Graduate Student Handbook

Classics is an interdisciplinary field comprising virtually all aspects of the ancient Graeco- Roman world. It encompasses the art, archaeology, and history as well as the languages, literature, philosophy, and religions of ancient Greece and Rome. Undergraduate study in classics normally offers a student a general introduction to one or more of these areas. The goal of graduate study is to train students to become professional classicists. To this end graduate students broaden their knowledge of the discipline as a whole, deepen their command over one or more specialized areas, and gain mastery of the skills necessary for teaching and research.

The Department of Classics offers several programs of graduate study leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. M.A. programs are offered in ancient history, classical archaeology, classics (Greek and Latin), classical civilizations, Greek, and Latin. The focus of each program differs; some are designed to prepare students for teaching careers in secondary schools, others to help students prepare for further study at the Ph.D. level in classics or other related fields. Students also have the opportunity to work towards certification in museum studies, cultural history management and conservation, or the teaching of Latin in secondary schools.

The Ph.D. program trains students to become scholars and teachers at the college or university level. Students enrolled in the Ph.D. program concentrate in either classical archaeology or Greek and Latin, but all students, regardless of concentration, acquire a broad knowledge of the ancient world, demonstrate mastery of Greek or Latin or both, and develop the requisite skills for conducting original research.

This handbook provides both new and continuing graduate students with information about the Department of Classics at FSU, its graduate programs, and departmental policies and procedures related to graduate study in classics. Please read it carefully.

Students should also familiarize themselves with the university policies and procedures outlined in the latest edition of the FSU Graduate Bulletin and in the FSU Graduate Student Handbook published online by the Graduate School.

Questions not answered herein should be directed to the director of graduate studies (hereafter DGS).

M.A. Admission

Admission to any M.A. degree program requires:

Qualifications

1. a B.A. degree from an accredited college or university
2. a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
3. sufficient undergraduate work in classics to warrant study at the graduate level

Ideally, applicants to all M.A. degree programs will have a minimum of two to three years of undergraduate study in one ancient language (Greek or Latin), and a minimum of one to two years of study in a second. Occasional exceptions may be made for students with outstanding undergraduate records who do not meet these requirements.

Materials

1. submission of university application forms
2. three letters of recommendation
3. a statement of purpose
4. a writing sample on a subject related to the discipline, not to exceed 20 pages

Potential applicants should review the department’s and university’s websites for specific application procedures. Inquiries about admissions should be directed to the Director of Graduate Admissions.

M.A. Degree Program Requirements

The department offers courses of study leading to M.A. degree in Classics (with majors in Ancient History, Classical Archaeology, Classical Civilizations, Greek and Latin), Latin, and Greek. In choosing a degree program students should review the specific requirements of each degree program (and major in case of M.A. degree in Classics) and determine how well each program matches their prior training, academic skills, and professional goals.

All M.A. degree programs are designed to be completed in two to three years. Students with undergraduate degrees in Classics or Classical Archaeology and strong preparation in Greek, Latin, or both should be able to complete the degree in two years. Students with gaps in their undergraduate training, especially in the ancient languages, may require more time, but barring exceptional circumstances, the degree must be completed in three years.

1. General Requirements

The following requirements apply to all M.A. degree programs offered by the department:

• The department administers Diagnostic Exams in Greek and Latin at the start of every fall term. All incoming students are required to sit the exams, which are intended to place students in the appropriate language courses.
• All M.A. students are required, during their first fall semester in residence, to take CLA 5936, the Classics Proseminar. This course introduces students to the different methodologies and sub-disciplines of Classics.
• All M.A. students must demonstrate competency in one modern foreign language, German, French, or Italian.
  • By completing 12 undergraduate course hours at any institution with a grade of B or better in one of these languages.
  • By passing the appropriate graduate reading knowledge exam administered by the Department of Modern Languages. Graduate Reading Knowledge courses in French, German, and Italian (GER 5060, FRE 5060, ITA 5060) are offered by the Department of Modern Languages to assist students in meeting this requirement. Students taking these courses must also register for and pass the appropriate graduate reading knowledge exam (GER 5069, FRE 5069, ITA 5069) to satisfy this requirement. Students need not take a reading knowledge course in order to sign up for a reading knowledge exam, but those who choose to take an exam without taking the prep course must contact the instructor of the course to register for the exam.
  • By passing an exam in one of these languages administered by the Classics Department. This exam involves translating accurately and into idiomatic English one page (approximately 200 words) of scholarly prose on a topic related to the student’s course of study, and then writing a short summary of at least 100 words of a longer excerpt. The area committees will set and grade the exams. For the sake of consistency, the passages will be drawn from a volume of ANRW. The exam is two hours long and use of a paper dictionary is permitted (dictionaries will be provided). These exams will be given twice a year, in the last week of classes in both the fall and spring semesters. Provisions can be made for other languages relevant to the student's course of study (e.g. Spanish, modern Greek, Arabic, etc.). (Effective in spring 2024)
• Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in all graduate work, and no course in Classics for which a student receives a grade of C or below may count toward any graduate degree in the department.
• Students must pass all comprehensive exams in their particular program or major.
• Students must write an M.A. paper.

2. General Information for Comprehensive Exams

Each of the M.A. degree programs requires students to take Comprehensive Exams, specific to each program and major (in case of M.A. degree in Classics). For the specific exams, please see the section on Comprehensive Exams for the individual program and major. Students take the exams in their second year of study (preferably in the Fall). If a student does not pass the exam on the first sitting, the student is allowed to sit the exam for a second time in the following semester.

The exams are administered twice a year: in the last week of September in the fall and in the Spring after Spring Break in the spring, respectively. The students who are sitting the different exams are contacted by the chairs of the respective committees about the dates and times of the exams. The faculty strives to inform the students of the exam result within a week, if possible. For exam specific details, see the relevant section of the individual program and major.

In the beginning of each term, the DGS issues a general call to all graduate students to declare what exam they intend to sit in a given semester.

Students must register for the appropriate course number for the comprehensive exams in the semester in which they sit the exam.

3. General Information about the M.A. Paper and M.A. Thesis

Students may choose to do either a paper or a thesis in completion of their degree requirements. The subject of the paper or the thesis must reveal independent investigation and knowledge of the methods of scholarship. The goal of this project is for a student to show his or her ability to do independent research and to write up the results. It should also demonstrate an ability to present the material in an organized and synthesized manner.

Grades for the paper or the thesis are assigned on the basis of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U). The directing professor will assign an S grade once either the M.A. paper second reader or the M.A. thesis supervising committee has approved the paper or the thesis. If a student registers in one semester and does not complete his or her paper or thesis in the same semester, the directing professor may assign an Incomplete grade (I) or an Unsatisfactory (U) grade. Generally, if a student has turned in a draft or demonstrated substantial progress toward completion of the paper or the thesis, the grade of Incomplete

(I) is assigned. If a student has not turned in any work or has not made substantial progress toward completion of the paper or the thesis, the grade of Unsatisfactory (U) is assigned.

