Postgraduate

Postgraduate foundation module in classical studies

On this page

• What you will study
• Entry
• Qualifications
• If you have a disability or additional requirement
• Study materials
• Teaching and assessment
• Students also studied
• Future availability
• How to register

The study of classical antiquity is essentially interdisciplinary. This course enables you to explore the Greco-Roman world in the context of four broadly-based topics: social history; ideas and values; literature; and archaeology. You’ll study these topics through textual and visual primary sources and a selection of modern scholarship in articles and set books. The work will help you to develop basic research skills and techniques of independent study at postgraduate level, and introduce you to the use of IT. You’ll also have the opportunity to design and carry out a short research proposal on a topic that particularly interests you.

Course facts

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This course is available for study in the countries shown.

What you will study

This course, a module of the MA in Humanities, is an introduction to postgraduate classical studies. You’ll study the four topics consecutively:

Historical writing in the ancient world is a study of ancient historical writing (both Greek and Roman) in the broadest sense, within and outside the conventional genre of historiography, considering primary literary sources both in the context of other kinds of evidence and by evaluating the contribution of modern theoretical approaches such as narratology.

The individual and ancient society The course starts with a topic that introduces a critical approach to past and current assumptions about the relationships between individuals and various social groups in the ancient world, opening up questions about social and political authority, slavery and gender relations.

Language, concepts and contexts Drawing on textual evidence from a range of literary genres including epic, philosophy and drama, this topic concentrates on analysis of the expression of values and concepts in the ancient world, both in formal terms and in a social context, such as the relationship of composition or performance to its circumstances.

The remains of the Greco-Roman world develops the scholarly methodology of ‘reading’ archaeological evidence from the ancient world, providing the foundations of a critical framework within which to interpret remains and develop awareness of the formation of archaeological contexts. This is taught through an extended case study of the temple of Castor and Pollux in the Roman Forum.

As you work through the course, you will become acquainted with basic research methods such as using reference works, doing bibliographical searches and defining and investigating questions within the topic.

 Visit the Department of Classical Studies to find out more.

Entry

To take this course, you must be registered for the MA in Humanities or for another qualification towards which it can count.

You should have an honours degree or equivalent, ideally, but not necessarily, in Classical Studies.

You need to ensure that your subject knowledge and study skills are adequate for study at this level. Knowledge of the Greek or Latin language is not necessary, though some would be useful and you will be expected to recognise key technical terms, concepts and ideas (transliterated in the case of Greek). A knowledge of elementary Greek or Latin might be valuable for later work, especially for the dissertation (depending on your choice of topic). We offer introductory Greek and Latin courses at undergraduate level:  Reading classical Greek: language and literature (A275) and  Reading classical Latin (A297). If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Preparatory work

What preparation you do will depend on your starting point, and you should think very carefully about it. Even if you feel thoroughly confident, it will still be useful preparation to read some of the set texts before the course begins. This will be particularly important if you do not have an undergraduate degree with a substantial classical studies element in your profile.

Qualifications

A860 is a compulsory module in our

• MA in Classical Studies (F27)

A860 is an optional module in our

• Postgraduate Certificate in Humanities (C20)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Humanities (D35)
• MA in Humanities (F07)

If you leave the MA in Humanities programme before obtaining your masters degree, A860 will qualify you for a Postgraduate Certificate. With another 60 credits from specified modules, including at least 30 credits from subject modules you can obtain a Postgraduate Diploma.

Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.

If you have a disability or additional requirement

This course makes extensive use of research libraries and may require use of the internet. If you are a new student, or new to study using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.

You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.

Study materials

What's included

Study guide, other printed materials.

The MHRA Style Book

You will need

You must have access to a research library – either a university library or a very large public or private library with a classical studies section. Information will be available about membership of the Institute of Classical Studies library in London. There are likely to be charges for borrowing rights, inter-library loans and photocopying. You will also need to be able to visit a suitable museum.

Computing requirements

This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.

You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details can be found in the facts box above.

You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.

Students also studied

Students who studied this course also studied at some time:

• The Greek theatre (A861)
• The classical studies dissertation (A867)
• Myth in the Greek and Roman worlds (A330)
• Exploring the classical world (A219)
• Continuing classical Latin (A397)

Future availability

The details given here are for the final course start in February 2013.

How to register

To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.

Study explained

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