• Professor Lou Lombardi, Dept. of Philosophy
• Professor Janet McCracken, Dept. of Philosophy
• Professor Pericles Georges, Dept. of History
• Professor Ann Roberts, Dept. of Art
• Professor Ahmad Sadri, Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology
• Professor Richard Fisher, Dept. of Foreign Languages & Literatures

The liberal arts have their roots in the cultural legacy of ancient Greece and Rome. Western literature, philosophy, history, and drama emerged in these "classical" cultures. Our sensibilities about art and architecture continue to be influenced by forms developed in the ancient world. On the other hand, problems faced by those cultures remain with us; recent work on the role of women and slaves has had much to say not only about the ancients but about us as well. There is still much to be gained through the study of the Greeks and Romans.

The Minor in Classical Studies:

Lake Forest provides two ways to achieve a minor in Classical Studies. A traditional, on-campus track offers exposure to the literary legacies of Greece and Rome, combined with an on-campus survey of the art of period. The on-site track includes as a centerpiece the College's unique Program in Greece and Turkey, which explores the art and architectural remains of Greek civilizations from the Bronze Age, through the Classical Period, and into the Byzantine Era. As a traveling program, classes are held on sites and in museums, from Agamemnon's citadel at Mycenae, to the acropolis of Periclean Athens, the agora where Socrates engaged in philosophical debates, Apollo's oracle at Delphi, and Justinian's magnificent Ayia Sophia in Istanbul.

If you are interested in this minor or if you have questions about it, please contact any member of the program committee (listed above).
There is no language requirement for the minor but familiarity with either ancient Greek or Latin is encouraged and is available through tutorials.

On-site focus
Six courses, including

• Participation in the Program in Greece and Turkey:

• Greek Civilizations 201 (Ancient Greece: Life, Thought, and the Arts)
• Greek Civilizations 202 (Greece in the Bronze Age)
• Greek Civilizations 203 (Greece in the Classical-Roman Ages)Greek
• Civilizations 204 (Greece in the Byzantine-Medieval Ages)

 
• Another course from the list below may be substituted for one of the on-site courses, with the permission of the Classical Studies program chair.
• Plus two additional courses from the following:
• Art 210 (Ancient Art)
• Classical Studies 275 (Greek Greats)
• History 210 (Ancient Greece)
• History 211 (Roman History)
• Philosophy 290 (History of Western Philosophy: Ancient Greece)
• Religion 306 (Greek and Roman Religion)
• An appropriate tutorial or research project, approved by the Classical Studies program chair

• four courses from the following:
• Art 210 (Ancient Art)
• Greek Civilizations 201 (Ancient Greece: Life, Thought and the Arts)
• History 210 (Ancient Greece)
• History 211 (Roman History)
• Literature in Translation 275 (Greek Greats)
• Philosophy 290 (History of Western Philosophy: Ancient Greece)
• Religion 306 (Greek and Roman Religion)
• An appropriate tutorial or research project, approved by the Classical Studies program chair

• plus an additional two courses from among those listed above or:
• Ancient Greek or Latin (as a tutorial by arrangement)
• Religion 203 (The Christian Testament)
• Other courses listed below with the approval of the Classical Studies program chair and the instructor, providing the student focuses sufficiently on the Classical period
• English 210 (Ancient and Medieval Literature)
• Sociology and Anthropology 275 (History of Social Thought)
• Theater 230 (Theater History: Greeks to Shakespeare)

Initial Course Offerings:

275 Greek Greats

Students will read canonical works at the core of classical Greek civilization and situate the imaginative appropriation of this rich literature in a cultural context that is both historical and contemporary. Students read Homer's epic Iliad (selections) and Odyssey (in its entirety), three plays each by the tragedians Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, two works of the satirical Aristophanes, and examples of lyric poetry ranging from Archaic to Hellenistic times. Immersion in primary sources provides ample historical perspectives as well as critical approaches to issues of our time. The course involves lectures but is principally a seminar. Ancient Greek drama and theater will be investigated utilizing film and interactive Web-based media and sources. Prerequisites: second year standing and a Lake Forest College literature course, or permission of the instructor. (Cross-listed as Literature in Translation 275. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity requirement.)

Related Courses of Study and Programs: please see suggested courses for the minor requirements above