THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE FACULTY SENATE Senate Document Number 2697S Date of Senate Approval 3/20/97 Statement of Faculty Senate Action: APC Document 22: Full Curriculum Revision in Classics Effective Date: Fall 1997 Delete: Entire entry for the Classics program, Catalog 1996-7, pp.90-94 Add: Research Professor Marty; Assistant Professor Mills (Chair); Assistant Professor Dorchak; Assistant Professor Dvorsky-Rohner The department offers four programs: Greek, Latin, Greek and Latin, or Teacher Certificate in Latin. All programs draw on a common core of material, but their emphases are different, and all aim to give the student as complete a background in Graeco-Roman culture as possible. Strong emphasis is placed both on acquiring the linguistic skills necessary to be able to read the ancient texts in their original languages, and on gaining an understanding of the cultures in which Western culture is firmly rooted. A Classics degree is an excellent general intellectual training, and does not limit the student to any one future career. Program in Greek This program is recommended for students interested in Classics, archaeology, ancient history, linguistics, philosophy, theology or law school. I Required courses in the major - 30 hours, including CLAS 211, 221, and one course on culture and history, taken either from the Classical culture courses listed below (CLAS 250, 255, 350, 355, 491, 493), or from Special Topics in Classics or from courses dealing with the Graeco-Roman world offered by other departments (with prior approval of the Classics department). 21 additional hours chosen from 310, 320, 330, 340, 360, 400, 410, 450, 460, 371-6, 471-6, 480, 495. II Required courses outside major - none. III Foreign languages requirement - The major program satisfies the requirement, but additional competency on the intermediate level in Latin, German or French is recommended. IV Other departmental requirements - Final competency examination: 4 hours of written Greek translation. One hour oral examination on literature, history, culture etc. based on student's reading over the course of the major: successful performance in this fulfills the departmental oral competency requirement. Program in Latin This program is recommended for students interested in Classics, linguistics, medieval studies, ancient history, archaeology, secondary school education licensure or law school. I Required courses in the major - 30 hours, including CLAS 212 and one course on culture and history, taken either from the Classical culture courses listed below (CLAS 250, 255, 350, 355, 491, 493), or from Special Topics in Classics, or from courses dealing with the Graeco-Roman world offered by other departments (with prior approval of the Classics department). 24 additional hours chosen from 322, 332, 352, 412, 422, 432, 452, 462, 371-6, 468, 471-6, 484, 495. II Required courses outside major - none. III Foreign languages requirement - The major program satisfies the requirement, but additional competency on the intermediate level in Greek, German or French is recommended. IV Other departmental requirements - Final competency examination: 4 hours of written Latin translation. One hour oral examination on literature, history, culture etc. based on student's reading over the course of the major: successful performance in this fulfills the departmental oral competency requirement. Program in Greek and Latin This program is recommended for students interested in graduate study in Classics, or with an interest in comparative literature, linguistics, art history, archaeology, or ancient history, or who simply wish to develop a high level of general education. I Required courses in the major - 36 hours, including CLAS 211, 221, 212, and one course on culture and history, taken either from the Classical culture courses listed below (CLAS 250, 255, 350, 355, 491, 493), or from Special Topics in Classics, or from courses dealing with the Graeco-Roman world offered by other departments (with prior approval of the Classics department.) 24 additional hours (with at least 6 hours in each language) from 310, 320, 322, 330, 332, 340, 352, 360, 400, 410, 412, 422, 432, 450, 452, 460, 462, 468, 371-6, 471-6, 484, 498. II Required courses outside major - none III Foreign languages requirement - The major program satisfies the requirement, but additional competency on the intermediate level in German or French is recommended. IV Other departmental requirements - Final competency examination: 4 hours of written Latin and Greek translation. One hour oral examination on literature, history, culture etc. based on student's reading over the course of the major: successful performance in this fulfills the departmental oral competency requirement. Program in Teacher Licensure in Latin Licensure as a teacher in Latin requires the completion of the Latin program. See Education section for additional required professional education courses. Declaration of Major in Classics Declaring a major in Classics requires the student to complete a Declaration of Major form that must be signed by the department chair. Before declaring a major, students must satisfy the LANG 102 and Library Research requirements. Courses in Greek 103 Greek for General Education I (3) Introductory study of Greek as the vehicle of our Classical and Christian heritage. May be used to satisfy the general education language requirement and Classics major requirements. Course offered every semester. 