The particulars of the paper or the thesis will be determined by the directing professor. Students should, therefore, ensure that they are communicating regularly with the directing professor and the other members of their committee.

All material submitted to the paper readers or the thesis committee, whether it is the prospectus or sections/chapters of the paper or the thesis, must include appropriate illustrations, if the selected topic requires so. The illustrations must be clearly legible, and as near as possible to the final form the student will use in the document. They must also be fully labeled, with identification of the object, building, site, etc. illustrated, and a citation of the source for the illustration (even if it is the student’s own photograph). The illustrations should be put in sequence at the end of the text and numbered continuously.

The requirements for the M.A. paper and the M.A. thesis differ. Students should familiarize themselves with the differences below. All requirements are in keeping with the stipulations of the FSU Graduate School whose requirements for the M.A. degree are available on its website and in its Graduate Student Handbook.

4. M.A. Paper Guidelines

M.A. Paper Directing Professor and Second Reader: The M.A. paper committee. Students should approach a potential directing professor well in advance of completing the M.A. thesis/paper approval form but no later than the beginning of their third semester. In consultation with the directing professor, the student will select the second reader.

M.A. Paper Length, Format and Content: Normally the paper should have between 25 and 50 pages of text, plus the appropriate back matter (bibliography, appendices, illustrations, etc.). It will, also normally, focus on a research topic the student has addressed in a term paper in a previous course, but will go into greater depth and more detail, and will attempt to sustain an original argument. It should be modeled on published articles in the field, and should have a fully professional apparatus of citations and illustrations. The format and the internal deadlines, such as the first complete draft, will be determined by the directing professor.

Difference between M.A. Paper and M.A. Thesis: No defense of the M.A. paper is required, and the grade will be assigned by the directing professor, on the basis of S/U for 3 credit hours (CLA 5919). In essence, the difference in the credit hour distribution between the M.A. thesis and the M.A. paper option allows 3 credit hours for writing the paper (as opposed to 6 credit hours for writing the M.A. thesis). The remaining 3 credit hours in the M.A. paper option should be obtained by taking an elective course, strongly recommended, in Latin or Greek.

M.A. Paper Timetable: The writing of an M.A. paper extends over two consecutive semesters (fall and spring). Its completion involves the following steps and their accompanying deadlines:

First Semester

1. Choose a directing professor and a second reader before submitting the paper/thesis approval form.
2. Submit the thesis/paper approval form (available on the departmental website) to the DGS during the week of M.A. Comps in the fall semester
3. Submit a paper prospectus, outline, or bibliography, as determined by the directing professor, to the directing professor and the second reader within one month after the M.A. Comps

Second Semester

1. Submit a first draft of the paper to the directing professor — deadline set by the directing professor
2. Submit the final version of the paper to the directing professor and the second reader two weeks before the last day of classes of the spring semester
3. Incorporate any changes, if asked by the directing professor and the second reader, and submit the final corrected version of the paper to the directing professor — deadline set by the directing professor and before the day of Spring Commencement
4. Submit a final corrected version of the paper to the DGS to be deposited in the student's file before the day of Spring Commencement

5. M.A. Thesis Guidelines

M.A. Thesis Directing Professor and Committee: An M.A. thesis committee consists of three members: a directing professor, who will serve as the principal thesis advisor, and two other faculty members from the Department of Classics. The chair of the department has final say in the composition of the committee, but students should approach a potential directing professor well in advance of completing the M.A. thesis approval form. They should also select the other committee members in consultation with the directing professor. Changes to the thesis committee are possible but must be approved by the chair of the department.

M.A. Thesis Length, Format and Content: The thesis should have between 50 and 75 pages of text, plus the appropriate front matter (table of contents, lists of illustrations, etc.) and back matter (bibliography, appendices, illustrations, etc.). It will normally consist of original research, i.e. not be a further development of a paper already written. It should be modeled on published articles in the field, and should have a fully professional apparatus of citations and illustrations. The directing professor, in consultation with the M.A. candidate, will determine the exact length, the format, and the citation style of the thesis as well as the deadlines of the first draft and the date of the defense. The student will register for 6 credit hours (CLA 5971r). Credit hours for CLA 5971r can be spread out over more than one semester, and are graded by the directing professor on the basis of S/U as the student progresses. A defense is also required (CLA8976, 0 credit hours, graded either Pass or Fail).

FSU Graduate School Paperwork, Requirements, and Deadlines: Students should note that the university deadline for submission of the thesis normally falls three to four weeks prior to the end of classes in a given term, and they should keep that date in mind when scheduling a defense: specific deadlines are laid out in the university calendar and on the website of the Graduate School. A copy of the thesis, however, must be submitted to the Graduate School which has established specific formatting requirements, including one that final copies be submitted in electronic format. These requirements are spelled out on the website of the Graduate School.

The Graduate School has a Guide to the Preparation of Dissertations, Theses, and Treatises (available online). It is the student’s responsibility to obtain one and to conform to its guidelines. Students who have any questions should also check with the liaison in the Graduate School office who is responsible for approving the final copy. The official requirements can and do change, it is therefore advisable to check periodically with the Graduate School.

After its electronic submission, the M.A. thesis is made publically available through the UMI/PQIL (ProQuest) services. For more information, see “Manuscript Clearance” on the Graduate College Bb site.

M.A. Thesis Timetable: The writing of an M.A. thesis extends over two consecutive semesters. The timetable for its completion is the same as for the M.A. paper (see above) with two exceptions: 1) scheduling and holding a M.A. thesis defense and 2) meeting the University requirements and deadlines for format check and electronic submission).

M.A. IN CLASSICS WITH A MAJOR IN ANCIENT HISTORY

The major in Ancient History offers students a historical focus, while also emphasizing a strong foundation in the methods and materials of the Classical world. This major is recommended for students interested in pursuing subsequent doctoral work in many areas of Classics or History; graduates will have the broad competencies needed for further study in all areas of Greek and Roman antiquity. Towards this end, students pursuing a Masters in Ancient History must meet language requirements in Greek and/or Latin. The focus of the major, however, is on historical interpretations of the ancient Mediterranean – what are sometimes divided into “history” and “historiography,” but which collectively aim at furthering our understanding of past contexts and cultures. Emphasis is on the acquisition and refinement of the basic tools of our field, in addition to the exploration of new developments and models.

The M.A. degree in Ancient History is pursued through coursework, as well as a comprehensive exam in ancient history and passing a language exam in either Greek or Latin, and culminates in the writing of an M.A. paper. This degree requires 33 credit hours of coursework.

