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Classics

Classics is the study of ancient languages, literatures, and cultures of the Mediterranean basin from approximately 2000 B.C.E. to 600 C.E. It embraces three civilizations--the Minoan-Mycenaean, Greek, and Roman; two languages--Greek and Latin; and a geographical area including Europe, North Africa, Egypt, and the Near East. The Department of Classics provides a basis for understanding and interpreting the contribution of the ancient world to life in the present and the future.

Undergraduate Programs

The department offers a Bachelor of Arts in ancient civilization and in classical languages (Greek and/or Latin). Both majors provide a solid foundation for graduate study in classics, European literature, law, history, art, philosophy, and religion. Graduates have become secondary school and university teachers, lawyers, doctors, librarians, museum curators, and bankers.

The department also offers minors in ancient civilization, classical languages, Greek, and Latin.

Bachelor of Arts in Classical Languages

The Bachelor of Arts in classical languages requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 36 s.h. of work for the major. The program trains students to read the ancient Greek and/or Latin languages and acquaints them with the major works of Greek and/or Roman literature.

Students learn about the history of ancient Greece of the eighth through the fourth centuries B.C.E., where most of the modern Western notions of political, artistic, and social life are rooted. They also develop an understanding of the Roman Republic and Empire, when Rome established its hegemony over the Mediterranean basin, laid the foundation of law for the Western World, and spread Greece's culture to the West.

The major requires the following course work. Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. Students must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program. 

The advanced undergraduate Greek courses 20G:120 Archaic and Classical Periods I and 20G:121 Archaic and Classical Periods II, and 20G:122 Classical and Hellenistic Periods I and 20G:123 Classical and Hellenistic Periods II are offered every other year and may be repeated or taken in any sequence. They cover a broad range of prose and poetry in historical context.

The advanced undergraduate Latin courses 20L:120 Latin Literature of the Republic I and 20L:121 Latin Literature of the Republic II, and 20L:122 Latin Literature of the Empire I and 20L:123 Latin Literature of the Empire II are offered every other year and may be repeated or taken in any sequence. They cover a range of Latin prose and poetry in historical context from the mid-Republic to the third century C.E.

To comply with the Board of Regents, State of Iowa policy on student outcomes assessment, the Department of Classics has established a method to assess the achievement level of B.A. students completing one of the department's majors. Every student maintains a portfolio that details his or her progress in attaining the objectives of the major. The student submits the portfolio to the undergraduate advisor by midterm of the semester in which the student intends to graduate. Formal approval of the portfolio is required for graduation. Consult the undergraduate advisor for details.

B.A. with Teacher Licensure in Latin

For information about Teacher Education Programs and licensure, contact the Office of Teacher Education and Student Services in the College of Education; see Education in the Catalog.

Bachelor of Arts in Ancient Civilization

The Bachelor of Arts in ancient civilization requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 30 s.h. of work for the major. The program is sponsored by the Departments of Classics, History, and Religious Studies and the School of Art and Art History. It concentrates on the ancient civilization of the Mediterranean world, draws on courses offered by various University departments, and allows students to create individual programs.

Although the major is not preparation for graduate study in classics, it provides a sound basis for preparing teachers at the secondary school and junior college levels. It also provides a sound liberal arts and sciences basis for preprofessional training in law, medicine, and other professions.

The major requires the following course work. At least 15 of the required 30 s.h. must be earned in advanced work (20E courses at the 100 level, and Latin and Greek language courses numbered 20G:011 and 20G:012, or 20L:011 and 20L:012, or above). Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. Students must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program. 

To comply with the Board of Regents, State of Iowa policy on student outcomes assessment, the Department of Classics has established a method to assess the achievement level of B.A. students completing one of the department's majors. Every student maintains a portfolio that details his or her progress in attaining the objectives of the major. The student submits the portfolio to the undergraduate advisor by midterm of the semester in which the student intends to graduate. Formal approval of the portfolio is required for graduation. Consult the undergraduate advisor for details.

