The Department of Classical Studies offers two majors: Classical Languages (CLLA), which stresses the languages and literatures of Greece and Rome, and Classical Civilization (CLCIV), which focuses on their history and material culture. Both are designed to develop and hone the skills necessary for reading the remains and evaluating the legacy of Greco-Roman antiquity and for thinking and writing about it with clarity and independence of mind. The learning objectives for the department’s majors are consonant with the general philosophy of Trinity College, with the departmental goals outlined above, and with the more specific Statement of Purpose on Education in Classics set forth by the American Philological Association.
Goal 1: Classical Studies majors develop a comprehensive knowledge of disciplinary fundamentals through study of:
- CLLA: Greek and Latin through the fourth semester and at least one course on Greek and/or Roman history / archaeology / culture
- CLCIV: required courses in both Greek and Roman history, and at least 1 course in three of the four following categories (total of 3 courses): literature (in translation or in the original at the 100 level or above), art and archaeology, history, philosophy.
Goal 2: Majors will develop advanced-level proficiency in at least one ancient language, Latin or Greek (CLLA), or in at least one domain of classical civilization, Greek or Roman history, archaeology, etc. (CLCIV) through
- (CLLA) advanced and concentrated study of one of the two ancient languages, taking (a) at least one graduate-level course and (b) at least three reading courses at or above the 100 level in their chosen language of focus (Latin or Greek), toward which the graduate-level course may count.
- (CLCIV): advanced and concentrated study in one particular domain of Classical Studies, taking (a) at least one graduate-level course and (b) at least three CLST courses at or above the 100 level in their chosen area of focus (e.g. Literature, History, Archaeology, Philosophy), toward which the graduate-level course may count.
Goal 3: All majors in both CLLA and CLCIV will gain proficiency in writing in the discipline of Classical Studies.
- Students will have opportunities in both CLLA and CLCIV courses to write research papers and shorter analytical pieces.
- All majors wil take the Capstone course, which is coded W.
Goal 4: Students will conduct research through required and encouraged course opportunities
- Capstone (mandatory): All majors will take the Capstone, CLST 196, which offers the opportunity to gain a general, synoptic view of Classical Studies and its continuing influence.
- A second R course: All majors will take either (a) a second R(esearch) course or else (b) a graduate course whose assignments include a research paper.
- The Senior thesis is encouraged for all majors, and R Independent Studies are especially appropriate when a student is writing a Senior thesis.
Goal 5: Majors will be encouraged to pursue learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom ('Outside Experience')
- Study abroad: Majors will be encouraged to participate in semester-long study-abroad programs, such as those offered by the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome, ICCS in Sicily, the College Year in Athens, or a similar Duke-approved program, where they will encounter and study the remains of the Classical world first-hand in intensive settings.
- Excavation experience: Majors will be encouraged to work on archaeological excavations during summers, a process facilitated by Duke's participation in the Consortium for Classical and Mediterranean Archaeology and the Teasley Fund.
- Summer abroad: Majors who cannot spend a regular semester away from Duke, or who cannot attend an archaeological excavation, should participate in one of Duke's shorter summer programs, such as Duke in Rome and Duke in Greece, or else take specialized summer courses away from Duke in a subject related to their major (Latin, Greek, archaeology, digital humanities, etc.).
- Hands-on work: Majors will be encouraged to make use of the University's considerable collections of special ancient materials , e.g. from the Nasher or the RBMSCL.
- Majors will be encouraged to pursue other experiential learning opportunities, e.g. Museum Internships, Research Assistantships, or Peer Tutoring in ancient languages.