Classics

Professors: Evans, Manwell (Co-Chair)

Classics is the original interdisciplinary major—and the study of classics at Kalamazoo College allows students to experience every facet of the cultures of the Greeks and Romans, spanning a period of more than a thousand years and the entire Mediterranean world. The study of the classical languages, classical Greek and Latin, is essential to this, but the department also encourages exploration of antiquity through courses in archaeology, art, history, religion, philosophy, as well as literature in translation.

The department offers four majors—in Classics, Latin, Greek and Classical Civilization—and three minors—in Latin, Greek and Classical Civilization. Students intending to pursue the study of classical languages at the graduate level are encouraged to major in classics; those who are interested in secondary school teaching, divinity school, or graduate work in a cognate area are encouraged to major in either Greek or Latin. Students who discover a passion for classical history or archaeology, or who discover the field late in their college careers may be drawn to the major in Classical Civilization, which emphasizes work in translation.

Majors and minors in classics often enhance their studies of the ancient world through experiences that give them a first-hand appreciation of Roman and Greek civilizations. Through participation in our study abroad programs at American University in Rome, the Intercollegiate Center in Rome and College Year in Athens, students learn about the ancient cities through on-site instruction, and augment their studies with courses in ancient and modern languages and cultures. In addition we work with students to find appropriate summer internships and archaeological fieldwork opportunities. Such a summer experience often provides the basis for a senior individualized project, which can span a wide range: creative writing, historiography, archaeological fieldwork, literary analysis, and comparative studies of literature and culture.

Faculty interact with students in and out of the classroom. The classics department has an active lecture series, promotes classically themed activities and works with students to craft a major program that will help them attain their career goals. Our majors pursue graduate work in classics, as well as careers in the ministry, secondary school education, business, law, and the military.

Placement

All incoming students who have previously studied Latin or Ancient Greek in high school or elsewhere must take the College’s placement test. Placement can also be determined by a student’s score on the College Board’s SAT II test or the advanced placement test in Latin.

SAT II

SAT II students with scores of 425 or lower (and with fewer than three years of high school Latin) will be placed in LATN 101 or 102; 426–500 = LATN 102; 501–550 = LATN 102 or 201; 551–670 = LATN 201. If an SAT II score indicates a choice of two levels, a student should consult with a Classics faculty member for placement. A score of 670 or higher may qualify a student for more advanced courses.

Advanced Placement

For students with an advanced placement (AP) score of 4 or 5, credit toward the B.A. degree will be awarded automatically upon admission. Study must begin with Latin 401 or above to receive credit in Latin at Kalamazoo College. Students with AP scores of 3 may be granted the waiver of a prerequisite, but may not count an AP 3 for credit.

Units from Study Abroad and Transfer Credit

Students may receive up to three units of credit toward the major or the minor for classes taken on study abroad. The courses must first receive approval from the chair of the department. Students may also receive no more than one unit of transfer credit. As with courses being considered from study abroad, the course must get pre-approval form the chair of the department. Exceptions to these policies may be granted in unique circumstances and only through prior approval by the department.

Requirements for the Major in Classics

Number of Units

Nine units are required.

Required Courses

Five courses in one classical language above 201
Three courses in the other classical language above 102
CLAS 390 Junior seminar

Students considering a major in Classics are urged to begin their study of Latin or Ancient Greek in their first year.

Requirements for the Major in Latin

Number of Units

Eight units are required, not including Latin 101, 102, and 201 (the eight may include the SIP).

Required Courses

  • Five courses in Latin above 201
  • CLAS 390 Junior Seminar
  • One course in Roman history or archaeology
  • One other course on Roman literature or culture, or an additional Latin course.

Requirements for the Major in Greek

Number of Units

Eight units are required, not including Greek 101, 102, and 201 (the eight may include the SIP).

Required Courses

  • Five courses in Greek above 201
  • CLAS 390 Junior Seminar
  • One course in Greek history or archaeology
  • One other course on Greek literature or culture, or an additional Greek course.

Requirements for the Major in Classical Civilization

Number of Units

Nine units are required, not including Latin or Greek 101, 102, and 201 (the nine may include the SIP).

Required Courses

  • Two courses in Latin or Greek above the 201 level
  • CLAS 390 Junior seminar
  • At least one course in classical history
    • CLAS 225 Greek Civilization
    • CLAS 226 Roman Civilization
  • At least one course in classical art or archaeology
    • CLAS/ARTX 208 Introduction to Greek Art and Archaeology
    • CLAS/ARTX 209 Introduction to Roman Art and Archaeology
  • Four electives: any Classics, Latin or Greek course not previously taken.

