Classical Studies, Concentration: Ancient Mediterranean Studies Minor

FACULTY:
Monica Florence, Chair
Dianna Rhyan
Josephine Shaya

The Department of Classical Studies provides students with opportunities to explore the ancient Mediterranean world with a special focus on the period from the eighth century BCE through the fourth century CE. Through the comparative study of ancient languages and cultures, Classics students acquire additional cultural literacy, becoming better critical thinkers and more engaged global citizens. Our primary goal is for students to understand and examine critically the ancient beliefs, values, and traditions that have shaped modern cultures.

The study of the Ancient Mediterranean is inherently interdisciplinary and intercultural. Students are encouraged to learn Ancient Greek, Latin, Middle Egyptian, and Hebrew. They will study the ancient literature, archaeology, history, religion, philosophy, and art produced in the Near East and Mediterranean basin, including ancient Mesopotamia, Israel, Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

The Department accommodates and encourages a semester’s study abroad in the Mediterranean region. Additionally, the Department offers a program of study in Greece through its Wooster in Greece program. Established in 1973, Wooster in Greece is an on-site program of study and travel in Greece and Turkey and an intensive introduction to ancient Greek culture, from the prehistoric to the Byzantine periods. Open to all students, the program offers a unique opportunity for participants to deepen their knowledge of ancient and modern Greek culture through an integrated program of reading, class work, and visits to sites and museums. The program is interdisciplinary in nature and appropriate for students from a variety of majors and interests, as well as for those with previous experience in Classics.

Ancient Mediterranean Studies

The concentration in Ancient Mediterranean Studies is one of two within the major of Classical Studies. Through this concentration, students comparatively study multiple cultures in the Near East and Mediterranean basin, including ancient Mesopotamia, Israel, Egypt, Greece and Rome. Our period of study, from the eighth century BCE through the fourth century CE, allows for a particular focus on Greece and Rome, but the approach to the ancient Mediterranean region is interdisciplinary and intercultural. Students in Ancient Mediterranean Studies will examine the ancient literature, archaeology, history, religion, philosophy, and art produced by the network of ancient cultures that relied upon the Mediterranean Sea.

The primary goal of this concentration is to examine critically the ancient beliefs, values, and traditions that have shaped modern cultures. Students in Ancient Mediterranean Studies will acquire additional cultural literacy, becoming better critical thinkers and more engaged global citizens.

Minor in Classical Studies, Concentration: Ancient Mediterranean Studies

Consists of six courses:

Two of the following courses:
GREK 10100
GREK 10200
GREK 20100
GREK 20200
GREK 30100
GREK 30200
LATN 10100
LATN 10200
LATN 20100
LATN 20200
LATN 30100
or
LATN 30200
Two of the following 200-level course:
AMST 22000
AMST 22100
AMST 22300
AMST 22600
AMST 22800 - Wooster in Greece : Ancient Science & Medicine in the Greek Islands
AMST 26100 - Studies in Ancient History
HIST 20200
or
HIST 20300
Two elective courses from Classical Studies or cross-listed courses accepted for CLST credit

Special Notes

Language Requirement and Courses: The concentration in Ancient Mediterranean Studies requires a minimum of one semester of ancient Greek or Latin at the 200-level or higher. Most students will need to take GREK 10100 and 10200 or LATN 10100 and 10200 as well as GREK 20100 or LATN 20100. Incoming students who have previously studied ancient Greek or Latin will be placed in the appropriate languages courses through the College’s foreign language placement exams, which are administered during Summer registration for first year students. Students may satisfy the College’s language requirement, and the requirement of introductory ancient Greek or Latin, by testing out of GREK 10100 and 10200 or LATN 10100 and 10200. Majors, however, must take a minimum of one upper-divisional language course at The College of Wooster or an equivalent university during a semester abroad. If a student completes a language course below the level recommended by the placement exam, the student will not receive credit toward graduation for that course without prior permission of the Department Chair. The College’s advanced placement policy is explained in the section on Academic Policies .
Majors who intend to pursue graduate studies in Classics are strongly urged to complete four years of Ancient Greek and four years of Latin.
S/NC courses are not permitted in the major or minor.
Only grades of C- or better are accepted for the major or minor.