CLAS 3027 - Pagans, Saints and Magic in Late Antiquity
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2025
-
General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code CLAS 3027 Course Pagans, Saints and Magic in Late Antiquity Coordinating Unit Historical and Classical Studies Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Prerequisites At least 6 units of Level II undergraduate study including at least 3 units of Level II Classics courses Incompatible CLAS 2103 Biennial Course Course offered in odd years Assessment Short Paper (Seminar Paper), Research essay. Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Margaret O'Hea
Dr Margaret O'Hea.Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
There will be one lecture per week for 12 weeks and one two-hour seminar per week for 10 weeks, starting in week 2. -
Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
1 understand the historical sequence of the main developments in Late Antique religious history 2 develop a scholarly approach to the historical analysis of primary sources, both literary and documentary 3 encourage wider readings and the application of a broader “historical” perspective to contemporary issues, such as religious tolerance and intolerance in Europe and of freedom of speech 4 engage productively and respectfully with their peers via problem solving and the sharing of information 5 use learning technologies relevant to the University’s learning environment University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1-2 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
2, 4 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
4 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
3 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
4 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
If possible, purchase the following set of primary sources:
Valantasis, R. (2000) Religions of Late Antiquity in Practice. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
NB: Paperbacks can be ordered from Booktopia, Angus and Robertson etc, but there is currently no ebook, and availablility may be limited. Buy a second-hand copy if you can.
A copy of this book will be placed in Reserve in the Library for short-term loans, and other primary sources will be made available online in MyUni.
If you cannot get your hands on this, another, less comprehensive but cheaper sourcebook is
MacMullen, R. (1992) Paganism and Christianity 100-425 C.E.. Fortress Press.Recommended Resources
For those who want to go further, bookmark the library's ebook of:
Cameron, A. (2010) The Last Pagans of Rome. You don't need to buy it.
Another older, but readable optional purchase is:
MacMullen, R. (1999) Christianity and Paganism in the Fourth to Eighth Centuries. Yale: Yale University Press
Online Learning
Reading lists, websites and other resources will be made available online in MyUni. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Lectures will provide background to the seminar topics. These two-hour classes will rely heavily on the readings of both primary and secondary sources by students, but they will also build on the previous weeks' readings. They are intended to create both a knowledge base and establish practice in historical analysis.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
WORKLOAD TOTAL HOURS
1 Lecture pw (structured learning) 12
2-hr seminar pw (structured learning) 20 (10 weeks only)*
6 research (reading and note-taking) hrs pw 72
4.333 assignment prep hours pw 48
Average pw = 13 hrs* Total = 156 HoursLearning Activities Summary
Lecture topics may vary from published schedule, which will be provided online in MyUni at the start of the semester. The seminar programme will be available online and in downloadable form on MyUni at the start of semester. -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Task Type Due Weighting Learning Outcome Short paper (ca 1000-1250 words) Formative and Summative Choose one seminar topic from first half of semester 25% 1-4 Short paper (ca 1000-1250 words) Formative and Summative Choose one seminar topic from second half of semester 25% 1-4 Research Essay (ca 2500 words) Formative and Summative End of semester 50% 1-4 Assessment Detail
Research essay: students will be required to write a ca 2500 word research essay due in Week 13 (topic to be detailed in MyUni)
Seminar papers: two x ca 1250 word seminar papers, one from the first half and one from the second half of the semester. See MyUni for more details.Submission
All will be submitted online as attached essays in Word (doc, docx) or pdf. Details about times will be online in MyUni before the start of semester.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
-
Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
-
Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
-
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
-
Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.
The 成人大片 is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The 成人大片 therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