1. Course Requirements

• Proseminar (CLA 5936) - 1 hr
• Four courses at the 5000 or 6000-level in Greek or Roman history (at least one course must be a 6000-level seminar) - 12 hrs
• Two courses at the 5000 or 6000-level in Greek or Latin (at least one course must be a 6000-level seminar, one course must be on a historical author) - 6 hrs
• One archaeology course (5000 or 6000-level) - 3 hrs
• Three additional courses (5000 or 6000-level) which may be based in related departments (students are encouraged to use at least one elective for futher advanced language study of a historical author) - 8 hrs
• Translation Exam in Greek or Latin - 0 hrs
• Comprehensive Exam in ancient history - 0 hrs
• M.A. paper (CLA 5919)

2. Comprehensive Exams

Translation Exam in Greek or Latin:

All students must pass a translation exam in Greek or Latin, which will normally follow the same format as the departmental comprehensive exam but be based upon the ancient history reading lists (see Appendix B).

Comprehensive Exam in Ancient History:

Students in the Ancient History M.A. major must pass a Comprehensive Exam in Ancient History. Students take the exam in the second year of study. Students are advised to take each of the four EUH 5xxx Ancient History courses taught by our faculty in Ancient History in preparation for the exam. The exam is three hours in length and consists of two parts:

Part I: Identifications in Greek and Roman history (one hour).

• Students will select, identify, and explain the significance of 10 to 15 names, events, institutions, and other phenomena related to the history and civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome from c. 800 B.C. to c. A.D. 400. A list of representative names, events, and other terms is available from the chairperson of the Ancient History committee.

Part II: Essays in Greek and Roman history (two hours).

• Students will write one essay on a topic (from a selection of three) in Greek history and one essay on a topic (from a selection of three) in Roman history.

Notes and books are not permitted, but students may take the exam on a laptop computer. Students will be notified of exam results within two weeks of taking the exam. Each section of the exam will receive a score of Pass or Fail. Students receiving a failing score on any section(s) of the exam may retake the failed section(s) one time only, before the end of the spring term in which the exam is first taken.

Upon successful completion of the exam, students should arrange to register for CLA 8961.

3. M.A. Paper

For details, see the section on M.A. paper guidelines above

M.A. in Classics with a Major in Classical Archaeology

The M.A. degree in Classics with a major in Classical Archaeology offers students the opportunity to focus their coursework in the archaeology and art history of the ancient Mediterranean world. This degree is recommended for students who intend to pursue further graduate work in classical archaeology or heritage management. Students intending to pursue study at the Ph.D. level, however, are advised to familiarize themselves with the admissions requirements of doctoral programs, especially for Greek and Latin, to ensure that they meet the minimum expectations of these programs: completing the minimum requirements of the M.A. degree will not satisfy the admissions requirements of the Ph.D. program.

The Classical Archaeology major is pursued through coursework which culminates in the writing of an M.A. paper. This degree requires 32 credit hours of coursework (NB: the different number from the other M.A. degrees in Classics).

1. Course Requirements

• Proseminar (CLA 5936) - 1 hr
• Three survey courses in classical art and archeology (chosen from ARH 5111, 5119, 5125, 5140, 5160, 5161, 5174r) - 9 hrs
• Two seminars in classical art and archaeology (CLA 5799r) - 6 hrs
• Fieldwork (CLA 5789) to be fulfilled - 3 hrs
• Additional elective coursework in the department, one of which must be a fourth-semester level language course - 10 hrs
• Comprehensive Exams (CLA 8961r) - 0 hrs
• M.A. paper (CLA 5919) - 3 hrs

2. Ancient Language Requirements

M.A. students in Classical Archaeology must pass a fourth-semester level course in either Greek or Latin (usually LNW 5932 or GRW 5909), or show comparable proficiency through transcripts and diagnostic exams, and demonstrate the equivalent of one year’s study in the other ancient language. These language requirements should be regarded as minimum expectations: students are urged to continue study in both languages throughout their graduate career. LNW 5932 and GRW 5909, while they count toward fulfilling the language requirement for the Archaeology M.A., do not normally count as hours toward the fulfillment of the degree.

3. M.A. Comprehensive Exams in Classical Archaeology

The comprehensive examination in Classical Archaeology fall into two parts:

Part 1: One hour of identifications to include 25 slides at two minutes each. Students are asked to identify and explain the significance of major monuments of the kind typically found in introductory textbooks on the archaeology of ancient Greece and Italy. The following books are useful for preparation, but the student should not expect the slide exam to be limited to images in these volumes: N. Ramage and A. Ramage, Roman Art, 4th ed.;

J.G. Pedley, Greek Art and Archaeology, 3rd ed.; and S. Haynes, Etruscan Civilization, A Cultural History, Los Angeles, 2000

Part 2: Two hours of essays to include:

• One essay from either the Bronze Age or Hellenic period
• One essay from either the Etruscan or Roman period

4. M.A. Fieldwork Requirement

Students must have at least 3 credit hours of fieldwork for the major. This requirement may be fulfilled by participation in any archaeology program supervised by an FSU faculty member, or by participation in another approved project. Any student who wishes to receive credit other than through a program sponsored by the department must petition the Archaeology Committee in the semester before they do the fieldwork to be approved to participating in another project. Petitions must consist of the project name and website (if available), director, dates and the student’s role in the project; discussion of how, when, and with whom credit will be obtained; and any other relevant information. The Archaeology Committee will gladly advise students on appropriate projects; the Archaeological Institute of America has lists of fieldwork opportunities on its website archaeological.org.

Approved projects can be formal field schools or active projects in the field, whether excavations or surveys. Normally, 1 credit hour is given for each week of full-time activity.

In order to receive credit for projects not conducted by FSU, students may:

• Register for credit through the sponsoring institution and have 4 cr. hrs. transferred to FSU;

or

• Register for 4 cr. hrs. through FSU as an independent fieldwork course. The credit hours may be taken during the summer at the time of the fieldwork or during the following academic year. Students choosing this option will need to submit, to the faculty member who is the Instructor of Record for the fieldwork course in any given summer, a paper (pp. 10–12) discussing their part in the project and a letter from the project director attesting to their work.
• In rare instances where a student has sufficient fieldwork, the fieldwork requirement may be waived and 3 credit hours of coursework may be substituted. In no instance can the total number of hours for the degree be reduced.

5. M.A. Paper

For details, see the section on M.A. paper guidelines above.

M.A. in Classics with a Major in Greek and Latin

The M.A. in Classics with a major in Greek and Latin allows students to focus on coursework in Greek and Latin literature. It is appropriate for students who enter with strong language skills and is designed to prepare them for advanced graduate work at the Ph.D. level or for careers in secondary-school teaching. Students intending to pursue advanced work at the Ph.D. level, however, should take care to choose courses that will satisfy the minimum admissions requirements of the Ph.D. program, as these requirements may exceed the minimum requirements of this degree.

