CLASSICAL STUDIES PROGRAM

This program of study offers the opportunity for sustained and focused inquiry into the history, literature, and culture of the ancient Mediterranean and their impact on later periods, using a variety of interpretative methods. The particular program for each student will be determined in collaboration with the Departmental Representative and/or a faculty adviser. The focus can be on a specific disciplinary sub-field (e.g., ancient politics) or on a particular period to be explored from a number of perspectives (e.g., the history, literature, and art of Imperial Rome). Each program must have a methodological component designed to introduce the student to techniques of historical, literary, or sociological analysis appropriate to his or her particular interests. This component of the program will be satisfied by two comparative or methodological courses, whose subject matter will not be primarily concerned with the classical world. These courses will be chosen by each student in consultation with a faculty adviser and/or the Departmental Representative and must be pre-approved by the Departmental Representative.

Prerequisites. One course from the list below (which may be taken during the spring semester of the sophomore year). A second course in addition to the prerequisite is strongly recommended as well, but this course can count as one of the six fulfilling the course requirement 1a (below).

Applicants to this program of study must submit a statement defining a field of concentration (e.g. Latin Epic, Greek History, Late Antique Culture) and prospective program of courses to the Departmental Representative of the Classics Department by April 15. Given the range of possible interests each applicant may bring to the study of the ancient world, there is no set list of fields of concentration, but some examples are presented here (click to download example - PDF format), and faculty members can give additional guidance in preparing a program of study.

Course Requirements. The specific courses to be taken by each student must form a coherent program of study. Whatever the individual concentration, each student's program must contain the following components:

1a. Six courses focusing in whole or in part on classical civilization or its influence (see the list below). At least three of these courses must be taught in the Classics Department (CLA, CLG, or LAT). Courses taken during the freshman and sophomore year beyond the prerequisite may count toward this requirement if they are appropriate to the student's overall program.

1b. Two comparative/methodological courses. The aim of this requirement is to introduce students to new perspectives and new tools of inquiry for exploring their chosen subject. There is no set list since different courses will be appropriate to different interests, but examples are given below. These courses must be pre-approved by the Departmental Representative to count as part of the student's program.

2. Each student must successfully complete either Ancient Greek or Latin to the level of 108 or achieve an equivalent level of knowledge as determined by the Departmental Representative (e.g. by having satisfied the language requirement in either language or through a summer language program). However, at least one language course must be taken at Princeton.

Students should be aware that most graduate programs in Classics will demand a more extensive training in the ancient languages than these minimum requirements. Those considering going on to graduate school should plan to do additional work in Greek and Latin either during their time at Princeton or through a post-baccalaureate program.

Independent Work. Junior Independent Work. In the fall term of the junior year, students will participate in a mandatory, not-for-credit colloquium on a specific issue capable of being studied through multiple disciplinary perspectives ( e.g., slavery, tragedy, magic). This colloquium is taken in addition to the normal course load. It will meet once a week for approximately the first eight weeks of the semester and will include a term paper. In the spring term each student will study a specific topic chosen in consultation with an adviser, with whom he/she will meet regularly for discussion and analysis, the result of which will be a substantial research paper.

Senior Independent Work. At the end of the second term of the junior year a departmental student is advised to select the subject of his or her senior thesis after consultation with an adviser and the Departmental Representative. The thesis in its final form shall be submitted through his or her supervisor by April 15 of the senior year.

Examination. A three-hour examination designed by the thesis adviser, but intended to cover the entirety of the student's program of study, will be taken in May of the senior year.

Areas of Study. Courses that can serve as prerequisites or satisfy requirement 1a:

Art and Archaeology:

200 The Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East and Egypt
202 Greek Art: Ideal Realism
203 Roman Art
204 Pagans and Christians: Urbanism, Architecture and Art of Late Antiquity
300 Greek Archaeology of the Bronze Age
301 The Art of the Iron Age: The Near East and Early Greece
302 Myths in Greek Art
305 Greek and Roman Architecture
306 Classical Athens: Art and Institutions
308 Roman Cities and Countryside: Republic to Empire

Classics: Any CLA course

Comparative Literature:

326 Tragedy
330 Literature and Law

Greek: Any 200- or 300-level CLG course

Latin: Any 200- or 300-level LAT course

Hellenic Studies:

346 Introduction to Byzantine Civilization

History

290 The Scientific Worldview of Antiquity and the Middle Ages
343 The Civilization of the Early Middle Ages
344 The Civilization of the High Middle Ages

Humanistic Studies

205 The Classical Roots of Western Literature
216 From Antiquity to the Middle Ages: Literature and the Arts
217 From Antiquity to the Middle Ages: History, Philosophy, and Religion

Near Eastern Studies

331 The Ancient Near East
332 The Near East from Alexander to Muhammad
345 Introduction to Islamic Law

Philosophy

205 Introduction to Ancient Philosophy
300 Plato and His Predecessors
301 Aristotle and His Successors

Politics

301 Ancient and Medieval Political Theory

Religion

251 The New Testament and Christian Origins
252 The Early Christian Movement
337 Religious Quests of the Greco-Roman World: The Magical Arts and Astrology
340 Judaism in the Greco-Roman World
343 Jews, Gentiles, and Christians in the Ancient World