Spring 2025 Undergraduate Course Descriptions
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. The Department has a limited number of loaner textbooks for elementary language courses at the 1000-level.
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.
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 2100 level the following semester. This is an intensive course, so you should be prepared to make a substantial time commitment.
2101-2: This sequence provides intermediate language training in both prose and poetry. The completion of 2102 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 2101-2 or for those who have completed the intermediate sequence here.
3013 (Latin only): This new course is designed as a sequel or alternative to 3012 and aims to sharpen translation skills by concentrating on classical Latin prose.
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, Classical Studies, and Ancient Studies but is also open to juniors. 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 analyze a text philologically and thematically, and how to develop a bibliography. The course also provides upper-level students in Classics, Classical Studies, and Ancient Studies with an opportunity to get to know each other in a congenial and interactive environment.
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.
5139: This course focuses on enabling students to write, as well as read, Greek and Latin. It 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. Note: This is technically a graduate course, but undergraduates are welcome to enroll with the instructor’s permission. 5139 replaces the old 4139; the content of the course remains the same.
Classical Civilization and Literature in Translation
These courses are designed for both majors and 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
Courses in Modern Greek Language are offered at the elementary (1101-2), intermediate (2101-2), and advanced (3003) levels. Courses in the 3000/4000 range cover advanced topics in literature, classical reception, translation studies, politics, anthropology, history, and other areas. These courses count toward the Program's minors and often partially fulfil requirements for majors and minors in other programs, such as Classics, Mediterranean Studies, Gender and Sexuality, Comparative Literature, and global core requirements.
Students interested in Modern Greek/Hellenic Studies should check the individual course descriptions and consult Nikolas P. Kakkoufa, Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Program in Hellenic Studies, who will be delighted to provide further information regarding the paths of study in Modern Greek and Hellenic Studies.