Many courses in the Penn Classical Studies and Ancient History curriculum are focused on readings entirely in English.
But we also offer courses in Latin and ancient Greek that engage with ancient Romans and Greeks in their own words, such as the writings of Homer, Sappho, Cicero, Ovid, and many more.
Latin and Greek are amazing languages to learn, and with either of them you can complete the Penn language requirement!
See also the language-specific pages on the Course Sequence in Latin and the Course Sequence in Ancient Greek.
If your questions are not answered in these pages or in the FAQ below, please contact the Language Program Coordinator, Prof. James Ker (jker@sas.upenn.edu).
Yes. For students in the College of Arts and Sciences or the Nursing School, the language requirement is satisfied by completing LATN 0400 Intermediate Latin II/GREK 0400 Intermediate Classical Greek II (offered every spring) with a grade of C- or above, or by completing an advanced level course in LATN or GREK numbered 3000 or above (offered every fall and spring) with a grade of C- or above. The Wharton School language requirement is satisfied by completing LATN 0200 Elementary Latin II or GREK 0200 Elementary Classical Greek II (spring) with a grade of C- or above.
If this is your first time learning the language, you should register for the first-semester introductory course, LATN 0100 Elementary Latin I or GREK 0100 Elementary Classical Greek I (both offered every fall). Learning to read the original words of ancient Romans and Greeks is an intense and inspiring experience that will bring you into direct contact with ancient literature, culture, and history. Four semesters of study will satisfy the Penn language requirement (culminating in 0400) and will also set the groundwork for a minor in Classical Studies or Ancient History. Please contact the Language Program Coordinator (below) or the instructor of a specific course to discuss how to get off to a good start!
There are three levels of study: Elementary/Introductory (= first year, numbered 0100 and 0200), Intermediate (= second year, numbered 0300 + 0400), and Advanced (= third year and beyond, numbered 3000 and above). See our guide to the Course Sequence in Latin and the Course Sequence in Ancient Greek for a breakdown of each level.
Faculty instructors and graduate instructors from Penn’s PhD programs are all involved in teaching Latin and Greek. Most of us use Latin and Greek texts in our primary research: see our Penn Classical Studies faculty profiles and the graduate student profiles in our three programs: Greek & Latin Languages and Literatures (GLLL), Ancient History (ANCH), and Art & Archaeology of the Mediterranean World (AAMW).
The guidelines here may be used to determine a provisional course plan and to register in a course. But since the guidelines are only approximate and every student’s situation is unique, you should confirm your course plan by meeting with the Language Program Coordinator (below)—this will prevent you getting in over your head or being placed in a course below the right level.
COURSE-PLANNING GUIDELINES: If you have already taken 1 year of Latin or Greek, the best fit will likely be 0100 (fall) or 0200 (spring); if you want to review everything from the beginning, then 0100 makes best sense. If you have previously studied the language for 2–3 years, the best fit will likely be 0300 (fall) or 0400 (spring); if you need to review grammar and build vocabulary, then 0300 makes best sense. If you have spent 3 or more years studying the language, the best fit will likely be a 3000-level advanced course (offered in both fall and spring). Again, please confirm your course plan with the Language Program Coordinator: your studies will go most smoothly if you take a course that is well matched to your level of language proficiency.
The guidelines here are only approximate and every student’s situation is unique, so you should confirm your course plan by meeting with the Language Program Coordinator (see below).
STANDARDIZED TEST SCORE GUIDELINES: If you have an AP Latin Literature score of 3 (or an IB score of 4), then the best fit will likely be 0200 (spring), 0110 (semester varies), or 0300 (fall). If your AP score is 4 (IB 5), then the best fit will likely be 0300 (fall) or 0400 (spring). And if your AP score is 5 (IB 6 or 7), then the best fit will most probably be 0400 (spring) or 3000-level (fall or spring). Again, please confirm your course plan with the Language Program Coordinator: your studies will go most smoothly if you take a course that is well matched to your level of language proficiency.
No. Standardized test scores are used only for the purpose of placement in an appropriate-level language course: a score of 4 on the AP Latin Literature exam, if submitted to the registrar upon matriculating at Penn, results in an automatic waiver of LATN 0200; a score of 5 on the AP Latin Literature results in an automatic waiver of LATN 0300. Exemption from the language requirement can be gained only by receiving a sufficient score on the Penn Latin Placement Test or the Penn Ancient Greek Placement Test. Otherwise, you should plan to satisfy the requirement by beginning at an appropriate level and continuing until you complete either 0400 or a course numbered 3000+.
Yes! Our goal is to make sure that you are in the right level course given your prior experience in studying Latin or Greek. We want to learn about your background, your interests, and your goals—including completion of the Penn language requirement. We can also show you how your language study may fit within the larger picture of ancient studies and extracurricular activities at Penn.
