My paper will explore the efforts of researchers in classical reception studies who are based in departments other than classics to develop courses and pathways of study. This often means expecting to work with students who have little or no familiarity with classics as a discipline or with ancient primary sources, let alone ancient languages. I will address pedagogical issues – for example, how much attention to theoretical statements of the aims of reception studies is appropriate and effective? How can we effectively stress rigor in a context that can invite dabbling? What kind of assignments have worked best?; and professional issues – should such courses be embraced by classics as gateways to the field? Should we think of these classes as introductions to an emerging field of inquiry that can stand apart from classics? Should classics chairs be encouraged to seek to cross-list such courses in classics or prefer their appearance under another department's sponsorship?). I am particularly interested in how we might conceive of a pro-seminar in classical receptions for a multi-disciplinary group of doctoral candidates with varying levels of exposure to ancient languages. I will report on my own experiences and on the results of inquiries with colleagues at a range of colleges and universities in the US, UK and Australia.
