Course Description

The cultural legacy of Classical Antiquity in the Americas and its impact, historic and contemporary, on African Americans, the Latina/Latino community, women, ethnic minorities, and other minority groups. Examination of how this legacy continues to shape contemporary perceptions and communication, personal and in public media, of cultural diversity issues facing racial, ethnic, religious, gender, and social class groups in the Americas.

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Athena Title

Intro to Classical Americas

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Prerequisite

One 1000-level ENGL course or one 1000-level CLAS course or second year or higher student standing or permission of department

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Semester Course Offered

Offered spring

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Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

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Student learning Outcomes

• Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to discuss and explain the cultural legacy of ancient Greece and Rome on multicultural America, in particular its effect on African Americans, Latina/Latino communities, and other ethnic, religious, social class, and gender minority groups.
• Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to identify and interpret the ways in which the reception of Classical texts and art has influenced and shaped American governments, cultures, social models, and the establishment of laws, including the institutionalization of race-based slavery and ethnic and gender discrimination.
• Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to describe how historical events and long-standing customs relating to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and class have influenced contemporary political, social, and economic issues of society and how they shape media portrayals, personal perceptions, and interactions with others.
• Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to describe and appraise the ways in which American writers (and/or producers of other media) reference Classical texts, art, and ideas in the construction of their own content and ideas.

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Topical Outline

1. The Reception of a "Classical" Identity: Athenian Democracy and Republican and Imperial Rome 2. Old World, New Lands: Encountering the "other" in the Americas 3. Colonialism: Exporting Classical Europe to the Americas 4. Founding the Republic: Classical roots of American Democracy 5. Classicism and the African American Experience 6. Antebellum South: Framing Slavery in Neoclassicism 7. Abolition of Slavery Arguments: Classical debates 8. Women's Suffrage: Inverting Classical models of the ideal woman 9. Jim Crow: Contemporary Legacy of America's history of Classical foundations 10. Immigrants' encounters with America's Classical legacy 11. Portrayals of minorities in media and pop culture representations of Classical antiquity 12. "Whose America?" Contemporary issues facing minority communities in America

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General Education Core

CORE V: Social Sciences

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Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes

Critical Thinking

The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.

Social Awareness & Responsibility

The capacity to understand the interdependence of people, communities, and self in a global society.

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Syllabus

Select Faculty / Instructor to download syllabus:   Hermanowicz, Erika   Smith, Mariah

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Public CV

Select a file to download:   CLAS3000_HERMANOWICZ_CV.docx   LATN2001_Smith_Fall2026_CV.pdf

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