104 Greek for General Education II (3) Continuation of CLAS 103, using the same methods. Course offered every semester. 211 Intermediate Greek I (3) Review and further study of the fundamentals of grammar and translation, introduction to elements of classical culture. Prerequisite: CLAS 104. Course offered every semester. 221 Intermediate Greek II (3) Improvement in interpretation and translation; significance of the major authors. Prerequisite: CLAS 211 or proficiency demonstrated to the satisfaction of instructor. Course offered every semester. NOTE: CLAS 221 or proficiency demonstrated to the satisfaction of the instructor is the prerequisite for all the following courses in Greek authors (CLAS 310-495). There is no linguistic prerequisite for any of the culture courses (CLAS 250, 255, 350, 355, 491, 493). 310 Advanced Greek (3) Translation according to preference of group from the early dialogues of Plato (Apology, Crito and Euthyphro). Course will include discussion of historical, cultural and philosophical issues arising from the ancient texts. Course offered on demand; check with department. 320 New Testament Greek (3) This course is an alternative to Greek 310, focusing instead on the forms and constructions common in New Testament, rather than Classical Greek. Course offered on demand; check with department. 330 Attic Orators (3) Translation from Andocides, Lysias and/or Isocrates. Course will include discussion of style, rhetorical strategies and historical and cultural background. Course offered on demand; check with department. 340 Homer (3) Translation from selected books of the Iliad and/or Odyssey. Course includes discussion of epic poetry, oral composition, and practice in Homeric morphology and scansion. Course offered on demand; check with department. 360 Early Greek Poetry (3) Translation of selected texts including Hesiod and early Greek lyric. Course includes historical and cultural discussion and practice in hexameter and Greek lyric metre. Course offered on demand; check with department. 400 Hellenic Historians (3) Translation and discussion of works of Herodotus and/or Thucydides. Course includes discussion of historical and cultural background. Course offered on demand; check with department. 410 Plato's Middle Dialogues (3) Translation and discussion of Plato's middle dialogues (Phaedo, Symposium, Gorgias, Republic). Includes discussion of theory of forms and other philosophical issues arising from texts. Course offered on demand; check with department. 450 Attic Tragedy (3) Translation and discussion of selected tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. Course will include historical and cultural material and scansion practice, and a reading of Aristotle's Poetics in translation, comparing his theory of tragedy with tragedians' actual practice. Course offered on demand; check with department. 460 Attic Comedy (3) Translation and discussion of selected comedies of Aristophanes. Course will include historical and cultural material and scansion practice. Course offered on demand; check with department. 480 Greek Prose Composition/ Sight-Reading (3) Advanced work in the Greek language, focusing on Greek prose composition (translating from English into Greek) and translating Greek at sight. Prerequisite: a solid grounding in Greek grammar and preferably experience in reading Greek authors. Course offered on demand; check with department. 495 Senior Research Thesis (3) Independent (guided) study, leading to completion of thesis (minimum length 50 pages) on a topic to be approved by department. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of department. Courses in Hebrew 105 Hebrew for General Education I (3) Introduction to Hebrew language, literature, and culture. Intended specifically for the satisfaction of the general education foreign language requirement. This course is a practical introduction to the reading and understanding of Hebrew, including writing and pronunciation and the minimum of grammatical work consistent with the understanding of Hebrew literature. Includes basic information on Hebrew and Jewish culture as revealed through its classical literature. Course offered on demand; check with department. 106 Hebrew for General Education II (3) Continues the work of CLAS 105. Mastery of more vocabulary and grammatical points to enable understanding of increasingly complex material in the literature of culture. Course offered on demand; check with department. Courses in Latin 101 Latin for General Education I (3) Introductory study of Latin as the vehicle of our Western heritage from Rome. May be used to satisfy the general education language requirement and Classics major requirements. Course offered every semester. 