 The Classical Studies Minor
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.
Click
here to see the requirements for the minor.
Additional Information
To register as a Classical Studies minor or for more information about the minor, contact 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. Classical Studies courses taken at other institutions, in the U.S. or abroad, will usually count towards the minor. For details, contact Dr.
Steinberg.
To learn about the backgrounds and some of the scholarly and teaching interests of the Classical Studies faculty
at TCNJ, see our Faculty page.
|