Classical Studies
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About classical studies at St. Norbert College
The purpose of the classical studies minor is to provide students with a deep and broad immersion in the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome, with a special emphasis on acquiring competent reading skills in ancient Greek and/or Latin, as well as a strong foundation in the history of the classical world. The program offers elementary and intermediate courses in Greek and Latin, as well as advanced courses in history, art, mythology, philosophy and religious studies. With the exception of the Greek and Latin language courses, all courses are taught in translation. The Program is by its very nature interdisciplinary, drawing as it does from a variety of specialized fields, and even within individual courses a variety of approaches (literary, social, intellectual, archaeological, and so on) are utilized to bring the classical world to life.
Why study classical studies?
The languages and literature of ancient Greece and Rome lie at the heart of Western culture.They are the sources of the tradition of liberal learning, both Christian and non-Christian, in which the college places itself.
The purpose of the Classical Studies minor is to acquaint students with the history, literature and general cultures of ancient Greece and Rome, with an emphasis on acquiring competent reading skills in ancient Greek and/or Latin. With the exception of the Greek and Latin language courses, all courses will be taught in translation. Study of classical language enhances the student’s own English language skills.The interdisciplinary nature of the minor provides the student with a foundation for further work in related fields of history, literature, philosophy, religious studies, political science and art.
The study of ancient Greek gives the student access to literature and thought that are fundamental for Western civilization. From the great epics of Homer, to the earliest historians, poets, playwrights and the great philosophies of Plato and Aristotle, the Greek language has been the medium of thought and expression for the most profound stirrings of the human spirit. In the New Testament and the writings of the early Fathers of the Church, Christian thought is shaped by forms of Greek expression. Finally, study of ancient Greek increases student proficiency with English grammar and vocabulary.
The study of Latin gives the student access to the treasures of Roman and medieval literature and philosophy, foundation stones of Western civilization. Latin is an indispensable tool for the study of the history, music, liturgy and theology of the Christian Church. Knowledge of Latin also greatly enhances a student’s understanding of English vocabulary and grammar, and is an excellent supplement to the study of all the modern Romance languages.
Students augment their language skills with an appreciation for the foundations of Western artistic expression and literary consciousness, for the fundamental issues of Western philosophical, political, and social debate, the universal hopes and fears about morality and the divine within the Greco-Roman and Judaic religious systems, and the extraordinary figures and events that shaped classical (and post-classical) Western civilization.
Classical studies courses are not just about the ancient tradition; they also teach about the legacy of that tradition, its influence and its impact on later generations of humanity, indeed on world civilization as a whole. They provide students with the essential context for understanding the deep debt of our nation to the classical past and how so much of what we mean today by "civilized" and "modern" has its essential beginnings in ancient Greece and Rome.
Finally, the interdisciplinary nature of the classical studies minor provides the student with a foundation for further work in related fields of history, literature, philosophy, religious studies, political science and art.
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