102 Latin for General Education II (3) Continuation of CLAS 101, using the same methods. Course offered every semester. 212 Intermediate Latin (3) Review and further study of the fundamentals of grammar and translation, introduction to elements of classical culture. Prerequisite: CLAS 102. Course offered every semester. NOTE: CLAS 212 or proficiency demonstrated to the satisfaction of instructor is the prerequisite for all the following courses in Latin authors (CLAS 322-495). There is no linguistic prerequisite for any of the culture courses (CLAS 250, 255, 350, 355, 491, 493). 322 Advanced Latin (3) Translation and discussion of selections either from Ovid's Metamorphoses or Cicero's orations against Catiline. Includes practice in reading out loud. Course offered on demand; check with department. 332 Roman Love Poetry (3) Translation and discussion of selections from Catullus, Propertius, Tibullus and Ovid, Amores. Includes historical and cultural background and practice in scanning elegiac and other metres. Course offered on demand; check with department. 352 Cicero (3) Translation and discussion from selected speeches, philosophical works and/or letters of Cicero. Includes historical and cultural background. Course offered on demand; check with department. 412 Roman Historians (3) Translation and discussion of Livy 1 or 21, or Tacitus' Annals. Course includes historical background. Course offered on demand; check with department. 422 Roman Didactic Poetry (3) Translation and discussion of selections from Vergil's Georgics and Lucretius, De Rerum Natura. Course will include background in earlier and later didactic poetry. Course offered on demand; check with department. 432 Vergil, Aeneid (3) Translation and discussion of selections from the Aeneid. Course will include background in earlier epic poetry. Course offered on demand; check with department. 452 Horace (3) Translation and discussion of the Odes and Epodes of Horace. Includes discussion of historical and cultural background, Horace's models in Greek lyric poetry and Horatian lyric metre. Course offered on demand; check with department. 462 Roman Satire (3) Translation and discussion of selections from Lucilius, Horace, Juvenal or Persius. Includes cultural background and discussion of satire as a genre. Course offered on demand; check with department. 468 Silver Latin Epic (3) Translation and discussion of selections from Lucan, Statius, Valerius Flaccus and/or Silius Italicus. Includes historical and cultural background. Course offered on demand; check with department. 484 Latin Prose Composition (3) Advanced work in the Latin language, focusing on Latin prose composition (translating from English into Latin). Prerequisite: a solid grounding in Latin grammar and preferably experience in reading Latin authors. Course offered on demand; check with department. 495 Senior Research Thesis (3) Independent (guided) study, leading to completion of thesis (minimum length 50 pages) on a topic to be approved by department. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of department. Courses in Culture Any of these courses may be taken in any of the four program tracks, and one must be taken to fulfill requirements of the Classics major. There are no linguistic prerequisites for these courses. 250 Mythology (3) Survey of some of the best-known Graeco-Roman myths, including their portrayal in literature and art, their significance for the culture of their time, and general theoretical treatments of myth. Course offered on demand; check with department. 255 Graeco-Roman Cultural History (3) This course covers the time frame from 323 B.C. to 100 A.D. The material presents Graeco-Roman cultural history through the study of art, architecture, archaeology, and literary texts, and the course will focus on the understanding of historical events through the cultural expression of each period covered. Course offered on demand; check with department. 350 Women in Antiquity (3) This course focuses on the socio-economic, religious, daily life, activities and legal aspects of women in ancient Greece and Rome by incorporating art, literary works and history to analyze women's position in the ancient world. Course offered on demand; check with department. 355 Athenian Democracy (3) This course focuses on governmental forms in antiquity, and especially on the development of democracy in ancient Athens. It includes discussion of issues that are also relevant to modern societies. Extensive reading in Aristotle and Plato in translation provides basic texts. Course offered on demand; check with department. 491 Greek Literature in Translation (3) A survey of some texts and themes central to Greek culture and society. Course includes historical and cultural background, and is designed for Classics majors and anyone interested in exploring texts highly influential in European literature. Course offered on demand; check with department. 