Four-Year Graduation Plan

The following checkpoints list the minimum requirements students must complete by certain semesters in order to stay on the University's Four-Year Graduation Plan. (Courses in the major are those required to complete the major; they may be offered by departments other than the major department.)

B.A. in Ancient Civilization

Before the third semester begins: at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: at least two courses in the major and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: at least six courses in the major and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: at least eight courses in the major

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

B.A. in Classical Languages: Greek and Latin

Before the third semester begins:20L:001 Elementary Latin I and 20L:002 Elementary Latin II, or 20G:001 Classical and New Testament Greek I and 20G:002 Classical and New Testament Greek II; and at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: 20L:011 World of Cicero, 20L:012 Golden Age of Roman Poetry, 20G:001 Classical and New Testament Greek I, and 20G:002 Classical and New Testament Greek II; or 20G:011 Second-Year Greek I, 20G:012 Second-Year Greek II, 20L:001 Elementary Latin I, and 20L:002 Elementary Latin II; and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: sixth semester of Latin and fourth semester of Greek, or sixth semester of Greek and fourth semester of Latin, two more courses in the major, and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: enrollment in at least two or three additional courses in the major

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

B.A. in Classical Languages: Greek Only

Before the third semester begins: 20G:001 Classical and New Testament Greek I, 20G:002 Classical and New Testament Greek II, and at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: 20G:011 Second-Year Greek I, 20G:012 Second-Year Greek II, and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: three or four more courses in the major and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: two or three more courses in the major

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

B.A. in Classical Languages: Latin Only

Before the third semester begins:20L:001 Elementary Latin I, 20L:002 Elementary Latin II, and at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: 20L:011 World of Cicero, 20L:012 Golden Age of Roman Poetry, and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: three or four more courses in the major and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: two or three more courses in the major

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

Honors

Membership in the University of Iowa Honors Program requires that students maintain a cumulative University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33 (contact the University of Iowa Honors Program for more information). Classics seniors who are members of the Honors Program and who have attained a g.p.a. of at least 3.50 in their first three years of classics courses may graduate with honors in classical languages or ancient civilization by completing two courses in honors reading, one each semester of the senior year, for 3 s.h. of credit each. The readings and discussions are on an ancient author or a field in ancient history or literature chosen by students and the instructor. At the end of the second semester, students present a long paper, which is read and judged for honors by two members of the department. Students who write an honors thesis in classical languages must be enrolled at the same time in the appropriate advanced language courses.

Minor in Ancient Civilization

The minor in ancient civilization requires a minimum of 15 s.h., including at least 12 s.h. in advanced courses taken at The University of Iowa. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the minor. Course work in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. A maximum of 6 s.h. of work for another University of Iowa major, minor, or certificate and up to 3 s.h. of lower-level transfer credit may be counted toward the minor.

Department of Classics courses in Greek numbered 20G:011 Second-Year Greek I or above and in Latin numbered 20L:011 World of Cicero or above are considered advanced for the minor in ancient civilization. Appropriate courses in art, religion, history, and philosophy may be counted toward the minor in ancient civilization, if approved by the undergraduate advisor. Students who have taken high school Greek or Latin should consult the advisor.

Minor in Classical Languages

The minor in classical languages requires a minimum of 18 s.h., including 12 s.h. in advanced courses taken at The University of Iowa. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the minor. Course work in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. Students may count one relevant classics department course taught in English (prefix 20E) toward the minor. A maximum of 6 s.h. of work for another University of Iowa major, minor, or certificate and up to 3 s.h. of lower-level transfer credit may be counted toward the minor.