This meeting is a 10–15-minute conversation with the Language Program Coordinator conducted over Zoom (all year round) or in-person (during the regular semesters). First-year students should ideally schedule these in June or July, prior to freshman preregistration, but they are available at any time throughout the year.
Please email the Language Program Coordinator (Prof. James Ker, jker@sas.upenn.edu) using the subject-line “Latin advising meeting” or “Greek advising meeting”, and you will receive a link with schedule windows.
Yes. Exemption from the Penn language requirement is offered on the basis of a score of 650 or higher on the Penn Latin Placement Test or Penn Ancient Greek Placement Test, indicating high proficiency in the language. The highest score possible on the Penn placement tests in Latin and Greek is 800.
Yes, though taking the test is not necessary to receive a placement: you may register in the course level recommended for you (above) on the basis of your prior experience, and after confirming this plan in a language advising meeting. If you choose to take the Penn Latin Placement Test or Penn Ancient Greek Placement Test, however, your score would help to validate your placement into an appropriate-level course.
COURSE-PLANNING GUIDELINES BASED ON PLACEMENT TEST: The highest score possible on the Penn placement tests in Latin and Greek is 800. A score of less than 450 indicates placement into LATN/GREK 0100 (fall); 450–540, placement into LATN/GREK 0200 (spring) or LATN/GREK 0110 (if being offered); 550–590, placement into LATN/GREK 0300; 600–640, placement into LATN/GREK 0400 (spring); 650–800, placement into LATN/GREK 3000+ (every semester).
The Penn Latin Placement Test and Penn Ancient Greek Placement Test are taken in-person, and are offered on the Friday before fall classes begin. Two options are available on the same day: 9:00–10:00am and 10:00–11:00am (2025 date: August 22; location TBD). No student may take the test without having first completed a language advising meeting (above) to determine whether the test is needed. Please sign up by emailing the Language Program Coordinator (Prof. James Ker, jker@sas.upenn.edu).
The test is one hour in length and is completed by hand. (Students eligible for accommodations may arrange for this in advance.) Question 1: Five short Latin (or Greek) passages are provided for translation into English, from which you choose any three. Question 2: Answer 10 of 15 grammar questions on a single given passage. Question 3: Translate 3 of 5 sentences from English into Latin (or Greek). It is a closed-book exam. Students may expect to receive their score via email, together with advice on placement, by the Monday before classes.
In addition to learning an amazing language, you can BOTH satisfy the Penn language requirement after completing the fourth-semester course LATN 0400 or GREK 0400 (with a grade of C- or higher) AND make a “down payment” on a major or a minor in Classical Studies or Ancient History. You can also join in the vibrant extracurricular culture in the Department of Classical Studies, including the Discentes student journal, the Classics Board student organization, and regular department events such as the Classical Studies Colloquium (Thursdays, 4:45–6:00pm, 402 Cohen, preceded by Espresso in the Classical Studies Lounge, second floor of Cohen Hall, 4:15). And, for those who are already thinking about post-Penn plans, students who major in Classical Studies have higher-than-average placement in law school and medical school. Not to mention a whole range of transferable skills.
Yes. Virtually any course you take in LATN or GREK can be combined with courses in Classical Studies (CLST) or Ancient History (ANCH) toward a minor (6 courses) or major (12 courses) in Classical Studies or Ancient History. The Classical Studies track most geared toward Latin and/or Greek is the “Classical Languages and Literature” track, but Latin and Greek courses can be used toward any of the other tracks too (Ancient History; Classical Civilizations; Mediterranean Archaeology). See our guide to majoring and minoring.
Yes. Each spring, the Allen Prize in Latin and the Allen Prize in Greek are each awarded to a junior who demonstrates excellence in the relevant language, on the basis of a translation exam, taken in late March. The prize is recorded on the student’s transcript and comes with a cash award. Students interested in competing should contact the Language Program Coordinator prior to spring break.
Very far! A student who has completed several advanced-level courses in Latin and/or Greek should plan to take LATN 3801 Advanced Latin Language and Composition (upcoming in spring 2026, 2028, 2030) and/or GREK 3801 Advanced Greek Language and Composition (upcoming in spring 2027, 2029, 2031). They are also eligible to take graduate-level courses, with the instructor’s permission. These include the regular graduate survey courses LATN 6610 Reading Latin (upcoming in fall 2026, 2028, 2030) and GREK 6610 Reading Greek (upcoming in fall 2025, 2027, 2029, 2031), as well as seminars in various research topics numbered at the 7000-level (varying from semester to semester).
Yes! Please see the course listings at the Penn Language Center.
The present coordinator is Prof. James Ker (jker@sas.upenn.edu). Please feel free to get in touch via email with any questions, or to arrange a language advising meeting.