Emory Classics

The civilization and cultural achievements of ancient Greece and Rome continue to influence our values, the way we think, and the questions we ask. They represent some of our deepest cultural roots and stand at the core of a liberal arts education.

Emory Classics boasts an energetic, internationally respected team of scholars devoted to undergraduate teaching, and to fostering close teacher/student relationships and personalized small-class experience. Since we have no graduate program, all our classes are taught by regular faculty, even at the elementary level. We offer students an opportunity to study the languages, literature, culture, and influence of classical antiquity. General courses include such topics as classical mythology, law, religion, women in antiquity, and Greek and Roman literature in translation. Most of these courses have no prerequisites, and several fulfill the distribution requirements of the College.

For students interested in Greek or Latin, language instruction is offered at all levels, from elementary to the most advanced, both in a classroom setting and in individual instruction. The department offers several majors and two minors; joint majors are also possible with other departments. In addition, for students who wish to design their own interdisciplinary course of study, the Department of Classics cooperates with several other departments to offer a major in Ancient Mediterranean Studies.

Classics Office

The Classics Department is located on the second floor of Candler Library (#110 on the map) on the campus of Emory University. Our campus address is 221F Candler Library, 550 Asbury Circle, Atlanta, Georgia 30322. The Departmental Office is open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Our majors

CLASSICS

The most comprehensive of our majors, the Classics major requires study of both Greek and Latin languages, as well as courses in classical religion, archaeology, literature, politics, history, and philosophy. This should be the choice of those who seek to go to graduate school in Classics and of other students who are particularly interested in the language and literature of both ancient Greece and Rome.

Classics major requirements: 16 hours in one language and 8 in the other beyond the elementary level, 8 hours selected from Classics courses, and 8 hours of art history, history, or philosophy dealing with Greece or Rome.

Classics minor: There is no pure Classics minor at Emory. See Classical Civilization, Greek or Latin.

Learning Goals:

1. Students will demonstrate advanced competence in one of the classical languages.
2. Students will demonstrate at least intermediate competence in a second classical language.
3. Students will know how to read and interpret ancient Greek and Roman texts and artifacts and be able to communicate this well in writing, by constructing a logical argument using primary evidence taken from antiquity in clear and grammatical prose.
4. Students will be able to analyze and criticize another person's argument about the ancient world.

CLASSICAL CIVILIZATION

This major is designed for students with broad interests in the classical world. Students pursuing this major study many different aspects of classical culture, including literature, art and archaeology, history, philosophy, and religion. This major provides students with a strong, general liberal arts education appropriate to many pursuits after college, including law, medicine, business, writing, and publishing.

Classical Civilization major requirements: 8 hours of classics courses at the 100-level, 12 hours of classics courses at the 200-level or above, 8 hours of art history, history or philosophy dealing with Greece or Rome, and 8 additional hours selected from Classics courses (including Greek or Latin courses) and courses that focus on ancient Greece and/or Rome offered by other departments. Majors should consult closely with a faculty advisor in developing their course of study.

Classical Civilization minor requirements: 20 hours, 12 at the 200 level or above, selected from classics courses (including Greek or Latin courses) and courses that focus on ancient Greece and/or Rome offered by other departments. Minors should consult closely with a faculty advisor in developing their course of study.

Learning Goals:

1. Students will know how to read and interpret ancient Greek and Roman texts and artifacts and be able to communicate this well in writing, by constructing a logical argument using primary evidence taken from antiquity in clear and grammatical prose.
2. Students will be able to analyze and criticize another person's argument about the ancient world.
3. Students will have a broad knowledge of the classical world.

GREEK OR LATIN

Greek or Latin: Majors and minors in Greek or in Latin are designed for students who want to make one of the two classical languages their area of expertise. Students pursue these majors for many different reasons. While some wish to become teachers themselves, many more are pre-professional students seeking the well-roundedness and intellectual breadth that comes from serious study of the humanities. Both Greek and Latin majors enjoy studying literature and culture in the kind of detail only possible in the original language.

Greek/Latin major requirements: 20 hours in Greek or Latin above the elementary level, 8 hours selected from classics courses, and 8 hours of art history, history, or philosophy dealing with Greece or Rome.

Greek/Latin minor requirements: 16 hours in Greek or Latin beyond the elementary level.

Learning Goals (Greek):

1. Students will demonstrate advanced competence in Greek.
2. Students will know how to read and interpret ancient Greek (and whenever possible Roman) texts and artifacts and be able to communicate this well in writing, by constructing a logical argument using primary evidence taken from antiquity in clear and grammatical prose.
3. Students will be able to analyze and criticize another person's argument about the ancient world.

Learning Goals (Latin):

1. Students will demonstrate advanced competence in Latin.
2. Students will know how to read and interpret Roman (and whenever possible Greek) texts and artifacts and be able to communicate this well in writing, by constructing a logical argument using primary evidence taken from antiquity in clear and grammatical prose.
3. Students will be able to analyze and criticize another person's argument about the ancient world.
   

JOINT MAJORS

Classics offers joint majors with English, History, Philosophy, and Religion for students with strong interests in more than one area.

Classics and English: 20 hours in either Greek or Latin, 8 hours in Classics or allied departments, 24 hours in English, and 4 hours in independent study for the writing of a senior thesis.

Classics and History: 24 hours in history, 20 hours in either Greek or Latin, 4 hours in Classics courses in translation or art history, and 4 hours in independent study for the writing of a senior thesis.

Classics and Philosophy: 20 hours in Greek or Latin 24 hours in Philosophy, including Philosophy 110 (Introduction to Logic), Philosophy 250 and 251 (History of Philosophy I and II), and three electives, two of which must be at the 300 level or above.

Classical Civilization and Religion: Religion 300, Religion 490, one course selected from Religion 210 - 259, and either two semesters of Greek or Latin or Classics 101 and 214. An additional 36 hours of coursework in Religion and Classics, including at least three courses in Religion at the 200-level or higher; and at least four courses in Classics, at least two of which are at the 200-level or higher.

To register for majors or minors: A student should go to the Department of Classics office (221F Candler Library) and ask for the form to register as a major or minor. Joint majors should register with both departments and ideally should seek advisors in both departments.

Advising: A student may ask any faculty member in the Department of Classics to serve as academic advisor. All students majoring or minoring in the department will have an advisor either chosen by them or assigned to them.

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