Classics

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Classics is a broadly interdisciplinary field. The curriculum of the Classics Department is designed to transmit knowledge and foster appreciation of the cultures of Greece and Rome in all their complexity — from study of their languages and literatures, myths and historical traditions, art and architecture, science and religion, philosophies and political thought — and aims as well to encourage reflection on the ways in which later ages have responded to the classical heritage.

The undergraduate classics major gives students an understanding of the cultures, languages and literatures of ancient Greece, Rome and the Mediterranean world. Most courses focus on ancient Greece and Rome, but students in the department also study the interactions among various ancient cultures, from the prehistoric Near East to the late antique Mediterranean, and the impact of classical cultures on later societies. Students choose one of three tracks in the major: Classical Languages and Literatures, Classical Humanities, and Ancient Civilizations. The department also offers four minors in areas of the discipline: Classics, Classical Greek, Latin and Classical Perspectives.

The graduate program in classics at USC aims to train students to become scholars, teachers and interpreters of ancient Mediterranean civilizations, of the Greek and Latin languages and literatures, and of the traditions that have developed from them. In order to prepare students to work in a variety of intellectual contexts, the department seeks to provide both a traditional, substantive training in classical philology and the intellectual flexibility that will enable them to make the world of the past available to audiences of the present.

USC is a member of the American Academy in Rome, the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome, the College Year in Athens program, and the American School of Classical Studies in Athens. In addition to pursuing study-abroad opportunities in Italy or Greece, Classics students also encouraged to explore courses in allied fields such as ancient philosophy, history, comparative literature, religion, art history and archaeology.

PED 130
(213) 740-3676
FAX: (213) 740-7360
Email: classics@dornsife.usc.edu
dornsife.usc.edu/clas

Chair: Ann Marie Yasin, PhD

Faculty

Professors: Anthony J. Boyle, MA; Susan Lape, PhD

Associate Professors: Christelle Fischer-Bovet, PhD; Stefano Rebaggiani, PhD; Daniel Richter, PhD*; Alexandre Roberts, PhD; Ann Marie Yasin, PhD (Art History)

Assistant Professors: Afroditi Angelopoulou, PhD; Brandon Bourgeois, PhD; Frederic Clark, PhD

Associate Professor (Teaching): Lucas Herchenroeder, PhD

Adjunct Professor: Claudia Moatti, PhD (Classics and Law)

Emeritus: Jane Cody, PhD; Vincent Farenga, PhD*; William G. Thalmann, PhD*

*Recipient of university-wide or college teaching award.

Departmental Honors in Classics

Departmental honors in classics will be awarded to students in all tracks of the classics major for work of exceptional academic merit in completing requirements for the capstone project. Candidates for honors will be nominated by the instructor of CLAS 410 and confirmed in a review of all nominees by the Undergraduate Studies Committee. Students in CLAS 410  who wish to be considered for departmental honors must submit their completed capstone projects to the course instructor by the end of the thirteenth week of the semester. Awardees will be announced by the end of the final week of classes.

Academic Distinction in Study of the Classical Languages

Special distinction will be awarded for students demonstrating exceptional proficiency in knowledge of the classical languages. The Classics Department Awards for Distinction in the Study of Greek and Latin will be given to students who pass sight translation exams in the languages. The exams will set by the Undergraduate Studies Committee and offered each year at the end of the spring semester. Passages for translation on the exam will be drawn from authors and works studied in 300-level courses in Latin and Greek taught in the department during the the most recent six semesters inclusive. The use of a dictionary is permitted for the exam.

Students Anticipating Graduate Study in Classics

Students interested in attending graduate school in classics are advised to take as many courses in Greek and/or Latin as possible.

Graduate Degrees

The graduate program in classics at USC aims to train students to become scholars, teachers and interpreters of ancient Mediterranean civilizations and their interactions with the Near East, of the Greek and Latin languages and literatures, and of the traditions that have developed from them. In order to prepare students to work in a variety of intellectual contexts, the department seeks to provide both a traditional substantive training in classical philology and the intellectual flexibility that will enable them to make the accomplishments of the past available to audiences of the present.

The department offers the PhD in Classics (Greek and Latin) and the MA in Classics. Collateral offerings are available in related departments, such as comparative literature, history, philosophy, art history, English and anthropology.

The graduate program offers mastery of traditional philological and linguistic skills as a basis for the study of ancient cultures, with emphasis on literature, other discursive practices and material culture. Students are encouraged to explore interdisciplinary approaches to classical studies and the relations between classics and other fields. Courses in related departments are recommended and degree requirements permit students to develop individual interests.

Admission Requirements

An applicant for admission will normally have an undergraduate major in classics, but programs may be arranged for promising students who do not. The student should have an undergraduate record satisfactory to the department. At least three letters of recommendation from the student’s undergraduate teachers are required. See the department website for detailed application instructions.

Degree Requirements

These degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation  section and The Graduate School  section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

Programs

• Classics (BA)

• Classical Greek Minor
• Classical Perspectives Minor
• Classics Minor
• Latin Minor

• Classics (MA)

• Classics (PhD)

Courses

• LAT 315 Cicero
• LAT 316 Roman Comedy
• LAT 317 The Roman Novel: Apuleius’ “Golden Ass”
• LAT 320 Vergil
• LAT 322 Lucretius’ De Rerum Natura
• LAT 325 Roman Historians
• LAT 365 Latin Literature of the Silver Age
• LAT 385 Late and Medieval Latin
• LAT 390 Special Problems
• LAT 450 Readings in Latin Literature
• LAT 490x Directed Research
• LAT 499 Special Topics