The study of language enriches the understanding of bodies politic, so we recommend language courses as one way of completing the work of this program. In the Latin module we learn the basic morphology, vocabulary, and syntax of the classical language in which authors like Seneca, Cicero, and Virgil composed. From Latin we inherit many of the terms in which Res Publica's inquiries are grounded: legislation, civil society, jurisprudence, corporation, president, morality, and myriad others. But we do not merely inherit the words; the way we understand them has been deeply influenced by their histories during and after Greco-Roman antiquity. In learning Latin we recover some of this history as well as a facility in reading the words.

Our primary goal is to learn to read classical Roman authors as quickly and as thoroughly as we can in three quarters. To this end we practice constant translation of Latin into English, composition in Latin, and memorization of words and word forms. We will have frequent quizzes and written assignments and examinations every third week. Our texts are Wheelock's Latin, 6th Edition Revised, edited by R. LaFleur, and 38 Latin Stories, by Anne Groton and James May.

Students may enroll either in the Latin module (as a 4 qtr. hour element of their 16 qtr. hour enrollment in Res Publica) or they may enroll in another language module (and enroll in Res Publica for 12 qtr. hours). These options depend on available space.