Classical Studies & Comparative Literature

Study a degree in the heart of London combining the comparative study of Western literature with special attention to the literatures and cultures of the Classical world, including language. The comparative component offers study of a variety of themes, genres and historical periods.
Watch the video here, or access the 'interactive' tab to view at a larger size and see any alternative films playOverviewVideo('/prospectus/images/home.jpg','http://podcast.ulcc.ac.uk/accounts/kings/KCL_Marketing/CLASSICS__BYZANTINE_N1.flv','true','details_115'); KEY BENEFITSClassics:

• One of the very best classics departments in the country, renowned for its quality of teaching, student experience and cutting-edge research.
• Central location offers collaborations with the British Museum and the Museum of London, which are incorporated into undergraduate teaching.
• The department stages an annual Greek play in the original language, providing students with an opportunity to experience the Greek dramatic tradition.
• Degree programmes combine focus and flexibility, allowing students to pursue their interests.
• Graduates are equipped with analytical and presentational skills valued by employers, leading to careers in heritage-related professions, the media, education, civil service and the performing arts.

Follow King's Classics on facebook.

Comparative Literature:

• The course draws on the teaching and research expertise of some of the highest ranked literature departments in the UK.
• In the 2008 National Student Survey, the Comparative Literature degree programme at King's was ranked third in the Russell Group of universities
• Flexible degree programme – students have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety courses across a number of departments.
• Central location offers students the opportunity to benefit from London’s unique cultural resources.

PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

This programme combines the comparative study of Western literature with special attention to the literatures and cultures of the Classical world. The Classical component can be organised round either an intensive study of Latin and/or ancient Greek language and literature, or a more broadly-based approach to Greek and Roman culture as a whole, with a smaller (but still indispensable) element of language work. The comparative component offers study of a variety of themes, genres and historical periods.
The Comparative Literature programme draws on the teaching and research expertise of internationally renowned departments. These include several of the highest rated literature departments in the UK. Classics embraces the cultures of Greece and Rome (their languages, literature, thought, religion, art, archaeology and history) and their influence on later ages. King's Department of Classics is acknowledged as one of the very best in the country, for stimulating teaching and overall quality of student experience as well as for cutting-edge research; the variety and flexibility of its teaching fully reflects the richness of the subject.

Study abroadSelected students in year 3 have the opportunity to study in the United States for one semester at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Greek Play
Every year (since 1953), students in the Department of Classics have produced and performed a Greek play - the only production in the UK to be performed annually in the original Greek. Read more about the Greek Play (and its history) at King's:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/classics/about/greek/index.aspx

Click here to read about the Department of Classics
ABOUT THE Department of Classics
CAREERS A King’s Classics degree, particularly the rigour of language learning, will equip you with the transferable skills of research, analysis, presentation and critical thinking that are valued by future employers. Our alumni enter a wide range of professions, including law, banking, the civil service, information technology, librarianship, education, heritage industries, the media, journalism and the performing arts. A significant proportion proceed into higher professional or academic qualifications, often pursuing postgraduate degrees at King’s.

Recent graduates have found employment as
• Assistant Tax Advisor, Ernst & Young
• Human Resources Administrator, Health resources International
• Web Administrator, Intrico Products Ltd
• Illustrator, Self Employed Illustrator
• Marketing and Publishing Graduate scheme, the telegraph Media group
• Research Intern, Environment Agency
• Sales Operations Admin, Associated Press TV news
• Latin Teacher at a university
• Client Relations Associate, Fidelity Investment Managers
• Customer Management Executive, CMC Markets
• Senior Course Support Assistant, Coventry University

