Graduate Program

Requirements for 2005 and Earlier

The Department does not offer a terminal Master’s Degree in the Ancient Mediterranean World, though candidates for the Ph.D. Degree in the Ancient Mediterranean World need first to satisfy the requirements for the A.M. Degree.

A.M. Degree in the Ancient Mediterranean World

Candidates must:

  1. Take nine courses for quality grades, no more than three of which may be in Greek or Latin 20100-20300. (Beginning Greek and Latin do not count toward this requirement, but other beginning languages, i.e. Near Eastern, will be counted).
  2. Take four courses distributed in each of the four disciplinary fields (literature, history, philosophy/religion, and art/archaeology).
  3. Take two courses in an ancient language other than Greek.
  4. Take one graduate seminar.
  5. Take Greek language at the level of Greek 203.
  6. Pass the University’s examination in one modern language (French or German, except by approval of the chair).

Ph.D. Degree in the Ancient Mediterranean World

Candidates must:

  1. Take eighteen courses for quality grades (nine past the A.M.), no more than three of which may be in Greek or Latin 20100-20300. Of these eighteen, twelve (six past the A.M.) must be distributed as for the A.M. degree and divided between Greek and other culture areas.
  2. Take Greek and one other ancient language. Greek or Latin will be certified by the Classics Department’s Competency Examinations, and students preparing for these exams will normally have taken the Graduate Survey sequence in the relevant language. Other ancient languages will be certified in consultation with the relevant Department.
  3. Take two written, three-hour history examinations, one in each of the two chosen culture areas (Greek + 1), based upon reading lists arrived at in consultation with the examining faculty.
  4. Take the Greek Competency Qualifying Examination before the beginning of the third full year of graduate study. All examinations are to be passed by the end of the fourth full year of graduate study.
  5. Pass the University’s examination in a second modern language (French or German, except by approval of the chair).
  6. Choose, by the end of the third year of graduate study, an advisory committee of three faculty members. This will be undertaken in consultation with the chair and in accordance with plans for research for the dissertation.
  7. Prepare a written thesis proposal consisting of a sample chapter and a detailed outline of the dissertation to be distributed to the Faculty. The proposal should be submitted within one year of passing all examinations and will not be accepted if the candidate has not already passed the language and history examinations. The faculty will vote electronically whether to approve the proposal within two weeks of submission. Once approved, the candidate will be considered as advanced to Ph.D. candidacy but will be required to schedule a workshop talk based on the proposal before the end of the quarter subsequent to that in which the proposal is submitted. A candidate who does not schedule a workshop within this period of time will not be considered to be in good academic standing for the purpose of awards, prizes, and fellowships. In no case will a candidate be allowed to schedule a final dissertation defense if s/he has not already presented a workshop based on the dissertation proposal.
  8. Secure the approval of the advisory committee for the completed dissertation and defend it orally before members of the Department.