This guide can also be downloaded.
Since the Columbia and Barnard departments of Classics offer a complete sequence of courses in ancient Greek and Latin, a variety of courses on ancient civilization and literature in translation, a three-tier sequence in Modern Greek, and a variety of different major, minor, and concentration options, the choices available may seem daunting. We hope that this short guide will help you make the selections that are right for you. In addition to this guide, there are many people who will be happy to help you: Elizabeth Irwin, the director of undergraduate studies for Classics and Ancient Studies at Columbia (606 Hamilton, ei42@columbia.edu, 854-5684), Gerry Visco, the Academic Department Administrator in the Classics office (617 Hamilton, classics@columbia.edu, 854-3902), Kristina Milnor, the Barnard Classics Chair (21 Milbank, kmilnor@barnard.edu, 854-4389), and the other members of both departments. You can also obtain further information from the Columbia and Barnard bulletins and web sites, and from our own web site (www.columbia.edu/cu/classics).
Although the major requirements at Columbia and Barnard differ, the Classics departments on either side of Broadway function basically as one, and the curriculum is jointly planned and taught. Advanced graduate students with previous training in Classics instruction teach some of the elementary and intermediate courses under the supervision of a faculty member; all courses at the 3000 level and above are taught by professors. Our faculty members are dedicated to teaching undergraduates and are eager to help students discover the joys of Latin and Greek for themselves; we are proud of the fact that every year at least one section of both elementary Latin and elementary Greek is taught by a full-time professor, and that it is possible to begin both Latin and Greek here and major in Classics while taking all of one’s Classics courses from professors. We are also proud of the quality of our graduate student teachers.
Elementary and intermediate courses here are not ‘baby’ courses, and in both Latin and Greek students read real ancient literature rather than watered-down or rewritten texts. Greek students, for example, begin Plato in their second semester and read Homer in their fourth semester. Course enrollments in language classes are always small, because we believe that that is the only way to teach Latin and Greek; when enrollments exceed expectations, we add additional sections of these courses. This policy means that all students get plenty of individual attention throughout their Columbia careers, not just in their senior year.
Placement tests are offered each year to assist Columbia students who enter with prior knowledge of Latin in finding an appropriate course; Barnard students should see the Barnard classicists for placement advice. The purpose of these tests is not to constrain students to work at a specific level, and those who feel that they have been placed too low may always attempt a more advanced course; at the same time students are reminded that it is not necessarily in their best interests to attempt a class which is too advanced for them. Students who enter with scores of 5 on both Latin AP examinations may register for courses at the 3000 level without taking the placement tests, though they may want to consult the director of undergraduate studies about suitable courses. Students with prior background in Greek should see the director of undergraduate studies for placement.
The course numbers below are used for both Greek and Latin, except as noted. Please consult the Columbia and Barnard catalogues for full descriptions of all courses.
1101-2: Introductory language course in TWO semesters. This is the normal course taken by those beginning a language not previously studied; it covers all the basic grammar and gives some practice reading easy texts.
1120 (Latin only): This course is designed for students who have had some Latin, but who are not advanced enough to take 1201. It provides an intensive review of grammar and reading techniques and prepares students to enter 1201 in the following semester.
1121: This one-semester course is the equivalent of both 1101 and 1102; it covers all the basic grammar in one semester and enables the participants to take courses at the 1200 level the following semester. This option is very effective for those who are highly committed to Classics and want to begin reading literature as soon as possible; it is also time-saving for those who begin languages late in their college careers, and in Greek it is a good option for those with some prior background but not enough to take courses at the 1200 level. The designation ‘intensive’ is significant, however: you should be prepared to make a substantial time commitment if you take one of these courses.
1201-2: This sequence provides intermediate language training in both prose and poetry. The completion of both these courses satisfies the language requirement.
3012 (Latin only): This is the fifth-semester Latin course and the beginning of the Latin literature sequence. It is highly recommended for incoming first year students who have had enough Latin to place out of 1201-2 or for those who have completed the intermediate sequence here.
