This is the first version of the 2023-24 General Catalog. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.

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.

CLSA:3235/ANTH:3276Greek Archaeology and Ethnohistory3
CLSA:3247/RELS:3247Banned from the Bible: Pseudepigrapha and Apocrypha3
CLSA:3416/RELS:3716Greek Religion and Society3
CLSA:3443/RELS:3243Pagans and Christians: The Church from Jesus to Muhammad3
CLSA:3742/WRIT:3742Word Power: Building English Vocabulary3
CLSA:3821/ANTH:3821/HIST:3403City of Athens: Bronze Age to Roman World3
CLSA:3980Teaching in the Classics1,3
CLSA:4452/RELS:4352The Dead Sea Scrolls3
ARTH:3330/CLSA:3227Classical Greek Art3
ARTH:3340/CLSA:3250Greek Vase Painting3
HIST:3404/CLSA:3404The World of Ancient Greece3
HIST:4403/CLSA:4403Alexander the Great3
PHIL:4152Plato3
PHIL:4153Aristotle3
TRNS:3179/CLSA:3979/ENGL:3850Undergraduate Translation Workshop3

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

Plan of Study Grid (Manual)
Academic Career
Any SemesterHours
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.
 Hours0
First Year
Fall
CLSG:1001 Classical and New Testament Greek I a, b 5
 Hours5
Spring
CLSG:1002 Classical and New Testament Greek II a 5
 Hours5
Second Year
Fall
CLSG:2001 Second-Year Greek I a 3
 Hours3
Spring
CLSG:2002 Second-Year Greek II a 3
 Hours3
Third Year
Fall
Minor: Greek elective (prefix CLSG) numbered 3000-4999 or relevant advanced-level course taught in English c 3
 Hours3
Spring
Minor: Greek elective (prefix CLSG) numbered 3000-4999 3
 Hours3
 Total Hours22
a
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.
b
This course is a prerequisite for the required minor courses.
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.