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Classical Studies

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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 1010Elementary Latin I3
LATIN 1020Elementary Latin II3

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 2730Greek and Roman Mythology3
or CLST 2750 The Ancient City
B. Required Ancient History Courses: (6 credits)
CLST 4020Greek Civilization3
CLST 4030Roman Civilization3
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 3690Ancient Egypt3
CLST 3760AClassical Archeology: Bronze Age and Early Iron Age Greece3
CLST 3760BClassical Archeology: Archaic through Hellenistic Greece (ca 700-30 BCE)3
CLST 3760CClassical Archaeology: Roman Archaeology (ca 1000 BCE-400 CE)3
CLST 3830Greek and Roman Art3
CLST 3840Roman Italy: An Introduction2
CLST 3850Study Abroad: Roman Italy: Building the Empire3
CLST 3940The Archaeology of Greece: An Introduction2
CLST 3950Study Abroad: The Archaeology of Greece2-6
b) Literature: (at least 3 credits)
CLST 3530World Literature: Western Foundations through Renaissance3
CLST 3720Greek and Roman Tragedy and Comedy3
CLST 3730Heroes of Greece, Rome, and Today3
c) Cultural Studies: (at least 3 credits)
CLST 2730Greek and Roman Mythology3
CLST 2750The Ancient City3
CLST 3100Ancient Philosophy3
CLST 3500Rhetorical Traditions3
CLST 3670Christianity in the Roman Empire3
CLST 3680Religions of Ancient Greece and Rome3
CLST 3740Sex, Gender, and Culture in the Ancient Mediterranean World3
CLST 4300Foundations of Western Political Thought3
CLST 4800Seminar in Classical Studies3
CLST 4900Independent Study1-6
LATIN 4900Independent Study1-6
CLST 5120AReadings Seminar in European History: Ancient3
CLST 5300Foundations of Western Political Thought3
CLST 5940AResearch Seminar in European History: Ancient3

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 1010Elementary Latin I3
LATIN 1020Elementary Latin II3
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