This week we’re back with even more courses being offered in the fall, only this time we have some from the more advanced years. Later courses in the program start to develop your interests in a much more specialized way, toward history, textual analysis, art, or even field archaeology. I’ve taken a few of these courses, and spoken with students who have taken the others, and hope to provide you with a good picture of our advanced offerings for the fall term.
CLAS 242: Survey of Roman Art and Architecture
From the frescoes of Pompeii to the Prima Porta, this course will take you on a whirlwind tour of the art of ancient Rome. Be prepared to familiarize yourself with dozens of works of art, some of the tests will involve writing about their artists and historical significance just from looking at the work. It can be a challenge, but it’s a good skill to develop, and the incomparable Dr. Craig Hardiman will do his best to instil it in you. Also very useful at cocktail parties. This is cross-listed with FINE 242, so it’ll also fill your fine, performing, and communication arts requirement for your BA.
CLAS 221: Principles of Archaeology
If you’re interested in field archaeology, this course is a must-take. Professor Russell Adams will go over dating techniques and other technical aspects of archaeology as well as the principles and approaches of the discipline. Get ready to learn why archaeologists get so excited about bits of rock, shards of pottery, seeds and pollen, and fossilized poop. It’s pretty awesome stuff, no joke. Also, it’s cross-listed with Anth 201, which means it can fill a social sciences requirement for your BA.
CLAS 210: History of Ancient Law
Study the origins of legal codes under Professor Paul Lavigne of St Jerome’s College, including those of the Babylonians and the Hittites. Find out where some of the essential components of our own laws come from, and what ancient peoples really valued in a civil society. You’ll also learn how those codes adapted over time to cultural and economic pressures. And it’s cross-listed with History 210, so if you were considering a history minor to supplement your classics degree, or the other way around, it’s a sure bet.
CLAS 331: Advanced Studies in Ancient Literature
For third year students or ambitious second years, this course offers a survey of ancient Greek or Roman literature, organized along a theme. Previous years have looked at comedy, epic, satire, slavery, and a number of other topics. All of the material is in English, and you’ll likely be dealing with both poetry and prose to get a full appreciation for the writing of ancient times. Taught by Dr. Christina Vester, who is an expert in ancient tragedy and comedy and our Undergraduate Chair, this course will broaden your literary horizons and challenge your preconceptions about the values and people of the ancient world.
And that’s all for this week. Next week we’ll have Classics for Parents, for students interested in the major.
Jim Tigwell is a freelance writer currently pursuing his Master’s degree in philosophy at the University of Waterloo, specializing in philosophy of social media, games, and professional ethics. He is the creator of Concept Crucible, a blog focusing on applying philosophy to everyday life. You can find him on Twitter as @ConceptCrucible, or on Steam.
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