CLST - Classical Studies Major

Trinity’s department of Classical Studies guides students in exploring a world both familiar and foreign to us today: the ancient Mediterranean world, as seen primarily through the lens of ancient Greeks and Romans. Our faculty, in collaboration with colleagues in several other departments, offer courses in languages, literature, performance, art, architecture, archaeology, history, and philosophy of the peoples and societies whose interactions created a rich network of cultural traditions whose legacy has continued to reverberate through the millennia.

Together, “classical antiquity” (rooted in Greek and Roman cultures) and “biblical antiquity” (rooted in Jewish and Christian cultures) have long served as the two pillars of humanism on which much of the “Western tradition” was built. As an integral part of our course offerings, our faculty extend students’ exploration of the ancient Mediterranean world to include how modern societies have interpreted this common cultural inheritance in contemporary literature, art, architecture, screen media, performance, historiography, political theory and practice, and philosophy.

REQUIREMENTS

Twelve (12) credits are required; students must earn a grade of at least C- in each course (per College policy, courses taken as “pass/low-pass/fail” may not be counted toward the major or minor).

All Classical Studies majors must complete five core courses:

Two semesters of ancient/biblical Greek or Latin, at any level. Most students will fulfill this requirement with two semesters of the same ancient language, which may also be used to fulfill the College's second language requirement . A student who fulfills the language requirement with a single course by entering the sequence above the 100-level may take the second semester of this requirement in a different ancient language, including Biblical Hebrew (when offered by the religious studies department).

CLCV 203. Classical Mythology. This survey course provides an introduction to classical literature and culture, as well as an introduction to classical reception studies. Typically offered every fall semester.

CLCV 111. Introduction to Classical Art and Archaeology or another material culture course approved by the department chair.

CLAS 401. Senior Seminar. The department's senior exercise also fulfills the Writing Intensive Part II requirement.

Classical studies majors choose one of these three major tracks:

Single-Language Focus. Students who choose this track complete at least 6 credits worth of coursework in ancient/biblical Greek or Latin. Credits earned in fulfilling the language distribution requirement for all majors, and toward the College's second language requirement, may be applied to the six credits needed for this concentration. Independent Study units and language sections of hybridized courses may be applied to the six credits needed for this concentration. Remaining credits will be fulfilled with a combination of departmental courses (CLAS, CLCV, GREK, LATN) and extra-departmental electives selected in consultation with each student's adviser. Extra-departmental electives are customarily drawn from anthropology, art history, English, film studies, history, language & culture studies, philosophy, political science, religious studies, and women, gender & sexuality.

Dual-Language Focus. This is a philological track in which students focus on two linguistic areas, taking courses in the primary and secondary languages of their choice. All languages in the departments of Classical Studies and Language and Culture Studies can count towards this track. Biblical Hebrew (when offered by the department of Religious Studies) may be acceptable in combination with Greek or Latin, upon consultation with the major adviser. Independent Study units and language sections of hybridized courses may be applied to the credits needed for this concentration.

If Latin or Greek is the main language, the major will be housed in Classical Studies. Requirements: CLCV 111, CLCV 203, CLAS 401, and 9 credits distributed between courses in the primary and secondary languages. Minimum 2 credits in the secondary language.

If the main language is housed in Language and Culture Studies, the major will be housed in Language and Culture Studies, and students shall meet the requirements of that department.

Cultures & societies of the ancient Mediterranean world. Students who choose this track complete at least 6 credits worth of coursework in English on various aspects of the many cultures and societies that compose the ancient Mediterranean world, e.g. Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Jewish, and Christian cultures and societies. Language sections of hybridized courses may be applied to the credits needed for this concentration. Remaining credits will be fulfilled with a combination of departmental courses (CLAS, CLCV, GREK, LATN) and extra-departmental electives selected in consultation with each student's adviser. Extra-departmental electives are customarily drawn from anthropology, art history, English, film studies, history, language & culture studies, philosophy, political science, religious studies, and women, gender & sexuality.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Honors: The award of honors is determined by the excellence of the candidate's work in courses and in a senior thesis written under the direction of a faculty member in the department. To earn honors, a student must earn an average of A- or better in the courses completed in fulfilling major requirements and an A- or better on the thesis.

Preparation for graduate study: For students who wish to pursue graduate study, command of both classical languages is essential; a reading knowledge of French and/or German is also recommended. For courses in Biblical Hebrew, see the offerings of the religious studies department; for post-classical languages, see the language and culture studies department.

Study away: For special programs at the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies at Rome, Trinity College's Rome Campus, or summer excavations, see Special Curricular Opportunities. The department also recommends programs in classics and ancient history offered by universities in the United Kingdom.

Prizes: Prizes are offered annually for achievement in Greek and Latin translation: the Williams Prize for First-Year Greek; the Barbour Prize for Intermediate Greek; the Notopoulos Prize for Beginning Latin; the Notopoulos Prize for Introductory and Intermediate Latin; the Goodwin Prize for Advanced Greek; and the Title Prize for Advanced Latin. In addition, three types of study away prizes to fund J-Term and summer study are granted on a competitive basis: the Williams Prize for Summer Greek Study, the Notopoulos Prize for Study of Ancient Italian Culture, and the Goodwin Prize for Study of Ancient Greek Culture. Two additional prizes are open only to senior majors: the Williams Professionalization Prize and the Notopoulos Presidential Fellow Prize. For further information, see the section on prizes.