Classical Studies Courses
Course offerings are constantly changing. Please refer to the Schedule of Classes for the most up-to-date listing.
* Indicates course may be petitioned for credit
Fall 2020
HILD 20R -- World History I: Ancient to Medieval (4). (Matthew Herbst). This course provides an introduction to the culture, environmental context, and socio-political outlook of ancient civilizations, and traces historical change, from the emergence of classical empires to their collapse and transformation into medieval forms. The course also explores the development and spread of major world religions.
LTGK 1 – Beginning Greek (4). Study of ancient Greek, including grammar and reading.
LTLA 1 – Beginning Latin (4). Study of Latin, including grammar and reading.
LTWL 19A - Introduction to the Ancient Greeks and Romans (4). An introductory study of ancient Greece and Rome, their literature, myth, philosophy, history, and art.L
MMW 11- Pre-History and Ancient Foundations (4). MMW 11 explores human origins, the development of social organization, the strategies early peoples and societies used to negotiate their physical and social environments, and the rise of the ancient world's classical traditions.
MMW 121- Exploring the Pre-Modern World (4). MMW 121, the first of two required courses for ERC transfer students, addresses themes and topics from the pre-modern world (from antiquity to the eighteenth century) and strengthens students’ analytical, research, and writing skills.
PHIL 31 – Introduction to Ancient Philosophy (4). A survey of classical Greek philosophy with an emphasis on Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, though some consideration may be given to Pre-Socratic and/or Hellenistic philosophers.
LTLA 100 – Introduction to Latin Literature (4). Reading and discussion of selections from representative authors of one or more periods. Review of grammar as needed. Prerequisites: LTLA 3 or equivalent.
LTGK 102 - Greek Poetry (4). Readings in Greek from ancient Greek poetry. May be taken for credit four times as topics vary. Prerequisites: LTGK 1, 2, and 3.
HIEU 103 – Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (4). This course discusses the history of imperial Rome and its successor states between the second and seventh centuries AD. It considers whether the Roman Empire fell or if one should instead speak of Roman continuity amidst political and religious change.
HIEU 106- Egypt, Greece, and Rome (4). This course is a survey of the political, social, and cultural history of the ancient Mediterranean. It focuses on the ancient empires in the Near East (Sumer, Babylon, Assyria, Persia), Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
PHIL 110 – History of Philosophy: Ancient (4). An examination of ancient Greek philosophy, focusing on major works of Plato and Aristotle.
PHIL 199- Independent Study
POLI 110A- Citizens and Saints: Political Thought from Plato to Augustine (4). This course focuses on the development of politics and political thought in ancient Greece, its evolution through Rome and the rise of Christianity. Readings from Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Machiavelli, and others.
Winter 2021
HUM 1 – The Foundations of Western Civilization: Israel and Greece (6). Texts from the Hebrew Bible and from Greek epic, history, drama, and philosophy in their cultural context. Prerequisites: satisfaction of the UC Entry Level Writing requirement.
LTGK 2 - Intermediate Greek (I) (4). Continuation of study of ancient Greek, including grammar and reading. Prerequisites: LTGK 1 or equivalent.
LTLA 2 – Intermediate Latin (I) (4). Continuation of study of Latin, including grammar and reading. Prerequisites: LTLA 1 or equivalent.
LTWL 19B - Introduction to the Ancient Greeks and Romans (4). An introductory study of ancient Greece and Rome, their literature, myth, philosophy, history, and art
MMW 12 – Classical and Medieval Traditions (6). Covering 100 BCE to 1200 CE, MMW 12 examines the development of classical empires from China to the West, their collapse, and their transformation into distinct medieval forms. It also examines the rise and spread of Christianity, Islam, and Mahayana Buddhism. Prerequisites: satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing Requirement.
LTLA 105 - Topics in Latin Literature (4). Readings in Latin covering specific topics in Latin literature.
HIEU 116B - Greece and the Balkans in the Age of Nationalism (4)* This course examines the history of Greece and the Balkans (1683–1914). Topics covered: social and economic development in the eighteenth century, nationalism, independence wars, state-nation formation, interstate relations, the Eastern Question, rural society, urbanization, emigration, and the Balkan Wars.
PHIL 101 - Aristotle (4). A study of major issues in Aristotle’s works, such as the categories; form and matter; substance, essence, and accident; the soul; virtue, happiness, and politics. Prerequisites: upper-division standing or consent of instructor.
Spring 2021
HUM 2 – Rome, Christianity, and the Middle Ages (6). (Edward Watts). The Roman Empire, the Christian transformation of the classical world in late antiquity, and the rise of a European culture during the Middle Ages. Representative texts from Latin authors, early Christian literature, the Germanic tradition, and the high Middle Ages. Prerequisites: satisfaction of the UC Entry Level Writing requirement.
LTGK 3 – Intermediate Greek (II) (4). (Instructor TBD). Continuation of study of ancient Greek, including grammar and reading of texts. Prerequisites: LTGK 1 and 2 or equivalent.