The M.A. in Classics (Greek and Latin) is pursued through coursework which culminates in the writing of an M.A paper. This degree requires 33 credit hours of coursework.

1. Course Requirements

• Proseminar (CLA 5936) - 1 hr
• Six 5000/6000 level courses in Greek and Latin, min. 6 hrs in each language (not to include LNW 5932 or GRW 5909) - 18 hrs
• One graduate course in ancient history - 3 hrs
• One graduate course in classical archaeology - 3 hrs
• Additional elective coursework in classics or related fields (2 courses) - 5 hrs
• Translation exams in Greek and Latin (LNW/GRW 8966r) - 0 hrs
• M.A. paper (CLA 5919 - 3 hrs

2. Comprehensive Exams

All students must also pass the comprehensive exams in Greek and Latin (LNW 8966, GRW 8966; see below). Reading lists are provided in Appendix B.

3. M.A. Paper

For details, see the section on M.A. paper guidelines above.

M.A. in Classics with a Major in Classical Civilizations

The M.A. in Classics with a major in Classical Civilizations offers students the flexibility of designing a course of study that best suits their prior preparation, academic interests, and professional goals. This degree may serve as preparation for doctoral level work in Classics, but students must take care to choose courses that will satisfy the admissions requirements of Ph.D. programs that interest them. This major also prepares students for careers in secondary education and other vocations.

The Classical Civilizations major is pursued through coursework which culminates in the writing of an M.A. paper. This degree requires 33 credit hours of coursework. Apart from the Classics Proseminar, no specific courses are required, but students must distribute their coursework as outlined below.

1. Course Requirements

• Proseminar (CLA 5963) - 1 hr
• Two courses in Greek, Latin, or Classical literature in translation (not to include LNW 5932 or GRW 5909) - 6 hrs
• Two graduate courses in ancient history - 6 hrs
• One graduate course in classical archaeology - 3 hrs
• Additional elective coursework in classics or related fields (5 courses) - 14 hrs
• Translation Exams (LNW/GRW 8966r) or M.A. Comprehensive Exam in classics (CLA 8961) - 0 hrs
• M.A. paper (CLA 5919) - 3 hrs

2. M.A. Comprehensive Exams in Classical Civilizations

Students are required to pass either one of the M.A. Comprehensive Exams in Greek or Latin (GRW8966 or LNW8966) (see below; also, reading lists are provided in Appendix B), or the M.A. Comprehensive Exam in Classics (CLA8961).

The M.A. Comprehensive Exam in Classics (CLA8961) tests a student’s knowledge of a special topic in the field of Classics, broadly defined. Topics can include (but are not limited to) any aspect of ancient history, literature, religion, culture (material or written), or philosophy. The chosen topic should engage with both Greek and Roman civilizations. Students will prepare for the exam in consultation with the directing professor of the student’s M.A. paper. The directing professor, in consultation with the DGS, will choose a second reader for the exam, based on the student’s area of research interests and coursework. The student will prepare a reading list in consultation with the directing professor and the second reader. Students who intend to take the exam should discuss their intent with the DGS and make arrangements for when they will take the exam with their M.A. directing professor as soon as possible.

This is a take-home exam. The student will be given two essay questions (one on Greek and one on Roman perspectives, respectively) the Greek side of the subject and one on the Roman side of the subject). The student will have one week to compose the answers to the questions. Each essay should be between 1,200-1,500 words long and offer a succinct and original answer to the questions. The exam will be awarded scores of Pass or Fail. Students receiving a failing score will be allowed to retake the exam once (i.e., an exam may be attempted only twice; to accommodate the student’s timely graduation, the second sitting will be during the finals’ week of the semester in which the student first takes the exam).

3. M.A. Paper

For details, see the section on M.A. paper guidelines above.

M.A. Degree Program in Greek

The M.A. degree program in Greek allows students to focus on coursework in Greek literature and culture. It is suited for those who intend to pursue further work in Classics at the Ph.D. level. Students choosing this degree are reminded that doctoral level work in Classics requires a strong background in Latin, and students hoping to teach in the secondary schools will need sufficient coursework in Latin to satisfy school or state certification requirements.

The M.A. degree program in Greek is pursued through coursework which culminates in the writing of an M.A. paper. This degree requires 33 credit hours of coursework.

1. Course Requirements

• Proseminar (CLA 5963) - 1 hr
• Five 5000/6000 level courses in Greek (not to include GRW 5909) - 15 hrs
• One graduate course in ancient history - 3 hrs
• One graduate course in classical archaeology - 3 hrs
• Additional elective coursework in classics or related fields (3 courses) - 8 hrs
• Translation Exam in Greek (GRW 8966r) - 0 hrs
• M.A. paper (CLA 5919) - 3 hrs

2. Comprehensive Exams

All students must also pass the comprehensive exams in Greek (GRW 8966; see below). Reading lists are provided in Appendix B.

3. M.A. Paper

For details, see the section on the M.A. paper guidelines above.

M.A. Degree Program in Latin

The M.A. degree program in Latin allows students to focus on coursework in Latin literature and culture. This degree is suited for those who intend to pursue further work in Classics at the Ph.D. level. Students choosing this option are reminded that doctoral level work in Classics requires a strong background in Greek. Students planning to teach in the secondary schools should ensure that they have enough coursework in Latin to satisfy various school or state certification requirements.

The M.A. degree program in Latin is pursued through coursework which culminates in the writing of an M.A. paper. This degree requires 33 credit hours of coursework.

1. Course Requirements

• Proseminar (CLA 5936) - 1 hr
• Six 5000/6000 level courses in Latin (not to include LAT 5932) - 18 hrs
• One graduate course in ancient history - 3 hrs
• One graduate course in classical archaeology - 3 hrs
• Additional elective coursework in classwork or related fields (2 courses) - 5 hrs
• Translation Exam in Latin (8966r) - 0 hrs
• M.A. paper (CLA 5919) - 3 hrs

2. Comprehensive Exams

All students must also pass the comprehensive exams in Latin (LNW 8966; see below). Reading lists are provided in Appendix B.

3. M.A. Paper

For details, see the section on M.A. paper guidelines above.

M.A. Comprehensive Exams in Greek and Latin

Students in the M.A. degree programs in Greek, Latin, and Classics with majors in Ancient History or Greek and Latin must pass comprehensive translation exams in one or both languages; students in the M.A. degree program in Classics with a major in Classical Civilizations must pass either a comprehensive examination in Classics (CLA8961) or one of the language comprehensive examinations. The level of competence required to pass the exam is that which might reasonably be expected of a student who has completed two years of graduate study in that language. There are reading lists for the M.A. exams, from which exam passages will be taken (see Appendix B). Although coursework will certainly help in exam preparation, students should expect to read as widely as possible on their own before sitting these exams.

