Program of Study (CAS Bulletin)

Major

The major consists of ten courses (typically 40 points). Courses taken in the program's academic study program in Greece, NYU in Athens, count toward the major as regular courses. A solid foundation in the modern Greek language is a requirement for all majors. Upon declaring the major, a student is expected to enroll in Elementary Modern Greek I (HEL-UA 103) or take a placement examination. By the end of their program, all students must demonstrate competence in modern Greek at the intermediate level through successful completion of two semesters of Intermediate Modern Greek (HEL-UA 105 and HEL-UA 106) or performance on a placement examination.

Programs of Study

Qualified students may choose from three areas of concentration:

Track A: Language, Literature, and Culture
This track provides students with a solid foundation in the modern Greek language and provides a comprehensive introduction to medieval and modern Greek literature and culture.

Track B: Politics and History
This track provides students with an interdisciplinary social science perspective on the medieval and modern Greek experience. Students may choose to concentrate their studies in history or politics, or create their own combination in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.

Track C: The Classical Legacy
This track provides students with an interdisciplinary perspective on the reception of classical Greek thought in postclassical Greece.

Students in tracks A and B who have placed out of Intermediate Modern Greek are encouraged to take Advanced Modern Greek I and II (HEL-UA 107 and HEL-UA 108). Track C students who place out of Intermediate Modern Greek are encouraged to take two semesters of Ancient Greek.

All majors are expected to enroll in the Seminar on Modern Greek Culture (HEL-UA 130) and two specifically designated survey courses offered within the program. Which survey courses they choose will depend on the disciplinary concentration that they select upon completion of their first year in the program. Every student must take at least one designated survey course in his or her own track of concentration and one designated survey course from an outside track. (That is, students in Track A should take a Track B survey; students in Track B, an A survey; and students in Track C should choose from Track A or B.)

The following is a list of designated survey courses. One survey course from each track will be offered each academic year:

Track A

• Memory, History, and Language in Modern Greek Poetry (HEL-UA 120)
• Narrative, History, and Fiction in the Modern Greek Novel (HEL-UA 190)

Track B

• Modern Greek Politics (HEL-UA 525)
• Modern Greek History (HEL-UA 159)
• Byzantine Civilization (HEL-UA 112)

Track C

• Memory, History, and Language in Modern Greek Poetry (HEL-UA 120)
• Ancient Political Theory (CLASS-UA 206)

Electives

Three to five additional Hellenic studies courses are required. The exact number of electives varies according to a student's level of language proficiency upon entrance to the major. Subject to the approval of the director of undergraduate studies, cognate offerings in other departments or an approved internship may be counted toward the major. A sample list of cognate courses is available from the program office.

Honors Program

A degree in Hellenic studies is awarded with honors to students who complete ten courses (40 points) of graded work while maintaining an overall GPA of 3.65 and an average in the major of 3.65, and who successfully complete a program of original research leading to an honors thesis. The honors thesis is researched and written while registered in Independent Study (HEL-UA 997) under the supervision of a program faculty member. The thesis topic and the faculty adviser are chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. The average length of the paper is 25 to 40 pages. For general requirements, see the Honors and Awards section of this bulletin. Honors students are encouraged, but not required, to take at least one appropriate graduate course in Hellenic studies.

Minor

A minor in Hellenic studies can be obtained by completing four courses offered by the program. Students must show proficiency in modern Greek language by successful completion of either a placement examination or Intermediate Modern Greek II (HEL-UA 106). Elementary Modern Greek I and II do not count toward the minor.

Students should consult the director of undergraduate studies of the program prior to registering for courses in the minor.

Prize

The Rae Dalven Prize is a monetary prize awarded annually for the best term paper in the field of Hellenic studies. Submissions are not limited to Hellenic studies majors or minors.

NYU in Athens

For information about NYU in Athens, please visit our website.