Sequence of Latin and Greek Courses
Students at Haverford have access to an extensive sequence of courses in Greek and Latin. We offer introductory courses in both languages every year, and our collaboration with Bryn Mawr means that we can give students opportunities to do work at the intermediate, advanced, and seminar levels.
Introductory courses are taught every year and assume no knowledge of the language. After learning the basics, students usually spend the second half of the second semester reading and discussing works of ancient literature. In recent years, students have read Plato's Crito and Lysias' On the Murder of Eratosthenes, selections of Ovid and Vergil, and more.
Intermediate and advanced courses investigate various themes, genres, and topics of ancient language and culture. As the level of the language increases and a student's ability with Latin and Greek matures, we place an increasing emphasis on discussion and critical analysis. Each of the intermediate courses is offered every year. The Advanced Greek courses are taught every year; Advanced Latin courses are cycled through every other year (usually with LATN201 & 202 taught one year, and LATN203 & 204 taught the next).
Students who have completed the advanced (200) level in either language also have the opportunity to pursue graduate-level courses. These are usually taught at Bryn Mawr, but with the regular participation of Haverford faculty.
| Level | Greek Courses | Latin Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory | GREK001-002: Elementary Greek | LATN001-002: Elementary Latin |
| Intermediate (Second Year - fall) |
GREK101: Herodotus & Lyric Poetry |
LATN110: Reading & Review |
| Intermediate (Second Year - spring) |
GREK102: Homer | LATN102: The Language of Love and Hate in the Roman Republic ...or.... LATN112: The Augustans (Horace & Livy) |
| Advanced (Third & Fourth Year) |
GREK201: Plato & Thucydides |
LATN201: Vergil LATN206: Postclassical Latin LATN211: Latin of the Republic LATN216: Latin of the Empire |
| Seminar (Fourth Year & Beyond: topics at this level are more fluid, those listed are examples of courses from recent years) |
GREK311: Plato & the Sophists |
LATN301: Vergil's Aeneid |