Programs of Study and Course Offerings

The University at Buffalo Department of Classics supports programs of study at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Undergraduate level

At the undergraduate level students may complete a Classics major or a Classics minor.

The Classics major, which requires from 33 credit hours of course work, may be completed in any one of six different concentrations:

  1. Ancient Greek Language and Literature
  2. Latin Language and Literature
  3. Ancient Greek and Latin Languages and Literatures
  4. Classical Civilization
  5. Ancient History
  6. Mediterranean Archaeology

The Classics minor, which requires 18 credit hours of course work, may be completed in any one of four different concentrations:

  1. Ancient Greek or Latin Language and Literature
  2. Classical Civilization
  3. Ancient History
  4. Mediterranean Archaeology

The Department of Classics also serves as the administrative home for two additional undergraduate majors:

  1. Judaic Studies
  2. Religious Studies

Graduate level

At the graduate level, students may earn both the M.A. and the Ph.D. Applications can be made for admission to the M.A. program only or for admission directly to the Ph.D. program. Applicants admitted to the M.A. program may later apply for admission to the Ph.D. program. Individuals who already hold an M.A. in Classics or a closely related field from another institution are admitted to the Ph.D. program with advanced standing, the specific details of which are determined by the Director of Graduate Studies.

For the M.A. degree, which can generally be completed in two years, students are not required to pursue a specialization in one of the three sub-areas of Classics. For the Ph.D. degree, which can generally be completed in from five to seven years (i.e. three to five years beyond the time required to obtain the M.A.), students specialize in the language and literature, ancient history, or Mediterranean archaeology sub-area.