Introduction
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).
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Courses
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.
Language and Literature Courses
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.
Classical Civilization and Literature in Translation
These courses are designed primarily for non-majors and are ideal for students with no prior background in the ancient world, though they may also be of interest to more advanced students. Some, such as Classical Myth (3132), are normally offered every year; others are offered in rotation or once only.
Modern Greek
Although for administrative reasons the program in Modern Greek is attached to the Classics department, it is essentially a separate entity. Courses are offered at the elementary (1101-2), intermediate (1201-2), and advanced (3000) levels. Students interested in modern Greek should consult Vangelis Calotychos (606 Hamilton, ec2268@columbia.edu, 854-6988), who will be delighted to give them further information on these programs.
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Majoring in Classics
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.
Columbia College and General Studies
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
- 3996 (major seminar)
- 4105-6 (literature survey)
- 4139 (prose style)
- one other course at the 3000 or 4000 level;
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
- 4139 (prose composition)
- two other classes at the 3000 or 4000 level
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.
Barnard
Major in Greek OR Latin
8 courses in one language (not counting courses at the 1100 level), including
- 3996 (major seminar),
- 4105-6 (literature survey)
- 4139 (prose style)
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.
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Barnard-Columbia Ancient Drama Group One of the special features of our Classics departments is the annual production of a Greek play (usually a tragedy, but sometimes a comedy) in the original language. Recent productions have included Heracles, Thyestes, Ecclesiazusae, Hecuba, Pseudolus, Ajax, Oedipus, Iphigenia at Aulis, The Bacchae, and The Birds. Though there is a faculty advisor, the director and actors of the play are students, primarily undergraduates. A high standard is achieved, both in linguistic terms and in the quality of the acting, and each year multiple performances are given to substantial audiences. Even first-year students in beginning Greek take part in these productions, which provide a valuable learning experience on a number of different levels. It is possible to acquire course credit for participation in the performance by reading the play with the faculty advisor as a directed reading (Greek 3997). For more information contact Helene Foley (216 Milbank, hf45@columbia.edu, 854-2852).
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Prizes We offer three prize competitions (Earle, Tatlock, and Romaine) in sight translation of Greek and Latin. These prizes are awarded on the basis of examinations given each spring and open to all Barnard and Columbia students with a minimum of two years’ experience in Greek or Latin. The Caverly prize is awarded to the student who writes the best Classics thesis, and departmental honors are awarded to one or two graduating seniors for outstanding performance. Barnard students are also eligible for the Day Prize, awarded to a sophomore outstanding in Classics.
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Excavations at Amheida, Egypt
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).
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Study Abroad (and other Classics-related activities outside Columbia)Seeing the ancient sites and monuments is an important part of the study of antiquity, and there are a number of ways to acquire some familiarity with the physical remains of Greek and Roman civilization. The Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome offers in each term an excellent one-semester program, usually taken in the junior year, and the College Year in Athens offers a wide variety of courses ranging from language and literature to history, art, and archaeology. During the summer there are more options, including the outstanding Summer Sessions of the American School for Classical Studies in Athens and world-famous Latin classes at the Vatican; many (but not all) such opportunities are listed at http://home.earthlink.net/~ambrosia/summer. A listing of fieldwork opportunities is published annually by the Archaeological Institute of America.
Programs in spoken Latin are advertised at http://www.latin.org. We receive announcements for numerous programs; they are posted on the bulletin board opposite 614 Hamilton, and further information is often available from the director of undergraduate studies. Web sites that will be helpful in finding further opportunities are http://rome.classics.lsa.umich.edu and http://www.apaclassics.org/Classics/onlineresources.html. Students wanting Columbia or Barnard credit for work done abroad should discuss their plans with the director of undergraduate studies at an early date to enable them to incorporate experience abroad most practically into their programs here.
For those less inclined to travel, a wide variety of Classics-related activities is usually available here in New York. Famous Classicists often come to give lectures at Columbia or other universities in the area, and numerous conferences and symposia are held during the academic year. Announcements of these events are posted on or near the door of 617 Hamilton. Students may also be interested in the activities sponsored by the New York Classical Club (which include translation and oral reading competitions offering significant amounts of prize money; see http://www.nightingale.org/nycc) and in the Homeric reading group run by Stephen Daitz, an expert in the authentic pronunciation of classical languages. Information on such opportunities is posted on the bulletin board opposite 614 Hamilton.
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Preparation for Graduate Study Students who are considering graduate work in Classics should be aware that because our Classics major is not a pre-professional degree, simply fulfilling the normal major requirements will not guarantee admission to a graduate program. By far the most important element in preparation for graduate school admission is a good command of both the Latin and the Greek languages, so students who wish to go to graduate school should attempt to reach the advanced level in both languages. The two courses at the intermediate level required in the secondary language for the Classics major are not enough for admission to a number of graduate programs, and the language requirements of both Classical Studies and Ancient Studies are well below the level normally necessary for graduate school admission. The importance of languages holds not only for students wishing to study ancient literature, but also for those interested primarily in other aspects of the ancient world (history, art, philosophy, religion, etc.), because it is not possible to pursue advanced research successfully unless one can make use of the primary sources. Students who have not done the requisite amount of language work and wish to go to graduate school can enroll in a post-baccalaureate program (either at Columbia or at another institution) to do one or two years of intensive language work before starting graduate school, so all is not lost if you realize in your senior year that you wish you had taken more language courses; a post-baccalaureate course is however considerably more expensive than making the right choices earlier.
While knowledge of Latin and Greek is the most important factor in graduate school admission, it is by no means the only one. Students considering graduate work are also advised to write a senior thesis (and not to substitute the thesis for any of the other advanced courses). They should also be aware that most graduate programs require competence in French and German as a condition of graduation (though not normally of admission), and so any steps they can take to acquire such competence will pay off in the long run. If possible, it is a good idea to use some of your summers (especially the one between junior and senior year) on a relevant activity such as archaeological fieldwork experience, travel and/or study in Greece or Italy, learning French or German, improving your Latin or Greek, or working as a research assistant for a Classicist. It is also useful to get high scores on the GRE test, and these are best achieved by obtaining and studying information on the types of questions asked on the test, taking practice tests, and above all, re-learning algebra (all this can be done from widely-available GRE preparation manuals). Anyone capable of learning Latin and Greek can do very well on the GRE, but in most cases this potential will not be realized unless you spend a week or so preparing for the test.
The decision of which graduate programs to apply to is an important and difficult one, and one for which you should seek individualized guidance from the members of the department. A few words of advice, however, are generally applicable:
- When choosing graduate schools, look hard not only at the requirements for admission, but also at the requirements for graduation, and consider whether you will be able to fulfill them in the time allowed.
- Seek advice from at least two and preferably more of your undergraduate mentors, since everyone has different opinions; you may also find that a balance of older and younger faculty members gives the broadest perspective.
- Before making a final decision, visit the graduate school you intend to choose. Ask to sit in on seminars and talk to as many students and faculty members as you can. Try to talk to people (especially the students and junior faculty members) alone to ensure an unconstrained response.
- When considering financial offers, look beyond the first year or two. Completing a doctorate takes at least 5 years, so partial funding for the whole course can be much better than full funding for one year. At the same time, it is very unwise to base your decision primarily on financial factors: if you do not find the program of study stimulating and rewarding and the faculty congenial, you will be unhappy no matter how much money you are offered.
- Be sure you understand how much teaching you will be expected to do and how much training you will get for it, and consider carefully how much time you will have left over for seminars after you have fulfilled your teaching obligations.
- Be aware that once you have made your final decision, it will be very difficult to transfer to another program.
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