Each exam requires students to translate, from a selection of four, two brief passages in the relevant language: one passage in prose and one in poetry. For each exam students will be allowed up to one hour per passage for a total exam time of two hours. A dictionary is not permitted, but a brief explanation of context will be given. Exams will be awarded scores of Pass or Fail. Students receiving a failing score will be allowed to retake that exam once (i.e., an exam may be attempted only twice). Students in Classics (Greek and Latin) will take both exams.

For general information about the exams, see above.

A. Concentration in Museum Theory and Practice

The Specialized Study in Museum Theory and Practice enables students to apply the knowledge gained from their disciplinary studies to the museum field. The study program was created after a study of museum programs throughout the United States, and it conforms to guidelines set forth by the American Association of Museums. It offers specific theoretical, practical, and methodological training in the following areas: museum management, curatorship, fundraising, fiscal administration, collections maintenance and management, education and interpretation, marketing, exhibition development, the law and experience working in a museum. Career counseling can assist in finding a position in a museum after graduation.

1. Requirements

An application to the concentration in Museum Theory and Practice is required. To complete the concentration, each Classical Archaeology or Classics student must fulfill departmental requirements for their graduate major and take additional Museum Studies courses, complete a museum internship, and submit a qualifying paper or project. The entire process may add an additional year to the graduate degree program, although the amount of time it takes to complete it may vary on a case-by-case basis. Some requirements may be fulfilled concurrently with graduate degree requirements, but the bulk of the work should be completed in a student’s third year after most M.A. degree requirements have been fulfilled.

The concentration requires 18 credit hours of work in addition to the hours required for the student’s particular M.A. degree or major. Students who have fulfilled the fieldwork requirement for the major in Classical Archaeology without receiving credit may apply up to 3 credit hours of the Museum Studies concentration towards their major in Classical Archaeology. With permission of the DGS, students may also apply up to 3 credit hours of the Museum Studies concentration towards the M.A. degree.

Specific requirements include:

• Two Museum Studies Core Courses (from among the following): ARH 5797 (Seminar in Museum Studies); ARH 5799 (Cultural Heritage: Theory and Practice); and ARH 5838 (The Museum Object) - 6 hrs
• Two Electives Relevant to the History, Study, and Preservation of Artifacts, Art, and Archival Materials - 6 hrs
• Museum Internship: The internship requires at least 300 hours working in a museum, that is, 20 hours per week for one semester or equivalent. Internship locations and schedules vary. Students should register for CLA 5942 (Internship in Museum Studies) and consult the chairperson of the Archaeology Committee for an approved internship. The instructor of record for CLA 5942 will be a member of the Archaeology Committee. - 6 hrs
• Qualifying paper or project: The qualifying paper or project may be related to the student’s M.A. Paper, or internship, or one of the museum studies courses. The qualifying paper or project must be approved by the Archaeology Committee, one of whose members will supervise the student to the successful completion of the qualifying paper or project. - 0 hrs

Application Process

Students who wish to apply for the concentration in Museum Theory and Practice must submit to the chairperson of the Archaeology Committee a statement of purpose, a CV, and two letters

of reference. The chairperson of the Archaeology Committee will forward applications received to the Archaeology Committee for approval. Normally the deadline for receipt of all application materials is no later than December 15 in the second year of the student's M.A. studies.

Students enrolled in one M.A. degree program (e.g. Classics) who wish to enroll in and earn a second M.A. degree (e.g. Latin or Greek) in the department must submit to the DGS a request for dual major. After approval by the relevant departmental committee, the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School must be secured. With few exceptions (e.g. CLA 5936, the Classics Proseminar) credits counted towards one degree may not be counted towards a second degree; all exams and papers for each degree must be successfully completed.

Students who want to switch from one M.A. degree program to another (e.g. from Greek to Classical Civilizations) must submit a formal, written request to the DGS. Requests must be approved by the faculty. Students must also fill out all necessary paperwork with the College of Arts and Sciences and the Registrar’s Office. Students should be advised, however, that switching programs after their second semester may retard their progress.

Ph.D. Admission

The department considers applicants with a B.A. or M.A. for admission to the Ph.D. program. Admission requires:

Qualifications

1. a B.A. or M.A. from an accredited college or university with a major in Classics, Classical Archaeology, or a related field
2. a 3.6 graduate GPA or 3.5 undergraduate GPA
3. sufficient undergraduate work in Classics to warrant study at the graduate level. Ideally, depending on the applicant’s preparation in ancient languages, the applicants to the doctoral program will have advanced knowledge of Greek and Latin, as required by their respective fields of study. Occasional exceptions may be made for students with outstanding undergraduate records, if they apply directly from a B.A. degree, who do not meet these requirements and whose degree track has some flexibility to allow for remedial language work.

These qualifications represent minimum standards, and recent applicants have surpassed them.

Materials

1. submission of university application forms
2. three letters of recommendation
3. a statement of purpose
4. a writing sample on a subject related to the discipline, not to exceed 20 pages

Potential applicants should review the department’s and university’s websites for specific application procedures. Inquiries about admissions should be directed to the Director of Graduate Admissions.

1. Admission from the M.A. to Ph.D. program

M.A. students who wish to continue their studies in the department’s Ph.D. program should follow the same admissions procedures required for non-FSU applicants. This process includes submission of a departmental application for admission to the Ph.D. program and three letters of recommendation from current faculty. They must also apply for readmission to the university through the Admissions office. Requests should be made during the student’s first year in the graduate program, but can occasionally be made in the second, and such requests may be initiated by either the student or a faculty member.

Applications to the Ph.D. program from current M.A. students are considered alongside those from non-FSU students. Admission to the Ph.D. program is extremely competitive, and completion of the requirements for the M.A. degree provides no guarantee that a student will be accepted into the Ph.D. program.

Requirements

The Department of Classics offers a Ph.D. in Classics, with concentrations in Classical Archaeology and Greek and Latin. Students should review the university requirements for the Ph.D. degree in the latest edition of the Graduate Bulletin. Both concentrations of the Ph.D. program are designed to be completed in 5 years, if a student enters the program with an M.A. in Classics, or 7 years, if a student enters the program with a B.A. in Classics. Strong preparation in Greek and Latin are essential for the timely completion of the degree. Students with gaps in their previous training, especially in the ancient languages, may require more time, but barring exceptional circumstances, the degree must be completed in eight years.

