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Saratoga Springs,
New York, 12866
SKIDMORE PHONE
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Classics
Chair of the Classics Department: Leslie Mechem
Associate Professor: Michael Arnush
Assistant Professor: Daniel Curley
Visiting Assistant Professor: Kendra Eshleman
Lecturer: Leslie Mechem
Affiliated Faculty:
Art History: Penny Jolly
English: Kate Greenspan
French: Marc-André Wiesmann
Government: Timothy Burns
Philosophy: Francisco Gonzalez
The mission of the Classics Department is to help shape the
future of our students through the study of the past. By using
interdisciplinary methodologies, students examine and explicate
the languages, literatures, histories, religions, cultures,
art, and artifacts of the peoples of the ancient Mediterranean.
Students apply multi- and cross-cultural perspectives to gender,
ethnic, and social issues in order to gain insight into the
cultures of the classical world. In reading Greek and Latin
prose and poetry, both in the original languages and in translation,
students contextualize works of literature in their larger
cultural and historical settings and recognize their significance
in the past and their relevance for the present and future.
Students conduct research by traditional and digital methods
in order to present oral and written arguments supported by
primary sources, theoretical constructs, and established scholarship.
In acquiring these critical and analytical skills, classics
majors prepare themselves for life beyond college both on
the personal and professional level. Professional opportunities
can include careers in education, communication, arts, law
and government, and library sciences.
Both a major and a minor are available in classics. Skidmore
is a member of the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies
in Rome, which offers juniors the opportunity to study classical
antiquity in Italy. Other semester and summer study programs
in Italy, Greece, and other countries may be arranged with
the help of the chair of Classics. Students may fulfill the
foreign language requirement by successfully completing any
course in Greek or Latin.
THE CLASSICS MAJOR: Thirty credit hours, including a minimum of
Reading proficiency of Greek or Latin at the 300 level
demonstrated by completion of two of the following:
CL310,
311, or
CG310,
311.
Students may enroll in 310 and 311 courses more than once with permission.
Students may count toward the major any course listed above
plus CC291,
GO303;
PH203,
327A,
327B;
RE330, and
CC100
does not count toward the major.
HONORS: To be considered for honors in classics, a student
must, in addition to fulfilling College requirements for departmental
honors, receive a grade of at least A- on a research paper
in either CC365
or in an advanced Greek or Latin course. Specific requirements
for the paper are established by the department.
THE CLASSICS MINOR: Twenty credit hours, including a minimum of
Reading proficiency of Greek or Latin at the 200-level,
demonstrated by completion of the following: CG210
or CL210;
One course from CG310,
311;
CL310,
311;
CC365;
GO303;
HI361F;
PH327A,
327B;
RE330.
Students may count toward
the minor any course listed above, plus CC290,
291,
PH203, and
SSP100 The Good Life in Greek Literature and Philosophy.
Minors are encouraged to take one 300-level seminar in either
Greek or Latin (CG310,
311;
CL310,
311).
CC100
does not count toward the minor.
Suggested course clusters in Greek and Roman literature, art
and archaeology, history, and philosophy in addition to the
major/minor requirements:
Majors and minors are encouraged
to study the modern languages (French, German, and Italian)
in which there is an abundance of scholarship available in
classics.
LATIN CL 110. ELEMENTARY
LATIN 4
An introductory course in the essentials of the Latin language
with emphasis upon mastery of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary.
CL 210. INTERMEDIATE
LATIN 4
A review of Latin syntax, complemented by reading selected
works by such authors as Caesar, Cicero, or Livy. Prerequisite:CL110,
or permission of the chair. CL 310. SEMINAR
IN LATIN POETRY 3
Advanced reading and critical examination in Latin of the
works of one of the following Latin poets or dramatists: Catullus,
Horace, Juvenal, Lucretius, Plautus, Ovid, Terence, or Vergil.
This course may be taken more than once. Prerequisite:CL210
or permission of the chair. CL 311. SEMINAR
IN LATIN PROSE LITERATURE 3
Advanced reading and critical examination in Latin of the
works of one of the following Latin prose authors: Caesar,
Cicero, Livy, Petronius, Pliny, Suetonius, or Tacitus. This
course may be taken more than once. Prerequisite:CL210
or permission of the chair.
GREEK CG 110. ELEMENTARY
GREEK 4
An introductory course in the essentials of the Greek language,
with emphasis upon mastery of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary.
CG 210. INTERMEDIATE
GREEK 4
A review of Greek syntax, complemented by reading selected
works by such authors as Xenophon, Plato, or Lysias. Prerequisite:
CG110
or permission of the chair. CG 310. SEMINAR
IN GREEK POETRY 3
Advanced reading and critical examination in Greek of the
works of one of the following Greek poets or dramatists: Aeschylos,
Aristophanes, Bacchylides, Euripides, Hesiod, Homer, Pindar,
Sophocles, or Theocritos. This course may be taken more than
once. Prerequisite:CG210
or permission of the chair. CG 311. SEMINAR
IN GREEK PROSE LITERATURE 3
Advanced reading and critical examination in Greek of the
works of one of the following Greek prose authors: Aristotle,
Demosthenes, Herodotos, Lysias, Plato, Thucydides, or selections
from the New Testament. This course may be taken more than
once. Prerequisite:CG210
or permission of the chair.
