Summary of Requirements for Advanced Degrees in Classics, Greek and Latin

The M.A.

Entrance to the M.A. Program

1. For admission to the Department of Classics the student should normally have at least a 3.3 cumulative undergraduate average.
2. In general the student should offer an undergraduate major in Classics, although it is possible, by arrangement with the department, to enter with deficiencies which are to be made up early in the program.

Course Work for the M.A.

1. The department's proseminar course, Classics 701, is required.
2. Candidates take twenty four (24) credits of which at least eighteen (18) are in language courses in the department.
   a. For the M.A. in Classics, at least six (6) credits are in courses in each language above the 300-level.
   b. Non-language credits are in related fields approved by the department.
   c. At least one seminar in Classics, Greek, or Latin must be taken in addition to the proseminar.

Other requirements for the M.A.

1. The M.A. candidate must pass a sight-reading proficiency examination in either Latin or Greek (given each semester).
2. An examination in German, French or Italian must be passed before the M.A. (German, with French or Italian, is required for the Ph.D.)
3. Candidates for the M.A. should form a provisional thesis committee (their adviser and two other faculty members) no later than the first week of the semester in which they plan to graduate.
4. The candidates should meet with their committee by the end of the first month of that semester in order to discuss the viability of the thesis. (In advance of the meeting they should submit to the committee an abstract of 1-2 pages.)
5. For the M.A. thesis, the candidate presents to the committee a paper of 25-35 double-spaced pages, written under the supervision of a committee of three faculty members, one of whom acts as the main supervisor. This paper should be written in a scholarly manner, following the stylistic guidelines of TAPhA, and demonstrating familiarity with the appropriate bibliographical resources.
6. The candidate then takes an oral examination on the thesis. If in the judgment of the examining committee it is not advisable for the candidate to proceed toward the Ph.D., the student will be so notified by letter shortly after the examination.

The Ph.D.

Entrance to the Ph.D. Program

1. A M.A. degree or equivalent is required.
2. Candidates entering from a M.A. program which did not require Greek or Latin proficiency exams must pass examinations in both before the preliminary exams are taken.

Course Work

1. The department's proseminar course, Classics 701, is required.
2. A semester of classical archaeology or classical art history is required.
3. A semester of both Greek and Latin Prose Composition is required.
4. Two survey courses, in both Latin and Greek, are required.
5. Five seminars are required, in addition to the proseminar.
   a. The seminar taken for the M.A. may be included.
   b. One seminar must be in ancient history offered through the History Department.
   c. Four seminars must be in Greek or Latin with at least one in each.
   d. With approval from the Graduate Advisor, one seminar may be classical art history or ancient philosophy.
6. A minimum of 32 credits is required for the Ph.D.

Other requirements

1. The candidate must pass a sight-reading examination in the ancient language that was not examined before entering the Ph.D. program.
2. The candidate must pass a second modern foreign language examination. Note that German with French or Italian is required for the Ph.D.
3. The candidate must pass the Ancient History examination.

Preliminary Examinations

1. Five preliminary examinations are usually taken two or three years after the M.A.
   a. Greek literature
   b. Latin literature
   c. A Greek author chosen by the candidate
   d. A Latin author chosen by the candidate
   e. A special field of study (e.g. literary criticism, religion, mythology, philosophy, art history, archeology, and ancient science)
2. Candidates should begin planning for the preliminary examinations early in the program.
   a. Within a semester after passing the M.A., candidates should tentatively select special authors and a special field and make arrangements with the Graduate Advisor and other faculty members to supervise their course of study.
3. The department will normally offer preliminary examinations twice during the year, the fall and spring semesters.
   a. The candidate normally must sign up for these examinations in the departmental office at least two months in advance.
   b. The candidate should complete all the preliminary examinations in two to three consecutive semesters (all five examinations may be completed in the same semester, but is generally not recommended).
   c. It is advisable that the candidate take a reduced work load during semesters in which the preliminary examinations are taken (students who are teaching assistants may not enroll for less than six credits per semester).

Dissertation

1. Candidates for the Ph.D. should form a provisional dissertation committee before the semester before they reach dissertator status.
   a. The committee should consist of the candidate's dissertation advisor and at least two other faculty members.
2. Candidates should meet with their provisional dissertation committee in the first semester of dissertator status to discuss their proposal's viability.
   a. In advance of this meeting, the candidate should provide the committee members a detailed abstract of the proposed dissertation with a synopsis of each chapter, the total not usually exceeding fifteen pages.
3. The dissertation should make a significant contribution to scholarship.
4. The candidate will be required to pass a two hour oral examination on their dissertation.
5. All Graduate School guidelines for dissertation should be followed.

The Minor