Upper-Level Program in Greek

In the Upper-Level programs, students apply the same rigorous emphasis on morphology and syntax that characterizes the Basic programs to reading an ambitious list of ancient texts. These programs are just as—if not more—demanding than the Basic programs and require the same level of commitment and focus. These courses are designed for qualified students who have completed the basic program in Greek plus additional upper-level work in the language, or at least two years (four semesters) of college-level Greek. The emphasis is on reading a substantial body of literature at a high level of grammatical precision.

The Upper-Level programs run for seven weeks: during the first week, students intensively review basic morphology and syntax. For the remaining six weeks, the greatest effort is directed toward translating and analyzing texts. Daily quizzes, special tutorials, and frequent drills are included. The large amount of reading is enriched by regular prose composition exercises. Throughout, there is emphasis on aspects of criticism that derive from a linguistic analysis of a text and that cannot be appreciated from a translation. We welcome students of all levels: undergraduate and graduate, students from nontraditional backgrounds, and advanced high school students. This is not for the faint of heart! If you think that you may be a good fit for the program, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Classes meet Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT. When the course is offered remotely, class will meet via Zoom, and a working camera is required. Students may be required to sign up for additional services such as Dropbox. Some assignments will require a working Greek keyboard, and faculty will be available for technical support prior to the start of the course. Please see the FAQ for additional information.

The Upper-Level programs, like the Basic ones, are team-taught, and students have 24-hour access to faculty. There are substantial nightly assignments. The work of the programs is extremely demanding, with the equivalent of one week’s material in a normal college setting covered each day. No one should enroll who has any other commitment for the summer. Daily attendance is required.

Eight undergraduate credits can be earned through Brooklyn College. Whether or not these credits can be applied elsewhere is the decision of authorities at the student’s home school.

Students will be provided with access to course materials, as well as a list of required texts, upon admission to the program.

Upper-Level Greek

Course readings include rhetorical prose, drama, history, and a Platonic dialogue as well as additional selections to be read at sight. The curriculum may include:

• Xenophon—Apology
• Lysias 1—On the Murder of Eratosthenes
• Plato—Phaedrus
• Sophocles—Ajax
• Thucydides—Book 2.1-65

Apply Now

Online classes are held via Zoom, augmented with other distance learning tools. In-person classes are hosted at the CUNY Graduate Center in Midtown Manhattan, at 365 Fifth Avenue. While studying at the Latin/Greek Institute (LGI), students are enrolled for the summer at Brooklyn College and receive Brooklyn College credits.

The following steps are required for successful application (and, if accepted, enrollment) into an Upper level Latin/Greek Institute program:

1. You must submit an application directly to the LGI (below).
2. You must have transcripts from every college/university attended sent directly to the office. College freshmen and sophomores, and those who have never attended college, must also send high school transcripts.
3. You must have a recommendation sent directly to the LGI. The letter should address your command of the language and your seriousness of purpose as well as your ability to thrive in a challenging and fast-paced environment. This form will auto-generate an e-mail to your reference to submit a reference on your behalf. Please inform your recommender of the request.
4. You must complete a brief diagnostic exercise. We will contact you after the application deadline to make arrangements for the exercise. After the diagnostic is complete, we may reach out to you for further discussion of your diagnostic and application.

Once your materials have been received and your diagnostic evaluated, you will receive a decision under separate cover, with further instructions for enrollment.

Once you receive notification of your acceptance to the Latin/Greek Institute, you must register with and pay tuition to Brooklyn College, using the CUNYfirst online system. Instructions will be provided. Proof of tuition paid in full must be presented to the LGI before the first day of class.

Mail may be addressed to:

Latin/Greek Institute
The Graduate Center
365 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10016

It is preferred that all supporting documents be sent by e-mail. Any materials sent by hard copy are collected bi-weekly.

Application Deadline

Application deadline for all summer 2024 programs is March 11 (February 26 for students requiring a Brooklyn College–sponsored international student visa).

Application Form