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Classics (CLAS)

CLAS 121 Ancient Egypt: Mummies, Pharaohs, and Gods (3)

An overview of ancient Egyptian civilization through lectures and class discussion on Egyptian literature, archaeology, history, religion and society.

CLAS 122 Greek, Roman, and Ancient Mythology (3)

Combines readings and analyses of myths from the ancient world including Europe, Asia, Africa, and Hawai‘i, with an emphasis on comparative analysis of cultures and religions.

CLAS 123 Greek and Latin Elements in English (3)

Important roots, prefixes, and suffixes for building a literary vocabulary.

CLAS 124 Greek and Latin Elements in Scientific Terminology (3)

Important roots, prefixes, and suffixes for building a scientific vocabulary.

CLAS 151 World Myth to 1500 C.E. (3)

Reading and analysis of myths and legends from around the globe, from before the dawn of writing to 1500 C.E. Students will learn to interpret traditional stories from several theoretical and cross-cultural perspectives. A-F only.

CLAS 211 Understanding Ancient Religions (3)

Comparative and historical survey of the religious beliefs and practices in ancient times throughout Egypt, Mesopotamia, Syria-Canaan, Anatolia, Persia, Greece, and Rome. A-F only. (Cross-listed as REL 211)

CLAS 300 Myth, Religion, and Society (3)

Theories and methods used in the study of myth, ritual, and
religion. Sophomore standing or higher. (Cross-listed as REL 300) DH

CLAS 301 Biblical Hebrew I (3)

Orthography and structure of Biblical Hebrew, history and development of Hebrew as the sacred language of Judaism, overview of religious and historical development of the Hebrew Bible. Pre: sophomore standing or consent. (Fall only) (Cross-listed as REL 301)

CLAS 302 Biblical Hebrew II (3)

Reading of selected prose passages from the Hebrew Bible; essay-based analysis of literary forms, with attention given both to stories important to the development of the Abrahamic religions and writing-based interpretation of religious traditions. Pre: REL/CLAS 301 with C- or better. (Spring only) (Cross-listed as REL 302) 

CLAS 304 Indigenous & Decolonial Approaches to Religion and Culture (3)

Introduction to indigenous and decolonial approaches to the study of religion and culture. Includes a critical assessment of tools and terminology traditionally used in academia. Sophomore standing or higher. (Cross-listed as REL 304)

CLAS 305 Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics I (3)

Decipherment of hieroglyphs and reading of Middle Egyptian literary texts. (Fall only)

CLAS 306 Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics II (3)

Decipherment of hieroglyphs and reading of Middle Egyptian literary texts, including Tale of Sinuhe. Pre: 305 or permission of instructor. (Spring only)

CLAS 321 History of the Written Word (3)

A hands-on history of writing beginning in Ancient Greece and Rome. Content includes the development of the alphabet, scripts, books, libraries, and writing in ancient culture. Sophomore standing or consent.

CLAS 322 Classics Ancient and Modern (3)

Provides an in-depth introduction to a major work of classical
literature and its impact on both ancient and modern poetry, prose, art, and intellectual history. Sophomore standing or higher. DL

CLAS 323 Greek and Roman Drama (3)

Survey of Greek and Roman drama, both tragedies and comedies, tracing the history of a genre that contains some of the wittiest and most agonizing moments in ancient literature. Pre: sophomore standing or higher.

CLAS 324 Nature in the Ancient World (3)

Study of the relationship between the Greeks and Romans and the natural environment. Particular attention will be given to the place of nature in ancient science, philosophy, literature, and “real life.” Assignments are essay-based. Pre: sophomore standing or higher.

CLAS 325 Greek and Roman War Literature (3)

Survey of war-related literature from Greece and Rome, its major themes, and how it reflects the wide range of social, political, intellectual, and literary perspectives on war found in the ancient world. Pre: sophomore standing or higher, or consent. (Cross-listed as PACE 325)

CLAS 326 The Greek and Roman Novel (3)

Survey of Greek and Roman novels, a collection of highly entertaining texts that offer windows into various aspects of life in the ancient world. Pre: sophomore standing or higher.

CLAS 327 Ancient Greek Literature in Translation (3)

Major writers: emphasis on Homer, drama, and philosophy. Assignments are essay-based and attention is given to developing academic writing skills. Pre: sophomore standing or higher or consent.

CLAS 328 Ancient Roman Literature in Translation (3)

Major writers: emphasis on Vergil, satire, and novel. Pre: sophomore standing or higher or consent.

CLAS 329 Greek and Roman Epic (3)

A survey of Greek and Roman epic literature, beginning with Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey and proceeding through the Hellenistic Greek and Roman periods. Pre: sophomore standing or consent.

CLAS 332 Topics in Ancient Greek Thought (3)

Explore a central aspect of ancient Greek philosophy and literature. This may be a theme, such as tragedy or emotions; a thinker, such as Aristotle; or a since monumental text, such as Plato’s Republic. Pre: one PHIL 200-level course, or consent. (Cross-listed as PHIL 332)

CLAS 355 Archaeology of Ancient Greece (3)

Introduction to the field of Greek archaeology and methods of archaeological research in the Mediterranean. Pre: sophomore standing or higher.

CLAS 356 Archaeology of Ancient Rome (3)

Examines the archaeology of the Roman world from the Etruscan period to the reign of the emperor Constantine. Pre: sophomore standing or higher.

CLAS 362 Gender and Sexuality in the Classical World (3)

Critical examination of the construction of gender identity and sexuality in ancient Greece and Rome. Junior standing or higher. (Once a year) (Cross-listed as HIST 362)

CLAS 366 Literatures of Ancient India (3)

Survey of South Asian literature from ancient times to the early medieval period; focusing on Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Tamil poetry traditions. Readings in English translation. (Cross-listed as IP 366)

CLAS 373 Art of Greece and Rome (3)

Minoan and Mycenaean arts; Greece and Rome. Pre: ART 175 or consent. (Cross-listed as ART 373)

CLAS 430 Persia, Greece, and Rome in the Classical Age (3)

Historical examination of the interaction between the Achaemenid and Parthian empires of Persia and the classical societies of the Mediterranean, such as the Greek city-states, Macedonia, the Hellenistic, and Roman Empires. Recommended: HIST 151. (Cross-listed as HIST 430)