CLASSICAL STUDIES CC 100. ENGLISH
VOCABULARY FROM GREEK AND LATIN 1
An exploration of the heritage of Greek and Latin in the English
language, with particular emphasis on technical terminology
from a variety of disciplines. Students will learn how to
break down English words into their Greek and Latin components,
and to generate English words from these same elements. This
course is of interest to all students in the humanities, sciences,
and social sciences, who wish not only to expand their vocabularies
but also to understand the ongoing evolution of English.
CC 200. THE CLASSICAL
WORLD 3 An introduction to classical
antiquity for students interested in ancient Greece and Rome,
the impact of antiquity on Medieval and Renaissance Europe,
and a general background in the Western tradition. This interdisciplinary
course taught by a team of faculty members from several departments
and programs includes studies in literature (epic, dramatic,
and lyric poetry, rhetoric, and fiction), history and historiography,
art and architecture, philosophy and political theory, and
science and mathematics. (Fulfills LS2 requirement.)(Fulfills humanities requirement.) CC 220. CLASSICAL
MYTHOLOGY 3
A study of the important myths in Greek and Roman culture,
with attention to their religious, psychological, and historical
origins. Comparative mythology, structural analysis, modern
psychological interpretations and the development of classical
myths in Western literature and art receive attention. (Fulfills
humanities requirement.) CC 222. GREEK
TRAGEDY 3
Readings in translation of some of the tragedies of Aeschylos,
Sophocles, and Euripides in the context of Athenian society
in the fifth century B.C. Students will have the opportunity
to write, produce, and perform an original tragedy based on
Greek myth. (Fulfills humanities requirement.)
CC 223. SOCIETY
ON THE STAGE: GREEK AND ROMAN COMEDY
3
Readings in translation of the plays of Aristophanes, Menander,
Plautus, and Terence. Students explore both the origins and
the fate of ancient comedy within the context of Greek and
Roman society. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity
to produce and perform one of the plays on the course reading
list. (Fulfills humanities requirement.)
CC 224. THE HERO(INE)'S
TALE: TRADITIONS OF GREEK AND ROMAN EPIC
3
Readings in translation of the great epic poets of the Greek
and Roman worlds, focusing on a comparative study of the works
of Homer and Vergil. (Fulfills humanities requirement.) CC 226. GREEK
AND ROMAN HISTORIANS 3
Readings in translation of the great chroniclers of history
from the Greek and Roman worlds: Greek, the works of Herodotos (the father of history), Thucydides
and Xenophon; Roman, the works of Livy, Polybius, and Tacitus.
The course will focus on the methodology of writing history,
comparative studies, and modern interpretations. (Counts toward
the history major.) CC 265. TOPICS
IN CLASSICAL CIVILIZATION 3
Selected aspects of classical antiquity that embrace both the Greek
and Roman worlds. Topics will vary from year to year based upon the
instructor's specialization and interests. Students work on basic
research, analytical, and writing skills. Courses may include Greek
and/or Roman religion, lyric poetry, and early Christianity. The
course in a different subject area may be repeated for credit. CC 290. RESEARCH
IN CLASSICS 1 Basic research methodology in
200-level civilization courses including the use of primary
and secondary sources as well as Web-based and library-based
materials. This one-credit course will be taken jointly with
a 200-level civilization course. CC 291. WRITING
IN CLASSICS 1 Students will begin to learn
effective writing and will fulfill the all-college Expository
Writing requirement. This one-credit course will be taken
jointly with a 200-level civilization course. CC 292. SEMESTER PROJECT IN CLASSICS 1 Students will complete a semester-length project on an aspect of Classical civilization. The project will be collaborative and may involve visual or performing arts. This one-credit course must be taken jointly with a 200-level civilization course. CC 365. ADVANCED TOPICS
IN CLASSICAL CIVILIZATION 3
Selected aspects of classical antiquity that embrace both
the Greek and Roman worlds. Topics will vary from year to
year based upon the instructor's specialization and interests.
Building upon the skills acquired in 200-level courses, students
analyze primary and secondary evidence and conduct independent
research in major writing projects. Courses may include such
topics as women in antiquity, sex in the ancient world, classical
poetics, and ancient historiography. The course in a different
subject area may be repeated for credit. CC 371, 372. INDEPENDENT
STUDY 1-4
Individual research in any aspect of classics not available
in existing course offerings, which results in a written work.
Supervised by a member of the classics faculty. Prerequisite:
Approval of the director. CC 390. THESIS
3
The senior student will undertake a substantial advanced research
project in any aspect of classics which will result in a written
thesis of approximately fifty pages. Supervised by a member
of the classics faculty. Prerequisite: Approval of
the chair. CC 399. PROFESSIONAL
INTERNSHIP IN CLASSICS
3 or 6 Professional experience at an
advanced level for juniors and seniors with substantial academic
and cocurricular experience in the major field. With faculty
sponsorship and departmental approval, students may extend
their educational experience into such areas as education,
communication, the arts, libraries, and law and government.
Does not count toward the major. Must be taken S/U.