TEACHING STYLE Teaching in the Department of Classics takes a wide variety of forms, including language-classes, large-group lectures, seminars, and individual supervisions. The particular mix will depend in part on your year of study and in part on the combination of courses you choose. A number of courses involve museum and gallery visits, field trips, and the use of study collections; a growing number have their own web resources and e-discussion groups. Seminar presentations and discussion are important in the first- and second-year modules. One-to-one supervision is a special feature of the third-year dissertation. This range of teaching will equip you with the transferable skills of analysis and presentation that employers value.
STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES & ASSESSMENT Our degree programmes combine focus and flexibility. In each programme you take a set number of modules directly related to the programme subject and then choose from a wide selection of optional modules. A generous allowance of free choice means that you can explore much more widely all aspects of the cultures of Greece and Rome. All programmes involve some language work, in either ancient Greek or Latin, or both. Assessment is by a combination of coursework and end-of-year examinations.
LOCATION London is a superb place to study and experience the Greek and Roman worlds, and all the major resources are within easy reach (and often walking distance) from the centrally located Department of Classics at King's. The British Museum houses one of the world's premier collections of not only Greek and Roman but also Egyptian and Mesopotamian archaeology and art, and is supplemented in this by the Soane Museum, the Museum of London, and the Victoria & Albert Museum. We collaborate closely with the British Museum in our undergraduate teaching.

The major London galleries are full of classically-themed work, just as central London is full of Neoclassical, Greek revival and other classically-inspired buildings. Classical and classically-inspired drama can be experienced first-hand more richly and more frequently in London theatres than anywhere else in the world.

For libraries, normal student needs are served by King's Maughan Library and Information Services Centre, as well as the University of London (Senate House) Library; for the investigation of special topics, there are the world-class research collections of the Institute of Classical Studies and the Warburg Institute.

SPECIAL NOTES The King’s Greek Play has been an annual tradition since 1953 and it is the only production in the country to be performed every year in the original Greek. Students (with all levels of Greek) participate in the direction, production and performance of the play, bringing to the stage playwrights from Aeschylus to Aristophanes.

Students run the Classics Society, which publishes the Satyrica newsletter and organizes regular lectures, theatre outings, themed parties, private tours around museums, nights out and trips abroad – in recent years, group expeditions have been made to Italy and Turkey.

The department also promotes teaching Latin in disadvantaged primary schools through the Iris Project; this offers students a highly unusual experience that is both enriching and will impress future employers.

All students are offered the unique opportunity to study abroad as part of a Classics degree at King’s, and recent popular destinations include The University of California and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Our students also have opportunities to attend the annual summer schools at the British Schools in Athens and Rome, and participate in archaeological excavations in Greece and Italy, as well as further afield.

Click here to read about the Department of Comparative Literature
ABOUT THE Department of Comparative Literature
CAREERS As with any humanities degree from King’s, your skills of analysis, judgement and effective communication will be highly attractive to employers. Knowledge of other cultures and languages are increasingly in demand. Typical destinations of humanities graduates from King’s are accountancy, administration, banking, broadcasting, the civil service, journalism, law, marketing, teaching (in the UK or abroad) and the tourism industry. A considerable number continue their studies at graduate level. Recent graduates have found employment as…. • Junior newspaper reporter • Junior Accounts Executive, Hill & Knowlton • Parliamentary Assistant, for MP • Editorial work intern, private organisation • Teachers in state and independent sector
TEACHING STYLE Comparative literature draws on the expertise of a number of departments within the School. At the heart of the academic programme is a range of specially designed comparative modules. Core modules introduce the practice, methodology and theory of comparative study. Further optional modules allow a detailed focus on comparative aspects of literary themes, genres, and historical periods.
STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES & ASSESSMENT Beyond the core modules and the language requirements, the programme is flexible: under the guidance of his or her tutor, the student compiles a range of options (many examined by coursework) to suit his or her background.
LOCATION The teaching of the comparative literature programme is based at the Strand Campus, in the heart of London, amongst many of the city’s theatres, galleries and musical and literary venues. Our students can thus readily benefit from the cultural resources of relevance to their undergraduate work.
SPECIAL NOTES Comparative literature draws on the teaching and research expertise of internationally renowned departments. These include several of the highest rated literature departments in the UK. Students in year three have the opportunity to study in the United States for one semester at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