Requirements for the Minor in Latin

Number of Units

Six units are required, not including Latin 101 and 102.

Required Courses

  • Four courses in Latin above 102
  • Two other Latin courses or courses on a Roman topic

Requirements for the Minor in Greek

Number of Units

Six units are required.

Required Courses

  • Four courses in Greek above 102
  • Two other courses or courses on a Greek topic

Requirements for the Minor in Classical Civilization

Required Courses

  • At least one course in classical history
    • CLAS 225 Greek Civilization
    • CLAS 226 Roman Civilization
  • At least one course in classical art or archaeology
    • CLAS/ARTX 208 Introduction to Greek Art and Archaeology
    • CLAS/ARTX 209 Introduction to Roman Art and Archaeology
  • Four electives: Any Classics course not previously taken; any Latin or Greek course above 102.

Classics Courses

CLAS 110 Introduction to New Testament This course explores the writings of the New Testament, their relationship to the history and culture in which they were produced, and their relevance to more recent issues in modern religious discourse. We will cover a range of topics, including the historical perspective on who Jesus was, the impact of Paul on Christianity, the formation of the canon, political religion in the Roman empire, ethics, and gender. We will apply several modern approaches as well as survey at various points the "afterlife" of the Christian scriptural traditions in Christianity. No prior knowledge of or experience with the subject is assumed or required.
CLAS 205 Ancient Philosophy A study of ancient views on nature, knowledge, soul, the self, morality, and the good life. This is a history of philosophy course rather than a history course; we will be studying the ideas, arguments, and theories put forth by ancient philosophers, rather than biographical, cultural, anthropological, or historical issues about them or their time period. We will largely be trying to understand what these thinkers were trying to say, and why they thought what they did. In addition, we will be discussing the merits of the various positions and reasons offered. Readings will focus on selections from Plato and Aristotle, but will also include readings from the pre-Socratic and Hellenistic philosophers, all major sources of the Western philosophical tradition. Recommended for classics students. . (This is a designated Greek literature or culture course in Classics.)
CLAS 208 Introduction to Greek Art and Archaeology This introduction to the multidisciplinary field of Greek archaeology examines the art and architecture of the Greek world from a contextual perspective. The course traces Greek material culture from Bronze Age origins through Hellenistic transformations. (This is a designated Greek literature or culture course in Classics.)
CLAS 209 Introduction to Roman Art and Archaeology This introduction to the multidisciplinary field of Roman archaeology examines the art and architecture of the Roman world from a contextual perspective. The course traces Roman material culture from Iron Age and Etruscan origins through Early Christian transformations. (This is a designated Roman literature or culture course in Classics.)
CLAS 210 Classical Mythology A literary and art-historical survey of the major myths from ancient Greece and Rome; examination of how myths were viewed and used in antiquity and how they have been used in subsequent literature and culture; introduction to the most important schools of myth-interpretation. (This is a designated Greek and Roman literature or culture course in Classics.)
CLAS 211 Race & Ethnicity in the Ancient Mediterranean This course explores how ancient Greeks and Romans thought about human difference-what we call race and ethnicity today. In contemporary societies, it is common to consider ethnicity a cultural difference and race biological, but the Greeks and Romans thought about identity differently. We will consider how they conceptualized differences between the various communities inhabiting the Mediterranean (e.g., Persians, Gauls, and Egyptians) and expressed these ideas in texts and images. In exploring this evidence, we will also consider how ancient ideas have influenced contemporary discussions about race, ethnicity and identity. The course includes readings from a range of ancient texts, including poetry, drama, medical texts, history, geography, ethnography, and philosophy and covers a chronological period ranging from the 8th century B.C.E. to the 5th century C.E.
CLAS 212 Ancient Humans & Other Animals Humans tend either to think of themselves as separate from animals or as the top of the animal heap. We tell ourselves that we are different, and this affects how we treat and interact with animals, which might be different if we treated them as "same" In this class we will look at how ancient Greeks and Romans thought about, used, treated and interacted with animals. In this way, every day we will step into another, lost world where people held different beliefs about the animal kingdom. At the same time, we will also use their ideas and experiences to interrogate our own beliefs and practices concerning other animals Sophomores only.
CLAS 213 Greco-Roman Slavery Slavery was central to ancient Greek and Roman society. This course examines slavery as a social, political, legal, economic, and cultural institution using a variety of sources, including literature, law, and material culture. We will consider the following questions: What exactly is slavery? How many enslaved people were there and where did they come from? What was their legal status and what role did they play in the economy? How were they treated by their owners? How did they create lives for themselves? How did they obtain freedom? How did they resist their owners? How was slavery justified?
