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Faculty of Arts

 Classical Studies

Table of Contents

1. Prerequisites
2. Requirements for a major
3. Entry to Honours
4. Honours requirements
    4.1. Classical Studies (Combined Honours)
    4.2. Classical Studies (Pure Honours)
5. Opportunities for further study
6. For more information

Subject Lists
    Subject descriptions
        First Year
        Second and Third Year
        Fourth Year Honours

Western civilisation evolved largely from the interplay between three "classical" cultures - Greek, Roman and Semitic. The Department of Classics and Archaeology is unique in the Faculty in offering a wide range of study options on all three of these ancient Mediterranean and Western Asian cultures.

The Department's areas of study cover literature, art, archaeology, history, philosophy, mythology and religion. They do not presuppose language study or prior study at school. The Department also offers a number of languages - Latin, Ancient Greek, Classical Hebrew, Akkadian, Syriac, Aramaic - all available at beginners and more advanced levels.

Some students who have majored in the Department do obvious things: they become professional archaeologists - in museums, teaching, archaeological units, heritage parks, or working for either national or local government - or teachers of languages or civilisation courses. But most go on to seemingly unrelated careers - yet ones that build on the broad skills they have acquired with us. Such careers include business, industry and administration. This is due to the fact that graduates are literate, critically astute and adaptable, and in a changing world these are supremely marketable qualities.

The Department's offerings are listed in this Handbook under four headings: Ancient Greek, Archaeology, Classical Studies and Latin.

The Classical Studies program includes a wide variety of subjects in the literature, languages, history, art, archaeology, philosophy and mythology of Greco-Roman antiquity. It is possible to complete a three-year sequence in Classical Studies without language study. However Latin and Ancient Greek subjects are also available, on a single-semester and also a sustained basis, both for students with prior experience and for those wishing to begin language study at the University.

 1. Prerequisites

There are no specific prerequisites for entry to Classics subjects offered in the Department.

First Year: Students may undertake up to four semesters of Classical Studies subjects: students wishing to take a language may wish to study 1 or 2 semesters of either Ancient Greek and/or Latin (at an appropriate level) and/or 1 or 2 semesters of non-language subjects.

The Department recognises that the interdisciplinary character of its offerings typically makes other Departments' first or second-year subjects an appropriate preparation for its non-language subjects. Students who are concentrating on other disciplines often take one or two subjects with the Department, so it is the Department's policy to avoid narrow prerequisites, and to welcome into later-year subjects students who may not have studied with the Department previously but who have completed subjects in other Departments. If in doubt about the relevance of their preparation, students should consult the Department.

 2. Requirements for a major

The major in Classical Studies requires the completion of at least five subjects at second or third-year level, totalling 83.3 points, drawn from Classical Studies, Archaeology, Ancient Greek and Latin. 730-389 Roman Law, taught by the Faculty of Law, is also available to Arts students.

 3. Entry to Honours

Students intending to do Honours should plan their course carefully in order to ensure that they meet subject prerequisites. Language study is required for the Honours degree in Classical Studies, and all the Department's languages are offered at beginners and more advanced levels. It is strongly recommended that those who intend to do Honours begin language study by second year, although committed students who have not begun language study until third year can qualify for Honours.

The prerequisite for entry to Honours in Classical Studies is the completion of all the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts degree, and completion of a major in Classical Studies, which should include at least two semesters of either Ancient Greek or Latin, with a least one H2A and an overall grade average of at least H2B. Students who have an average H2A result over a Classical Studies major, but have not studied either classical language may be admitted to Combined Honours in Archaeology and Classical Studies; please contact the department for more information.

 4. Honours requirements

 4.1. Classical Studies (Combined Honours)

Classical Studies may be taken in conjunction with another Honours School in the Department of the Faculty. Many Classical students combine Honours in Classical Studies with Honours in Archaeology, but combinations with other Departments' Honours Schools are also possible.

Students undertaking combined honours complete:

  1. two of the following 16.7 point seminars:
  2. 104-400 Classics and Archaeology Honours Thesis, or a thesis in the combining department;
  3. subjects in the combining department according to the requirements of that department (33.3 points).

    4.  4.2. Classical Studies (Pure Honours)

    1. four of the following 16.7 point seminars:
    2. 104-400 Classics and Archaeology Honours Thesis.

      3.  5. Opportunities for further study

      A degree in Classical Studies can lead to further Post Graduate studies at Masters or PhD level.

       6. For more information

      For Further Information, please contact:

      The Department of Classics and Archaeology
      Fifth Floor, John Medley Building
      The University of Melbourne, 3052
      Telephone: (03) 9344 4066/5671
      http://www.arts.unimelb.edu.au/dept/classArch/

      Subject descriptions

      First Year

      104-136 Empires of the Ancient World
      104-142 Classical Rome: Republic To Empire
      104-143 Classical Greece: Myth and Reality
      150-160 The Heritage of Greece
      104-145 Classical Mythology
      104-146 Classical Greek and Roman Literature and Society

      Second and Third Year

      104-221 Greek and Roman Epic
      104-222 Theatre and Society
      104-226 Religious Movements: Origins Vs Constructions
      150-281 Reinventing Greece: Philhellenism and Greek Nationalism in Literature, Art and Architecture
      104-228 Imperial Rome
      104-230 Pagans and Christians in the Roman World
      104-231 Byzantium in the Sixth Century
      104-232 Greek and Roman Historians and Novelists
      104-234 Roman Architecture
      104-241 Greek Art and Archaeology: an Introduction To the Archaic and Classical Periods 700-336BC
      104-242 The Art and Archaeology of the Roman Empire
      104-244 Corinth: A Case Study in Greek History and Archaeology
      104-245 Underworld and Afterlife: Myth and Ritual in Antiquity
      104-247 Archaeology of Greek Religion
      104-249 Greek Architecture
      104-268 The New Testament and Judaism in Ancient Palestine
      161-225 Greek Philosophy: Metaphysics and Epistemology
      104-395 Special Study Research Project
      730-389 Roman Law

      Fourth Year Honours

      104-400 Classics and Archaeology Honours Thesis
      104-421 Classics and Archaeology Honours Thesis (Mid-Year Entry)
      104-443 Honours Seminar in Classics and Archaeology 1
      104-444 Honours Seminar in Classics and Archaeology 2
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