UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Template 7: Graduating Year Review Template 2011
Details
Current Year
2011
Name of Programme
BA(Hons) in Classical Studies
Original Programme Identifier
(02) UC/07-BA(Hons) – Classical Studies
Name of Self-Review Coordinator
Alison Holcroft
Programme Statement
Description
The Honours programme in Classical Studies was introduced in 2008 to sit alongside existing Honours programmes in
Classics and Ancient History. It was intended as a terminating programme at fourth year level so that students who had
not studied Greek and Latin could study at a higher level of sophistication than was currently possible. Its admission
requirements are distinguished from those for Ancient History or Classics Honours in that, while they require a B+
average or better in 300 level Classics courses, there are no requirements for specific courses at the 200 and 300 level.
There are two compulsory courses, CLAS 460 Approaches to Classical Studies and CLAS 453 a Research Essay. The
requirement for CLAS 460 distinguishes the Classical Studies Honours programme from the Ancient History programme
where the compulsory course is CLAS 450 Historiography in the Ancient World. It is distinguished from the Classics
Honours programme by its research essay, the compulsory course CLAS 460, and the two elective options. (Honours
students in the Classics programme are required to do two language courses, a research project CLAS 480 which assumes
knowledge of at least one ancient language, and one elective course.) Classical Studies students may choose the two
courses from the CLAS 401-452 and 454. In theory this opens the possibility of suitably qualified students choosing
language courses; in practice this does not occur. The elective courses chosen by Classical Studies students cover a range
of topics: CLAS 407 Roman Social History; and CLAS 454 Alexander the Great. In most of these courses they sit
alongside students in the Ancient History and Classics Honours programmes.
The original proposal noted that “A graduate from this programme will have increased the acuity of his/her intellect, will
have developed analytical and aesthetic skills through the study of primary literary sources and the examination of ancient
artefacts such as pottery, sculpture and coins. Problem solving skills will be enhanced.
Knowledge of the field of Classical Studies will be acquired as will be an understanding of the techniques of investigation
relevant to the field. Such training will encourage the curiosity to acquire new knowledge and provide the skills to gratify
that curiosity. In fact, students who successfully complete the course will have developed an understanding of the skills
required to apply many and various methods of investigation into the complexities of the Classical World drawn from a
number of fields. Students will be trained specifically in the use of the library and in the accessing of relevant electronic
resource materials.
Students of Classical Studies devote themselves to a love and interest in the subject which is lifelong. This is evidenced
by the strength of the Classical Association world-wide, of which there is a thriving branch in Canterbury.
Independent thinking will be encouraged, while the discipline is of its nature conducive to multi-disciplinary thinking.
Also, the ethical issues raised by the ancient drama, histories and epic poetry are as relevant today as they were in
antiquity. Indeed the lapse of time enables a more objective perspective to be taken which encourages a similar
objectivity in the consideration of modern ethical issues.
Directly marketable skills will also be developed since by directly engaging with primary materials, students will develop
the ability to gather and interpret data and assess their relevance. By employing different methodologies, students will
increase their ability to assess the validity of deductions and to formulate new working hypotheses.
Written and oral skills of communication will be essential for success in this area of study, while discussion based
sessions in the teaching situation will encourage teamwork. All of these skills are conducive to the development of the
prerequisites for leadership.”
Achievement
The Honours programme in Classical Studies has enjoyed considerable success academically in its first years of
operation. It has attracted a total of eight students - plus a further two who have enrolled in one or two Classics courses
as part of another Honours programme. In 2011 there are seven new (as opposed to continuing part-time) students
enrolled in the Classical Studies programme. Of the eight enrolled in 2008-2010, four have gained first class honours,
two have gained second-class honours, division two and two have not completed the programme for non-academic
reasons. The students who chose the Classical Studies Programme have generally had a high GPA and all but two
students have had done double majors in their undergraduate degrees. Second majors included History, German, Art
History, Media and Communications, English, and Sociology. The high proportion of students with double majors may
explain both the popularity and the usefulness of the Classical Studies programme. Students doing double majors do not
have the space in their degrees for the ancient languages. It would appear that that the Classical Studies Honours
programme is meeting the needs of students who have a strong interest in Classics but wish to also wish to develop
advanced skills in other subjects. Students currently enrolled in the Honours programme follow this pattern: of those who
enrolled for the first time this year, five have double majors. It should be noted however that one student who entered the
Classical Studies programme did have the background in the ancient languages and the other requirements for admission
to the Classics Honours programme but apparently preferred to the Classical Studies programme. This student is now
enrolled in an MA in Classics. (One other student has also proceeded to Masters Level study in Art History.)
Changes
There have been no changes to the Classical Studies Honours Programme.
Review Processes
E
Account of Review Processes
The Review Panel was chaired by Alison Holcroft (Associate Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences). Panel members
were Associate Professor Jim Tully (Acting Head of the School of Humanities), Dr Kate Van Heugten (Dean of
Humanities and Social Sciences), Dr Alison Griffith, (Co-ordinator for the Classics Programme) and Liz Bond (Academic
Manager of the College of Arts). The staff of the Classics programme met together to discuss the programme and College
of Arts staff analysed enrolments in the programmes.