CLAS 214 In Search of the Trojan War Did the Trojan War really happen? Was Helen of Troy real? In this course we will examine the space where history and myth, and notions of East and West collide, at small city called Troy. We'll look at what the archaeological record and historical accounts from the Greeks and the Hittites can tell us about this alleged conflict. We'll also examine many myths about this war and explore why the Greeks found these stories such a rich resource for discussing and critiquing their own culture. Finally, we'll look at examples of retellings of the Trojan War, which continue to speak to other cultures, identities, and political crises.
CLAS 225 Greek Civilization This course examines the history, culture and artifacts of peoples who inhabited the Greek-speaking world. We begin in prehistory, with the earliest Greek peoples, the Mycenaeans, and explore how they expanded their reach, interacted with their neighbors, and experimented with an array of political systems. We construct our knowledge of these peoples and their lives by looking at the remains they have left behind: art and architecture, religious texts, poems, histories, and philosophy, as well as every-day items.
CLAS 226 Roman Civilization How does a small town in central Italy come to rule the entire Mediterranean? We attempt to answer this question by starting with Rome's founding, watch how it expands in influence within Italy and beyond, until it emerges as a global superpower. We examine how this transformation occurs by looking at a wide array of sources still available to us, including comedies, biographies, archaeological finds, histories, law codes and speeches, poetry, geography, and much more.
CLAS 229 Frozen in Time: the Ancient City of Pompeii Since its discovery in the 1700s, Pompeii has captured the popular imagination as a city frozen in time. Centuries of nearly uninterrupted excavation have made astonishing discoveries that allow us to paint a vivid picture of Roman life in the first centuries BCE and CE. In this course we will explore the material, visual, and architectural remains of the city to reconstruct the lives of its inhabitants. We will enhance our understanding of these topics by considering their connection to current debates on cultural identity, ethnic diversity and social inequality.
CLAS 230 Women in Classical Antiquity A literary, historical, and cultural survey of social structures and private life in ancient Greece and Rome. Issues covered include constructions of sexuality, cross-cultural standards of the beautiful, varieties of courtship and marriage, and contentions between pornography and erotica. Students will examine sources from medical, philosophic, lyric, tragic, comic, and rhetorical writers as well as representative works from vase painting, the plastic arts, graffiti, etc. (This is a designated Greek and Roman literature or culture course in Classics.)
CLAS 257 Justice and Political Community: Classical Political Thought This course examines political thought from the Greek period through the Italian Renaissance. We will pay particular attention to classical conceptions of human nature, justice, the ideal political order, and the obligations of citizens to their political communities. We will also form an appreciation for the Greek and Roman foundations of subsequent political systems. Thinkers covered include Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, St. Augustine, and Machiavelli.
CLAS 295 'Bittersweet Love': Ancient Reflections on Passionate Desire What is love? Do we need to love and be loved to be happy? But then, why do we suffer so much because of it? These are some of the questions that we will try to answer with the help of a wide selection of philosophical and literary texts from the Greek and Roman world. In particular, we will look at how the ancients tried to cope with the double nature of passionate desire: love was seen both as an uplifting force that allow us to transcend the limits of our human nature, and as a destructive power that produces baneful effects on our mind and body. At the same time, we will become familiar with debates on broader historical and philosophical issues, such as the role of passions, emotions and reason in producing a happy life, the relationship between the body and the soul, or ancient conceptions of gender and sexuality. Finally, we will see examples of how these ancient views on passionate desire have been adapted and reinvented to fit new cultural and religious contexts and ask whether they still influence the way we talk and think about love nowadays.
CLAS 2XX TBD
CLAS 390 Junior Seminar An examination of current trends in the field of Classics, through the exploration of cross-cultural exchange in the ancient Mediterranean. Students will be introduced to various subspecialities within the field, but emphasis will be on writing, research skills and the development of the students' own research interests. This course will also prepare students for the writing of the SIP and for the essay portion of the comprehensive exam. Junior standing and declared major, minor, or concentration in Classics, Greek, Latin, or Classical Civilization, or permission of the instructor.
CLAS 490 Classics Senior Seminar Students conduct in-depth research on a disciplinary topic, mentor junior Classics majors and engage in structured reflection on the role of Classics in their K-Plans and as preparation for life and careers after graduation. Senior standing and declared major, minor, or concentration in Classics, Greek, Latin, or Classical Civilization, or permission of the instructor.
CLAS 593 Senior Integrated Project Each program or department sets its own requirements for Senior Integrated Projects done in that department, including the range of acceptable projects, the required background of students doing projects, the format of the SIP, and the expected scope and depth of projects. See the Kalamazoo Curriculum -> Senior Integrated Project section of the Academic Catalog for more details. Permission of department and SIP supervisor required.
CLAS 600 Teaching Assistantship