ABOUT THE Department of Classics
CAREERS A King’s Classics degree, particularly the rigour of language learning, will equip you with the transferable skills of research, analysis, presentation and critical thinking that are valued by future employers. Our alumni enter a wide range of professions, including law, banking, the civil service, information technology, librarianship, education, heritage industries, the media, journalism and the performing arts. A significant proportion proceed into higher professional or academic qualifications, often pursuing postgraduate degrees at King’s.

Recent graduates have found employment as
• Assistant Tax Advisor, Ernst & Young
• Human Resources Administrator, Health resources International
• Web Administrator, Intrico Products Ltd
• Illustrator, Self Employed Illustrator
• Marketing and Publishing Graduate scheme, the telegraph Media group
• Research Intern, Environment Agency
• Sales Operations Admin, Associated Press TV news
• Latin Teacher at a university
• Client Relations Associate, Fidelity Investment Managers
• Customer Management Executive, CMC Markets
• Senior Course Support Assistant, Coventry University

TEACHING STYLE Teaching in the Department of Classics takes a wide variety of forms, including language-classes, large-group lectures, seminars, and individual supervisions. The particular mix will depend in part on your year of study and in part on the combination of courses you choose. A number of courses involve museum and gallery visits, field trips, and the use of study collections; a growing number have their own web resources and e-discussion groups. Seminar presentations and discussion are important in the first- and second-year modules. One-to-one supervision is a special feature of the third-year dissertation. This range of teaching will equip you with the transferable skills of analysis and presentation that employers value.
STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES & ASSESSMENT Our degree programmes combine focus and flexibility. In each programme you take a set number of modules directly related to the programme subject and then choose from a wide selection of optional modules. A generous allowance of free choice means that you can explore much more widely all aspects of the cultures of Greece and Rome. All programmes involve some language work, in either ancient Greek or Latin, or both. Assessment is by a combination of coursework and end-of-year examinations.
LOCATION London is a superb place to study and experience the Greek and Roman worlds, and all the major resources are within easy reach (and often walking distance) from the centrally located Department of Classics at King's. The British Museum houses one of the world's premier collections of not only Greek and Roman but also Egyptian and Mesopotamian archaeology and art, and is supplemented in this by the Soane Museum, the Museum of London, and the Victoria & Albert Museum. We collaborate closely with the British Museum in our undergraduate teaching.

The major London galleries are full of classically-themed work, just as central London is full of Neoclassical, Greek revival and other classically-inspired buildings. Classical and classically-inspired drama can be experienced first-hand more richly and more frequently in London theatres than anywhere else in the world.

For libraries, normal student needs are served by King's Maughan Library and Information Services Centre, as well as the University of London (Senate House) Library; for the investigation of special topics, there are the world-class research collections of the Institute of Classical Studies and the Warburg Institute.

SPECIAL NOTES The King’s Greek Play has been an annual tradition since 1953 and it is the only production in the country to be performed every year in the original Greek. Students (with all levels of Greek) participate in the direction, production and performance of the play, bringing to the stage playwrights from Aeschylus to Aristophanes.

Students run the Classics Society, which publishes the Satyrica newsletter and organizes regular lectures, theatre outings, themed parties, private tours around museums, nights out and trips abroad – in recent years, group expeditions have been made to Italy and Turkey.

The department also promotes teaching Latin in disadvantaged primary schools through the Iris Project; this offers students a highly unusual experience that is both enriching and will impress future employers.

All students are offered the unique opportunity to study abroad as part of a Classics degree at King’s, and recent popular destinations include The University of California and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Our students also have opportunities to attend the annual summer schools at the British Schools in Athens and Rome, and participate in archaeological excavations in Greece and Italy, as well as further afield.