Examination Schedule for Classics Graduate Program with notes on Criteria for Satisfactory Academic Progress and Explanation of Exams
Exam Timetable
| Status | Year(s) | Exams |
| pre-MA | 1 and 2 | Greek or Latin Proficiency Exam |
| one Modern Foreign Language Exam | ||
| M.A. Thesis and Defense (see requirements set by The Graduate School and by Classics) | ||
| For satisfactory academic progress, by the end of year 2 the student must have taken at least 24 credits (18 of which are in language courses at the level of 300 or above), passed 1 proficiency and 1 modern foreign language exam, have taken 1 seminar, and have successfully written & defended the M.A. thesis. | ||
| post-MA | 3 | Greek or Latin Proficiency Exam |
| one Modern Foreign Language Exam | ||
| Ancient History Exam | ||
| Greek or Latin Literature Preliminary Exam | ||
| For satisfactory academic progress, by the end of year 3 the student must have taken a total of 5 seminars, including one in ancient history, 1 course at level 300 or above in archaeology or art history, and both Greek and Latin Composition. The student must have passed 1 other proficiency exam, 1 other modern foreign language exam, the Ancient History Exam, and either the Greek or the Latin Literature Exam. | ||
| 4 | Greek or Latin Literature Preliminary Exam | |
| Special Author/Topic Greek Preliminary Exam | ||
| Special Author/Topic Latin Preliminary Exam | ||
| Special Topic Preliminary Exam | ||
| For satisfactory academic progress, by the end of year 4 the student must have passed the other Literature Exam, and fulfilled all the requirements for 2 Special Author/Topic Exams (one Greek, one Latin) and 1 Special Topic. | ||
| Dissertator | 5 and 6 | Dissertation and Defense (see requirements set by The Graduate School and by Classics) |
These proficiency exams are meant to help both faculty and students monitor the student's ability and progress, and assist in first and second-year course placement. The proficiencies are given towards the end of each semester, and must be retaken until passed. One must be passed by the end of the 4th semester and the other by the end of the 6th to remain in satisfactory academic standing. The format of the exam is two passages of intermediate difficulty (e.g. Homer and Plato, or Vergil and Cicero) one prose and one poetry, both to be translated without a dictionary, for the duration of one hour. The exam is set and assessed by the Graduate Advisor and an additional reader. One proficiency must be passed before the M.A. is awarded, and the other by the 6th semester of graduate study. There is no recommended preparation for these exams since they assess the student's basic reading knowledge of Greek and Latin.
Format and Assessment:
The format of the exam is two passages of intermediate difficulty (e.g. Homer and Plato, or Vergil and Cicero) one prose and one poetry, both to be translated without a dictionary, for the duration of one hour.
The exam is set and assessed by the Graduate Advisor and an additional reader.
Timing:
The proficiencies are given towards the end of each semester, and must be retaken until passed.
Reporting:
The reader and the Graduate Advisor note "pass" or "not pass" on the exam booklet, which is then put on file in the departmental office. The student is notified by the Graduate Advisor.
Preparation:
There is no recommended preparation for these exams since they assess the student's basic reading knowledge of Greek and Latin.
The student must pass two modern foreign language exams, one before the M.A. is awarded and the other by the 6th semester; options are French, German, or Italian, but one of the two languages must be German. The exam may be retaken until passed, but one must be passed by the end of the 4th semester and the other by the end of the 6th to remain in satisfactory academic standing. The exam is given and graded by the Foreign Language Examiner, and consists of a passage selected from a book on a classical subject; the student may use a dictionary, and the exam lasts one hour. The recommended preparation is one of the "Reading Knowledge" courses offered by the individual foreign language departments, a summer abroad in the relevant country, or independent study with a grammar book.
Format and Assessment:
The exam is given and graded by the Foreign Language Examiner, and consists of a passage selected from a book on a classical subject; the student may use a dictionary, and the exam lasts one hour.
Timing:
The exam is given twice a year, usually at the end of each semester (December and April).