493 Roman Literature and Roman Life (3) An introduction to the Romans through their literature in translation. A survey of some of the texts and themes central to Roman culture. Course includes historical and cultural background, and is designed for Classics majors and anyone interested in exploring texts highly influential in European literature. Course offered on demand; check with department. 171-6, 271-6, 371-6, 471-6 Special Topics in Classics (1-6) Courses not otherwise included in the catalog listing but for which there may be special needs. May be repeated for credit as often as permitted and as subject matter changes. Courses offered on demand; check with department. Impact Statement The impact of these catalog changes is of more importance within the department than outside it. The following elements from the current catalog entry have been retained without any change at all: required courses outside the major; foreign language requirements; the requirements for teacher licensure and declaration of major; courses 103, 104, 211 and 221 in Greek; all courses in Hebrew; and courses 101, 102 and 212 in Latin. These have been included in the new document to make a complete substitution of the old entry for the new one more straightforward. On p.1, the initial brief description of the Classics degree has been expanded in order to give more information on how the program is constructed, what sort of learning will be expected from the student, and what s/he will gain from such a program. Similarly, under "Program in Greek" and "Program in Latin", more options for future studies after a Classics degree have been suggested: no change was considered necessary under "Program in Greek and Latin", p.2. No impact on the university is foreseen by these changes: it is to be hoped that the only impact on the Classics program will be that more students will be aware of what we do and be encouraged to enroll with us. In fact, expanding enrollments is the primary aim of many of the changes below. No change in the number of hours necessary to complete program tracks in either Greek or Latin (30) has been suggested, but at the suggestion of the Academic Policies Committee, the track in Greek and Latin has been expanded to 36 hours. Newly compulsory for all tracks is one general survey course in Greek or Roman culture (CLAS 250, 255, 350, 355, 491, 493, pp.6-7). Courses which concentrate primarily on culture, rather than literary texts in the original languages, are an efficient way for our students to acquire the general historical and cultural background necessary for a degree in Classics: see also comments on staffing below. Similarly, in the course descriptions discussed below, emphasis is now placed on cultural background and discussion, rather than the almost exclusive focus on translation which obtains in the current catalog entry. Again, the impact on the university at large is not expected to be significant except in so far as more students may be persuaded to take Classics courses: the culture courses are, of course, conducted entirely in English and should have a more general appeal than our more specialised offerings, especially to students who have chosen UNCA for its emphasis on liberal arts. No change has been made in requirements II-IV (pp.1-2) except in the final competency examination, and the change from 6 hours' translation, which is currently the de facto requirement (thought the catalog entry is somewhat vague) to 4 hours' translation and an hour's general oral questioning is, again, designed to give our students a firmer grip on general aspects of Classical culture, along with linguistic and literary knowledge, and derives from the slightly different emphasis on culture that the new catalog has. No impact on the university is envisaged from this change, but we hope that the impact on our students will be to make them better-trained when they leave us. The changes made in the course descriptions of Greek and Latin look more extensive than they really are. The vast majority of the authors now included in our curriculum have been retained, but often under slightly different classifications, the most important of which are noted below. The authors who have been dropped can be taught as special subject topics, and they have only been dropped to make the catalog clearer: the current catalog lumps authors together who have little in common with one another, under misleadingly broad headings, and we hope that we have cleaned our offerings up and made our core curriculum more immediately accessible and inviting. Many of the new courses have been taught as special subjects in the last three years. Clas 101-106 and 211, 221 and 212 remain intact. The following new and discontinued courses may be worth noting: in Greek, New Testament Greek (Clas 320) replaces Biblical Greek (Clas 481), and is an alternative to Advanced Greek (310) for those who wish to know Greek purely for theological purposes: it will be essentially a language, not literature or culture class, and we plan to teach it strictly