LATN 112.3: Latin for Beginners I

An introduction to the basics of Latin grammar, with particular attention to accidence.

LATN 113.3: Latin for Beginners II

An introduction to the main elements of basic Latin syntax.

LATN 202.3: Intermediate Latin I

Consolidation of basic Latin grammar and introduction to advanced Latin syntax. The readings of some of the less difficult ancient Latin texts.

LATN 203.3: Intermediate Latin II

Readings in continuous Latin prose texts. Introduction to Latin poetry and metrics. Latin prose composition.

LATN 400.3 Senior Latin (6 credit units - students must complete LATN 400 twice.)

Advanced study, in Latin, of particular authors, works, or genres, with emphasis on the precise translation and analysis (grammatical, metrical, stylistic, historical, and/or literary) of the assigned Latin texts. May be taken more than once for credit.

The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for this program.

• Course and Program Catalogue

• Because it's fun and rewarding!
  It is thrilling to be able to read Cicero, Vergil, Ovid, Caesar and others in their original language--not to mention later works in Latin like the Vulgate Bible, the works of St. Augustine and the letters of Abelard and Heloise. Many musicians enjoy being able to understand the Latin songs they sing and play. 
  
  
• Latin improves your English language skills.
  As you study Latin you will learn a great deal about English vocabulary and grammar.
  
  
• More than half of English vocabulary is derived from Latin. 
  Understanding Latin will help you understand the Latin roots of English—and of Romance languages like French, Spanish and Italian as well. Improving your vocabulary improves your communication skills.
  
  
• Grammar isn't just a set of rules—it is the backbone and building blocks of language.
  Understanding grammar helps you understand how people express themselves. When you study the grammar of a foreign language, you get a better idea of how the speakers of that language think. And as a bonus, you will understand the grammar of your native language better, which can improve your writing.
  
  
• Why is it important to be able to write and communicate well?
  To quote Katie Robinson of the National Committee for Latin and Greek in the States: “Communication skills … have been shown to be the single most important factor to career success – no matter what job you choose.”

(“The Value of Latin: A Personal Perspective and Other Notes” [2009])

• Latin improves your critical thinking skills.
  When you read Latin, you concentrate not only on vocabulary, but on how words and phrases work in a sentence. This careful reading stimulates the development of analytical and critical thinking. For example, in the United States it has been proven repeatedly that students who take at least two years of high-school Latin increase their verbal SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) scores on average by 100 points, while Latin students consistently out-perform students who study other foreign languages.
  
  
• Latin can help you in your other classes.
  The Latin curriculum informs almost every other Humanities-related discipline: English, History, Languages, Linguistics, Philosophy, Drama, Archeology, Art History, Music, Religious Studies, Women and Gender Studies, et cetera.
  
  
• Latin is a strong foundation for a multitude of careers.
  The benefits of Latin in preparing students for a future in the legal profession, the medical field, and in writing are well documented, but the skills fostered by the study of Latin can be applied to a wide range of university majors and subsequent careers.
  
  
• Latin helps you appreciate life!
  A classical education offers its students insights into the origin and significance of many of Western civilization’s core cultural practices.  Suddenly, legal references, allusions in literature and in movies, and our own language, make much better sense.