Greek Courses

GREK 101 Beginning Greek I Fundamentals of grammar, composition, and reading of ancient Greek. Selected readings from graduated texts, short stories, and dramas; introduction to ancient Greek civilization.
GREK 102 Beginning Greek II Continuation of GREK 101; development of fundamentals of grammar, composition, and reading of ancient Greek. Selected readings from graduated texts, short stories, and dramas; introduction to ancient Greek civilization. GREK-101
GREK 201 Intermediate Greek Intensive grammar review; polishing and reinforcement of basic skills in ancient Greek; readings and discussions of selected works; continued exploration of the ancient Greek legacy. GREK-102
GREK 410 Attic Prose Representative readings, in Greek, from one or more Attic prose authors (e.g. Plato, Lysias, Xenophon). Possible genres include oratory, philosophy, history, and criticism. May be repeated. GREK-201
GREK 475 Topics in Greek Readings to be offered in response to the needs and interests of majors and minors. Topics and/or authors typically include those not offered in the standard curriculum, and may include tragedy, Hellenistic poetry, historians, and lyric, among others. May be repeated. GREK-201
GREK 600 Teaching Assistantship

Latin Courses

LATN 101 Beginning Latin I Fundamentals of grammar, composition, and reading. Selected readings from graduated texts, short stories, and dramas; introduction to ancient Roman civilization.
LATN 102 Beginning Latin II Continuation of LATN 101; development of fundamentals of grammar, composition, and reading. Selected readings from graduated texts, shorts stories, and dramas; introduction to ancient Roman civilization. LATN-101
LATN 201 Intermediate Latin Intensive grammar review; polishing and reinforcement of basic skills; readings and discussions of selected works; continued exploration of the Roman legacy. LATN-102
LATN 415 Latin Elegy, Lyric and Pastoral Representative readings, in Latin, from one or more elegists (Catullus, Tibullus, Propertius, Sulpicia, Ovid), lyric poets (Catullus, Horace) or Vergil's pastoral. May be repeated. LATN-201
LATN 425 Latin Epic Representative readings, in Latin, from one or more writers of epic (typically Vergil or Ovid). May be repeated. Take LATN-201
LATN 430 Republican Prose Representative readings, in Latin, from one or more Republican prose authors (Cicero, Caesar, Nepos). Possible genres include oratory, philosophy, history, criticism, and epistles. May be repeated. LATN-201
LATN 435 Imperial Prose Representative readings, in Latin, from one or more Imperial prose authors (Pliny the Younger, Seneca, Sallust, Livy, Tacitus, Suetonius). May be repeated. Take LATN-201 or instructor's permission
LATN 475 Topics in Latin Readings to be offered in response to the needs and interests of majors and minors. Topics and/or authors typically include those not offered in the standard curriculum, such as the Roman novel (including Petronius and Apuleius), satire, and Medieval Latin. May be repeated. Take LATN-201 or instructor's permission
LATN 476 Latin Fairy Tales What makes a fairy tale? Why do we tell them and love them? We will explore the components of and theories about fairy tales, while reading an array of them in Latin! Fantastical stories from ancient cultures (Roman Italy, North Africa, Syria, and Egypt) will be read alongside those from medieval Europe, as well as Neo-Latin texts. Must have taken LATN-201.
LATN 477 Daily Life in Imperial Rome This is an upper-level Latin course that will focus on reading two key texts to gain insight into everyday life in imperial Rome. The course has two main goals: to improve skills of reading Latin and increase understanding of Roman social history. We begin by reading the letters of Pliny the Younger, who characterizes himself as an erudite magistrate yet reveals intimate details about his personal life, including his relationship with his wife, his views on slavery, his coping with grief, and his experiences during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. We then read the Satyrica of Petronius, which simultaneously revels in and satirizes the mundanities and excesses of urban life by following the narrator and his friends on a journey through Italy. These readings invite us to consider Roman attitudes towards a number of issues still relevant today, including gender, inequality, education, politics, religion, love, justice, and morality. Must have taken LATN-201 or with instructor permission.
LATN 600 Teaching Assistantship