Ph.D. Program

For the Ph.D. the student specializes in one of three tracks: language and literature, ancient history, or Mediterranean archaeology. The requirements for each of these tracks are as follows:

Language and Literature

In order to earn the Ph.D. degree in the language and literature track the student must accomplish the following:

  • complete 72 credit-hours of course work (i.e., 42 credit-hours beyond the 30 credit-hours required for the M.A.);
  • complete one graduate seminar in both ancient Greek language and literature and Latin language and literature;
  • complete one graduate survey or one graduate seminar in each of the following three areas: ancient history, Mediterranean archaeology, linguistics or literary theory (The last may be taken outside the Department Classics.);
  • pass a translation exam in two modern languages (two of French, German, Italian, or modern Greek) (i.e., a translation exam in one language in addition to that passed for the M.A.);
  • pass a set of three general exams (see below for the format of these);
  • complete a dissertation.

Ancient History

In order to earn the Ph.D. degree in the ancient history track the student must accomplish the following:

  • complete 72 credit-hours of course work (i.e., 42 credit-hours beyond the 30 credit-hours required for the M.A.);
  • complete graduate courses sufficient to provide basic proficiency in the three major areas of ancient history (Egypt/the Near East, Greece, Rome);
  • complete one graduate seminar in two of the three major areas of ancient history;
  • complete one graduate course focusing on an ancient historian;
  • complete one graduate seminar in each of the following three areas: Mediterranean archaeology, historiography, history or anthropology outside the ancient period (The latter two may be taken outside the Department of Classics.);
  • pass a translation exam in two modern languages (two of French, German, Italian, or modern Greek) (i.e., a translation exam in one language in addition to that passed for the M.A.);
  • pass a set of three general exams (see below for the format of these);
  • complete a dissertation.

Mediterranean Archaeology

In order to earn the Ph.D. degree in the Mediterranean archaeology track the student must accomplish the following:

  • complete 72 credit-hours of course work (i.e., 42 credit-hours beyond the 30 credit-hours required for the M.A.);
  • complete one graduate survey course in each of the three major areas of Mediterranean archaeology (Egypt/the Near East, Greece, Rome).
  • complete two graduate seminars in each of two of the three major areas of Mediterranean archaeology;
  • complete one graduate course in ancient Greek or Latin prose relevant to Mediterranean archaeology;
  • complete one graduate survey course or seminar in the archaeology of a culture area outside the Mediterranean (e.g., Sub-Saharan Africa, temperate Europe, North America, Meso-America) (This is usually taken outside the Department of Classics.);
  • complete one graduate seminar that emphasizes method and/or theory in and/or the history of archaeology (This may be taken outside the Department of Classics.);
  • complete one season (at least 6 weeks) of archaeological field work in an approved program;
  • pass a translation exam in two modern languages (two of French, German, Italian, or modern Greek) (i.e., a translation exam in one language in addition to that passed for the M.A.);
  • pass a set of three general examinations (see below for the format of these);
  • complete a dissertation.