Benjamin T. Lee, Associate Professor of Classics, Chair
Kirk W. Ormand, Professor of Classics
Christopher V. Trinacty, Assistant Professor of Classics
Thomas Van Nortwick, Nathan A. Greenberg Professor of Classics
Andrew Wilburn, Associate Professor of Classics
Introduction.
Due to the early and central position of Greek and Roman civilization in the development of the western tradition, acquaintance with classical thought and culture is an important part of a liberal arts education.
The department offers courses in Classical Civilization covering aspects of literary creation, historical and social process, and the Greek and Roman contribution to areas such as philosophy, religion, and government. No knowledge of Greek or Latin is required. These courses provide a broad background for all areas of literary and humanistic study.
The department offers courses in Greek and Latin language and literature for students who wish to develop a deeper understanding of ancient Greece and Rome. Acquisition of the languages is a prerequisite for advanced work. Elementary courses in the languages are designed to enable students to approach significant material as soon as possible.
Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Exams
Students who have been enrolled in the AP or IB programs in high school will be assigned advanced placement in accordance with the results of the qualifying examinations. A score of 4 or 5 on the AP Latin examination, or a 6 or 7 on the Latin IB Examination, is required for the award of college credit. Students will need to show the chair a syllabus and samples of their work in Latin to determine what level of class they will place into at Oberlin. Credits earned from the AP or IB exam do not count towards the number of language courses required for the majors in Greek and Latin, or towards the Classics and related courses for the Classical Civilization major.
Entry-Level Course Sequence Suggestions.
Students just beginning to approach the classics should begin with Classics 111 (Greek and Roman Epic), or Classics 112 (Greek and Roman Drama), or with Latin 101 or Greek 101. Students are encouraged to enroll in any language course for which they are qualified. All entering students who have studied Latin or Greek previously should consult with a member of the department before enrolling in any course in Latin or Greek.
Students with four years of secondary-school Latin (including Vergil) will ordinarily be eligible for Latin 202 (Cicero) offered in the second semester. Such students especially should consider beginning the study of Greek in the fall semester. Students with two or three years of secondary-school Latin will ordinarily be eligible for Latin 201 (Vergil).
Students who have had less than three semesters of Latin will be advised to enroll in or audit Latin 101, or to devote a Winter Term to review in order that they may enroll in Latin 102. Well-motivated students have done the equivalent of Greek 101 or of Latin 101 during a Winter Term and have then participated successfully in Greek 102 or Latin 102 in the spring.
Students considering a major in Greek or Latin should include in their freshman and sophomore programs four semesters of work in the language, Classics 111 or Classics 112, and either Classics 103 (History of Greece) or 104 (History of Rome). Students who plan to major in Classical Civilization should take Classics 111 or 112, Classics 103 and 104, and two semesters of either Greek or Latin as early as possible. Early consultation with the Classics Department concerning proposed plans of study is advisable, particularly for those who contemplate spending part of the junior or senior year in Rome or in Athens.