Hellenic Studies (2022 - 2024)
Major: General Information
The major in Hellenic studies consists of nine 4-point courses (36 points) completed with a grade of C or better. Courses taken in the Arts and Science summer program in Athens count toward the major as regular courses. A solid foundation in the modern Greek language is a requirement for all majors. Upon declaring the major, a student is expected to enroll in Elementary Modern Greek I (HEL-UA 103) or take a placement examination. By the end of their program, all students must demonstrate competence in modern Greek at the intermediate level through successful completion of two semesters of Intermediate Modern Greek (HEL-UA 105, 106) or equivalent performance on a placement examination.
Major: Programs of Study
Qualified students may choose from three tracks within the major:
Track A: Language, Literature, and Culture
This track provides students with a solid foundation in the modern Greek language and provides a comprehensive introduction to medieval and modern Greek literature and culture.
Track B: Politics and History
This track provides students with an interdisciplinary social science perspective on the medieval and modern Greek experience. Students may choose to concentrate their studies in history or politics, or create their own combination in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.
Track C: The Classical Legacy
This track provides students with an interdisciplinary perspective on the reception of classical Greek thought in postclassical Greece.
Students in tracks A and B who have placed out of Intermediate Modern Greek I and II (HEL-UA 105, 106) are encouraged to take Advanced Modern Greek I and II (HEL-UA 107, 108). Track C students who place out of Intermediate Modern Greek I and II are encouraged to take Advanced Modern Greek I and II (HEL-UA 107, 108), or two semesters of ancient Greek in the Department of Classics. Also note that students in tracks A and C are allowed to count up to six courses (24 points) in Modern Greek language toward the major; students in track B are required to take up to at least four courses in Modern Greek (16 points) for the major, unless they have placed ahead in/out of this language.
All majors, regardless of their track, must complete:
- the Seminar on Modern Greek Culture (HEL-UA 130);
- and two specifically designated survey courses offered within the program.
Which two survey courses students choose depends on the disciplinary track that they select. Every student must take at least one designated survey course in his or her own track of concentration and one designated survey course from another track. (Students in track A should also take a track B survey; students in track B should also take a track A survey; and students in track C should also take one survey in track A or B.)
The following is a list of designated survey courses:
Track A
- Memory, History, and Language in Modern Greek Poetry (HEL-UA 120)
- Narrative, History, and Fiction in the Modern Greek Novel (HEL-UA 190)
Track B
- Modern Greek History (HEL-UA 159)
- History of the Byzantine Empire (HEL-UA 283)
- Modern Greek Politics (HEL-UA 525)
Track C
- Memory, History, and Language in Modern Greek Poetry (HEL-UA 120)
- Greek Tragedy and Modern Greece (HEL-UA 320)
Electives
Additional Hellenic studies courses are required to reach the total of nine courses for the major. The exact number of electives varies according to a student’s level of language proficiency upon entrance to the major. Subject to the approval of the director of undergraduate studies, cognate offerings in other departments or an approved internship may be counted toward the major. A sample list of cognate courses is available from the program office.
Minor
A minor in Hellenic studies requires four 4-point courses (16 points) offered by the program and competed with a grade of C or better. Students must demonstrate full intermediate proficiency in modern Greek language by successful completion of either a placement examination or Intermediate Modern Greek II (HEL-UA 106). Elementary Modern Greek I and II do not count toward the minor. Students should consult the director of undergraduate studies of the program prior to registering for courses in the minor. If the minor includes any courses in intermediate or advanced modern Greek, it cannot satisfy the Expressive Culture requirement of the College Core Curriculum (i.e., it must be composed entirely of content courses to satisfy Expressive Culture).
Honors Program
A degree in Hellenic studies is awarded with honors to students who complete nine courses (36 points) of graded work while maintaining an overall GPA of 3.65 and an average in the major of 3.65 and who successfully complete a program of original research leading to an honors thesis. Honors students are required to enroll in both Independent Study (HEL-UA 997) and Senior Honors Seminar (HEL-UA 999).
The thesis topic and the faculty adviser are chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. The average length of the paper is 40-60 pages. Honors students are encouraged, but not required, to take at least one appropriate graduate course in Hellenic studies.
Prize
The Rae Dalven Prize is a monetary prize awarded annually for the best term paper in the field of Hellenic studies. Submissions are not limited to Hellenic studies majors or minors.