Classics
Why take courses in Classics?
Whether you’d like to roam the sea like Odysseus, reconstruct the Pantheon, socialize like Cleopatra, read the lyric poetry of Sappho, or roam the streets and houses of ancient Pompeii, courses in Classics can allow you to explore the world of antiquity from many different perspectives. As an interdisciplinary field, Classics encompasses literature, languages, archaeology, art, history, politics, philosophy, and society.
What does this field explore?
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Classics explores the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome in the context of the wider Mediterranean.
- We delve into the complexities of ancient texts, artifacts, and art, using these resources to understand the ancient Greeks and Romans.
- Utilizing such sources as a mirror to think more deeply about ourselves and the modern institutions they helped to form.
What advice would you give students interested in taking courses in Classics?
Take one of our introductory ancient literature or ancient history courses to see if the material is of interest. If you know you’re interested in Classics, we encourage you to take one of the ancient languages (Greek or Latin) as early as possible.
Taking Courses
Courses for non-majors or general interest
- The department offers a range of general interest courses, including the introductory literature and history courses mentioned above. Every year we also offer more specialized courses, such as: Magic and Mystery in the Ancient World; The Ancient and Modern Novel; The Age of Nero; Sexuality in Ancient Greece and Rome; Roman Egypt: Art, Culture, History.
Getting started in the major
The paths through the classics major are many and varied. Courses in related departments can count for the major, and at least one course must be in a department other than Classics.
Most students begin with an introductory literature course (Greek and Roman Epic, or Greek and Roman Drama), or one of the introductory ancient history courses (Greek History, Roman History). Students interested in the languages will begin with Elementary Greek or Elementary Latin. Students with significant experience in Latin from high school may begin with Latin 201, Intermediate Latin: Ovid.
Advanced Placement Credit
AP & HL-IB courses in the ancient languages & histories do not count as Oberlin courses towards the major. A 4 or 5 in AP (6 or 7 in HL IB), however, will result in advanced placement in the languages, which reduces the number of courses needed for the major. Refer to the AP/IB chart for complete information about AP test scores.
Majoring in the Classics Department
Provided are three examples of how a student could distribute courses required for the available majors over three or four years. Focusing first on Classical Civilization, then Greek Language & Literature, and finally Latin Language & Literature. See the catalog for additional details about major requirements.
Sample Four-Year Plans
| Civilization | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Y1 | CLAS 111 | CLAS 104 |
| Y2 | LATN 101 CLAS 103 |
LATN 102 |
| Y3 | CLAS 217 ARTH 215 |
CLAS 219 |
| Y4 | CLAS 307 CLAS 308 |
RELG 205 |
| Greek | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Y1 | GREK 101 CLAS 103 |
GREK 102 |
| Y2 | GREK 201 | GREK 202 CLAS 112 |
| Y3 | GREK 311 | GREK 320 HIST 209 |
| Y4 | CLAS 251 |
GREK 306 |
| Latin | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Y1 | LATN 101* | LATN 102* CLAS 104 |
| Y2 | LATN 201 CLAS 111 |
LATN 202 |
| Y3 | LATN 309 CLAS 251 |
LATN 321 |
| Y4 | CLAS 307 LATN 308 |
ENGL 304 |
*Latin 101 and 102 may be skipped if the student has learned sufficient Latin in High School. They are not required for the major.
Related Areas of Study
Archaeological Studies; Art History; Comparative Literature; English; Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies; History; Literary Translation; Philosophy; Religion; Theater.
Learn More
Classics Program Requirements
Classics Department