Latin Placement Information

Courses in Latin can fulfill the DePauw University language requirement, and this page provides the information you need to choose the appropriate course to begin your study.

DePauw students must complete two college-level courses in foreign language, and courses in Latin fulfill the language requirement.

Which course should you begin with? Review the materials below. Look at the course descriptions and follow the links to learn more about the skills and knowledge you should have to begin each course. You should always register for a course that will advance your knowledge and that you are prepared for. If, when the semester begins, it turns out that you have registered for a course that is too easy or difficult for you, you will be able to make adjustments during the registration adjustment period at the beginning of the semester.

Many high-school Latin courses focus heavily on Roman Civilization — the politics, lifestyle, and spectacles of the Roman world. At DePauw, Latin classes focus on developing proficiency in reading Latin so that we can encounter the Romans in their own words. When we speak below of a ‘rigorous’ Latin program, we mean one that emphasizes students’ learning of the language.

You are also welcome to contact the Chair of the Classics Department if you have questions.

• Latin 123 (Elementary Latin I) is the appropriate course for students who have had no previous Latin experience or those who have taken Latin for one year in a program that does not focus on reading Latin.

• Latin 124 (Elementary Latin II) is the appropriate course for students who have studied Latin for 1–2 years in a high school program. Review the expectations for Latin 124.

• Students who have studied Latin for 2-3 years in a rigorous Latin program should consider placement in Latin 223 or 224. Students who place into Latin 223 and receive a “C” or better in the course will also be given 1 course credit for Latin 124. Review the expectations for Latin 223 and 224.

• In exceptional cases and with permission of the instructor or the Chair of the Classics Department, students may begin their study in more advanced classes. Students who place into 300-level Latin and receive a “C” or better in the class will also be given 1 course credit for Latin 223 and 0.5 credit for Latin 124.