https://www.uvm.edu/cas/classics
Classics, the study of Greek and Roman civilization in the broadest sense, is the original and quintessential liberal arts degree. The field is inherently multidisciplinary and provides access to a cultural continuum spanning over three millennia up to and including the present day.
The program offers language instruction in Latin and ancient Greek and an array of English-language courses that cover a wide area: mythology, epic and lyric poetry, drama, satire, art and architecture, historiography, political theory, and philosophy. The special research interests of UVM's Classics faculty shape and enrich the department's curriculum, integrating in-depth work in topics such as oral tradition studies; the history of writing, books and printing; ancient farming and technology; ancient music; ancient Near Eastern history and literature; historical linguistics and etymology; Greek and Roman philosophy; Roman history; topography, and myth; and women in antiquity.
Students pursuing a major or minor in Classics have the option of concentrating their studies on languages or Classical studies more generally, and it is also possible to choose one of those concentrations for the major and pair it with a minor that focuses on the other concentration. The program also offers graduate-level study, with a M.A. and Accelerated Master’s Degree Pathway, as well as a certificate of graduate study in Greek and Latin Languages.
Greek and Latin Languages (GKLT) CGS
Greek and Latin AMP
Greek and Latin M.A.
Greek and Latin M.A.T.
See the online Graduate Catalogue for more information.
Classics Courses
CLAS 1010. Topics In: First-Year Seminar. 3 Credits.
Intensive first-year seminar focused on specific themes and/or disciplinary perspectives. Emphasis on developing critical reading and writing skills, substantive revision, information literacy, and analytical thinking. First-year seminars are frequently organized to meet one of the disciplinary Catamount Core requirements. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Catamount Core: WIL1.
CLAS 1020. Topics In: LASP Writing. 3 Credits.
Intensive course in a broad disciplinary area (humanities, social sciences, arts, or natural sciences). Part of an integrated first-year experience in which students take 2-4 classes exploring aesthetic, humanistic, social, linguistic, environmental, or scientific issues. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Co-requisite: Enrollment in the appropriate Liberal Arts Scholars Program.
CLAS 1025. Topics In: LASP Seminar. 3 Credits.
Intensive course in a broad disciplinary area (humanities, social sciences, arts, or natural sciences). Part of an integrated first-year experience in which students take 2-4 classes exploring aesthetic, humanistic, social, linguistic, environmental, or scientific issues. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Co-requisite: Enrollment in the appropriate Liberal Arts Scholars Program.
CLAS 1300. Topics in Ancient History. 3 Credits.
Topics examining themes in Ancient history. Representative topics: The Peloponesian War; Alexander the Great. May be repeated for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Catamount Core: AH3.
CLAS 1320. Greek History/Civilization I. 3 Credits.
Political, social, cultural, and literary development of ancient Greece with assignments appropriate to the introductory level. Students may take CLAS 1320 and CLAS 2320 or equivalent HST courses in different semesters as long as the topics covered are substantially different. Catamount Core: AH3.
CLAS 1360. Roman History/Civilization I. 3 Credits.
Political, social, cultural, and literary development of ancient Rome with assignments appropriate to the introductory level. Students may take CLAS 1360 and CLAS 2360 or equivalent HST courses in different semesters as long as the topics covered are substantially different. Catamount Core: AH3.
CLAS 1510. From Cuneiform to Kindle. 3 Credits.
Topics in script, literacy, books, libraries, cultural expression, preservation, and access from ancient Mesopotamia to the age of printing and the era of electronic information.
CLAS 1520. Etymology. 3 Credits.
The study of English vocabulary derived from Greek and Latin. Topics include analysis of word formation, historical and comparative linguistics, and international scientific terminology. Catamount Core: AH3.
CLAS 1620. Mythology. 3 Credits.
Greek myth in literature, art, and music from antiquity to modern times. Catamount Core: AH2.
CLAS 1640. Myths/Legends Trojan War. 3 Credits.
Homeric epics, Virgil's Aeneid, selections from tragedy dealing with the Trojan War and Greco-Roman cultural identity. Examples from art and archaeology supplement the literary theme. Catamount Core: AH2.
CLAS 1990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
CLAS 2320. Greek History/Civilization II. 3 Credits.