on demand, since our main mission is to teach Classical Greek. Clas 360, Early Greek Poetry is an entirely new course, but the writers it covers are standard in many other Classics courses elsewhere. Plato's Middle Dialogues (Clas 410) is offered especially for Classics and Philosophy double majors. The former Attic drama course (Clas 451) has been divided into Attic Tragedy (450) and Attic Comedy (460) in order to do justice to both. In Latin, Intermediate Latin II (Clas 222) is now omitted: it is possible to cover the remaining grammar from the 100 level in one semester, rather than two, and then to start immediately on reading proper texts. The impact on the student's load and on our own teaching loads that this streamlining will have is obviously beneficial. New courses in Latin include Roman Love Poetry (Clas 332) covering authors that were previously only taught as a special topic, Roman didactic poetry, which will link up with Clas 360 in Greek, Vergil's Aeneid and Horace. Courses in Greek and Latin prose composition (Clas 480, 484), normally a graduate school option, are now offered for the very brightest seniors, as also the new Senior Research thesis option. The only substantial omission from the old course offering is Medieval Latin, which has not been taught for at least three years, and we feel that it is peripheral to the Graeco-Roman world which is our focus of interest. It could be taught as a special topic if urgently required. The greatest innovation is clearly Clas 250-493 in general Classical culture, which replace the old 490 (mythology) and 492 (Classical civilisation) with something a bit more concrete and (we hope) attractive. The two full-time language and literature specialists have already offered 491 and 493 as special topics courses, whose impact in terms of numbers and diversity of students has been highly beneficial both to our department and others, since they were cross-listed as literature and MLA topics. All of us are capable of teaching mythology (Clas 250), while our newly appointed person, Dr Dvorsky-Rohner will be responsible for Clas 255, 350 and 355 (350 is already being taught as a special topic cross-listed with women's studies and art for Spring 1997). We trust that the impact of these new courses will be beneficial to the university and those who take them. Staffing and Future Course Offerings Since this new catalog includes so many subjects that have already been taught as special topics, we do not anticipate that future staffing needs will be affected, in so far as our teaching loads will not be any heavier than they are now. All new courses concern authors or subjects standard in Classics departments across the world, and one or both language and literature professors in the departments are competent to teach all of them. Since they are all "on demand" courses, we retain both comprehensiveness of coverage and flexibility to offer them as and when our current students are ready for them. We do, however, carry heavy teaching loads, and in the self-study that we are currently producing independently of this catalog revision, we are recommending that some means of easing the burden on us be found. The omission of the second semester of Latin 200 will certainly ease things a little. Thanks to our joint appointment with humanities and art history, we will be able to offer at least one culture course per year, and probably one per semester, as has been the case from Spring 96-Fall 96. Rationale The Catalog entry in its current form seemed to us unappealing, and a little confusing, and our twin aims have been to make our courses sound more attractive and to write entries that reflected what we are actually doing in classes right now. Now that the courses we are said to offer resemble more closely what we actually have been teaching in the department in the last couple of years, we hope that we will have to invent fewer special topics courses, and will not have the problems with "sunset courses" that plague us every year. We are especially concerned that our students should have a broader knowledge of classical culture than some of them actually do at the moment, and hence have included, and made mandatory a selection from courses in culture to give a breadth to their knowledge that will be useful for any of the four program tracks. Moreover, these courses, because they require no knowledge of Latin and Greek should have an appeal to students in majors outside the Classics major, and we feel that all such courses have a particular value in a liberal arts education. We are constantly working on how to make our enrollments more numerous: such courses will have a wide appeal and may also bring students into some of our more specialised offerings. Cross-listing courses in other departments is surely the way forward for our department and for the subject itself, to show that these texts are still alive and "relevant" to the modern student. We are working towards offering a major in Classical studies, and the culture courses would be a core of such a program.