Basic Program in Latin

In the first five weeks of the summer, students work through the entirety of Moreland and Fleischer’s Latin: An Intensive Course, while completing short readings, extensive drills, and prose composition assignments. These readings quickly progress from textbook sentences to literary texts; for example, students read their first Latin poem (Catullus 13) on day 9.

In the second half of the course, students read longer texts in the morning and selections from major poets and prose authors in the afternoon. They also have two opportunities each day for additional readings at sight. Core texts in the basic Latin program include Cicero’s first Oration Against Catiline, Sallust’s Bellum Catilinae, and the fourth book of Vergil’s Aeneid. Supplementary lectures (e.g., on textual criticism, the history of the Latin language) provide further enrichment. The program concludes with a two-week elective in which students choose an author to read and analyze in even greater depth.

Latin Institute

Required of all students.

• Classical Prose: Cicero and Sallust—A close translation and comparative examination of the syntax, style, and rhetoric of Cicero’s complete First Oration Against Catiline and of selections from Sallust’s The Conspiracy of Catiline.
• Augustan Epic: Vergil—Book IV of The Aeneid is read in its entirety with a view toward an appreciation of Vergilian style and poetic technique.
• Survey of Latin Literature—Lectures and discussions on the development of Latin prose and poetry from Livius Andronicus through the Silver Age and into the medieval period and the Renaissance. Representative passages are translated and analyzed.
• Latin Prose Composition—Simple and complex English sentences are translated into Latin with a threefold purpose: 1) to review basic rules of syntax, 2) to expand knowledge of Latin syntax by applying basic rules previously learned to more intricate constructions, and 3) to call attention to matters of word order, style, and prose rhythm in order to create a sensitive response to the art of Latin prose.
• Classical Lyric Poetry—Selections from the four books of Horace’s Odes are read and analyzed in terms of themes, language, and metrics.

Latin Institute Electives

Each student will choose one two-week mini-course (18 class hours). A minimum of three of the following will be offered.

• Augustan Epic—Ovid’s Metamorphoses
• Pastoral Poetry—Vergil’s Eclogues
• Philosophical Epic—Lucretius’ De Rerum Natura
• Religious Autobiography—Augustine’s Confessions
• Roman Elegy—Tibullus, Propertius, Ovid
• Roman Historiography—Tacitus or Livy
• Satirical Prose Fiction—Petronius’ Satyricon

Apply Now

All in-person classes for the Latin/Greek Institute (LGI) are held at the CUNY Graduate Center in Midtown Manhattan. While studying at the 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 in the Latin/Greek Institute:

1. Complete the application below.
2. Send transcripts from every secondary institution attended directly to the office (mail or e-mail). College freshmen and sophomores, and those who have never attended college, must also send high school transcripts.
3. One letter of recommendation from any instructor who can attest to the applicant’s seriousness of purpose, classroom performance, and command of the language. 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. 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
CUNY 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.

If we have any questions about your application, we may request additional information and/or contact you for an interview. We are very committed to your success in learning Latin and Greek.

Application Deadline

Application deadline for all summer 2025 programs is March 10 (February 24 for students requiring a Brooklyn College-sponsored international student visa).

Application Form

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