The sequences 20G:011 Second-Year Greek I and 20G:012 Second-Year Greek II,  20L:011 World of Cicero and 20L:012 Golden Age of Roman Poetry, and Department of Classics courses numbered 100 and above are considered advanced for the minor in classical languages. Students may satisfy the requirements for the minor by completing 20G:011 Second-Year Greek I and 20G:012 Second-Year Greek II, 20L:011 World of Cicero and 20L:012 Golden Age of Roman Poetry, plus two 100-level courses, one of which may be a relevant 20E course in Greek or Roman history, culture, or literature. For a list of relevant courses, contact the undergraduate advisor. Students who have taken high school Greek or Latin should consult the advisor.

Minor in Greek

The minor in Greek requires a minimum of 15 s.h., including at least 12 s.h. in advanced courses taken at The University of Iowa. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the minor. Course work in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. Students may count one relevant classics department course taught in English (prefix 20E) toward the minor. A maximum of 6 s.h. of work for another University of Iowa major, minor, or certificate and up to 3 s.h. of lower-level transfer credit may be counted toward the minor.

The sequence 20G:011 Second-Year Greek I and 20G:012 Second-Year Greek II, and Department of Classics courses numbered 100 and above are considered advanced for the minor in Greek. Students may satisfy the requirements for the minor by completing 20G:011 Second-Year Greek I and 20G:012 Second-Year Greek II plus two 100-level courses, one of which may be a relevant 20E course in Greek history, culture, or literature. For a list of relevant courses, contact the undergraduate advisor. Students who have taken high school Greek should consult the advisor.

Minor in Latin

The minor in Latin requires a minimum of 15 s.h., including at least 12 s.h. in advanced courses taken at The University of Iowa. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the minor. Course work in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. Students may count one relevant classics department course taught in English (prefix 20E) toward the minor. A maximum of 6 s.h. of work for another University of Iowa major, minor, or certificate and up to 3 s.h. of lower-level transfer credit may be counted toward the minor.

The sequence 20L:011 World of Cicero and 20L:012 Golden Age of Roman Poetry, and Department of Classics courses numbered 100 and above are considered advanced for the minor in Latin. Students may satisfy the requirements for the minor by completing 20L:011 World of Cicero and 20L:012 Golden Age of Roman Poetry plus two 100-level courses, one of which may be a relevant 20E course in Roman history, culture, or literature. For a list of relevant courses, contact the undergraduate advisor. Students who have taken high school Latin should consult the advisor.

Language for Nonmajors

Nonmajors who wish to study Greek or Latin and who have background in either language should take either the Greek Foreign Language Placement Test or the Latin Foreign Language Placement Test, offered during summer orientation programs and monthly by Evaluation and Examination Service. The tests help determine the level at which a student should begin Greek or Latin language study at The University of Iowa.

Students who want to fulfill the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program foreign language requirement by studying Greek should take 20G:001 Classical and New Testament Greek I, 20G:002 Classical and New Testament Greek II, 20G:011 Second-Year Greek I, and 20G:012 Second-Year Greek II. Students must complete all four courses to fulfill the General Education Program requirement.

Students who want to fulfill the General Education foreign language requirement by studying Latin should take 20L:001 Elementary Latin I, 20L:002 Elementary Latin II, 20L:011 World of Cicero, and 20L:012 Golden Age of Roman Poetry. Students may take 20L:005 Accelerated Latin instead of 20L:001 Elementary Latin I and 20L:002 Elementary Latin II; they fulfill the General Education requirement by taking 20L:005 Accelerated Latin, 20L:011 World of Cicero, and 20L:012 Golden Age of Roman Poetry.  Since 20L:005 Accelerated Latin duplicates the content of 20L:001 Elementary Latin I and 20L:002 Elementary Latin II, students who take 20L:001 Elementary Latin I and 20L:002 Elementary Latin II, should not enroll in 20L:005 Accelerated Latin. 

Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Classics

The Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Classics requires 18 s.h. in Department of Classics courses numbered 100 and above (upper-level and graduate courses). The program is designed for students who have a baccalaureate and wish further study in Greek and Latin in order to be competitive for admission to a graduate program in classics. Entry to most graduate programs requires study of both Latin and Greek, normally a minimum of three years in one language and two years in the other.