Reporting:
The examiner reports a grade of "pass" or "not pass" on the exam booklet, and the exam booklet is put on file in the departmental office. The examiner notifies the student in writing whether he/she has passed or not, and sends a copy of the letter to the Graduate Advisor.
Preparation:
The recommended preparation is one of the "Reading Knowledge" courses offered by the individual foreign language departments, a summer abroad in the relevant country, or independent study with a grammar book.
This exam is set by the resident ancient historians in the History Department and consists of two parts, administered separately: Greek History and Roman History. The ancient historians provide guidance in the form of reading lists of primary and secondary works and meet with students to assist in the preparation for each part of the exam.
Format and Assessment:
Students are given 90 minutes to complete each part of the exam, Greek and Roman History, administered separately and normally consisting of 1) short identifications, 2) passages to be discussed, and 3) essay questions, graded by the ancient historians.
Timing:
Each part of the exam will normally be offered only once a year, either in December or April. Graduate students intending to take the ancient history exam must notify the ancient historians within the first week of the Fall semester so that a time for the exam can be set on an ad hoc basis.
The ancient historians provide students with reading lists for Greek and Roman History, arrange with the students a schedule of meeting times to discuss their preparation, and set the time when the two parts of the exam will be administered.
The examiner reports a grade of "pass" or "not pass" on the exam booklet, and the exam booklet is put on file in the departmental office. The examiner notifies the student in writing whether he/she has passed or not, and sends a copy of the letter to the Graduate Advisor.
Preparation:
Students should audit History 303 and 307, taken in conjunction with regular meetings with the instructors, and consult the works included on the reading lists provided by the ancient historians.
These exams are closely connected to the Greek and Latin Literature Survey courses, which serve as the recommended preparation. The instructor of the course is responsible for setting and grading the exams, and the Graduate Advisor acts as second reader; in years when the course is not offered, examiners will be assigned. The format is a three-hour exam for each language, including a mixture of translation and essay questions, with additional sections (e.g. short identifications) at the discretion of the instructor. The student should also consult the recommended reading list of primary and secondary sources in the departmental handbook, since the particular survey course may choose to emphasize and de-emphasize certain areas. Since the survey course is not required, students may also choose to study independently for the exam, but it is then their responsibility to obtain a syllabus for the survey and be aware of the materials covered. The exam may be retaken once.
Format and Assessment:
The format is a three-hour exam for each language, including a mixture of translation and essay questions, with additional sections (e.g. short identifications) at the discretion of the instructor. The instructor of the Greek or Latin Literature Survey Course that semester is responsible for setting and grading the exams; the Graduate Advisor acts as second reader.
Timing:
The exam is given at the end of the semester in which the survey course is offered, and at other times on an ad hoc basis upon submitting a request to the Graduate Advisor.
Reporting:
The examiner reports a grade of "pass" or "not pass" on the exam booklet, and the exam booklet is put on file in the departmental office. The examiner notifies the student in writing whether he/she has passed or not, and sends a copy of the letter to the Graduate Advisor.
Preparation:
These exams are closely connected to the Greek and Latin Literature Survey courses, which serve as the recommended preparation. The student should also consult the recommended reading list of primary and secondary sources in the departmental handbook, although the particular survey course may emphasize or de-emphasize certain areas. Students may also choose to study independently for the exam, but it is then their responsibility to obtain a syllabus for the survey and be aware of the materials covered.
Format and Assessment:
The format of the examination is at the discretion of the faculty member in charge, and may take the form of a lengthy paper-writing assignment or a set exam.
Timing:
The exams are given at a time convenient for both student and examiner, to be determined in consultation together.
Reporting:
The examiner reports a grade of "pass" or "not pass" on the exam booklet or paper, and the exam booklet is put on file in the departmental office. The examiner notifies the student in writing whether he/she has passed or not, and sends a copy of the letter to the Graduate Advisor.
Preparation:
These specialized author and topic examinations may be prepared for in author courses or in the context of a tutorial (699) with a faculty member.