1. General Requirements

In addition to university requirements, the Ph.D. in Classics, regardless of concentration, requires students to:

• The department administers diagnostic exams in Greek and Latin at the start of every fall term. All incoming students are required to sit the exams which are intended to place students in the appropriate language courses.
• All Ph.D. students are required, during their first fall semester in residence, to take CLA 5936, the Classics Proseminar. This course introduces students to the different methodologies and sub-disciplines of Classics. Students who have taken the Proseminar for the M.A. degree do not have to repeat it.
• Complete 30 credit hours of course work beyond the M.A., at least 12 of which must be in seminars at the 6000 level. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program without an M.A. degree will normally complete an additional 30 hours of coursework equivalent to those required for an M.A.
• All Ph.D. students must demonstrate competency in German and either French or Italian. This requirement may be fulfilled in one of three ways:
  • By completing 12 undergraduate course hours at any institution with a grade of B or better in one of these languages.
  • By passing the appropriate graduate reading knowledge exam administered by the Department of Modern Languages. Graduate Reading Knowledge courses in French, German, and Italian (GER 5060, FRE 5060, ITA 5060) are offered by the Department of Modern Languages to assist students in meeting this requirement. Students taking these courses must also register for and pass the appropriate graduate reading knowledge exam (GER 5069, FRE 5069, ITA 5069) to satisfy this requirement. Students need not take a reading knowledge course in order to sign up for a reading knowledge exam, but those who choose to take an exam without taking the prep course must contact the instructor of the course to register for the exam.
  • By passing an exam in one of these languages administered by the Classics Department. This exam involves translating accurately and into idiomatic English one page (approximately 200 words) of scholarly prose on a topic related to the student’s course of study, and then writing a short summary of at least 100 words of a longer excerpt. The area committees will set and grade the exams. For the sake of consistency, the passages will be drawn from a volume of ANRW. The exam is two hours long and use of a paper dictionary is permitted (dictionaries will be provided). These exams will be given twice a year, in the last week of classes in both the fall and spring semesters. Provisions can be made for other languages relevant to the student's course of study (e.g. Spanish, modern Greek, Arabic, etc.). (Effective in spring 2024)
• Maintain a grade point average of 3.5 in all coursework
• Pass comprehensive exams required in their specific concentration (see below)
• Complete and defend a dissertation, which requires a minimum of 24 dissertation hours (CLA 6980r; CLA 8985)

2. Major Professor and Dissertation Director

Upon admission in the Ph.D. program, a student is assigned a major professor. This role is fulfilled by a tenure-earning faculty member whose area of research matches the student’s interests. The major professor serves as a mentor to the student during the years in which the student completes the course requirements. The major professor does not necessarily become the student’s dissertation director. The dissertation director is chosen in consultation with the major professor, the DGS, and, if necessary, the chair of the department.

3. Comprehensive Examinations: Overview

All Ph.D. students in Classics must pass a series of comprehensive examinations intended to demonstrate professional competence in their chosen fields of study, in-depth knowledge of selected topics, and readiness to begin work on a dissertation.

The translation exams, ancient history exams, and exams in literature and archaeology are set and administered by the different area committees in the department. They are given at certain time during the fall or spring semesters. Exams are not normally offered during the summer.

The timing of these exams will vary and will depend on the students’ academic training prior to admission to the Ph.D. program and their progress in coursework in the program itself. (See Appendix A for benchmarks.) Normally, students will complete the translation exams, ancient history exams, and comprehensive exams in archaeology or literature before starting on their special author and field exams, but students may petition the DGS to take the exams in some other order.

Ideally students will be informed of the results of their exams no later than two weeks from the date of the exam. Students who fail a comprehensive exam are allowed to sit the exam one more time.

If a student fails the preliminary examination before being admitted to candidacy, a re- examination may be offered by the student’s supervisory committee or other relevant decision making body within each department or unit, per that department or unit’s doctoral student handbook. The Academic Dean’s office should be notified of the outcome of any preliminary exam attempt.

Students can take the preliminary examination for admission to candidacy only two times. A second failure on the preliminary exam makes the student ineligible to continue in the degree program. The second attempt at the preliminary exam shall occur no sooner than six full class weeks after the results of the first attempt are shared with the student. For the purpose of this policy, a “full class week” is defined as a week with five days during which classes are held at FSU. Students must be registered separately for their first and second attempt, if necessary within the same semester, and must receive either a “pass” or a “fail” grade for each attempt.

An exception request regarding the timing of the re-examination can be submitted for consideration to the Academic Dean’s Office by either the student or the supervisory committee. Students who allege that academic regulations and/or procedures were improperly applied for the re-examination of their preliminary exam may have their grievances addressed through the general academic appeals process. The full preliminary exam policy as listed here must be added to all doctoral student handbooks.

The comprehensive exams for the Ph.D. program in each concentration are as follows:

Classics (Classical Archaeology)

• Translation Exam in Latin or Greek: One exam of three hours intended to demonstrate a student’s ability to translate Greek or Latin prose and poetry into clear, idiomatic English. Each exam consists of six passages, three in prose, and three in poetry, drawn from the Ph.D. reading list (see Appendix B). Use of a dictionary is not permitted, but a brief explanation of context will be provided. Students who enter the Ph.D. program with an M.A. should pass this exam by the end of the second year of study; students entering the Ph.D. program with only a B.A. should complete it by the end of the third year of study.
• Requirement in Ancient History: Ph.D. students normally fulfill the ancient history requirement by completing successfully, with a grade of B or better, one graduate course in Greek History and one graduate course in Roman History. Eligible courses include: CLA 5438, CLA 5448, EUH 5407, EUH 5417, and EUH 5418; CLA 5931 and CLA 6932 may also be counted when their subject matter is appropriate.
  • Students also have the option of testing out of one or both courses by exam. For the exam option, students can choose to focus on the Archaic and Classical periods or the Hellenistic period for the Greek history exam, and on the Republican or Imperial period for the Roman history exam. Each exam lasts three hours and consists of identifications or essays, or a combination of both. Preparation for the exam entails completing reading lists on the appropriate periods under the supervision of the chair of the ancient history committee who will also serve as the exam readers. Students wanting to pursue the exam option should contact the DGS.
• Exams in Greek and Roman Archaeology: Two exams of three hours each, one in Aegean Bronze Age and Greek Archaeology, and a second in Etruscan and Roman archaeology. Exams are in essay format, and candidates should be able to demonstrate knowledge of major sites, monuments, and objects, as well as broader trends and developments in Greek and Roman archaeology. Please see the chair of the archaeology area committee for further details on how the exams are formatted and to discuss sub-topics (see list of sub-topics in Appendix B). Preparation for the exam entails completing reading lists on the appropriate periods under the supervision of the chair of the archaeology area committee who also serve as the exam readers.
• Principal Research Area Exam: One exam of three hours, which consists of an essay or essays exploring current issues and problems related to some special topic in the Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World. The topic should be foundational in moving forward with the dissertation prospectus. Students will prepare for this exam in consultation with their Major Professor. Both the supervising faculty member and a second reader must be approved by the student’s Major Professor; one but not both of the readers can be from outside the department, and there may occasionally be reason to have a third reader. Topics can vary and may include such subjects as Mycenaean architecture, Greek sculpture, or Roman urbanism. Preparation for this exam should occupy no more than one semester. Supervising faculty will set the format, in consultation with the second reader.
• Outside Field Exam: One exam of three hours, which tests a candidate’s familiarity with a special, interdisciplinary field outside the traditional boundaries of the Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World. Students prepare for this exam in consultation with a supervising faculty member. Both the supervising faculty member and a second reader must be approved by the student’s Major Professor; one but not both of the readers can be from outside the department, and there may occasionally be reason to have a third reader. Fields can include (but are not limited to) topics in ancient philosophy or religion; ancient authors and literary genres; specialized sub-disciplines such as epigraphy or numismatics; or technical specializations such as GIS, remote sensing, or archaeometry. The exam tests the student’s knowledge of the principal evidence, methods, and problems of that field and of the primary and secondary sources related to it. Preparation for this exam should occupy no more than one semester. Supervising faculty will set the format, in consultation with the second reader.