The certificate is designed to be completed in two semesters by students who enter with two years of Latin and one to two years of Greek, or vice versa. It requires 18 s.h. in Department of Classics courses numbered 100 or above (upper-level and graduate courses), including at least 12 of the required 18 s.h. must be earned in Greek and Latin language courses. The remaining 6 s.h. may be earned in approved advanced 20E courses. Transfer credit is not accepted toward the certificate. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.00 to remain in good standing and complete the program.

A suggested plan of study for a student who enters the program with two years of Latin and one year of Greek is as follows.

Fall semester: 

Spring semester: 

A suggested plan of study for a student who enters the program with two years of Latin and two years of Greek is as follows.

Fall semester: 

Spring semester: 

Students who complete the program successfully receive a certificate from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and a letter from the Department of Classics.

Admission

Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum of two years of language study (two years of Latin or two years of Greek, or one year of each). In unusual circumstances, students with less language preparation may be admitted.

Applicants who are not enrolled in a graduate or professional program may apply to The University of Iowa as undergraduate transfer students; they must state on their application that they are applying to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for admission to the classics postbaccalaureate certificate program. They must submit transcripts confirming preparation for certificate language study, a statement of purpose, scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test, a writing sample, and three letters of recommendation from faculty members at their baccalaureate institution.

Graduate Programs

The department offers a Master of Arts in classics, Greek, and Latin; and a Doctor of Philosophy in classics.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog.

Master of Arts

The Master of Arts in classics, Greek, or Latin requires a minimum of 30 s.h. in courses numbered 101 and above. Students may count a maximum of 12 s.h. earned in courses numbered 101-199 toward the degree. Courses taken to compete the Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Classics do not count toward the degree.

Students must pass a sight examination in the language(s) studied and an examination on literature and history.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy in classics requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit, including the courses listed below (27 s.h.). Students may count no more than 12 s.h. earned in courses numbered 101-199 toward the degree. Courses taken to complete the Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Classics may not be counted toward the degree.

Students also must take precomprehensive and comprehensive examinations and write a dissertation.

REQUIRED COURSES 

The remaining course work is made up of Department of Classics and other courses.

PH.D. EXAMINATIONS

Ph.D. students must take precomprehensive exams in Latin sight reading and Greek sight reading and must attempt one sight reading exam by the end of their first year of graduate study. Competence in reading both German and French must be demonstrated by the end of the second year of study.

Students must take the second-year exam at the end of their second year. The remaining exams may be taken in any sequence. Students must file a request for the fourth-year comprehensive exam at least three weeks before the date of the exam.

Sight-Reading Exam

Latin: four hours, written

Greek: four hours, written

Second-Year Exam

Literature and history: four hours, written

Fourth-Year Comprehensive Exam

Greek and Roman history/material culture based on reading list: three hours, written

Latin literature, based on reading list: three hours, written

Greek literature, based on reading list: three hours, written

If a student performs unsatisfactorily on either or both of the Latin and Greek reading list exams, the director of graduate studies sets up an oral exam in order to review questions on which the student did not exhibit sufficient knowledge.

Special field or author (Greek): four hours, written

Special field or author (Latin): four hours, written

Facilities

The University of Iowa Main Library and the Art Library house extensive collections of classical texts and uninterrupted runs of classical periodicals from 1850 that facilitate research in the major areas of Greek and Roman civilization. The Department of Classics has a varied collection of slides on classical subjects and a small library of reference works, texts, and issues of classical and archaeological journals. The department's classical museum contains a small collection of coins, vases, and facsimiles in bronze from Mycenae, Pompeii, and Herculaneum.

The University is a supporting institution of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, the American Academy in Rome, and the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome. Consult the director of undergraduate studies for more information.

The department offers students the opportunity to participate in an archaeological dig during the summer. Contact the Department of Classics in mid-February for details.