classics at oxford

Anyone studying / considering studying either of the route 2 classics courses at Oxford? (ie - either greek focus/latin focus, having studied neither language before?)
Would appreciate people's views on this... everyone I know who has applied for classics has studied either classical greek/latin before, but none of my schools have ever offered it and I've always been too poor (sob) to take it privately!
am i a knob for deciding to do this with no experience?????

Reply 1

Handy

10

You'll probably get more replies in the Oxford forum.

Reply 2

Poppy020

OP

nope.. been there, done that, was why i came here.

Reply 3

heliotrope

1

ive got an offer for classics and english course II. i only have latin GCSE. it seems like fun. just go for it, if you decide you dont like the language, just concentrate on philosophy/history/literature/lingustics; straight classics is a very flexible cause.

Reply 4

Kalypso

1

heliotrope

if you decide you dont like the language, just concentrate on philosophy/history/literature/lingustics;

I think this is slightly misguided - after you have done the mandatory language course you do no more language classes. The whole point of them is that they get you to the point where you can read philosophy/history/literature in the original language. Doing papers in these areas does not mean you don't do the language, it's just embedded into the prescribed reading. In the exams you have to be able to translate and comment on a selection of passages taking from a large amount of reading in the original that you are expected to have done.

Reply 5

heliotrope

1

Kalypso

I think this is slightly misguided - after you have done the mandatory language course you do no more language classes. The whole point of them is that they get you to the point where you can read philosophy/history/literature in the original language. Doing papers in these areas does not mean you don't do the language, it's just embedded into the prescribed reading. In the exams you have to be able to translate and comment on a selection of passages taking from a large amount of reading in the original that you are expected to have done.

my bad. you're right.

there are some non classical philosophy options that can be taken too though, no? obviously they wont be in the original.

Reply 6

jeffreyweingard

3

I know it is possible to take Classics with neither A level Latin or greek at Oxbridge. Whatabout at other unis? Do they offer full Classics degree to such students?

Reply 7

ACF99

Virtually all universities offer Classics from beginner level, although many expect a small knowledge of the subject acquired from studying at a summer school the summer prior to matriculation.

Reply 8

jeffreyweingard

3

ACF99

Virtually all universities offer Classics from beginner level, although many expect a small knowledge of the subject acquired from studying at a summer school the summer prior to matriculation.

Can you give me some examples?

Reply 9

ACF99

Certainly.

Manchester
http://www.arts.manchester.ac.uk/subjectareas/classicsancienthistory/undergraduatestudy/studying/ugstudy/classicsgreeklatin/

St Andrews
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/classics/undergrads/classicsdetails.shtml

Birmingham (different course structure, not conventional straight Classics)
http://www.iaa.bham.ac.uk/ugdegprogs/progdetails/clc.htm

London universities generally have a Classical Studies option with the option of some ab initio language, although not to the standard of a full Classics degree. (example http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ugp07/programme/134

Much the same at Bristol / Exeter.

Hope that's useful to you :smile:

.

Reply 10

Kalypso

1

heliotrope

my bad. you're right.

there are some non classical philosophy options that can be taken too though, no? obviously they wont be in the original.

It is true that you can do some philosophy and some history papers that have no set texts in the original, but that option does not come up until after mods (so in your 6th term) plus there is a mandatory number of text based papers that you have to do, so there is certainly no getting away from the language!

Reply 11

Kalypso

1

jeffreyweingard

Can you give me some examples?

when i applied (a few years ago now...) the places I applied to all offered some beginner's language - oxford, bristol, edinburgh, newcastle, kcl and durham.

Reply 12

jeffreyweingard

3

I checked the Bristol and KCL websites. They require A level Latin or Greek for Classics. But not for Classical Studies. I am interested to know which unis offer full Classics degree to those without A level. by the way, Kalypso, where did you go in the end?

Reply 13

heliotrope

1

Kalypso

It is true that you can do some philosophy and some history papers that have no set texts in the original, but that option does not come up until after mods (so in your 6th term) plus there is a mandatory number of text based papers that you have to do, so there is certainly no getting away from the language!

well yeah, but i guess that what i wanted to get across was that by doing a classics degree the OP isnt going to be spending four years saying 'amo amas amat...' over and over :p:

.

Reply 14

Kalypso

1

jeffreyweingard

I checked the Bristol and KCL websites. They require A level Latin or Greek for Classics. But not for Classical Studies. I am interested to know which unis offer full Classics degree to those without A level. by the way, Kalypso, where did you go in the end?

I've just had a quick look at Bristol - it might be worth investigating the Classical Studies course further and not being put off by the name. Their Classical Studies course actually has the same UCAS code as Course II at Oxford. It just so happens that Oxford chose to call Q800 and Q810 both Classics. It might be that it is possible to do quite a lot of language at Bristol even though it is not a compulsory element? I have a feeling the same is true of King's. I ended up at Oxford.

Reply 15

Consie

15

You can also do Classical Archeology and Ancient History at Oxford. A course almost exclusive to Oxford, everything is done in English and is just as flexible as straight Classics (you can choose to do Latin and Greek, or avoid it completely if you want). There is also subjects like Classical Civilisation (which i do at A level at a State College - straight Classics does appear to be very 'private sector') and Ancient History at universities, which are essentially the same as Classics excpet things are done in English.

I've been reading into this myself as i'm considering doing CAAH. I was thinking of doing the Classics course II, but although they say you can start from scratch doing Latin/Greek, they teach you A level Latin/Greek in like 8 weeks, so you have to be mustard at picking up and understanding langauge structures. From my knowledge, kids from my college who have done the Course II have had A*'s in modern langauges at GCSE and/or have A's in a modern lanauge at A level, i.e. they are generally good at picking up new langauges quickly. I myself got a B and a C (my lowest grades on my entire GCSE results slip) in my modern langauges, although i was good at picking it up, it just didnt interest me, so i dont think the language way is for me!

Incidentally, to anyone who is knowledgeable in the Classics area, what is the repuation of courses like Classical Civilisation or Classical Archeology and Ancient History? are they considerd a bit mickey mouse or what? I dont think CAAH from Oxford is, as anything from Oxford is top notch, but i think it might be else where.

Reply 16

Q.E.D

12

Just as an idea, try the sample language aptitude test on their website. and also try and get hold of some beginner books for latin and greek to see whether it really is what you want to do. This won't cost too much and may give you a better idea about what it entails, and also may give you an upperhand in the interview as it will show that you tried to take the initiative etc... anyway go with whatever you want to do, follow your heart, and you will be able to do whatever it is (because you will have the motivation to work as hard as you must.) Good luck.

Reply 17

Trolley

4

Get studying Latin, now. If you're really interested in the languages, show it, and it will count very much in your favour at your interviews - that you've done some yourself already. Get something like Teach Yourself Latin, which is a surprisingly good first book (though quite intensive) given that it is from the TY series. Or if you are feeling brave go for the "Latin: An Intensive Course" by Moreland and Fleischer. If you finish that you're pretty much at A level standard already.

classics at oxford

Related discussions

Articles for you