Ancient Greek

More than 2,000 years ago Plato wrote that the noblest of all studies is the study of what man is and of what life he should live. Study ancient Greek and learn from the wisdom of one of the world’s most influential cultures. Learn to tolerate ambiguity; to think critically and independently; to appreciate the ways in which language can help us understand one another more clearly and profoundly. Learning a second language encourages self-reflection, a seeing things from multiple perspectives, and a consideration of what lies beneath the surface of what we are told. Language equips us to live, sustains us, transforms us.

Career Opportunities in the 21st century

Learning ancient Greek is excellent preparation for a variety of careers. It teaches you the writing, critical thinking, and communications skills you need to succeed in the 21st century, no matter what you choose as your career path: academics, business, education, entrepreneur, journalism, law, medicine, politics. Ancient Greek is also excellent for students who wish to do graduate work in ancient art, archaeology, classical studies, history, or philosophy. Completion of a major or minor in ancient Greek equips you to teach the language in private elementary and high schools.

Curriculum

Students begin a major in Ancient Greek after completing two elementary and two intermediate Ancient Greek courses. These courses represent an equivalent to four years of high school Ancient Greek. Students who have completed four years of high school Ancient Greek can usually move directly into courses which count toward the major. For those who have not completed four years of high school Ancient Greek, the number of electives is reduced but the time necessary for completion of the degree is not increased. Students majoring in Ancient Greek select 21 hours of courses in Ancient Greek composition, advanced grammar and literary analysis. All programs at the University include a general education component which contains courses in fine arts, natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities. Students who wish to teach Ancient Greek follow a program offered by the College of Education and Human Development. This program includes professional education courses. Another component of the program is a Ancient Greek teaching apprenticeship to gain experience.

High School Preparation

Students with an interest in Ancient Greek should take advantage of the opportunity to study as much Ancient Greek as possible in high school. In addition, a solid background in English composition and mathematics is important. Students should follow a college preparatory curriculum that includes four units (credits) of English, three units of college preparatory mathematics, three units of science, three units of social studies, two units of the same foreign language and one unit of the visual or performing arts. Students who have not taken all these recommended courses may be required to take University courses to make up deficiencies.

Sample Plan

Following is a typical program for a student with two years of high school Ancient Greek. An advisor helps students choose additional courses for 15 or 16 hours each semester. Individual course selection will depend on the minor chosen, personal interests, career objectives, elective possibilities and high school preparation.The numbers in parentheses indicate credit hours.

First Year
Intermediate Ancient Greek (6)

Second Year
Elementary Latin (8)
Ancient Greek Literature (6)

Third Year
Intermediate Latin (6)
Ancient Greek Composition (6)

Fourth Year
Readings in Ancient Greek Literature (6)
Classical Mythology (3)

Philip S. Peek

Classical Studies Program
College of Arts and Sciences
Bowling Green State University
(419) 372-2468
peekps@bgsu.edu