But first, what is "Classics"? "Classics" signifies the study of the languages (Ancient Greek and Latin), literature, history, art and archaeology of the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome. The worlds of ancient Greece and Rome are fascinating in their own right and also provided the foundations for much of our own culture.
10) Satisfy your Language-Other-Than-English requirement with a language with no conversational aspect: Students are taught the principals of pronunciation, but both Greek and Latin are taught primarily as languages for reading and writing (and, oh, what amazing stuff you can read!)
9) Improve your English: Studying the grammar of a foreign language increases your overt knowledge of English grammar and, since much of English vocabulary is borrowed from that of Greek and Latin, you'll improve your command of English vocabulary in the process.
8) Expand your physical horizons: Spend your summers excavating at the Department's archaeological digs in Kallithea, Greece or Cortona, Italy, or take courses at the University of Alberta school in Cortona, Italy, or take a study tour of Rome
7) Expand your mental horizons: Study the thought of Plato and Lucretius, the poetry of Homer, Sappho and Virgil, the history of Herodotus and Tacitus, and the oratory of Cicero in the original or in translation. Examine the origins of democracy, of history, of philosophy, of art, of poetry . . .
6) Take fun complementary electives: Improve your understanding of scientific and medical terminology by taking classes in Greek or Latin or Etymology. Courses in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine can provide a historical context for modern studies.
5) Enhance your appreciation of English literature: Shakespearean drama, the English novel, satire, and television sit-coms all have their origin in the literature of Greece and Rome.
4) Improve your understanding of Art: The ancient experiments on perspective, foreshortening, and the human form all influenced Western visual aesthetic, while the mythology of Greece and Rome provided exciting subject matter.
3) Put Christianity in its historical and cultural context: Study the life of Jesus and the early development of Christianity in their historical and cultural contexts. Learn koine Greek to read the New Testament in the original.
2) Acquire transferable skills: Learn how to think, argue, write, and analyze critically and effectively, all of which are necessary skills in any job. And acquire these valuable skills while studying a variety of rewarding and fascinating subjects.
And the Number One Reason to take courses in Greek, Latin, and / or Classics . . .
1) For the sheer beauty and enjoyment of it!!
Get your very own copy of the award-winning Departmental Course Guide at the Main Office (2-28 Tory) today, or visit us online!
And note: all courses are open to all students, whether you are majoring in Classics or not. But given how fun and rewarding Classics is, why not consider majoring or minoring or doing an Honours degree in Classics? See our advisors today!