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Classical Studies

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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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)
(100-level courses cannot count toward major credit requirements.)
LATIN 101Elementary Latin I3
LATIN 102Elementary 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)
CL ST 273Greek and Roman Mythology3
or CL ST 275 The Ancient City
B. Required Ancient History Courses: (6 credits)
CL ST 402Greek Civilization.3
CL ST 403Roman 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)
CL ST 369Ancient Egypt3
CL ST 376AClassical Archeology: Bronze Age and Early Iron Age Greece3
CL ST 376BClassical Archeology: Archaic through Hellenistic Greece (ca 700-30 BCE)3
CL ST 376CClassical Archaeology: Roman Archaeology (ca 1000 BCE-400 CE)3
CL ST 383Greek and Roman Art3
CL ST 384Roman Italy: An Introduction2
CL ST 385Study Abroad: Roman Italy: Building the Empire3
CL ST 394The Archaeology of Greece: An Introduction2
CL ST 395Study Abroad: The Archaeology of Greece2-6
b) Literature: (at least 3 credits)
CL ST 353World Literature: Western Foundations through Renaissance3
CL ST 372Greek and Roman Tragedy and Comedy3
CL ST 373Heroes of Greece, Rome, and Today3
c) Cultural Studies: (at least 3 credits)
CL ST 273Greek and Roman Mythology3
CL ST 275The Ancient City3
CL ST 310Ancient Philosophy3
CL ST 350Rhetorical Traditions3
CL ST 367Christianity in the Roman Empire3
CL ST 368Religions of Ancient Greece and Rome3
CL ST 374Sex, Gender, and Culture in the Ancient Mediterranean World3
CL ST 430Foundations of Western Political Thought3
CL ST 480Seminar in Classical Studies3
CL ST 490Independent Study1-6
LATIN 490Independent Study1-6
CL ST 512AReadings Seminar in European History: Ancient3
CL ST 530Foundations of Western Political Thought3
CL ST 594AResearch 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 200-level or higher. At least 15 credits must be at the 300-level or higher with at least 6 credits at the 400-level or higher. An average grade of C or better must be earned in 15 credits at the 300-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 250 Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (or ENGL 250H Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition: Honors). In addition, the Department requires a grade of C or better in any course numbered between 350 and 379 in Classical Studies.

4. LATIN 490 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 300/400 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. 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 CL ST 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 101Elementary Latin I3
LATIN 102Elementary 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 300-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