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The Classical Studies minor allows students with a special interest in ancient Greece and/or Rome to pursue extended study of various aspects of those cultures and gain an appreciation of the relevance of classical culture to their own lives. The minor supports various TCNJ majors, including History, Philosophy, Art, English, and Political Science. Students can employ the skills and information learned in their Classical Studies courses to further careers in a wide range of fields, including education, medicine, law, history, art history, archaeology, anthropology, creative writing, literature, science, and philosophy. Occasionally our minors have gone on to graduate study in Classics. But our students also sometimes just have an interest in the classical world that is independent of their major or their future career plans; a Classical Studies minor can satisfy that interest as well.

The trend in many Classical Studies programs around the country has been to separate the study of classical languages from the study of classical history and culture, resulting in the creation of distinct minors for Latin, Greek, and “Classical Civilization.”  But one of the best ways to appreciate the achievements of any civilization is through that civilization’s language.  The Classical Studies program at TCNJ  was founded in the conviction that the study of classical languages is essential for appreciating classical cultures.  Study of classical languages provides students with a solid foundation from which to explore all aspects of the world of ancient Greece and Rome (providing, as an additional bonus, the chance to review modern-day English grammar and syntax).  As a result, study of classical languages stands at the center of the Classical Studies minor at TCNJ.

The Classical Studies program at TCNJ is also designed to develop an understanding of classical culture that derives not only from direct contact with the surviving documents and artifacts of the ancient era but also from critical reflection on the history of the ways in which those documents and artifacts have been (re)interpreted and how this history of (re)interpretation colors our own view of the past.  Courses in the Classical Studies program therefore allow not only the study of classical texts and artifacts but also critical study of the “Classical Tradition” itself.

Requirements

The Classical Studies minor consists of 5 courses, including

1. GRE 201 or LAT 201 or a more advanced course in Greek or Latin or the equivalent,

2. one course in ancient history or philosophy from among the following:

   • HIS 301/Classical Greek Civilization,

   • HIS 302/Hellenistic World,
   • HIS 303/History of the Roman Republic,
   • HIS 304/History of the Roman Empire,
   • HIS 305/Christianity from Jesus to Charlemagne,
   • HIS 308/Late Antiquity,
   • HIS 311/Rome and the Barbarians in the Early Middle Ages,
   • LAT 350/Roman Philosophy and Science, or
   • PHL 301/History of Ancient Philosophy,

3. one course in ancient art or literature from among the following:

   • AAH 302 /The Art of Rome,
   • CLS 250/Introduction to Greek Mythology,
     CLS 325/Sex and Gender in Greco-Roman Antiquity,
   • CMP 230/Classical Traditions,
   • GRE 310/Greek Tragedy,
   • GRE 350/Homer’s Odyssey,
   • HON 349/Cities and Sanctuaries of Greece and Rome,
   • LAT 310/The Age of Augustus,
   • LAT 315/Vergil and the Impact of Empire, or
   • LIT 230/Classical Traditions, and
4. two additional courses from list 2 or 3 above or any other course (including special topics or independent study) in ancient archaeology, art, history, language, literature, philosophy, or science.  These courses must be approved by the program coordinator(s).

Additional Information

To register as a Classical Studies minor or for more information about the minor, contact Dr. Lee Ann Riccardi (riccardi@tcnj.edu) or Dr. Glenn A. Steinberg (gsteinbe@tcnj.edu). If you are currently taking a Classical Studies course, you can also get information about the minor from your professor.

For a complete list of Greek, Latin, and Classical Studies courses offered at TCNJ, go to our Courses page.  For a list of next semester’s course offerings, go to our Course Offerings page.  Classical Studies courses taken at other institutions, in the U.S. or abroad, will usually count towards the minor. For details, contact Dr. Riccardi.

To learn about the backgrounds and some of the scholarly and teaching interests of the Classical Studies faculty at TCNJ, see our Faculty page.