Classics
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Highlights
Classics Major
Eight courses in Latin (beyond introductory), Latin prose composition and four courses in Greek required
Classical Civilization Major
Six courses in Latin and/or Greek and six other courses (four must be civilization courses employing texts already translated into English)
Student Organization
Eta Sigma Phi – Classics Honor Society
Classics Study Abroad
American School of Classical Studies, Athens; American Academy, Rome; Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies, Rome; Loyola’s own study abroad programs, including one in Rome
Program Description
American culture is profoundly rooted in classical civilization. Our literature, political system, art, language, values and philosophy are all, in a sense, either developments from, improvements upon, or reactions to the legacy of the ancients. Christianity, too, was born and took shape in the classical world. If we understand the ancients, we better understand not only where we have come from, but who we are. Study of the classics sharpens one's ability to read accurately and perceptively; to use and respond to language and ideas; to understand how to express oneself, convince others, and even think. These are skills required of leaders in the 21st century. Perhaps most important, the study of the Classics is fun. Classics majors read some of the most wonderful, moving, subversive and joyful works of literature. They encounter challenging and exciting ideas that gave birth to democracy and philosophy. They keep company with intriguing, often infamous people such as Socrates, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Achilles, Nero and Antigone. They encounter events that changed the world.
Curriculum
Classics majors take a variety of upper-division courses entailing translation, analysis and discussion of Latin texts and also take at least four semesters of Greek. Classical civilization majors take 12 courses, six of which must be in the ancient languages. Of the other six, at least four must be classical civilization courses employing texts already translated into English; these courses are cross-listed in the Departments of English, Fine Arts, History, Philosophy, Political Science and Theology, as well as in the Honors Program.
The classical civilization major is particularly suited to students interested in ancient culture, literature, thought, history, art and archaeology, but who will not need extensive knowledge of the languages. The major is especially attractive to students who are interested in completing a second major in another department. Pre-medical and prospective law students are encouraged to major or minor in classics to add distinction to their applications for medical or law school. Indeed, majors often take advantage of the Department of Classics’ flexibility to pursue a broad range of studies and careers.
Since classics is the study of civilizations in all their manifestations, the field consists of several specialties, including history, literature, art, archaeology, philosophy, linguistics and language.
Through upper-division Latin classes, our recent majors have translated and edited two books, What Would You Die For? Perpetua's Passion (Apprentice House, 2005) and Stratocles, or War (forthcoming, Apprentice House, 2008). It is the department's expectation that every major will participate in the publication of a book of original research.
Facilities
The Department of Classics participates in the Perseus System, a state-of-the-art, interactive computer-video system. Perseus integrates photographs, video, text, maps, translations, illustrations and other material in a user-driven multimedia reference system that revolutionizes classical instruction. This technology is also available to students outside the classroom. The Walters Art Museum, convenient to Loyola, has one of the preeminent classical collections in the United States.
Placement
From recent graduating classes, students have gone on to Ph.D. programs in Classics, History, Chemistry, Philosophy, Art History, and Anthropology at leading graduate schools, to law school, to private and public high school teaching, to government and service postions, and into the general workforce. This diversity is typical.
The classics and classical civilization majors prepare students for any occupation that prizes discipline, sensitivity to and understanding of language, rigorous thinking and intellectual versatility.
Other Activities
Loyola's chapter of Eta Sigma Phi, the National Classics Honor Society, and the Department of Classics are very active in sponsoring guest lecturers, field trips to museums in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and New York, film nights, brunches, classical banquets and other events. Classics students also have the opportunity to attend summer study abroad programs in Athens and Rome under the auspices of the American School of Classical Studies in Athens and the American Academy in Rome. These programs offer guided study tours of the most famous ancient sites of Italy and Greece-the Roman forum, the Pantheon, the Akropolis, the Agora-and even provide opportunities for excavation for interested students. Loyola is also a cooperating institution of the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies (ICCS) in Rome - the premier study abroad program for students of the Classics. Many classics and Classical Civilization majors spend a semester or a year abroad at the ICCS or one of Loyola College's many study abroad programs, including our program in Rome.
Faculty
Loyola's classics faculty love talking to students about the classical civilizations. Interests and areas of expertise vary widely-from Greek and Roman literature to ancient art and archaeology to history to the effects of the Classics on the modern world. As active, published scholars, have published or are currently working on books and articles on ancient religtion, the ancient novel, the epic poets Virgil and Ovid, mythology, Shakespeare and his classical influences, ancient comedy and tragedy, the early Christians, Roman imperialism, Greek inscriptions, the intersection of the Latin language and Roman worship, ancient biography, the classical tradition in the 19th century, Greek federalism, the history of Christmas and other topics. Represented here are Fellows of the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, the American Academy in Rome, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the German Academic Exchange Service.
- Thomas D. McCreight
Assistant Professor
B.A., Brown University
M.A., City University of New York
Ph.D., Duke University
Areas of interest: Latin literature, ancient rhetoric, ancient religion, film and the Classics, Renaissance Latin drama
Robert S. Miola
Professor
B.A., Fordham University
M.A., Ph.D., University of Rochester
Areas of interest: Greek and Roman drama, epic, the classical tradtion, Shakespeare and the Classics, early modern Catholic literatureWilliam Short
Visiting Assistant Professor
B.A., University of Michigan
M.A. Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Areas of interest: Latin literature, cultural and linguistic anthropology, rhetoric and Latin stylistics
Martha C. Taylor
Associate Professor
A.B., Bryn Mawr College
M.A., Ph.D., Stanford University
Areas of interest: Greek history, Greek art & archaeology, and Roman history
Joseph J. Walsh
Department Chair, Professor
A.B., Fairfield University
M.A., SUNY (Buffalo)
Ph.D., University of Texas (Austin)
Areas of interest: Roman history, early Christianity, Latin literature, Greek history, the classical tradition, history of Christmas
Course Sequence
1st year
Intermediate Latin
Latin Golden Age of Prose and Poetry
Core courses (6)
General electives (2)
2nd year
Latin electives (2)
Core courses (6)
General electives (2)
3rd year
Latin electives (2)
Introductory Greek I & II
Core courses (2)
General electives (4)
4th year
Latin electives (2)
Latin Prose Composition
Introduction to Attic Prose
Homer
Core course
General electives (4)
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