- LAT 3004, 4 credits
- Faculty Coordinator: Charles McNamara
- Sponsoring U of M Department: Classical & Near Eastern Studies
- Fulfills U of M Requirement(s): Meets U of M degree credit requirements, such as departmental major, minor, or elective requirements
- Teacher Applications: Apply to Teach a Course
U of M Catalog Description
Introduction to Roman epic poetry. Readings of selections from Vergil's Aeneid. Quantitative meter/poetic devices. Discussion of major themes/issues as developed in Vergil's poetry.
Class size limit: 22
Recommended Course Description for
High School Registration Guides
Notwithstanding the risk of exaggeration, many call Vergil the most important poet of European literature—surpassing Shakespeare, Dante, and perhaps even Homer. In this course, we will read selections of Vergil’s Aeneid, his epic poem on the founding of Rome and, in some measure, the justification of Roman imperial dominance. How does this poem achieve this almost absurd level of influence? Is it a good poem? Perhaps most centrally, what does the poem say? In this class, we will focus primarily on this last question, paying careful attention to language and grammar while also introducing some particular features of Latin poetry. Teachers may supplement or replace selections of Vergil’s poetry with other authors of the Republican and Imperial periods, such as Catullus or Ovid.
Student Qualifications
Students enrolling in LAT 3004 should be juniors or seniors in high school and have earned a grade of at least C- in LAT 3003 or have the approval of the department. Ninth and tenth graders may apply if they meet prerequisites.
Instructor Qualifications
Instructors apply and are selected by faculty in accordance with the U of M policy governing Academic Appointments with Teaching Functions. Once approved, an instructor is appointed as a Teaching Specialist 9754 (University Job Title and Code) in the College of Continuing and Professional Studies. Instructor qualifications are determined by the sponsoring University department.
Visit the Apply to Teach a Course page for course-specific qualifications and application steps.
Textbooks
Students use works by ancient authors such as Vergil, Ovid, and Catullus, but the course focuses on Vergil's Aeneid. Specific editions are chosen by the faculty coordinator after consultation with individual teachers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all of the texts and readings specified or mandated by the University of Minnesota? If not, what are some of the choices?
The faculty coordinator works with individual teachers to select the texts that will be used. Texts vary from school to school. Teachers are free to choose the passages that will be read, but students are expected to cover at least as much material as the students in on-campus sections of the course.
Do teachers have a choice in assignments? Are there required assignments?
Teachers have flexibility in assignments.
Who creates the exams?
Teachers create their own exams which are then reviewed by the faculty coordinator.
Is there a training and mentoring system for Latin teachers new to CIS?
Yes. Experienced instructors help new teachers get accustomed to the system. Teachers frequently email one another with questions and share materials with the whole group. Teachers also benefit from two New Teacher workshops that focus on course content and University processes, as well as an orientation to College in the Schools that will familiarize them with the support available through CIS and prepare them for administrative tasks such as registering students and posting grades.
High school class schedules vary: can a teacher in the block system teach U of M Latin?
All courses offered through CIS have the same minimum number of contact hours as the on-campus sections. Generally, teachers have been able to adapt the University schedule for Latin to fit the schedules at their high schools. To make sure that the block schedule at your school will work for the University Latin course please contact the faculty coordinator (contact information above).
What happens at typical teacher workshops?
Typical activities at CIS workshops include meeting University faculty and hearing about their recent research in the discipline; reviewing and/or developing student assessment tools; sharing instructional materials; discussing particular content, pedagogy, or assessment of the University course; and receiving updates on CIS program policies and practices.
What happens at typical student field days?
Greek and Latin students will come together for a combined student field day. Student field days provide an opportunity for CIS students to meet their peers, practice skills they have learned in class, and explore the Twin Cities campus. Students are introduced to the broad range of Greco-Roman civilization present in the Twin Cities. Past field days have included visits to the ancient coin collection in the Weisman Art Museum and the collection of Latin manuscript leaves and facsimiles in the Andersen Library, as well as taster language classes in Greek, Coptic, and Hebrew, visits to university classes, and special lectures by members of the faculty.
High Schools Offering This Course
- Brookfield Central High School
- Brookfield East High School
- Central High School (Saint Paul)
- Divine Savior Holy Angels High School (Milwaukee)
- Edina High School
- Homestead High School (Mequon)
- Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis)
- Nova Classical Academy (Saint Paul)
- Providence Academy (Plymouth)