Program Overview

Overview of Classical Civilisation

The study of Classical Civilisation is concerned with the literature, thought, and culture of Ancient Greece and Rome. Through the examination and contextualisation of literary works and the analysis of the main aspects of ancient history and art, students will develop a thorough knowledge of the classical world and a critical approach to Greek and Roman literature. All texts are studied in translation, and no knowledge of Greek or Latin is required, although there are opportunities to study the languages at an introductory level.

Course Details

• Awards: B.A. Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 8)
• CAO Information: CAO Points 367-521 (2024)
• Number of Places: 34 Places
• Duration: 4 Years Full-Time

Course Options

The pathways available are Single Honours, Major with Minor, and Joint Honours. It is also possible to take this subject up as a New Minor Subject from the second year. Available combinations include:

• TR166 English Studies
• TR173 History of Art & Architecture
• TR177 Modern Language (Early Irish, German, Irish, Italian, Russian, Spanish)
• TR179 Philosophy
• TR548 Middle Eastern, Jewish and Islamic Civilisations
• TR663 Religion

Admission Requirements

• English Language Requirements: All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements.

Course Fees

For a full list of undergraduate fees, please refer to the official Trinity College Dublin website.

Course Structure

First Year

In the first year, students will be introduced to the critical study of ancient history, literature, myth, and religion, with a view to acquiring a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective on classical culture. There are approximately six hours of classes per week in the first year. The option of taking an introductory module in either Greek or Latin is available. Students will study:

• Greek and Roman history
• Reading and writing about ancient literature
• Greek and Roman mythology and religion

Second and Third Years

In each of these two years, students will take four or five modules that focus on specific authors (such as Homer, Virgil, Herodotus), genres (such as tragedy, comedy, philosophy), or themes (such as gender and sexuality, identity and self-image, human and other animals). In these modules, students will analyse ancient texts both as literature and as gateways into culture and thought, discuss key themes of relevance to both the ancient and modern world, and refine their analysis of texts in their literary and cultural context through more specialised skills and methodologies.

Fourth Year

If students decide to study Classical Civilisation in the final year, they will be able to choose from a range of special subject options on offer. Modules offered recently include:

• Ancient Cyprus
• Entertainment and Spectacle in the Greek and Roman Worlds
• Goddesses of the Ancient Mediterranean
• Anthropology and the Greeks
• Kings and Cities
• Constantine
• How to be Happy
• The Ancient Novel
• Roman Satire
• The Art of Persuasion
• Early Christianity Students will also write a thesis on a subject of their choice, allowing them to develop independent ideas and acquire critical skills while investigating in greater depth an area that particularly interests them.

Study Abroad

Trinity has strong links with many Classics departments abroad, including active participation in the Erasmus exchange programme. The Department has valuable Erasmus links with the Universities of Cyprus, Udine (Italy), Geneva, Bordeaux, and Koç (Turkey). Students are also able to avail of University-wide exchanges, for example, to North America and Australia. These opportunities allow students the option of spending a year or part of a year abroad.

Graduate Skills and Career Opportunities

Business, librarianship, museum work, publishing, teaching, and theatre are some of the many fields recent graduates have entered. Recent graduates are working for companies as diverse as Smurfit Communications, Blackwell Publishing, and the Gare St. Lazare Players. Students who opted to undertake further study have selected courses ranging from law and marketing to teacher training and international peace studies.