Classics

Ancient Greek and Latin have been taught at the University of Melbourne since its very foundation, and have been a core element of higher education for many centuries. The overall objective of the Classics program is to introduce students to key literary texts from classical antiquity (including history, drama, oratory, philosophy, epic, and lyric poetry), and to enable students to discover the many important contributions which reading ancient texts in the original languages can make to understanding both the ancient world and the Western tradition. A knowledge of Ancient Greek and Latin is also very useful for research and training in such related disciplines as biochemistry, medicine, the history and philosophy of science, archaeology, Biblical studies, history, philosophy, art history, Romance language studies, English literary studies, and music.

The Honours program is an advanced level of study designed to allow students to specialise their knowledge across one area of study. Applicants should have completed a major in Classics with an average of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent. Students accepted into the program undertake fourth-year level subjects and a short research thesis and must achieve honours-level grades (minimum 65%-H3) for each component of assessment in order to qualify for the award. The opportunity to specialise provides a strong foundation for the future direction of graduates, whether as a means of progressing to higher degree research in Arts at the Masters or PhD level, or improving the scope of employment options and professional advancement. Students with Honours from Melbourne Arts record exceptionally high rates of satisfaction with the professional and academic directions they pursue beyond graduation.

On successful completion of this Honours specialisation, students will be able to:

• demonstrate advanced knowledge of the literature and culture of ancient Greece and Rome through texts in the original ancient languages; and
• display advanced skills and methodologies for the analysis of ancient cultures, and the linguistic analysis of Ancient Greek and Latin languages; and
• understand modern critical frameworks for the study of Classics; and
• develop and sustain an argument based on research.

Students undertaking pure honours in Classics must complete:

• CLAS40032 Classics Thesis (50 points); and
• CLAS40033 Research in Classics (12.5 points); and
• CLAS40034 Classics Honours Seminar 1 (12.5 points); and
• CLAS40035 Classics Honours Seminar 2 (12.5 points); and
• One elective subject from the list below (12.5 points).

There is no combined honours in classics.

Total 100 points

Thesis:

Note: the thesis requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment.

Compulsory Subjects:

Electives (one of the following):