3309, 3310, 4009, 4010: These advanced literature courses are offered annually with changes in subject matter, so that students will have a chance to read as many representative authors as possible. Courses at the 4000 level are not necessarily more difficult than those at the 3000 level when taken by undergraduates; the significance of the designation is that graduate students as well as undergraduates may take 4000-level courses, but in many cases undergraduates and graduates will not be given the same workload in these courses. Students who are in doubt about the level of a specific class should consult the instructor.
3033, 4152 (Latin only): These courses constitute the sequence in medieval Latin; in most years both will be offered.
3996: The major seminar is intended for senior majors in Classics and Classical Studies, but it is also open to juniors and to non-majors. The course considers a different topic each year, analysing it across time periods, genres, and both languages. It focuses on honing skills that are useful for working on the senior thesis, such as how to frame a discussion topic, how to analyse a text philologically and thematically, and how to develop a bibliography. The course also provides upper-level students in Classics and Classical Studies with an opportunity to get to know each other in a congenial and interactive environment. Students are often required to give presentations on the selected readings and are always encouraged to engage each other in lively debate about the topic under discussion.
4105-6: The literature surveys are designed to give advanced Classics undergraduates and entering graduate students a grasp of the broader picture of Greek or Latin literature, as opposed to the more focused topics offered in other advanced courses. These courses are required for all majors because works of Classical literature were composed not in a vacuum but in a literary and cultural context; only by understanding Classical literature as a whole can one really comprehend the role of any one work within that framework.
4139, 4140: These courses focus on enabling students to write, as well as read, Greek and Latin. The first course of the sequence, which is required of majors, consists largely of an intensive review of grammar and syntax at an advanced level, with the translation of sentences or short paragraphs into the ancient languages. The second develops the student’s abilities in prose composition and the appreciation of subtler points of style. We are fortunate to have faculty members with expertise in Greek and Latin prose composition, a discipline not available at many institutions, and all students with the appropriate background (at least 4 terms of Latin / Greek) are urged to take advantage of this opportunity.
What can you do with a major in Classics? Anything! The Classics major, like other majors in Columbia and Barnard colleges, is not designed to be a pre-professional training, and while some of our students go on to become professional Classicists, most use the education they receive to help them succeed in a diverse range of fields unconnected with their major. Like students who major in other subjects, Classics majors become doctors, farmers, lawyers, writers, executives, chefs, teachers, social workers, politicians, entrepreneurs, and anything else they choose. The importance of an undergraduate education is primarily to train a student’s mind to cope with the challenges it will meet later, and only secondarily to fill that mind with any particular set of facts. Since all major programs at Barnard and Columbia have been designed to provide similar benefits, we believe that students should choose their fields of study based on their interests. For many people, the undergraduate years offer the only chance they ever have to explore the subjects which really fascinate them, and we hope that every student at Columbia and Barnard will take full advantage of that opportunity.
Having said that, we believe that the particular training offered by the Classics program will be more useful than most others when it comes to success later in life. Classics is a difficult subject, and students who have mastered Latin and Greek will find other intellectual challenges much less daunting than people who have never learned anything quite so difficult. Classics graduates know how to absorb large quantities of information quickly, retain it, and use it rapidly. They know how to analyse and interpret, to pay attention to details without losing track of the big picture, and to relate a work or event to its context. They have the kind of thorough understanding of grammar that only a training in Latin and Greek can give, and that understanding is reflected in the high quality of their English writing. Having been taught for four years in small classes by professors who know them as individuals and want them to succeed, they have received an education tailored to their own needs and goals. They also have the ability to read some of the world’s greatest literature in its original form, and at times when the task of earning a living seems tedious and uninspiring, many Classics graduates are very glad to have access to the riches of ancient literature, as well as to the many later works which cannot be fully appreciated without a substantial background in the ancient world. In addition, on a crasser level, Classics degrees are highly respected by law schools, medical schools, and employers.
The Classics major is designed for students who enter with no background in Latin or Greek, and it is possible for such students to complete the major in four years even if they do not begin the languages until the sophomore year. Nevertheless, the program is much easier for those who begin the study of one language in their first year (taking the elementary courses in both languages simultaneously is not recommended). For those who have not taken language courses in their first year, a number of options are available, including the intensive elementary courses and summer language programs at this and other institutions.
