The Department of Classics and Religion offers instruction in Ancient and Medieval History, Greek and Roman Studies, and Religious Studies.
Ancient and Medieval History: The BA and BA Honours programs in Ancient and Medieval History are offered by the Department of Classics and Religion. There is no Minor program in Ancient and Medieval History. Students considering this Major should consult the Classics and Religion Advisor or Program Director.
The Ancient and Medieval History program examines pre-modern societies around the globe, from those of the Greeks and Romans of antiquity to the European Middle Ages, from the civilizations of the ancient Near East to those of southern and eastern Asia, Africa, and the Americas. To study Ancient and Medieval History is to discover cultures that, while they are unlike our own in many respects, have nevertheless provided the political, social, religious and intellectual foundations of the modern world.
Greek and Roman Studies: Greek and Latin language and literature, in Greek, Roman, and late antique history and archaeology, and in the more general area of ancient Mediterranean civilizations.
Both Greek and Latin may be started at the university. The relevant courses are Greek 201 and Greek 203, and Latin 201 and Latin 203. Advanced placement to Greek 301 or Latin 301 may be granted at the discretion of the Department to those students who have Greek 30, Latin 30 or an equivalent background.
Students majoring in the Department are encouraged to choose a related Minor Field. Related disciplines include: Anthropology, Art, English, French, German, History, Italian, Linguistics, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, Sociology and Spanish. There are also related interdisciplinary minor programs such as Medieval, Renaissance and Reformation Studies.
The Greek and Roman Studies program explores the ancient Mediterranean world through its languages (principally ancient Greek and Latin), history, literature, religion, mythology, art and architecture. Students are introduced to methods of textual analysis as well as the careful examination of material remains. Since the traditions of ancient Greece and Rome are foundational to modern western culture, their study is invaluable not only for their own sake, but also because of their continued relevance today.
Religious Studies: Religious Studies seeks to foster an understanding of the wide variety of religions that have influenced the development of human cultures and that continue to be powerful forces in today's world. Courses examine religious worldviews and their associated texts and practices, movements and institutions, as they appear now and as they have developed over time in many cultures of the world. The Field of Religious Studies is multicultural, i.e., religions from all over the world are the subject of study, including the ancient traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as religious movements of more recent origin. Religious Studies is also multidisciplinary, which means that religion is studied with the use of methods and theories from various disciplines, including history, anthropology, philosophy, sociology, psychology, literary theory, and feminist theory.
Courses in the Field of Religious Studies are divided into three streams: Western Religions, Eastern Religions, and the Nature of Religion. Students are required to take courses in each of the three streams. A student may define a focus of study within a stream or thematically across streams. Students are encouraged to consult with the Department's Undergraduate Advisor regularly throughout their Undergraduate careers.
Students are strongly advised to include in their programs relevant language courses (e.g., Classical Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, French, German) and relevant courses from other disciplines.
Faculty of Arts