Classics

The Department of Classics offers a structured program for college graduates seeking to improve their facility with ancient Greek and Latin as preparation for graduate-level study of classics or a related discipline such as ancient history, art and archaeology, philosophy, religion, or medieval studies.

The program’s primary goal is to help students enhance their comprehension of the ancient languages. The Department’s language courses, from elementary to advanced, are intensive, so as to permit students to immerse themselves in the study of ancient Greek and Latin. Enrollments in language courses are limited, and students accordingly receive individualized attention. In addition, the required postbaccalaureate seminar affords students opportunities for developing their analytic skills while familiarizing themselves with important trends in scholarship.

Applicants to the program should have an aptitude for language study as well as enthusiasm for learning about the ancient world. Students are expected to complete the required courses in two or three terms of full-time study, beginning in the fall or spring term. Students who complete the curriculum with a grade of B or better in all courses are eligible for a Classics Certificate. Graduates of our postbaccalaureate certificate program have been accepted into M.A. and Ph.D. programs at institutions such as Brown, Boston University, Cambridge, Columbia, N.Y.U., Ohio State, Oxford, Princeton, Rutgers, University of California at Berkeley, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, University of Texas at Austin and Yale.

Curriculum

The curriculum for students in the Classics program consists of eight courses. Six of these courses must be in ancient Greek and Latin, including the postbaccalaureate seminar (Greek W3980 or Latin W3980), which is offered every fall. The remaining two courses may also be language courses or may otherwise be selected, with the approval of the faculty adviser, from courses offered by the Department of Classics under the listings for Classical Civilization or Classical Literature, or from courses in related departments, such as ancient history, philosophy, art and archaeology, religion and political science.

Extracurricular Activities and Events

Students are invited to join faculty, undergraduate majors, and graduate students at the ongoing colloquia, special lectures from visiting scholars, and museum excursions that are sponsored by the Department of Classics, the Center for the Ancient Mediterranean, and the University. They are also encouraged to participate in the rich cultural life of New York City, in which performances of ancient dramas at professional theaters and on local college campuses are regularly featured events. Research resources in the Department and the University are also at their full disposal.

Admission

To apply to the Classics Certificate Program, follow the Postbaccalaureate Studies Program application instructions. (Please note: Applicants to the Classics Certificate Program must submit two letters of recommendation that attest to their readiness for an intensive postbaccalaureate program.)

Students seeking application guidance should contact the Office of Admissions:

Office of Admissions
School of Continuing Education
203 Lewisohn Hall
2970 Broadway, Mail Code 4119
New York, NY 10027-6902
212-854-9666
ce-info@columbia.edu

Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM
Friday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
 

Current Student Advising

Students in the program are advised by the Office of Student Affairs and by the faculty adviser concerning their curriculum at Columbia and their plans for applying to graduate and professional programs. For all incoming students, the Department of Classics administers diagnostic examinations that will help determine placement in language courses. In the fall semester, these examinations are administered during the two-day departmental orientation in the week before classes begin. This orientation also gives students the opportunity to get acquainted with faculty, staff, and other students in the Department, and to find out more about academic careers in classics and classical studies.

Academic Adviser to Enrolled Students
Karl Rutter, 510H Lewisohn Hall
212-854-9666
kr2456@columbia.edu

Faculty Adviser to Enrolled Students in the Department of Classics
Elizabeth Scharffenberger
610 Hamilton Hall
212-854-7822
es136@columbia.edu

Administrator for the Department of Classics
Gerry Visco
617 Hamilton Hall
212-854-2726
gwv1@columbia.edu