All works read in English. Great works of Greek literature, history, and philosophy from the 5th and early 4th centuries B.C., one of the most remarkable periods of intellectual, artistic, and political activity. Authors read include Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Herodotus, Thucydides, Aristophanes, and Plato.

From gods and heroes to witches, monsters, and legendary rulers, the imagination of the ancient Mediterranean was populated with a dynamic cast of characters and the myths that told their stories. In this class, we will explore Greek and Roman mythology through ancient art and literature as well as selected modern art, literature, and film that take classical myths as their inspiration. As we go, we'll become familiar with some of the most significant and influential mythology of the classical world, and we will learn how to apply strategies like close reading, comparative analysis, and critical theory to these myths to help us ask: What is a myth? What do myths mean, and why are they important? And what do ancient mythology and the modern day have to say to each other?

Language is power. Nowhere is that truer than in the language of science, which is based on Greek and Latin. In this course, students dramatically increase their understanding and command of scientific terminology through learning its Greek and Latin roots. Students in biology, chemistry, nursing, nutrition, and other science programs will save themselves numerous hours of study by taking this class—and hundreds of hours if they plan on graduate entrance exams and study. And all students, regardless of major, will improve their scientific literacy, ability to navigate their health histories and healthcare, and fluency with English in general, which also owes a major debt to Greek and Latin. What is more, this class will help you experience the study of language as an enjoyable adventure in exploration, rather than a burdensome task. Languages do not materialize out of nothing. They are based on thousands of root words that have moved through time and now join in a variety of combinations that give meaning. Every day your words carry a legacy of human history that stretches back millennia. Greek and Latin are alive and well, and in this class, you will study words that enable you to understand the present and past and to advocate for yourself, your family, your friends, and your fellow citizens.

Vision and decision, across 5000 years of human history: this is the subject of Grand Strategy. In this course, we will consider a vast array of case studies, starting from the depths of ancient history and moving into the present moment. Along the way, we will witness the spectacular successes and failures of some of the most famous leaders of all time. We will ask a series of interrelated questions that will enable us to understand past human behavior and to best prepare ourselves for how to grapple with crises now, political and personal (and broadly defined). What resources did leaders have? How did they use them? To what effect? How should we explain success or failure? What can we learn from later creative reflections on these movers and shakers in society? How should we apply the past to the present? Is there a reliable recipe for success? As we grapple with such questions and seek truth, students will have opportunities to apply what we learn in a modern context. They will collaborate on responses to global crises and consider how this course can help them to lead lives of positive impact and deep meaning. If you want big history, big questions, and (possibly) big answers, join us.

When we read a novel, attend a play, or even listen to a tall tale, we’re told stories about things that haven’t really happened by people who aren’t telling us the truth. How is it, then, that made-up stories can seem meaningful? Is there truth in fiction, or is fiction a type of lie? And—as many ancient readers and writers wondered—does that make fiction dangerous? This course will trace the ways that ancient Greek and Roman poets, playwrights, philosophers, and other writers explored these questions in a range of time periods, literary genres, and artistic works. Beginning with an introduction to the Greek philosophical concept of mimesis (imitation/artistic representation) and working up to the first sci-fi novel, we’ll consider how classical authors and artists evaluate and represent different types of invention and their relationships to truth and storytelling. Periodically we will pause in our consideration of ancient works and hold roundtable discussions evaluating our overarching question: what is at stake when we distinguish between truth, lies, and fiction? Throughout the term, we will practice the skills of academic research and writing, including close reading, evaluating sources, prewriting, drafting, and integrating feedback. Students will develop a research question in consultation with the instructor and answer it in a term paper composed in stages over the term.

All Classics: Ancient Mediterranean Studies majors and Classics: Classical Languages majors must present a senior project in a public forum. In consultation with a faculty advisor, students choose a project appropriate to their previous course of study and/or their individual goals. Students completing 398 on a topic relevant to their Classics major do not need to complete CLAS 399.