UNISA Classical Studies Course Module 2025-2026
Classical Studies is offered at undergraduate level by way of the majors Ancient History and Classical Culture; these are combined at postgraduate level as Classical Studies with opportunities to specialize in Ancient History, Classical Culture, Greek or Latin.
| Historical Methodology and Classical Reception – CLS4801 | |||
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| Honours | NQF level: 8 | Credits: 24 | |
| Module presented in English | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: Students examine the methodological uses and abuses of epigraphic, numismatic and archaeological evidence in the rediscovering of Greco-Roman history. A number of distrinct study topics are investigated, including archaeology and its relevant techniques, as well as a detailed study of ancient coins and inscriptions. Students of Classical Culture, Greek or Latin will study receptions of Greek or Latin literature, in particular the tragedies concerned with Hippolytus and Phaedra. | |||
| Greek History/Classical Society – CLS4802 | |||
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| Honours | NQF level: 8 | Credits: 24 | |
| Module presented in English | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: Purpose: In this paper Ancient History students may study either the sociopolitical history of Archaic Greece (First Olympiad to 500BC) OR the rise of Philip II and Alexander in the fourth century BC. Classical Culture students will examine diverse facets of Graeco-Roman Civilization such as religion or gender issues in the ancient world. | |||
| Classical Thought and Roman History – CLS4803 | |||
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| Honours | NQF level: 8 | Credits: 24 | |
| Module presented in English | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: The paper offers Ancient History students a study of the Augustan principate and its political and constitutional significance. Classical Culture students will focus on themes around Classical thought, such as the 5th century sophists and their legacy. | |||
| Literary Texts and Historical Sources – CLS4804 | |||
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| Honours | NQF level: 8 | Credits: 12 | |
| Module presented in English | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: Ancient History students engage in a detailed analysis of the literary, epigraphic and numismatic evidence for the periods studied under CLS4802 and CLS4803. This paper provides Classical Culture students the opportunity to study a literary theme at the depth required for postgraduate study. The default theme is literary treatments of the Phaedra myth, studied through close analysis of the tragedies of Euripides’ Hippolytus and Seneca’s Phaedra. An additional outcome of the paper is the ability to situate authors of the classical world within their own contexts and within the broad history of classical literature. | |||
| Research Report – HRCWL81 | |||
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| Honours | NQF level: 8 | Credits: 36 | |
| Module presented in Other languages,English | Module presented online | ||
| Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to guide students in developing research skills to write a research article/portfolio on an approved author or field of study. This module code is shared by Modern Languages and Classics. In some language specialisations where an oral examination forms a part of this module, such an examination will be based on the candidates’ research article. The oral examination will be of approximately 45 minutes’ duration, preceded by 45 minutes’ preparation. Where an oral examination forms part of this module, candidates resident In Southern Africa must take the oral examination in Pretoria, unless permission for alternative arrangements is obtained (by written request) from the Chair of the Department. Candidates residing outside Southern Africa may record the oral examination under official supervision. | |||