Classics (Greek and Latin)

• Translation Exams in Latin and Greek: Two exams of three hours each intended to demonstrate the candidate’s ability to translate Greek or Latin prose and poetry into clear, idiomatic English. Each exam consists of six passages, three in prose, and three in poetry, drawn from the Ph.D. reading lists (see Appendix B). Use of a dictionary is not allowed, but a brief explanation of context will be included. Students who enter the Ph.D. program with an M.A. should pass these exams by the end of the second year of study; students entering the Ph.D. program with a B.A. should complete them by the end of the third year of study.
• Requirement in Ancient History: Ph.D. students normally fulfill the ancient history requirement by completing successfully, with a grade of B or better, one graduate course in Greek History and one graduate course in Roman History. Eligible courses include: CLA 5438, CLA 5448, EUH 5407, EUH 5417, and EUH 5418; CLA 5931 and CLA 6932 may also be counted when their subject matter is appropriate.
  • Students also have the option of testing out of one or both courses by exam. For the exam option, students can choose to focus on the Archaic and Classical periods or the Hellenistic period for the Greek history exam, and on the Republican or Imperial period for the Roman history exam. Each exam lasts three hours and consists of identifications or essays, or a combination of both. Preparation for the exam entails completing reading lists on the appropriate periods under the supervision of the chair of the ancient history committee who will also serve as the exam readers. Students wanting to pursue the exam option should contact the DGS.
• Exam in Greek and Latin Literature: One exam in two parts, each lasting three hours but taken during the same exam period, not necessarily on the same day. The exam is based largely but not exclusively on authors and works represented on the Ph.D. reading lists, and is in essay format. Successful candidates will demonstrate a knowledge of major Greek and Latin authors and their works, as well as literary trends and developments in both Greek and Latin literature (see sub-topics in Appendix B). This exam should be taken after both translation exams are passed. A student can pass one or both parts of the exam. If a student fails one part of the exam, a student is allowed to sit this part of the exam one more time.
• Special Author/Genre Exam: One exam of three hours, which tests a candidate’s knowledge of the life, works, textual tradition, and relevant secondary literature of a major author. Students will prepare for this exam in consultation with a supervising faculty member. Both the supervising faculty member and a second reader will be chosen by the DGS and the student’s major professor; one but not both of the readers can be from outside the department, and there may occasionally be reason to have a third reader. Normally, the examination lasts three hours and consists of an essay or essays. Preparation for this exam should occupy no more than one semester. Supervising faculty will set the format.
• Special Field Exam: One exam of three hours, which tests a candidate’s competence in an area, topic, or field of classical antiquity that is interdisciplinary in scope. Fields can include (but are not limited to) topics in ancient philosophy, religion, metrics, dialects, epigraphy, or paleography. Students prepare for this exam in consultation with a supervising faculty member. Both the supervising faculty member and a second reader are chosen by the DGS and the student’s major professor; one but not both of the readers can be from outside the department, and there may occasionally be reason to have a third reader. Normally, the examination consists of an essay or essays exploring the principal problems of the field and the primary and secondary sources related to it. Preparation for this exam should occupy no more than one semester.

4. Dissertation 

Students should register for CLA 8964, “Preliminary Doctoral Examination,” in the term in which they complete the last of their comprehensive exams. Once a passing grade is entered for this course, students will be admitted to Ph.D. candidacy and may register for dissertation hours. Candidates are urged to review the FSU guidelines for theses and dissertations available on the website of the Graduate School. Candidates are responsible for meeting all deadlines, formatting requirements, and other obligations outlined in the documents. At the departmental level, completion of the dissertation involves:

a. Dissertation Committee

The first step is the formation of a dissertation committee consisting of four members: a dissertation director who will serve as the principal dissertation advisor, two other faculty members from the Department of Classics, and an external member who will serve as representative-at-large of the graduate faculty. The committee members from the Department of Classics have to be tenured or tenure earning and have to have Graduate Directive Status. The university representative has to have tenure and a Graduate Directive Status. The dissertation director may, but need not, be the student’s major professor as assigned by the DGS. Well in advance of the dissertation stage, students should approach a potential dissertation director, and should ask faculty members to serve on the dissertation committee. Additional members beyond the required four may be also appointed at the discretion of the chair of the department. When deemed appropriate, changes to the dissertation committee must be approved by the chair of the department. The chair of the department has final say in the composition of the committee. The dissertation committee has to be formed in the beginning of the first semester in which the student enters candidacy. At that time, the student has to submit a signed copy of the dissertation committee form (available on the departmental website) to the DGS.

b. Prospectus

By the end of the semester following that in which the comprehensive exams have been completed candidates must submit and have approved a dissertation prospectus. The format and content of the prospectus will be determined by the Dissertation Director in consultation with the candidate, but it should include a description of the topic to be addressed by the dissertation, a review of relevant scholarship, and discussion of the originality of the contribution to be made in the dissertation. Length is normally 5–10 pages, exclusive of a tentative table of contents and a working bibliography. All members of the dissertation committee must approve the prospectus, a copy of which, along with a signed copy of the Prospectus Approval Form (available on the departmental website), must be submitted to the DGS.

c. Writing the Dissertation

Candidates must register for at least 24 dissertation hours. No more than 12 hours may be taken in any one semester, and candidates, who do not have funding from the department, must register for a minimum of 2 dissertation hours every term until the dissertation is submitted. Candidates should develop, with their dissertation director, a schedule for submission of drafts, revisions, and changes. The dissertation should normally be in two years, and all requirements for the doctoral degree—including the dissertation—must be completed within 5 calendar years from the time the student passes the comprehensive exams, or the student will be required to take and pass all comprehensive exams again.

d. Defense

An oral defense of the dissertation is required. The time, place, and format of the defense will be set by the dissertation director in consultation with the candidate and the dissertation committee. The graduate college has a checklist of all deadlines and forms which the candidate must meet or complete during the semester in which the candidate defends. The defense must be completed at least four weeks prior to the date on which the degree is to be conferred (i.e. graduation day), and the manuscript itself must be submitted to the graduate school at least three weeks prior to the date on which the degree is to be conferred (i.e. graduation day).

