Classics (Ancient Greek and Latin) (BH-ARTS_SPEC_8)

Overview

The specialisation of Classics (Ancient Greek and Latin) is unavailable for combined honours.

Ancient Greek and Latin have been taught at the University of Melbourne since its very foundation, and have been a core element of higher education for many centuries. The overall objective of the Classics program is to introduce students to key literary texts from classical antiquity (including history, drama, oratory, philosophy, epic, and lyric poetry), and to enable students to discover the many important contributions which reading ancient texts in the original languages can make to understanding both the ancient world and the Western tradition. A knowledge of Ancient Greek and Latin is also very useful for research and training in such related disciplines as biochemistry, medicine, the history and philosophy of science, archaeology, Biblical studies, history, philosophy, art history, Romance language studies, English literary studies, and music.

The Honours program is an advanced level of study designed to allow students to specialise their knowledge across one area of study. Applicants should have completed a major in Classics (Ancient Greek and Latin) with an average of at least H2A (75%), or equivalent, and have studied both classical languages; for some students, one of these languages might have been studied through the Diploma in Languages. Students with knowledge of only one classical language (but not both) should apply for the Ancient World Studies specialisation and enrol in the honours seminars in the language that they have studied. The opportunity to specialise provides a strong foundation for the future direction of graduates, whether as a means of progressing to higher degree research in Arts at the Masters or PhD level, or improving the scope of employment options and professional advancement. Students with Honours from The University of Melbourne (Arts) record exceptionally high rates of satisfaction with the professional and academic directions they pursue beyond graduation.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this specialisation, students should be able to:

Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the literature and culture of ancient Greece and Rome through texts in the original ancient languages
Display advanced skills and methodologies for the analysis of ancient cultures, and the linguistic analysis of Ancient Greek and Latin languages
Understand modern critical frameworks for the study of Classics
Develop and sustain an argument based on research.

Last updated: 14 January 2025

Structure

100 credit points

Students undertaking pure honours in Classics must complete:

Classics Thesis (50 points), consisting of subjects CLAS40036 Classics Thesis Part 1 and CLAS40037 Classics Thesis Part 2; and
ANCW40014 Research in Ancient World Studies (12.5 points); and
CLAS40038 CLAS40039 Ancient Greek Honours Seminar 1 & 2 (12.5 points); and
CLAS40040 CLAS40041 Latin Honours Seminar 1& 2 (12.5 points); and
One elective 4th-year ANCW subject (12.5 points)

The specialisation of Classics (Ancient Greek and Latin) is unavailable for combined honours.

Total 100 points

Subject Options

Thesis:

Note: the thesis requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment.

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
CLAS40036	Classics Thesis Part 1	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	25
CLAS40037	Classics Thesis Part 2	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	25

Compulsory Subjects:

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
ANCW40014	Research in Ancient World Studies	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
CLAS40038	Ancient Greek Honours Seminar 1	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	6.25
CLAS40039	Ancient Greek Honours Seminar 2	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	6.25
CLAS40040	Latin Honours Seminar 1	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	6.25
CLAS40041	Latin Honours Seminar 2	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	6.25

Electives (one of the following):

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
ANCW40003	Archaeology of Complex Societies	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
ANCW40012	The Roman Way of Life	Not available in 2025	12.5
ANCW40001	Euripides, Seneca, and Mythmaking	Not available in 2025	12.5
ANCW40007	Problems in Greek Prehistory	Not available in 2025	12.5
ANCW40018	The Roman Countryside	Not available in 2025	12.5
ANCW40015	Gender and Sexuality in Greece and Rome	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
ANCW40019	Frontiers of the Greek World	Not available in 2025	12.5
ANCW40020	Internship in Ancient World Studies	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Links

http://shaps.unimelb.edu.au/students/honours

Last updated: 14 January 2025

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Classics (Ancient Greek and Latin)

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