Greek, Minor

Program Description

The Greek minor focuses on establishing proficiency in reading and interpreting classical Greek literature. After completing an introductory course sequence (elementary classical Greek) that teaches students the vocabulary, morphology and syntax of classical Greek, students complete at least six credits in Greek language and literature at the 400-level for a total of 18 credits for the minor. In advanced courses in Greek language and literature, students gain analytical and interpretive skills by reading a wide range of classical Greek literature, including Greek drama, history, and philosophy, as well as the Greek New Testament. Students minoring in Greek will find their studies mesh well with a number of majors and graduate fields, including anthropology, archaeology, history, English, comparative literature, philosophy, and law.

What is Greek?

“Classical Greek” refers mainly to the Greek dialect spoken in Athens in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE (Attic Greek). As such, Classical Greek was the language of the first great democratic state; eventually, it became the standard dialect that was read and studied for more than a thousand years down through the era of the Roman and Byzantine empires. After the Classical period, the Greek language continued to evolve, forming a standard common dialect (koine Greek) that was used throughout the Hellenistic world of the eastern Mediterranean and beyond. This was the dialect used by the writers of the New Testament to make it accessible to the widest literate audience. The modern Greek language is its descendant, though greatly changed after more than a thousand years of linguistic development.

You Might Like This Program If...

• You hope to analyze some of the world’s greatest classical texts in their original language.
• You want to pursue a career or engage in graduate studies in fields such as archaeology, theater, philosophy, literature, religious studies, law, and more.
• You are interested in gaining further insight into the societies.

Program Requirements

Requirements for the Minor

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university’s academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee’s unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
Use the Liberal Arts Majors and Minors web page to see the contact information for the specific adviser(s) of this program

Career Paths

A Greek minor provides students with the tools necessary to analyze numerous classical texts firsthand in their original language, a skill that proves highly valued in various careers, such as archaeology, and especially in graduate studies where knowledge of the Greek language is required for research.

Careers

• Teaching
• Archaeology
• Theater
• Philosophy
• Law

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF CLASSICS AND ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES
108 Weaver Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-8851
bdw150@psu.edu

https://cams.la.psu.edu/