LTLA 3 – Intermediate Latin (II) (4). (Kourtney Murray). Study of Latin, including grammar and reading. Prerequisites: LTLA 2 or equivalent.
LTWL 19C - Introduction to the Ancient Greeks and Romans (4). (Jacobo Myerston). An introductory study of ancient Greece and Rome, their literature, myth, philosophy, history, and art.
LTWL 100 - Mythology: Comparative World Mythology (4). (Page duBois). A study of various bodies of myth: their content, form, and meaning. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.
HIEU 116C. Greece and the Balkans during the Twentieth Century (4). (Thomas W. Gallant). This course examines the history of Greece and the Balkans (1914–2001).
MMW 13. New Ideas and Cultural Encounters (6). MMW 13 provides a framework for understanding developments in the global past from 1200 CE to 1750 CE and the transition from the medieval to the early modern world.
PHIL 100. Plato (4). (Samuel Rickless). A study of Socrates and/or Plato through major dialogues of Plato.
PHIL 102. Hellenistic Philosophy (4). (Monte Johnson). A study of selected texts from the main schools of Hellenistic philosophy—Stoicism, Epicureanism, and Skepticism.
Petitioning Courses
In any given semester there are likely classes offered (special topics courses, new courses, seminars), not listed above, that will count toward this major or minor through petition. In order for a course to be eligible for petition 50% of the course content must be related to a student's major or minor field of study.
To petition a course students need to:
- Fill out an Undergraduate General Student Petition (PDF)
- Gather supporting documentation (syllabi, course descriptions, and/or written student work)
- Turn in the completed Undergraduate General Student Petition and supporting documentation to the CAESAR Programs Coordinator.
Undergraduate Courses
Below is a listing (by department) of all the courses that have been approved to count toward the completion of the Classical Studies major. For description of courses listed below, see appropriate departmental listing in the UC San Diego General Catalog.
Classical Studies
CLAS 109. Greek Seminar
CLAS 110. Latin Seminar
CLAS 196A-B. Directed Honors Thesis in Classical Studies
History
HILD 20R. World History I: Ancient to Medieval
HIEU 102. Roman History
HIEU 103. Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
HIEU 104. Byzantine History
HIEU 106. Egypt, Greece, and Rome
HIEU 108. Sex and Romance in the Ancient World
HIEU 122. Greek History from the Bronze Age to the Peloponnesian War
HIEU 123. Ancient Greece from Socrates to Cleopatra
HIEU 160. Topics in Greek History
HIEU 161. Topics in Roman History
HIEU 199. Independent Study in European History
HINE 100. The Hebrew Bible and History
HINE 115. Death and Dying in Antiquity
HINE 171. Topics in Early Judaism and Christianity
Humanities
HUM 1. The Foundations of Western Civilization: Israel and Greece
HUM 2. Rome, Christianity and the Medieval World
HUM 3. Renaissance, Reformation, and Early Modern Europe
Literature
LTGK 1-2-3. Beginning and Intermediate Greek
LTGK 101. Greek Composition
LTGK 102. Greek Poetry
LTGK 103. Greek Drama
LTGK 104. Greek Prose
LTGK 105. Topics in Greek Literature
LTGK 192. Senior Seminar in Literatures in Greek
LTGK 198. Directed Group Study
LTGK 199. Special Studies
LTLA 1-2-3. Beginning and Intermediate Latin
LTLA 100. Introduction to Latin Literature
LTLA 102. Latin Poetry
LTLA 103. Latin Drama
LTLA 104. Latin Prose
LTLA 105. Topics in Latin Literature
LTLA 192. Senior Seminar in Literatures in Latin
LTLA 198. Directed Group Study
LTLA 199. Special Studies
LTWL 19A-B-C. Introduction to the Ancient Greeks and Romans
LTWL 100. Mythology
LTWL 106. Classical Tradition
LTWL 158A. Topics in the New Testament
LTWL 158B. Topics in Early Christian Texts and Cultures
LTWL 158C. Topics in Other Christianities
LTCS 180. Programming for the Humanities
Making of the Modern World
MMW 11. Pre-History and Ancient Foundations
MMW 12. Classical and Medieval Traditions
MMW 13. New Ideas and Cultural Encounters
MMW 121. Exploring the Pre-Modern World
Philosophy
PHIL 31. Introduction to Ancient Philosophy
PHIL 100. Plato
PHIL 101. Aristotle
PHIL 102. Hellenistic Philosophy
PHIL 110. History of Philosophy: Ancient
PHIL 199. Independent Study
Political Science
POLI 110A. Citizens and Saints: Political Thought from Plato to Augustine
Visual Arts
VIS 120A. Greek Art
VIS 120B. Roman Art
VIS 120C. Late Antique Art
Graduate Courses
History
HIGR 260. Topics in Greek History
HIGR 261. Topics in Roman History
Literature
LTCO 210. Classical Studies
Philosophy
PHIL 210. Greek Philosophy
PHIL 287. Greek Reading Group
PHIL 288. Latin Reading Group
PHIL 290. Directed Independent Study