Classics & Ancient History MSc
Explorations in the Classical Tradition CLASSIC5063
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Humanities
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This course provides an opportunity to investigate some of the many ways in which the civilisations of ancient Greece and Rome have been appropriated and adapted in different times and places, and across a variety of literary and artistic media. This course makes full use of Glasgow's extensive resources for the study of the classical tradition in Scotland and beyond
Timetable
Two one hour seminars per week over 10 weeks
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
The standard assessments for this course are:
■ One seminar presentation 30%
■ One 3,000 word essay 70%.
If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:
■ Recorded presentation and written script/lesson plan as alternative to oral presentation.
■ There is no alternative to the essay, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)
Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.
Course Aims
This course provides the opportunity to:
■ examine different modes of the reception of classical literature, art and thought across a variety of media and historical periods, in Scotland and beyond.
■ assess the importance of the classical tradition for understanding cultural history in different times and places, to analyse the social, political and educational resonances that recourse to classical models may have held for artists, authors and audiences, and to investigate possible motivations for the use of classical material in particular cultural contexts.
■ consider issues relating to the preservation, transmission and exhibition of material deriving from classical antiquity, and to reflect on professional opportunities for engagement with the culture of the ancient world and with artworks drawing on the classical tradition
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
■ identify specific uses of material from classical antiquity in later art, architecture, literature and thought, and relate these appropriations to contemporary social, political, aesthetic, religious, philosophical and educational contexts, as appropriate.
■ analyse the significance of particular literary and artistic genres for the manner in which their practitioners engage with aspects of ancient culture, and assess the contribution made by these elements to the later works in which they occur.
■ give a detailed and informed account of contemporary theoretical debates surrounding the reception of the classical world, and discuss the implications of these questions for the study of antiquity and other academic disciplines