Classics

Introduction

The field of Classics is concerned with the languages, literature, philosophy, myth, religion, politics, and history of Greece and Rome. For the linguist, Greek provides an unbroken tradition from the earliest to modern times, while Latin is the parent of the Romance languages.

Students and lovers of literature are introduced to works in every genre which have contributed form, content, and critical standards to every European literature. The philosopher encounters the seminal ideas of European philosophy clearly and simply expressed. The political scientist observes a people passionately interested in the theory and practice of politics who explored the possibilities of elitist governing groups, despotism, and democracy, singly and in a variety of combinations, in national, federal, and imperial contexts. The student of religion discovers a rich variety of religious experience, interesting in itself and for its formative influence upon Christianity and Islam. The historian surveying an entire civilization can compare it with our own and can trace the evolution of a great social experiment from its first creative phase through its mature achievement to its final period of consolidation and obsolescence. Our understanding of the present is enhanced by understanding these formative influences from the past.

The Department of Classics welcomes students of all academic backgrounds who wish to take courses in the field but do not wish to specialize in Classical Studies. Even without knowing Greek or Latin, students can profitably study Greek and Roman history or Greek and Latin literature in translation - two areas combined under the designation CLA (for Classical Civilization courses) below. Similarly, the Major and Minor Programs in Classical Civilization presuppose no knowledge of the classical languages.

Advanced work in Greek and Latin does require study of the basic language courses in sequence. These are listed below under the designations GRK (for Greek courses) and LAT (for Latin courses).

The Department of Classics publishes an undergraduate handbook which may be obtained from the departmental office and is published on the internet; this and other information about the Department is available at: http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/classics.

Undergraduate Coordinator: A.R. Jones, 97 St. George Street (undergrad.classics@utoronto.ca)

Enquiries: 97 St. George Street, Room 101 (416-978-5698))

Department of Classics Programs

Enrolment in Classical Civilization programs is limited to students who have completed 2 CLA half-courses with a grade of 65 or above; enrolment in the language programs listed below (Classics, Greek, Latin) is open to students who have completed 4 full course equivalents (FCEs) of any kind; no minimum GPA is required. PLEASE NOTE THAT NOT ALL COURSES ARE OFFERED EVERY YEAR. CONSULT THE CURRENT TIMETABLE OR UNDERGRADUATE HANDBOOK FOR CURRENT COURSE OFFERINGS

NOTES

FCE = “full course equivalent”
1. Approved courses involving the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations in other departments can be substituted for CLA courses; consult the Undergraduate Coordinator.
2. Such CLA substitutions should not exceed 3 FCEs for the Major Classical Civilization program, and 2 FCEs for the Minor Classical Civilization program.
3. GRK or LAT courses may be substituted for 200-level CLA courses: up to 2 FCEs in the Major Classical Civilization program and up to 1FCE in the Minor Classical Civilization program.

Classical Civilization (Arts program)

Major program:
(6 FCEs)
1. CLA160H1
2. 5.5 FCEs of CLA courses at the 200+ level, including at least 2 FCEs at the 300+ level

Minor program:
(4 FCEs)
1. CLA160H1
2. 3.5 FCEs of CLA courses at the 200+ level, including 1 FCE at the 300+ level

Classics (Arts program)

Specialist program:
(13 FCEs)
1. 1 FCE of CLA courses, including CLA160H1
2. 12 FCEs of GRK/LAT courses including 5 FCEs in each of GRK and LAT; 4 FCEs of GRK/LAT courses must be at the 300+ level, and include GRK330H1, LAT330H1, and 1 FCE at the 400-level

Major program:
(7 FCEs)
1. 1 FCE of CLA courses, including CLA160H1
2. 6 FCEs of GRK/LAT courses, including 2 FCEs in each of GRK and LAT; 2 FCEs GRK/LAT courses must be at the 300+ level and include GRK/LAT330H1 (both recommended)

Greek (Arts program)

Major program:
(6 FCEs)
1. 1 FCE of CLA courses, including CLA160H1
2. 4 FCEs of GRK courses; 2 FCEs must be at the 300+ level, and include GRK330H1
3. 1 additional FCE of CLA/GRK/LAT courses

Minor program:
(4 FCEs)
1. 1 FCE of CLA courses, including CLA160H1
2. 3 FCEs of GRK courses, of which at least 1 must be a 300+ series course

Latin (Arts program)

Major program:
(6 FCEs)
1. 1 FCE of CLA courses, including CLA160H1
2. 4 FCEs of LAT courses; 2 FCEs must be at the 300+ level, and include LAT330H1
3. 1 additional FCE of CLA/GRK/LAT courses

Minor program:
(4 FCEs)
1. 1 FCE of CLA courses, including CLA160H1
2. 3 FCEs of LAT courses, of which at least 1 must be a 300+ series course