Review Outcomes
E
Acceptability
The Honours programme in Classical Studies has proved attractive to a number of high achieving students who have
majored in both Classics and another subject. In one case it was the preferred option for a student who also had the
requirements for admission into the Classics Honours programme but preferred a broader focus on the ancient world. The
increasing popularity of the Classical Studies programme is reflected in the fact that the number of students enrolled in
the programme this year is almost equivalent to the total number enrolled over the previous three years – even in a year of
earthquakes when graduate and undergraduate programmes have both seen a drop in enrolments. The programme has
perhaps proved a little less acceptable in one area: the 2007 Proposal envisaged that the programme would also appeal to
current teachers of Classical Studies “as a means of refreshing their knowledge base and skills.” This does not appear to
have eventuated in the first three years of operation, in part because the programme was not actively marketed to teachers.
Assessment procedures and student performance
There has been a high level of achievement by students – a reflection of both the quality of teaching in the Classics
Programme and the fact that the Classical Studies Honours programme attracts students with a high GPA. Courses are
assessed by a variety of written assignments, literature reviews, essays, in-term tests and end-of-year exams, depending
on the nature of the course. In the core methodologies course, CLAS 460, there are five 1000-word assessments due
fortnightly (plus exam). The intent of these short but frequent assessments is to require students to engage directly and
intensively with diverse primary source material (epic, drama, historical texts, speeches, and archaeological and art
historical evidence) and equally diverse approaches to issues of ethnic identity in Graeco-Roman antiquity. The goal was
to enable students to become comfortable working with a range of types of evidence in their own research projects
(CLAS 453); success in achieving it is reflected in the high marks for CLAS 453 (confirmed by external assessment).
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Data
1. CLASSICAL STUDIES HONOURS STUDENTS 2008-2010 (Compiled by the College of Arts)
YEAR
STUDENT
2008
2008
200809
2009
2009
200910
2010
2010
2010
201011
A
B
C
**
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
CLAS
453
B
C
CLAS
460
AA
A-
A
A+
A
A
B+
A
A
-
CLAS
407*
B+
A
CLAS
409
CLAS
412
A
AA
A
B+
AB
CLAS
414
B-
CLAS
454 *
B-
A+
A
A
A
A-
B
CLASS OF
HONOURS
2.2
*
2.2
***
1
1
1
1
*
Incomplete
B+
B-
*
Inclusion of Classical Studies Honours courses in other Honours programmes e.g. German, History
**
Part-time over two years in conjunction with the completion of an LLB.
****
No further enrolments.
Course titles
CLAS 453 Research Essay; CLAS 460 Approaches to Classical Studies; CLAS 407 Historical Topic: Roman Social
History; CLAS 409 Special Topic: Personal and Erotic Poetry after Alexander; CLAS 412 Greek and Roman Art; CLAS
414 Special Topic: Patronage in Roman Art; CLAS 454 Special Topic: Alexander the Great.
2. Data supplied by Enterprise Reporting Team
(a) Numbers enrolling and completing.
Projected No. Enrolling
Actual No.
Enrolled
Fulltime
Part-time
EFTS
No.
Completed
8
8
8
3
3
4
2
1
2
1
2
2
3.5
2.2
3.2
1
2
3
2008
2009
2010
Withdrawals
Notes.
1.'Actual No. Enrolled' is the number of approved enrolments in the programme and includes withdrawals after the
cut-off period for fees.
2. Full-time is 0.8 EFTS or greater in a calendar year. Part-time is less than 0.8 EFTS in a calendar year.
Where courses are split over two years EFTS are divided by the number of months based on start and end dates
3. The number of EFTS is the total for all enrolments in the specified programme.
4. Completions are all those who have completed the academic requirements for the programme in the given year.
Programme Evaluation
The Review Panel, the College of Arts and Classics staff feel that the Classical Studies Honours programme has achieved
its aims and is working well, with student interest in the Programme now meeting initial expectations where the CUAP
original proposal estimated that the programme would attract eight enrolments per year.
The Review Panel noted that while Classics numbers at the undergraduate area have declined this year, the three
postgraduate programmes of Classics, Ancient History and Classical Studies are making good use of courses and staff
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and are attracting high quality postgraduate students. An important underpinning of the Classical Studies programme at
UC is its unique collection of classical artefacts- the Logie Collection allowing students to experience a unique primary
source.
Now that the programme is well established, Classics staff spoken to by the Panel feel that it can be advertised more
aggressively among teachers of Classical Studies and related subjects (e.g. History) in schools, and also to students in
other programmes within the University (e.g. National Centre for Research on Europe, Cultural Studies). The Classics
programme has maintained an excellent relationship with Classics teachers in the region and this relationship will be used
as a basis to market the Classical Studies programme.
Continuation or Discontinuation
The Panel recommends that the College of Arts continue to offer the BA Honours programme in Classical Studies.
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