The cross-disciplinary Classical Studies Program engages students with the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome and their influence, both past and present, on western and world cultures. The Classical Studies minor and Interdisciplinary Studies major include an integrated curriculum of courses in the cultures, literatures, history, archaeology, and art of ancient Greece and Rome from prehistoric times to the reign of the Emperor Constantine. Students also study Elementary Latin. Current information about the Program may be found at: http://language.iastate.edu/academic-programs/classical-studies/.
Courses in Classical Studies provide background and a classical context for students whose major fields of study or career interests include History, Anthropology, English, World Languages and Cultures, Philosophy, Women’s and Gender Studies, material culture, law, medicine, political science, the life sciences, and related fields.
Students interested in pursuing an Interdisciplinary Studies major or minor in Classical Studies should meet with an academic advisor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures (https://language.iastate.edu/advising/) and the Classical Studies Program director (https://language.iastate.edu/directory/#clst).
(Note: neither this major nor minor prepares students for graduate study in Classical Studies.)
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of their program of study, students with an interdisciplinary studies major in Classical Studies will demonstrate proficiency in three goal areas: Knowledge and Evidence, Interdisciplinarity, and Cross-Cultural Literacy.
1. Knowledge and Evidence: acquisition and communication of knowledge about the ancient Greco-Roman world through the use, critical evaluation, and contextualization of diverse bodies of evidence.
2. Interdisciplinarity: integration of subdisciplines and other fields and their methodologies to understand the complexities and limitations of various bodies of evidence and connect texts and artifacts to their cultural contexts.
3. Cross-Cultural Literacy: meaningful and creative engagement with multiple perspectives, ability to think from the perspective of a different value system and imagine different everyday experiences and different social norms.
Interdisciplinary Studies Major in Classical Studies (CL ST)
Students interested in pursuing an Interdisciplinary Studies major in Classical Studies should consult the Program Chair (see "Program Faculty" at https://language.iastate.edu/classical-studies/) or an Academic Advisor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures (https://language.iastate.edu/advising/).
| Required Latin Languages Courses (6 Credits) | ||
| (1000-level courses cannot count toward major credit requirements.) | ||
| LATIN 1010 | Elementary Latin I | 3 |
| LATIN 1020 | Elementary Latin II | 3 |
The major requires 36 credits and permits great flexibility while maintaining academic rigor, breadth, and focus. Many courses are cross listed with those in other departments (see course descriptions, below).
| A. Required Foundation Course: (3 credits) | ||
| CLST 2730 | Greek and Roman Mythology | 3 |
| or CLST 2750 | The Ancient City | |
| B. Required Ancient History Courses: (6 credits) | ||
| CLST 4020 | Greek Civilization | 3 |
| CLST 4030 | Roman Civilization | 3 |
| C. Additional Courses: Students must take at least 27 credits chosen from a, b, and c below (or approved by the Program Committee), with a minimum of 3 credits from each section (not including the course used for the Required Foundation Course). | ||
| a) Material Culture and Art: (at least 3 credits) | ||
| CLST 3690 | Ancient Egypt | 3 |
| CLST 3760A | Classical Archeology: Bronze Age and Early Iron Age Greece | 3 |
| CLST 3760B | Classical Archeology: Archaic through Hellenistic Greece (ca 700-30 BCE) | 3 |
| CLST 3760C | Classical Archaeology: Roman Archaeology (ca 1000 BCE-400 CE) | 3 |
| CLST 3830 | Greek and Roman Art | 3 |
| CLST 3840 | Roman Italy: An Introduction | 2 |
| CLST 3850 | Study Abroad: Roman Italy: Building the Empire | 3 |
| CLST 3940 | The Archaeology of Greece: An Introduction | 2 |
| CLST 3950 | Study Abroad: The Archaeology of Greece | 2-6 |
| b) Literature: (at least 3 credits) | ||
| CLST 3530 | World Literature: Western Foundations through Renaissance | 3 |
| CLST 3720 | Greek and Roman Tragedy and Comedy | 3 |
| CLST 3730 | Heroes of Greece, Rome, and Today | 3 |
| c) Cultural Studies: (at least 3 credits) | ||
| CLST 2730 | Greek and Roman Mythology | 3 |
| CLST 2750 | The Ancient City | 3 |
| CLST 3100 | Ancient Philosophy | 3 |
| CLST 3500 | Rhetorical Traditions | 3 |
| CLST 3670 | Christianity in the Roman Empire | 3 |
| CLST 3680 | Religions of Ancient Greece and Rome | 3 |
| CLST 3740 | Sex, Gender, and Culture in the Ancient Mediterranean World | 3 |
| CLST 4300 | Foundations of Western Political Thought | 3 |
| CLST 4800 | Seminar in Classical Studies | 3 |
| CLST 4900 | Independent Study | 1-6 |
| LATIN 4900 | Independent Study | 1-6 |
| CLST 5120A | Readings Seminar in European History: Ancient | 3 |
| CLST 5300 | Foundations of Western Political Thought | 3 |
| CLST 5940A | Research Seminar in European History: Ancient | 3 |
Notes
1. The list of acceptable courses may include courses not currently in the list above. Contact the Classical Studies Program director for information on eligible courses.
