Language Courses

The Department of the Classics offers courses in Latin (classical and medieval), Ancient Greek, and Modern Greek at all levels.

Ancient Greek and Latin

Students with no prior experience should begin with Ancient Greek 1 or Latin 1 and proceed along the following path.

Regular intro language sequence for Ancient Greek and Latin
 FallSpring
1st year of study
Ancient Greek/Latin 1
Ancient Greek/Latin 2
2nd year of study
Ancient Greek/Latin 3
Ancient Greek/Latin or Medieval Latin 10
Subsequent years
100-level (or 10, with permission)
100-level (or 10, with permission)

Modern Greek

Students with no prior experience should begin with Modern Greek Aa. Elementary Modern Greek and proceed along the following path.

Regular intro language sequence for Modern Greek

 FallSpring
1st year of study
Modern Greek Aa
Modern Greek Ab
2nd year of study
Modern Greek Ba
Modern Greek Bb
3rd year of study
Modern Greek 10
Modern Greek 100

Prior Experience

Students with prior experience should take the appropriate Placement Exam and consult with the Senior Preceptor in Ancient Greek and Latin, Dr. Ivy Livingston or the Preceptor in Modern Greek, Andrew Ntapalis. More information about placement may be found on the Placement Exams page.

If your placement recommendation for Ancient Greek or Latin is for the 10-level, you should begin with either Ancient Greek or Latin 10 (classical) or Medieval Latin 10. After one semester at the 10-level, you may proceed to the 100-level. Additional courses at the 10-level in Ancient Greek, Latin, and Medieval Latin may be taken with permission.

If your placement recommendation is for Ancient Greek or Latin 3, please proceed along the following path if resuming language study in fall:

Sequence for students beginning at Harvard with Ancient Greek or Latin 3
 FallSpring
1st year of study
Ancient Greek/Latin 3
Ancient Greek/Latin or Medieval Latin 10
Subsequent years
100-level (or 10, with permission)
100-level (or 10, with permission)

Levels of language courses for Ancient Greek and Latin

  • 1, 2: First-year sequence for beginners.
  • 3: Continuing from 2, with some review, introduction of more advanced grammar, and prose readings progressing to authentic texts.
  • 10: Intermediate level introductions to literature. Each includes both prose and poetry, either classical or medieval.
  • 100-level: Advanced courses. NB: The course number does not indicate level of difficulty; the most advanced courses are 112a and 112b, which are surveys and hence require larger amounts of reading in the languages across various genres.
  • 200 and above: Graduate-level seminars. 

Not primarily reading courses

134: Historical and comparative grammar. Students should ideally have some knowledge of both Ancient Greek and Latin to take either Ancient Greek 134 or Latin 134. Normally taken by graduate students in Classics and students of linguistics.