Andrew Wilburn, Associate Professor of Classics, Chair
Naomi T. Campa, Visiting Asst Prof of Classics & Mellon Post-doctoral Fellow
Benjamin T. Lee, Associate Professor of Classics
Kirk W. Ormand, Professor of Classics
Christopher V. Trinacty, Assistant Professor of Classics
Thomas Van Nortwick, Nathan A. Greenberg Professor of Classics
Introduction.
The cultures of ancient Greece and Rome have made a lasting impact on Western literature, philosophy, science, and the arts. The study of these cultures within the broader context of the ancient Mediterranean has much to tell us about the relation of the past to the present, as well as about who we are in contemporary society.
The Classics Department offers courses in classical civilization that cover literature, history and society, as well as Greek and Roman contributions to philosophy, religion and government. No knowledge of Greek or Latin is required for these courses. Rather, we have designed these classes to provide a broad background for students interested in all areas of literary, humanistic, artistic, and historical study.
A series of courses in Greek and Latin language and literature develops a deeper understanding of the works of ancient Greece and Rome and enables students to make independent judgments about ancient society through the study of source documents in their original languages. The Classics Department provides introductory courses in ancient Greek and Latin to enable students to approach significant material as soon as possible. Advanced seminars aim at close study of one or two ancient authors.
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 required courses in the majors but will result in advanced placement.
Entry-Level Course Sequence Suggestions.
Students just beginning to approach the classics should begin with Classics 111 (Greek and Roman Epic), Classics 112 (Greek and Roman Drama), Classics 103 (History of Greece) or Classics 104 (History of Rome), 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 201 (Cicero) offered in the first semester. Such students especially should consider beginning the study of Greek in the fall semester.
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 first year and second year programs four semesters of work in the language, Classics 111 (Greek and Roman Epic) or Classics 112 (Greek and Roman Drama), 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.
