A minor in Greek is an excellent way to pursue the study of ancient Greek beyond the General Education World Languages courses and to explore an interest in reading famous authors and philosophers (Homer, Plato, and others) in their native language.
Learning Outcomes
Students are expected to demonstrate:
- the ability to read ancient Greek at an intermediate to advanced level;
- knowledge of major literary works and written sources from the ancient Greek world; and
- understanding of the impact that the political, intellectual, and social environments of the people from ancient Greece have on modern cultures.
The undergraduate minor in Greek requires a minimum of 15 s.h. in Greek courses (prefix CLSG), including at least 12 s.h. in courses numbered 2000 and above taken at the University of Iowa. Students must maintain a grade-point average of at least 2.00 in all courses for the minor and in all UI courses for the minor. Coursework in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass.
A maximum of 6 s.h. of work for another University of Iowa major, minor, or certificate and up to 3 s.h. of lower-level transfer credit may be counted toward the minor.
Students who earn a minor in Greek may not earn a major or minor in classical languages; students who are interested in a minor in Latin at the same time as the minor in Greek should consider the minor in classical languages instead.
The sequence CLSG:2001 Second-Year Greek I and CLSG:2002 Second-Year Greek II and Department of Classics courses numbered 3000 or above are considered advanced for the minor. Students may substitute a maximum of 3 s.h. for the CLSG requirement with one of the relevant advanced-level courses taught in English from the following.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CLSA:3235/ANTH:3276 | Greek Archaeology and Ethnohistory | 3 |
| CLSA:3247/RELS:3247 | Banned from the Bible: Pseudepigrapha and Apocrypha | 3 |
| CLSA:3416/RELS:3716 | Greek Religion and Society | 3 |
| CLSA:3443/RELS:3243 | Pagans and Christians: The Church from Jesus to Muhammad | 3 |
| CLSA:3742/WRIT:3742 | Word Power: Building English Vocabulary | 3 |
| CLSA:3821/ANTH:3821/HIST:3403 | City of Athens: Bronze Age to Roman World | 3 |
| CLSA:3980 | Teaching in the Classics | 1,3 |
| CLSA:4452/RELS:4352 | The Dead Sea Scrolls | 3 |
| ARTH:3330/CLSA:3227 | Classical Greek Art | 3 |
| ARTH:3340/CLSA:3250 | Greek Vase Painting | 3 |
| HIST:3404/CLSA:3404 | The World of Ancient Greece | 3 |
| HIST:4403/CLSA:4403 | Alexander the Great | 3 |
| PHIL:4152 | Plato | 3 |
| PHIL:4153 | Aristotle | 3 |
| TRNS:3179/CLSA:3979/ENGL:3850 | Undergraduate Translation Workshop | 3 |
Students who enter the University of Iowa with prior competence in introductory ancient Greek may substitute 3 s.h. of lower-level Greek courses with CLSA:1010 Hero, God, Mortal: Literature of Greece. Students who have taken high school Greek should consult the advisor.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Greek, Minor
| Academic Career | ||
|---|---|---|
| Any Semester | Hours | |
| Students must complete a minimum of 15 s.h. in Greek courses (prefix CLSG), including at least 12 s.h. in courses numbered 2000 and above taken at the University of Iowa. One advanced course in CLSA numbered 3000 or above may be counted toward the minor; see General Catalog for list of approved courses. | ||
| A maximum of 6 s.h. of work for another University of Iowa major, minor, or certificate and up to 3 s.h. of lower-level transfer credit may be counted toward the Greek minor. | ||
| Coursework in the Greek minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| First Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CLSG:1001 | Classical and New Testament Greek I a, b | 5 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Spring | ||
| CLSG:1002 | Classical and New Testament Greek II b | 5 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CLSG:2001 | Second-Year Greek I b | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| CLSG:2002 | Second-Year Greek II b | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Minor: Greek elective (prefix CLSG) numbered 3000-4999 or relevant advanced-level course taught in English c | 3 | |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| Minor: Greek elective (prefix CLSG) numbered 3000-4999 | 3 | |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 22 | |
- a
- This course is a prerequisite for the required minor courses.
- b
- Language level placement will be determined by placement exam score and/or oral interview. Students who place into the 5th semester level of the language will begin coursework at that level and will not be required to take semesters 1-4 of the language.
- c
- Students may substitute a maximum of 3 s.h. for the CLSG requirement with one relevant advanced-level course taught in English. See General Catalog or contact academic advisor for course list.