Political, social, cultural, and literary development of ancient Greece with assignments appropriate to the intermediate level. Students may take CLAS 1320 and CLAS 2320 or equivalent HST courses in different semesters as long as the topics covered are substantially different. Prerequisite: Three hours in Classics or History. Catamount Core: AH3.
CLAS 2360. Roman History/Civilization II. 3 Credits.
Political, social, cultural, and literary development of ancient Rome with assignments appropriate to the intermediate level. Students may take CLAS 1360 and CLAS 2360 or equivalent HST courses in different semesters as long as the topics covered are substantially different. Prerequisite: Three hours in Classics or History. Catamount Core: AH3.
CLAS 2581. Sustainability Cultural Hst. 3 Credits.
Through selected readings spanning over two thousand years traces the trajectory of modern notions of ecological and socio-economic sustainability back through time. Includes experiential component at the Instructor's sheep farm. Prerequisites: Three hours in Classics, Environmental Studies, or a related discipline. Cross-listed with: ENVS 2210. Catamount Core: AH3, SU.
CLAS 2610. Comparative Epic. 3 Credits.
Interdisciplinary introduction to epic poetry and performance, from Gilgamesh and the Homeric poems to the Kalevala traditions of Finland to the griot poetry and music of West Africa. Prerequisite: Minimum Sophomore standing. Catamount Core: AH2, D2.
CLAS 2990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
CLAS 3300. Topics in Ancient History. 3 Credits.
Topics examining Ancient history. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: Three hours in Classics or History. Catamount Core: AH3.
CLAS 3505. Classics and Racism in US. 3 Credits.
Examination of the history of classics in the United States, in particular the relationship between Classics and racism. Examines ancient and modern racial ideologies and histories of slavery, as well as the symbolic power of classics in the antebellum south and today. Prerequisite: Minimum Sophomore standing. Catamount Core: AH3, D1.
CLAS 3540. Topics in Gender & Sexuality. 3 Credits.
Topics examining gender and/or sexuality in the ancient world. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: Three hours in Classics, GSWS 1010, or GSWS 1500. Cross-listed with: GSWS 3660. Catamount Core: AH3.
CLAS 3550. Topics in Ancient Philosophy. 3 Credits.
Explorations in English translation of major philosophical schools of ancient Greece and Rome and their influence on later thought. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: One course in Philosophy, or one course in Classics (Greek Culture or Greek). Catamount Core: AH3.
CLAS 3990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
CLAS 3991. Internship. 1-18 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
CLAS 3993. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
CLAS 3995. Undergraduate Research. 1-18 Credits.
Undergraduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
CLAS 4990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
CLAS 4994. Teaching Assistantship. 1-3 Credits.
Undergraduate student service as a teaching assistant, usually in an introductory-level course in the discipline, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
CLAS 4996. Honors. 1-6 Credits.
College honors thesis or other department/program honors, under the supervision of a faculty member. Offered at department discretion.
Greek Courses
GRK 1100. Elementary Ancient Greek I. 4 Credits.
Fundamentals of fifth-century Attic (Athenian) Greek, in preparation for reading great works of Thucydides, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Lysias, Plato, Aristotle, Demosthenes, Homer, Herodotus, Sappho, Pindar, New Testament, and more. Catamount Core: GC2.
GRK 1150. Self-Paced Greek. 1-8 Credits.
Fundamentals of Classical Greek through tutorial instruction, credit dependent on amount of material learned. May be repeated for credit. No credit with GRK 1100 and GRK 1200.
GRK 1200. Elementary Ancient Greek II. 4 Credits.
Fundamentals of fifth-century Attic (Athenian) Greek, in preparation for reading great works of Thucydides, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Lysias, Plato, Aristotle, Demosthenes, Homer, Herodotus, Sappho, Pindar, New Testament, and more. Prerequisite: GRK 1100 or equivalent. Catamount Core: GC2.
GRK 1990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
Introductory courses or seminars on topics beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
GRK 2100. Intermediate Ancient Greek I. 3 Credits.
Review of syntax. Readings from Plato, Herodotus, and Euripides. Prerequisite: GRK 1200 or equivalent. Catamount Core: GC2.
GRK 2200. Intermediate Ancient Greek II. 3 Credits.
Review of syntax. Readings from various authors. Prerequisite: GRK 2100 or equivalent. Catamount Core: GC2.
