Classical Studies Courses (CLAS)

Related Catalog Entry: College of Arts and Sciences / Modern and Classical Languages

Related Mason Website: Modern and Classical Languages (http://www.gmu.edu/departments/fld/)

240 Greek and Latin Elements in English (3:3:0).Prerequisite: ENGL 101 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Course studies the formation of English vocabulary derived from Greek and Latin prefixes, stems, and suffixes to increase students' word power in English (vocabulary, style). Special emphasis will be on bioscientific, medical, and legal terminology. Course is intended for both native and non-native speakers of English. Word analyses and vocabulary uses will be illustrated by literary texts. Course fulfills the general requirement in literature for baccalaureate degrees.

250 Classical Mythology (3:3:0).Prerequisite: ENGL 101 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Classical myths with illustration of their role in classical and modern literature and art. Course work in English. Course fulfills the general requirement in literature for baccalaureate degrees.

260 The Legacy of Greece and Rome (3:3:0).Prerequisite: ENGL 101 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Introduction to the history, culture, and literature of Greece and Rome through close readings of a number of central passages from classical literature dealing with some of the most important aspects of human existence (e.g., the individual and society, divine justice, war and peace). Illustrates the importance of classical antiquity for our Western tradition. Course fulfills the general requirement in literature for baccalaureate degrees.

340 Greek and Roman Epic (3:3:0).Prerequisite: ENGL 101 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Course explores the development of classical epic as a genre from its beginnings with the Homeric epics to its transformations in the works of later Greek and Roman authors (e.g., Apollonius of Rhodes or Vergil). Course work in English. Course fulfills the general requirement in literature for baccalaureate degrees and the writing-intensive requirement.

350 Greek and Roman Tragedy (3:3:0).Prerequisite: ENGL 101 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Course follows the development of tragedy as a genre from its origins to the works of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, and its reappearance in the Roman world in the tragedies of Seneca. It also considers the influence of Greek tragedy on Roman and later cultures. In addition to readings, some plays may be studied in visual form. Course work in English. Course fulfills the general requirement in literature for baccalaureate degrees and the writing-intensive requirement.

360 Greek and Roman Comedy (3:3:0).Prerequisite: ENGL 101 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Course studies the forms, contexts, and developments of comedy as a dramatic form in the Greco-Roman world. It also traces the development of New Comedy in the Hellenistic age and the translation and adaptation of New Comedy by the Roman dramatists Plautus and Terence. Course work in English. Course fulfills the general requirement in literature for baccalaureate degrees and the writing-intensive requirement.

370 Greek and Roman Historians (3:3:0).Prerequisite: ENGL 101 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Course examines the writings of the major Greek and Roman historians, including Herodotus, Thucydides, Sallust, Livy, and Tacitus; their interpretations of the past, and their influence. Course work in English. Course fulfills the general requirement in literature for baccalaureate degrees.

380 Greek and Roman Novels (3:3:0).Prerequisite: ENGL 101 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Course examines the origins and developments of the Greek and Roman novel, the different kinds of novels written in antiquity (e.g., Greek romances, satiric novels), and their influences on postclassical and modern novels. Special emphasis is given to the novels of Longus, Petronius, and Apuleius. Course work in English. Course fulfills the general requirement in literature for baccalaureate degrees.

390 Topics in Classical Literature and Culture (3:3:0).Prerequisite: ENGL 101 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Course studies the forms, contexts, and developments of a distinctive literary genre or cultural phenomenon in the Greco-Roman world, focusing on careful study of the most representative texts and authors. Course work in English. Certain topics may have CLAS 250, 260, 301, 302, or 310 as prerequisites. Course fulfills the general requirement in literature for baccalaureate degrees and the writing-intensive requirement.

499 Senior Seminar in Classical Studies (3:3:0).Prerequisites: Modern and classical languages majors concentrating in classical studies with 90 credits and permission of instructor. Individual research on a specialized interdisciplinary topic culminating in a seminar paper. Seminar fulfills the writing-intensive requirement. Subject of seminar determined by instructor in consultation with student. Permission must be obtained in advance. A student may present no more than three credits for graduation. A grade of C or better is required to graduate with a concentration in classical studies.