Classics: Prospective Students
A degree in Classics comprises Greek and Latin literature and language together with Ancient History and Classical Studies courses
What is Classics & why study it
The debt of world civilization to the cultures of Greece and Rome is immense. Not only did they leave a literature that includes Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, the dialogues of Plato, the comedies of Plautus and Terence, and the Aeneid of Virgil; to them we owe also much of modern mathematics, philosophy, law, and political theory, as well as the basic vocabulary of Western architecture and the visual arts. The Christian civilization of mediaeval Europe drew heavily on this legacy; the rebirth of Greek studies in the early modern period revolutionized the intellectual life of the West. To study Classics in the original languages is to engage at first hand with this intellectual tradition. It requires a combination of precise linguistic skills, a mature sense of historical context and development, and an openness to new ways of seeing our own world.
School of Classics at St Andrews
The School of Classics is one of the largest classics departments in the UK, with sixteen permanent members of staff. It also enjoys an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research which has been repeatedly recognized by independent surveys. Students reading for an Honours degree in Classics at St Andrews may come with an advanced knowledge of Latin, and some with advanced Greek also; however, the School runs successful beginners’ courses in both languages, and it is increasingly common for students to take up either or both languages in this way. The first two years are spent in gaining a thorough grounding in the language and literature of both languages. In the third and fourth year, students choose options reflecting their own special interests. These may include the major genres of Greek and Latin literature, such as Epic, Comedy, or Historiography; they may also include more technical studies. A wide selection of other historical, philosophical and cultural topics, such as Ancient Science, Hellenistic Ethics and Greek Painted Pottery may also be studied.
Joint Degrees
Classics may be combined in a Joint Honours Degree with Comparative Literature, French(W), Italian(W), Management, Philosophy or Spanish(W).
* (W) indicates With Integrated Year Abroad option available.
Programmes of Study
First Level - in each language
Either
Advanced (Post A-Level/Higher or equivalent): one module each semester, forming a year-long course, designed to build students’ skill and confidence at reading extended Greek and Latin texts independently, and to broaden their knowledge of classical literature and culture.
Or
Beginners/Intermediate: one module each semester, forming a year-long course, designed for students with little or no previous knowledge of Greek or Latin. By the end of the year, all students will have studied some Greek or Latin literature in the original and will have the basic skills to translate real Greek or Latin texts.
Second Level - in each language
Either
Advanced (Post A-Level/Higher or equivalent): one module each semester, forming a year-long course, designed to increase further students’ ability to read and appreciate Greek and Latin texts for themselves. At the end of these courses, students will be familiar with Greek and Latin literature of a wide range of genres and periods.
Or
Ex-Beginners: one module each semester, forming a year-long course, designed to enable students to read and appreciate Greek and Latin at a comparable level to students who have studied Greek and Latin before University. A selection of classic works of Greek and Latin literature is studied.
Honours
Students choose from a range of courses covering major genres, such as Epic, Comedy, or Historiography, and more technical skills, such as Prose Composition or Historical Linguistics. Students may also write a dissertation on a topic of special interest. At all levels students may combine Greek and Latin with courses in Classical Studies and Ancient History.
Strengths of the course
- Excellent linguistic training in the skills of reading and understanding Greek and Latin literature.
- Strong grounding in the classics of Greek and Latin literature combined with an introduction to the wider culture of the ancient Mediterranean.
- Wide choice of subjects and approaches at Honours level, with specialist teaching in both literary and linguistic courses.
- Wide choice of related subjects that may be studied as part of the Single Honours Classics degree, including Greek and Roman political and cultural history, ancient philosophy, archaeology and material culture.
- Wide range of complementary courses from other departments in the University, such as Mediaeval History, Philosophy, or Modern Languages, which may be incorporated within a Classics degree.
Teaching
First Year
Advanced: Three or four weekly lectures/classes; typically all Greek and at least one Latin session is in a small group, making it easier for students to ask questions and join in discussion;
Beginners/Intermediate: Four weekly classes; in the first semester, where possible, one of the four is broken down into smaller groups on the basis of previous experience.
Second Year
Typically three or four lectures/classes per week. Post-beginners have more small-group teaching initially, and are increasingly integrated with the advanced class over the year. Generally questions and discussion are encouraged in lectures as well as small-group classes.
Honours (Third and Fourth Year)
A combination of lectures, seminars, and classes, typically two hours a week for each module, most in small groups, with increasing emphasis on students’ own contribution, both in informal class discussion and in presentations by individuals or small groups.
The majority of modules taken by Classics Honours students are in Greek and Latin; other modules may be taken from Ancient History and Classical Studies.
Study abroad
Undergraduates taking classical courses at St Andrews may have the opportunity to spend a year studying in North America.