GRK 2990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
Intermediate courses or seminars on topics beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
GRK 3990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
Advanced courses or seminars on topics beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
GRK 3991. Internship. 1-18 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
GRK 3993. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
GRK 3995. Undergraduate Research. 1-18 Credits.
Undergraduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
GRK 4600. Topics in Greek Prose. 3 Credits.
Representative topics: Greek Historians (Thucydides, Herodotus, Xenophon), Greek Orators (Lysias, Demosthenes), Greek Philosophers (Plato, Aristotle, Presocratic philosophers). May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: GRK 2200.
GRK 4650. Topics in Greek Poetry. 3 Credits.
Representative topics: Greek Epic (Iliad, Odyssey), Greek Lyric Poetry (Archilochus to Pindar, including Sappho, Alcaeus, Simonides, Bacchylides), Greek Comedy (Aristophanes), Greek Tragedy (Sophocles' Antigone, Euripides' Medea, or two equivalent plays). May be repeated for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: GRK 2200.
GRK 4990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
Introductory courses or seminars on topics beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
GRK 4994. Teaching Assistantship. 1-3 Credits.
Undergraduate student service as a teaching assistant, usually in an introductory-level course in the discipline, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
GRK 4996. Honors. 1-6 Credits.
College honors thesis or other department/program honors, under the supervision of a faculty member. Offered at department discretion.
Latin Courses
LAT 1100. Elementary Latin I. 0 or 4 Credits.
For students who present less than two years of high school Latin. Catamount Core: GC2.
LAT 1140. AP Latin 3. 3 Credits.
Credit awarded for achieving a score of 3 on the Latin Advanced Placement (AP) Examination.
LAT 1200. Elementary Latin II. 0 or 4 Credits.
For students who present less than two years of high school Latin. Prerequisite: LAT 1100 or equivalent. Catamount Core: GC2.
LAT 1300. AP Latin 4 or 5. 3 Credits.
Credit awarded for achieving a score of 4 or 5 on the Latin Advanced Placement (AP) Examination.
LAT 1400. Self-Paced Latin. 1-8 Credits.
Fundamentals of Classical Latin through tutorial instruction, credit dependent on amount of material learned. May be repeated for credit. No credit with LAT 1100 and LAT 1200.
LAT 1990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
Introductory courses or seminars on topics beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
LAT 2100. Intermediate Latin I. 3 Credits.
Selections from Cicero and other prose authors. Prerequisite: LAT 1200 or equivalent. Catamount Core: GC2.
LAT 2200. Intermediate Latin II. 3 Credits.
Selections from Vergil and Ovid. Prerequisite: LAT 1200 or equivalent. Catamount Core: GC2.
LAT 2990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
Intermediate courses or seminars on topics beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
LAT 3100. Topics In: Latin Literature. 3 Credits.
Selections from principal Roman authors. May be repeated for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: LAT 2100, LAT 2200, or equivalent.
LAT 3990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
Advanced courses or seminars on topics beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
LAT 3991. Internship. 1-18 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
LAT 3993. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
LAT 3995. Undergraduate Research. 1-18 Credits.
Undergraduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
LAT 4600. Topics in Latin Prose. 3 Credits.
Representative topics: Republican Prose (Caesar, Sallust, Cicero), Roman Oratory (Cicero's De Oratore, Orator, Brutus), Historians of the Empire (Augustus, Tacitus, Suetonius, Ammianus Marcellinus), Roman Letters (Cicero, Horace, Pliny). May be repeated for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: LAT 3200.
LAT 4650. Topics in Latin Poetry. 3 Credits.
Representative topics: Roman Epic Poetry (Lucretius, Vergil, Ovid), Roman Lyric Poets (Catullus, Horace, Propertius, and Tibullus), Roman Comedy (Plautus and Terence), Satire (Horace, Persius, Juvenal, Petronius). May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: LAT 3200.
LAT 4990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
Courses or seminars on topics beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
LAT 4994. Teaching Assistantship. 1-3 Credits.
Undergraduate student service as a teaching assistant, usually in an introductory level course in the discipline, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
LAT 4996. Honors. 1-6 Credits.
College honors thesis or other department/program honors, under the supervision of a faculty member. Offered at department discretion.