Given the importance of language training for this program, students who have some prior knowledge of either language are in an excellent position; depending on their background, they may be able to do substantial amounts of advanced work before graduation. Such students are urged to speak to the director of undergraduate studies early in their college careers in order to make sure that they get the most out of what the departments have to offer them.
The options for constructing a major are several, depending on the school with which you are affiliated, your particular interests, and -- if you know them -- your plans after college.
The major is offered with two tracks, Classics proper and Classical Studies. The former, which is recommended for students considering graduate work in Classics, concentrates heavily on the ancient languages and literature; the latter includes more courses on other aspects of the ancient world. The Classics department also participates in the interdepartmental Ancient Studies major, which is designed for students whose interests encompass the ancient Mediterranean as a whole rather than the Greco-Roman world in particular.
Major in Classics
20 points in the primary language (not counting courses at the 1100 level), including
8 points in the secondary language (not counting courses at the 1100 level)
6 points of ancient history, including at least one history course in the culture of the primary language; for the other course students may (with the approval of the departmental representative) substitute a course in some other aspect of ancient civilization.
= 34 points total
A senior thesis (3998) is recommended but not required; it may sometimes, with the permission of the director of undergraduate studies, be substituted for one of the advanced courses in the primary language.
Major in Classical Studies
20 points in Latin and/or Greek (counting 1102 or 1121, but not 1101), including 3996 (major seminar)
12 points of courses in ancient history, art, philosophy, religion, or civilization;
3 points for a senior thesis (3998)
= 35 points total
Major in Ancient Studies
2-4 introductory courses, such as
Ancient
history of Mesopotamia and Anatolia),
HIST W1010 (Survey
of ancient Greek history, 800-146 BC),
W1020 (The
Romans, 754-565 BC),
AHIS V3248 (Greek
art and architecture),
V3250 (Roman
Art and architecture),
RELI V3501 (Introduction
to the Hebrew Bible),
V3502 (Judaism
in the time of Jesus),
PHIL V2101 (History
of philosophy I: pre-Socratics through Augustine),
CLLT V3132 (Classical
Myth)—as
course offerings vary year to year, students are advised to check
with the DUS
2 language courses at the 1200 level or higher;
2 advanced courses on the ancient Mediterranean;
ANCS V3995 (senior seminar) and V3998 (thesis);
= 36 points total (which must include courses in three different departments, as well as a history course and three other courses on the same culture as the language chosen)
Concentration (Columbia College) or minor (GS) in Classics
17 points in the primary language (not counting courses at the 1100 level), including
4 points in the secondary language (counting 1121 or 1102, but not 1101)
3 points of ancient history or classical civilization
= 24 points total
Premedical Concentration or SEAS Minor in Greek or Latin
13 points of courses in the chosen language (not counting courses at the 1100 level);
3 points in ancient history of the appropriate culture
= 16 points total
Premedical Concentration in Ancient Studies
15 points in relevant courses, including 2-4 courses from the introductory list above, 1 advanced course, and courses from three different departments.
Major in Greek OR Latin
8 courses in one language (not counting courses at the 1100 level), including
A senior thesis (3998) is recommended but not required; it may sometimes be substituted for one of the advanced courses (4105-6, 4139).
Majors in Latin are strongly advised to take at least two semesters of Greek.
It is possible to major in both Greek and Latin by completing the major requirements in one language and five courses (not counting those at the 1100 level) in the other.
Major in Ancient Studies
Four courses (including at least one history course) in one ancient Mediterranean culture;
The elementary sequence of a relevant ancient language;
Courses in at least three different departments;
Senior thesis or senior seminar
= 36 points total
Minor in Greek OR Latin
5 courses in one language (not counting courses at the 1100 level)
* Barnard students may also major in Comparative Literature using Greek or Latin as one of their literatures.
Columbia has its own program allowing students to spend a spring semester in Egypt studying Egyptian archaeology, history, and environment and gaining archaeological fieldwork experience. For further information see http://www.learn.columbia.edu/amheida; those interested in participating should contact Elizabeth Bulls-Cela (854-5758, eb609@columbia.edu) or Dr. Ellen Morris (efm2110@columbia.edu).