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Classics focuses on exploring the literary works, historical events, artistic achievements, and physical artifacts of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Students can learn Latin and/or Greek at any stage of their studies.
Those advancing to Honours will have the chance to spend a minimum of three weeks (typically during the summer break after third year) exploring archaeological sites and museums in Greece and Italy. All Single Honours students receive financial assistance for this trip. Additionally, third-year students may opt to study abroad at institutions in North America, Australia, New Zealand, or Europe. The curriculum covers classical civilization, including the history, literature, and culture of early Greece and republican Rome. Students will examine Homer's works alongside historical accounts by Herodotus and Sallust, the comedies of Plautus, and Cicero's orations. The program also explores the literature, culture, history, and politics of democratic Athens and the peak of the Roman Empire. Readings include tragedies by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, comedies by Aristophanes, philosophical dialogues by Plato, historical texts by Thucydides and Tacitus, Virgil's Aeneid, Juvenal's satires, and Petronius' groundbreaking novel. For increased flexibility, students may now choose to take any pre-Honours Classical Civilisation courses (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B) online instead of attending traditional in-person classes.
Recent graduates have pursued careers in education, government services, administration, library sciences, archival work, and museum/gallery curation.