Classics and Theology

cotwold

Hey, I think I want to study Classics and Theology/Religion next year in Trinity and I'm wondering if theres anyone else on boards studying either of them and what do they think of either of them as subjects.

europerson

Hello. I don't think anyone on the Boards TCD forum does classical or theological subjects (if there is, please feel free to correct me, anyone). In any case, I assume you've taken a look at the web-sites for the courses and all that...?

I have mates doing both.. if you have any questions PM me and I'll pass them on...

Sawa

Hi, I just typed out a really long reply but i've somehow deleted it! :mad:
But I was saying that I do both subjects as TSM. I'm in 1st year so I wouldn't be able to tell you about the rest of the course, I have 5 hours a week in Classical Civilisationa and 6 hours in Biblical and Theological Studies.

The two subjects compliment eachother really well, a few things overlap, such as you would study Roman History in C.C and you would learn about Christian persecution by the Romans in B&T.

Classical Civilisation: We do 3 classes:
Roman and Greek History: Can be a bit boring but generally interesting. I found the Greek history more understandable than the Roman. Did Classics for the Leaving Cert so when it came to studying certain topics such as Alexander the Great, I was well prepared.
Roman and Greek Art and Architecture: This class is good but again I covered everything we've done so far in 5th and 6th year so I find it quite easy.
Mythology and Religion: This is really interesting and enjoyable 1 hour a week.
Overall the course is quite basic in 1st year (dont know how it progresses obviously) but really interesting and I recommend it.

Biblical and Theological Studies:
I transferred to this subject from Greek at the start of the college year and I'm really glad I did, it's very good. We do three classes aswell:
The Ancient Near East: A general history of the culture/land/peoples of the ancient near east which is roughly the Middle East from the 4th-6th centuries BC. Most people in my course like this class, it is very interesting.
Introduction to Theology: This is, as the title suggests an introductory course. I find this class difficult, some of the things we cover are difficult to understand, this would be similar to philosophy. There is quite a bit of reading and we have a seminar once a week where we hand up a reading report on what we have read which can sometimes be 14th century articles which are difficult to comprehend. But it is very interesting class and has made me use a part of my brain which previously I think has not been used very much.
Christianity from Jerusalem to Byzantium: This is an general anaylsis of Christianity like early Christians and persecution. We study the beginnings of the church also.

Students who study B&T single honour do two extra classes; Jewish Civilisation and Islam which I would have preffered to do instead of say Christianity because they appear more interesting to me, so if you do B&T single honour you take 5 classes.

If you have any questions, please ask, but I am only in 1st year so wouldn't be able to tell you what the courses are like throughout the 4 years but I do definetly recommend both subjects. Hope this has helped.

King.Penguin

i was talking to a firsy year in this course in a taxi the other day. spiffing conversation.

cotwold

King.Penguin wrote:

i was talking to a firsy year in this course in a taxi the other day. spiffing conversation.

Very enlightening King.Penguin:p

Thanks a mil Sawa. I'm not too worried about the Classics, ive done it in school for 6 years so i have a pretty wide understanding. Nice to hear i'll be redoing stuff aswell(less work for me). My main concern is with B&T, ive heard its really difficult?? How have you found it so far, is it very difficult? Also although i know both subjects compliment each other im just but sure if i do B&T will i be able to get a job afterwards

nutball

cotwold wrote:

if i do B&T will i be able to get a job afterwards

As able as you would be with any other Arts degree.

cotwold

Good point.^

Sawa

I think it appears hard and if you don't do the work or the reading, it can be. But I did well (ish) in my essays from last term and I hadn't really a clue what I was doing so I think it's ok. In second year you have the option to study Greek or Hebrew and also do a Broad Curriculum class for half the year as part of your degree, such as Film Studies.

You can study B&T for 3 years and do Classics in the 4th year.
You could take a H.Dip thing and become a secondary school teacher.
Go on to the website to see what other employment opportunities that previous graduates have taken up in the past:

http://www.tcd.ie/Religions_Theology/undergraduate/careers.php

cotwold

That broad curriculum sounds really interesting where can i find out more about that?
Do i have to study only one subject in my final year? And one final question, about the hours. You said earlier there that theres only 11 hours class time, are there additional tutorials and is the 11 hours that spread over 5 days or is there a day off or something?

nutball

Here's the Broad Curriculum site: http://www.tcd.ie/Broad_Curriculum/

And here's the table for TSM course combinations: http://www.tcd.ie/Admissions/downloads/TSM_combinations.pdf
In the Class Civ/B&T combination, you can only study one of them in your final year. You do the final exams in you minor subject at the end of 3rd year and then concentrate solely on your major in 4th.

As for timetables, they vary year to year. You could end up with 11 hours spread over five days, or you could even end up with two very intensive days and the remaining three off. (As for whether 11 hours is the total: more than that would be unusual for an arts course, so it's probably inclusive of tutorials).

Sawa

cotwold wrote:

You said earlier there that theres only 11 hours class time, are there additional tutorials and is the 11 hours that spread over 5 days or is there a day off or something?

I have 5 hours in C.C and 6 hours in B&T and 1 optional seminar(but they advise to attend) for B&T so 12 hours in total, but 11 is the minimum you can go to.

I happen to have Mondays off all year but the timetable varies year to year. On Wednesdays I have a 9 o'clock lecture then 7 hours off until another one at 5pm! so it can be a bit annoying but the idea is you study in the library the hours you have off, like it is your responsibility to get the work done.

Re: broad curriculum, in B&T, you are only able to do it for 1 semester (half a year) but it will count for your grade at the end of the year.