instructor who is to supervise.

Prerequisite: Permission of the department chair is required.

A seminar on a selected topic with a paper supervised by a member of the department.