Why learn Latin and Greek?

• Latin helps you improve your English vocabulary. Almost two-thirds of English words have Latin roots.

• As the basis of Romance languages (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, etc.), Latin can help you learn these languages more quickly and easily.

• Latin and Greek are valuable for students preparing to enter medical fields as most medical terminology is based on their vocabularies.

• Latin and Greek can improve your chances of getting into law school. Classics majors are among the top performing majors on the LSAT.

• Latin and Greek can improve your chances of getting into graduate school. Students of Classical Languages achieve among the highest verbal and aggregate scores on the GRE.

• Knowledge of Latin and Greek allows you to read the literatures of the ancient Romans and Greeks in their original languages and opens the door to other Latin and Greek literary traditions, from koinē Greek of the New Testament to medieval Latin and beyond.

***For our Spring 2025 language offerings, click here***

Introductory Language Sequences

The introductory Latin sequence spans three 4 credit-hour classes over three semesters. In the first two semesters you learn the rudiments of Latin grammar and essential vocabulary. In the third semester you finish your study of grammar and begin reading ancient Roman authors. No language labs must be taken in addition to these classes. No prior knowledge of Latin is required to begin the sequence. Successful completion of the sequence satisfies the foreign language requirement.

Latin 1100/1100H (4 CH): Elementary Latin I - offered every Fall semester

Latin 1200/1200H (4 CH): Elementary Latin II - offered every Spring semester

Latin 2000/2000H (4 CH): Latin Reading - offered every Fall semester

We also offer a wide variety of courses for students who wish to continue studying Latin after the introductory sequence. In these, you will read major works in prose (e.g., history, oratory, philosophy) and poetry (e.g., comedy, elegy, epic) and encounter authors such as Augustine, Caesar, Cicero, Horace, Seneca, Ovid, and Virgil, all in the original Latin.

The introductory Greek sequence spans three 4 credit-hour classes over three semesters. In the first two semesters you learn the rudiments of Greek grammar and essential vocabulary. In the third semester you finish your study of grammar and begin reading ancient Greek authors. No language labs must be taken in addition to these classes. No prior knowledge of Greek is required to begin the sequence. Successful completion of the sequence satisfies the foreign language requirement.

Greek 1100/1100H (4 CH): Elementary Ancient Greek I - offered every Fall semester

Greek 1200/1200H (4 CH): Elementary Ancient Greek II - offered every Spring semester

Greek 2000/2000H (4 CH): Greek Reading - offered every Fall semester

We also offer a wide variety of courses for students who wish to continue studying Greek after the introductory sequence. In these, you will read major works in prose (e.g., history, oratory, philosophy) and in poetry (e.g., comedy, epic, tragedy) and encounter authors such as Aristophanes, Aristotle, Herodotus, Homer, Sappho, Sophocles, and Plato, all in the original Greek.

Placement in the Language Sequences

Placement in the Latin sequence may be determined in one of three (3) ways:

     • By years of high school Latin: 1-2 years > Latin 1100; 2-3 years > Latin 1200; 3-4 years > Latin 2000

     • By AP Latin score: 1 & 2 > Latin 1100; 3 > Latin 1200; 4 & 5 > Latin 2000

     • In consultation with the Language Sequence Coordinator

For placement in the Greek sequence, contact the Language Sequence Coordinator.

Language Tutoring

If you are in one of our introductory Latin or Greek classes and are looking for a tutor, you may inquire with the Learning Center about the availability of tutors (https://learningcenter.missouri.edu/) or contact Raymond Marks, the department’s Language Sequence Coordinator.

... and Sanskrit!

In addition to our regular Latin and Greek offerings, Professor Signe Cohen occasionally teaches an intensive introductory class in Sanskrit, the ancient sacred language of India. This class will not be offered in Spring 2025. But keep on the lookout for it in future semesters!