Courses

Courses may not be offered during every semester. To confirm course offerings for each semester, please use the Course Search.

In our courses, you’ll learn how to analyze material carefully, master complex information, formulate cogent arguments, and communicate concisely. All CLAS courses can be applied to the Classical Studies Minor. Select your courses and build your skills.


Survey Courses

Our survey courses provide an introduction to different facets of the Classical World, organized around different cultures or aspects of ancient life.

General Education Core (GEC) Courses

As a university student in Indiana, fulfilling all your degree requirements can be overwhelming (and confusing, which is why we made a page about how your degree requirements fit together). Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be boring. Our program offers courses that fulfill Arts and Humanities and Cultural Understanding credits for your General Education Core requirements. Plus all of these courses help build your Classical Studies Minor. So you can fulfill campus requirements, earn an interesting addition to your transcript, and learn what you love.

Click on the course titles below to learn more!


Arts and Humanities

CLAS-C 101 Ancient Greek Culture

  • 3 credits

CLAS-C 102 Roman Culture

  • 3 credits
Bernini Medusa

CLAS-C 205 Classical Mythology

  • 3 credits

Cultural Understanding

CLAS-C 213 Sport and Competition in the Ancient World

  • 3 credits

CLAS-L 131 Beginning Latin I

  • 4 credits
  • can be applied to World Language Requirements

CLAS-L 132 Beginning Latin II

  • 4 credits
  • can be applied to World Language Requirements

Special Topics

Interested in learning more about specific aspects of the Ancient World? Our survey courses explore particular aspects of ancient life, both within the context of understanding the past, and within the context of understanding connections with the present. Click on the course titles below to learn more!


Bernini Medusa

CLAS-C 205 Classical Mythology

  • GEC Arts and Humanities
  • 3 credits

CLAS-C 210 Ancient Medicine and Modern Terminology

CLAS-C 213 Sport and Competition in the Ancient World

  • GEC Cultural Understanding
  • 3 credits

Latin Language

Latin is not only the language of the Ancient Romans, but the language of centuries of scholarship, both scientific and religious. Cicero, Ovid, and Julius Caesar spoke Latin; Copernicus and St. Augustine wrote it; Jefferson, Hamilton, and Tolkien read it. As the parent language of 5 modern languages (including Spanish, French, and Italian) and the root language over 30% of English words, Latin teaches vocabulary and grammar skills that can facilitate further language acquisition, especially in medical and scientific fields. Curious to learn more? Check out Julius Caesar Explains: Why Study Latin.

In our classes you will learn the basics of Latin vocabulary and grammar with an eye to developing direct reading comprehension. You will also learn about Ancient Roman society, literature, religion, and culture. Finally, our Latin courses can be applied towards World Language and GEC Cultural Understanding requirements.

Click on the course titles below to learn more! Or visit Learning Latin FAQ for more information.


CLAS-L 131 Beginning Latin I

  • 4 credits
  • all are welcome: no previous knowledge of Latin required

CLAS-L 132 Beginning Latin II

  • 4 credits
  • previous experience (equivalent to one semester) in Latin is necessary for success

Upper-Level (300+) Seminars

Our seminars provide an in-depth exploration of the Classical World, as well as the tools we use to learn about that world. All are welcome: no prior experience or pre-requirements necessary. Courses may be taken independently or combined in any order.

Keystone Seminar Sequence

The CLAS program features 4 blocks of upper-level 3-credit courses, with each block including 1 text-focused seminar and 1 archaeology-focused seminar. Every fall and spring semester, we schedule one course block, in a sequence that repeats every two years. To keep track, we’ve named our blocks after the four Roman chariot racing teamsRedWhiteBlue, and Green.

Click on the course titles below to learn more!


Red Fall (2024)

CLAS-C 361 Ancient Roman Revolutions

  • combined with HIST-C 396
  • 3 credits
  • can be applied to the History Minor
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CLAS-A 301 Classical Archaeology


White Spring (2025)

CLAS-C 321 Classical Myth and Culture in Theater and Film

CLAS-C 351 Change and Innovation in Ancient Greece

  • combined with HIST-C 395
  • 3 credits
  • can be applied to the History Minor

CLAS-C 419 Art and Archaeology of Pompeii


Blue Fall (2025)

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CLAS-C 387 Roman History

  • combined with HIST-C 388
  • 3 credits
  • can be applied to the History Minor

CLAS-A 418 Myth and Reality in Classical Art


Green Spring (2026)

CLAS-C 386 Greek History

  • combined with HIST-C 386
  • 3 credits
  • can be applied to the History Minor

CLAS-C 414 Art and Archaeology of the Roman World

“Appetizer” (1-credit) Courses

“Appetizer Courses” are designed as introductions to topics of particular interest in the Classical World. All are welcome: no prior experience or pre-requirements necessary. All courses in this sequence are 1-credit and run for 5 weeks. They can be taken independently or combined in any order, and all can be applied to the Classical Studies Minor. Click on the course titles below to learn more!

The CLAS program features 4 blocks of upper-level courses, with each block including 1 appetizer course from each of three themes: Diverse Experiences, Mythology, and Everyday Life. Every fall and spring semester, we schedule one course block, in a sequence that repeats every two years. To keep track, we’ve named our blocks after the four Roman chariot racing teamsRedWhiteBlue, and Green.