2. The general requirements for the Interdisciplinary Studies major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must be met. All courses in the major must be at the 2000-level or higher. At least 15 credits must be at the 3000-level or higher with at least 6 credits at the 4000-level or higher. An average grade of C or better must be earned in 15 credits at the 3000-level or higher in the major.
3. Communication Proficiency requirement: According to the university-wide Communication Proficiency Grade Requirement, students must demonstrate their communication proficiency by earning a grade of C or better in ENGL 2500 Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (or ENGL 2500H Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition: Honors). In addition, the Department requires a grade of C or better in any course numbered between 3500 and 3790 in Classical Studies.
4. LATIN 4900 Independent Study (1-6 credits, repeatable up to 9 credits): This option will only occasionally be available and only to students who have successfully completed intermediate-level Latin coursework elsewhere.
As majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies students must meet College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University-wide requirements for graduation in addition to those stated above for the major.
LAS majors require a minimum of 120 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at the 3000/4000 level. You must also complete the LAS world language requirement and career proficiency requirement.
Students in all ISU majors must complete a three-credit course in U.S. cultures and communities (formerly U.S. diversity) and a three-credit course in international perspectives. Check (http://www.registrar.iastate.edu/courses/div-ip-guide.html) for a list of approved courses. Discuss with your advisor how the two courses that you select can be applied to your graduation plan.
Minor in Classical Studies
The minor in Classical Studies requires 18 credits: 6 credits of Latin and 12 credits of CLST courses taught in English. The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement.
| a) The following set of courses in Latin: (6 credits) | ||
| LATIN 1010 | Elementary Latin I | 3 |
| LATIN 1020 | Elementary Latin II | 3 |
| b) One of the following introductory courses: (3 credits) | 3 | |
| Greek and Roman Mythology (or ) | ||
| The Ancient City | ||
| c) One course in ancient history from those listed below or approved by the program committee: (3 credits) | 3 | |
| Greek Civilization | ||
| Roman Civilization | ||
| d) Two additional courses (not used to meet other CL ST minor requirements) from those listed below or approved by the program committee: (6 credits) | 6 | |
| One of these classes (3 crs) must be at the 3000-level or above. | ||
| Greek and Roman Mythology | ||
| The Ancient City | ||
| Ancient Philosophy | ||
| Rhetorical Traditions | ||
| World Literature: Western Foundations through Renaissance | ||
| Christianity in the Roman Empire | ||
| Religions of Ancient Greece and Rome | ||
| Ancient Egypt | ||
| Greek and Roman Tragedy and Comedy | ||
| Heroes of Greece, Rome, and Today | ||
| Sex, Gender, and Culture in the Ancient Mediterranean World | ||
| Classical Archeology: Bronze Age and Early Iron Age Greece | ||
| Classical Archeology: Archaic through Hellenistic Greece (ca 700-30 BCE) | ||
| Classical Archaeology: Roman Archaeology (ca 1000 BCE-400 CE) | ||
| Greek and Roman Art | ||
| Roman Italy: An Introduction | ||
| Study Abroad: Roman Italy: Building the Empire | ||
| The Archaeology of Greece: An Introduction | ||
| Study Abroad: The Archaeology of Greece | ||
| Greek Civilization | ||
| Roman Civilization | ||
| Foundations of Western Political Thought | ||
| Seminar in Classical Studies | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Readings Seminar in European History: Ancient | ||
| Foundations of Western Political Thought | ||
| Research Seminar in European History: Ancient | ||
| Independent Study | ||