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PrincetonUniversity |
Department of ClassicsOnly an unimaginative person could read the major works of Greece and Rome and not feel astounded at the depth and verve of their thought, the beauty of their poetry, and their perennial relevance. Studying classics is the attempt to root such astonishment in the knowledge of what those works meant in their own time, how they have come down to us, and what significance they have today. The classics department at Princeton offers courses, both in English and in the original languages, that treat the whole range of ancient culture, from its mythology to its philosophy, from its law to its art. Founded as an interdisciplinary general course of study, classics complemented by courses on other cultures and periodscontinues to provide a broad and versatile education in the humanities, along with other benefits such as sharpened powers of reading, analysis, and writing. Accordingly, the program at Princeton is not designed solely for the future classicist; in a typical year our concentrators will go on to careers in medicine, law, and publishing, and the occasional future forest ranger may appear. The concentration is also compatible with many cross-disciplinary fields such as comparative literature. Those who wish to go on to graduate studies in classics, we are happy to say, usually have their choice of fellowships in premier graduate programs. Two distinctive programs of studies are offered within the Department of Classics. The first, the concentration in classics, uses a knowledge of Greek and/or Latin as a gateway to exploring the literature, history, and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. The second, the concentration in classical studies allows for the study of different aspects of a specific period or facet of classical civilization and its influence and does not initially require a knowledge of Greek or Latin. For those interested in concentrating in classics, it is best to start one or both languages as early as possible so there will be more time to enjoy reading at an advanced level. In Greek or Latin 101&endash;102, students begin with grammar in the fall and end up reading prose in the spring. This is followed up the next year with 105 and 108, in which major works in prose and poetry are read. The department also offers an intensive introductory sequence (103&endash;104) in Greek, which begins in the spring. By the fall students will have completed three semesters of work and will be ready to enter 108. It is possible for students with "some" Latin or Greek to enroll immediately in 104, and all are invited to consult the departmental representative on placement. The requirements of a classics concentration are eight departmental courses, of which five must be in the original language at the 200-level or above, including at least one at the 300-level. In the course of their four years, concentrators must pass a sight examination in either Greek or Latin. Within this framework, it is possible for the student to concentrate on various aspects of classical civilization, such as its literature, history, philosophy, and art, and to consider transformations of the classical heritage in the Byzantine, medieval, or modern periods. The concentration in classical studies offers the opportunity for sustained and focused inquiry into particular dimensions of Greek and Roman history and culture and their impact on later periods using a variety of interpretative methods. One course on classical civilization is a prerequisite for all students entering this concentration; a second course is strongly recommeded, but this one can count towards fulfilling the course requirements of the concentration itself. Not only CLA courses but any course that draws the majority of its subject matter from ancient Greece or Rome, such as ART 200, HUM 205, or PHI 205, can count as a prerequisite. A knowledge of Greek or Latin is not required to enter this concentration. The specific courses that make up the concentration will be selected in consultation with the departmental representative in accordance with the student's particular interest. Each student's program will consist of six courses focusing in whole or in part on classical civilization and/or its influence (a complete list of such courses is available from the departmental representative, and at least three of them must be taught within the classics department). In addition, students will select two comparative/methodological courses that will introduce them to new prospectives on their particular area of interest. So for example, students working on Greek political history might select courses on political anthropology to fulfill this requirement, while courses on literary theory would be appropriate for those working on ancient literature. These courses must be pre-approved by the departmental representative. Finally, each student in this concentration will be required to complete successfully either Greek or Latin to the level of 108 before graduating. Those entering this concentration must, in collabortion with the departmental representative determine a particular field of interest (e.g. Imperial Rome, ancient religion, Greek politics) and a prospective program of courses by April 16. All concentrators are introduced to the faculty in the fall of the junior year through a series of seminars introducing the basic tools of scholarly research, from the library to our computers. In the spring students choose a member of the faculty and work together with him or her to produce a research paper of about 20 pages. This is helpful preparation for the senior thesis, which often may be an outgrowth of junior research. Finally, senior comprehensive exams restore a sense of the whole picture by reviewing major works that have been read (in English or the original) over the preceding two years. The department strongly believes that study of antiquity is enriched and enlivened by travel in the Mediterranean, and, in conjunction with the Program in Hellenic Studies, it has a number of programs to support students who wish to visit Italy or Greece. This may take the form of traveling during the summer, taking a course at the American School for Classical Studies or the American Academy in Athens, or participating in an archaeological dig. It is also possible for juniors to spend a semester at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome through the Study Abroad Program.
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