Red Fall (2024)

CLAS-B 312 Plague, Disasters and Death in the Ancient World

  • Everyday Life

CLAS-B 319 Greek Mythology: The Gods

  • Mythology

CLAS-B 311 Sex and Gender in the Ancient World

  • Diverse Experiences

White Spring (2025)

CLAS-B 317 Money, Trade, and the Market in the Ancient World (page under construction)

  • Everyday Life

CLAS-B 320 Greek Mythology: Heroes (page under construction)

  • Mythology

CLAS-B 313 Extraordinary Ancient Women

  • Diverse Experiences

Blue Fall (2025)

CLAS-B 318 Architecture, Engineering, and Science in the Ancient World (page under construction)

  • Everyday Life

CLAS-B 322 Greek Mythology: Fantastic Creatures and Characters (page under construction)

  • Mythology

CLAS-B 323 Warfare in the Ancient World (page under construction)

  • Diverse Experiences

Green Spring (2026)

CLAS-B 324 Transport, Tourism, and Trade in the Ancient World (page under construction)

  • Everyday Life

CLAS-B 321 Greek Mythology: The Trojan War (page under construction)

  • Mythology

CLAS-B 315 Diversity, Inequity, and Exclusion in the Ancient World

  • Diverse Experiences

Additional Seminars

The CLAS program also offers additional seminar courses according to student and faculty availability. See something you would like to be offered soon? Please reach out and let us know!

CLAS-C 321 Classical Myth and Culture in Theater and Film

CLAS-C 321 presents an exploration of the social impact of performed stories, both in and about the ancient world. It traces the development of theater in Ancient Greece and Rome, as a window into societies, ancient and modern. The course examines the role of theater in ancient lives, and how those ancient lives have come to be portrayed on the modern screen. The course examines the evidence for theater throughout the centuries as unique opportunities to address fascinating topics and ask important questions: How was ancient society organized? How did they struggle with and debate important social issues through public entertainment? Why do Greek and Roman societies and their myths continue to fascinate us today? How does entertainment shape the way we see such societies, and our own?

CLAS-D 470 Classics in Focus Euripides’ Medea (3 cr.)

This class serves as an in-depth examination of Euripides’ tragedy Medea, a rightfully legendary work that explores concepts such as the nature of heroism and justice, the struggle for personal agency, the destruction of the family, and the role of women in society. Topics include: How does Euripides’ Medea interact with and help shape the larger Graeco-Roman mythological tradition? What does Medea tell us about women, both real and fictive, in ancient societies? What does Medea tell us about heroic virtues? How does Medea reflect ancient social tensions, and how are those connected to modern cultures?

CLAS-C 396 Classical Studies Abroad (1-9 cr.)

Students may study abroad and earn credit through an approved Indiana University overseas study program. This class may be repeated for a maximum of 9 credit hours.

CLAS-C 491 Topics in Classical Studies (3 cr.)

A detailed examination of a particular aspect of the Classical World using a variety of literary and archaeological evidence. Recent topics include:

CLAS-C 495 Individual Reading in Classics (1-3 cr.)

Students interested in pursing an individual study in Classical Studies should speak to their instructor and the Program Director. This class may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.


Courses in Multiple Programs

The Classical Studies program (CLAS) has numerous courses that are offered in coordination with other programs. Many of these can be applied directly to Minors in these programs, or with permission from the program’s undergraduate advisor.

History (HIST)

All CLAS courses cross-listed with HIST can be applied to the History Minor, as well as the Classical Studies Minor.

CLAS-C 351 Change and Innovation in Ancient Greece

  • combined with HIST-C 395
  • 3 credits

CLAS-C 361 Ancient Roman Revolutions

  • combined with HIST-C 396
  • 3 credits

CLAS-C 386 Greek History

  • combined with HIST-C 386
  • 3 credits

CLAS-C 387 Roman History

  • combined with HIST-C 388
  • 3 credits

Art History (HER-H)

All CLAS courses cross-listed with HER can be applied to the Art History Minor, as well as the Classical Studies Minor.

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CLAS-A 301 Classical Archaeology

  • combined with HER-H 310
  • 3 credits

CLAS-C 414 Art and Archaeology of the Roman World

  • combined with HER-H 414
  • 3 credits

CLAS-A 418 Myth and Reality in Classical Art

  • combined with HER-H 418
  • 3 credits

CLAS-C 419 Art and Archaeology of Pompeii

  • combined with HER-H 419
  • 3 credits

CLAS-C 491 Classical Myth and Art Through the Ages (Topics in Classical Studies)

  • combined with HER-H 400
  • 3 credits

Medical Humanities and Health Studies (MHHS)

All CLAS courses cross-listed with MHHS can be applied to the Classical Studies Minor.

CLAS-C 210 Ancient Medicine and Modern Terminology

CLAS-C 491 The Black Plague (Topics in Classical Studies)

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS)

Applied Theatre, Film, and Television (COMM)

All CLAS courses cross-listed with COMM can be applied to the Classical Studies Minor.

CLAS-C 321 Classical Myth and Culture in Theater and Film


More Info

For specific courses offered in a specific semester see the Schedule of Classes at Student Central.

Contact Dr. Elizabeth Thill, Director of Classical Studies.