A draft of the completed dissertation should be in the hands of each committee member at least four weeks before the date of the defense. An announcement of the place and time of the oral defense shall be presented to the graduate school and posted around the department at least 2 weeks prior to the date of the oral defense. The common format of the defense includes 1) a public portion which typically consists of a brief presentation of the dissertation by the defending candidate, 2) a short question-and-answer session open to the public, and 3) non-public defense of the dissertation.

The faculty is not available for Ph.D. defenses during the summer months.

5. Course Advising and Selection

The DGS serves as the chief liaison between the faculty and community of graduate students. The faculty member who is appointed to serve this role advises graduate students on course selection, approves course schedules, and tracks degree progress. Questions related to course selection, degree requirements, and all other academic matters should be addressed directly to the DGS.

The DGS coordinates the advising of all graduate students. There are three major areas of specialization in the department: Ancient History, Classical Archaeology, and Classics (Greek and Latin). Each of these areas is supervised by a committee and a chair of this committee. Depending on the director’s expertise, the advising each semester is conducted by the director and the chairs of the two other area committees. Final schedules for a term must be approved by the last day of classes of the preceding term, and any changes require the written approval of the DGS. Changes in schedule without such an approval may result in a loss of funding or probationary status in the program.

Course Selection

In choosing courses and devising a schedule, students should keep in mind the following guidelines:

• The normal full-time course load for graduate students and fellowship holders is 9–12 credit hours (three or four graded courses) per semester. For teaching assistants, the full-time load is set at 9 hours (usually three graded courses), although they may receive as many as 12 credit hours of tuition waiver. Funded students may use remaining waiver hours for independent study, or appropriate extra-departmental courses.
• The Department of Classics recognizes that all students do not start graduate school with the same background and levels of preparation, especially (but not exclusively) in Greek and Latin. Incoming doctoral students are encouraged to take GRE5305 (Greek Syntax and Stylistics) and/or LAT5305 (Intensive Latin Review) in their first semester of coursework. The two courses are designed to offer intensive review of grammar and vocabulary.
• Course selection should be governed by the twin goals of acquiring a broad, general knowledge of the ancient world and of developing a special area of expertise. To this end, the first two to three semesters of graduate study should be devoted to courses that fill gaps in students’ prior training and help them prepare for comprehensive exams. So, for instance, a Ph.D. student concentrating in Greek and Latin but with no prior coursework in Greek or Roman history or archaeology should complete coursework in those areas. Students normally take advanced seminars or undertake independent research after they have laid a strong, general background in a range of Classics courses.
• Students may register for supervised research and independent studies (DIS) as needed and as appropriate to their concentration of study. Permission of the DGS is required, and students must secure a faculty member who will supervise their work. No more than 3 hours of supervised research credit may be counted toward the M.A. degree, while no more than 6 hours in each category will be counted to the Ph.D.
• Classics is an increasingly interdisciplinary field, and students are encouraged to take relevant courses in other departments. No more than 6 credit hours of course work outside the Department of Classics may be counted towards the M.A. or Ph.D. Prior permission of the Director of Graduate Studies is required for such extra-departmental courses to count towards any Classics degree, and students should discuss their plans with the DGS before registering for any such course.

6. Scholarly Engagement Requirement

The Graduate College requires Ph.D. students to actively participate in the academic life of the department. Ultimately, coursework represents only one component of graduate work, and the ability to work and learn independently is one of the most important skills required for advanced work in classical studies. The goal is to prepare Ph.D. students to become engaged scholars and effective communicators and disseminators of knowledge. Most courses a student takes help with preparation for comprehensive exams, but not all courses do so to the same degree, and it is impossible to take a course on every author, topic or subject in which a graduate student is expected to have some degree of competence. To this end, students are expected:

• to devote a good deal of time, especially during vacations and the summer months, to reading on their own and to acquiring the skills (especially facility in ancient and modern languages) necessary for advanced work.
• to develop independent research skills.
• to be proactive and to take initiative in developing their unique set of skills and research profile.
• to be proactive in developing a working relationship with the faculty, especially with their major professor and dissertation director.
• to attend departmental events, lectures, and conferences.
• to present at regional, national, and international conferences.
• to establish a publication track after they enter candidacy.

All of the above expectations are reviewed in the Annual Ph.D. Evaluation Form.

The department’s faculty formally evaluates the progress of all graduate students each spring. Less formal evaluations also occur in the fall when the DGS solicits from the faculty any concerns about the performance of individual students. At the end of each term, the faculty submits an evaluation of the performance of each student who took a course from them in that term.

The university requires graduate students to maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in good standing, but departmental expectations are normally higher. Apart from low grades or poor performance in coursework, other factors that may contribute to a less-than- satisfactory evaluation include an excessive number of incompletes, poor performance on comprehensive exams, unexcused absences from courses, and disregard for departmental policies and procedures. Students who obtain a less-than-satisfactory academic evaluation or do not meet required milestones for the degree will develop an improvement plan in consultation with the DGS. For details, see below.

1. M.A. Student Evaluation for Academic Progress

At the end of the first and potentially of the second academic year, each M.A. student will receive an Appointment Letter for the following year, which serves as an acknowledgement that the student is making a satisfactory progress towards the degree. If a student is not making a satisfactory progress towards the degree, the student will have a meeting with the DGS to outline a plan of action, as proposed by the faculty, to assure the student’s success in their course of studies. Upon inability to follow the above plan, the student will be dismissed from the graduate program.

2. Ph.D. Student Evaluation for Academic Progress

The process of Ph.D. student evaluations begins in January and it is initiated by a memo from the DGS which outlines the deadlines for each part of the process. This process consists of three parts:

1. Students are asked to fill their part in the annual Ph.D. review form, emailed by the DGS, and email it either to their major professor or dissertation director. This part asks information about the student’s academic performance, including a list of courses taken and description of exam and dissertation progress.
2. The major professor or the dissertation director will fill their portion of the annual Ph.D. review form and either emails it to the respective Ph.D. review committee, if the student is still taking course, or organizes a meeting of the dissertation committee, if a student has entered candidacy.
3. All Ph.D. students meet with either the Ph.D. review committee or their dissertation committee to discuss strengths, weaknesses, and their remedies. Progress will be evaluated on the basis of performance in coursework or dissertation research, progress in fulfilling degree requirements, and general approach toward coursework, research, and teaching. After the above meeting, the DGS or the dissertation director fills the last part of the annual Ph.D. review form and sends it to the DGS. The DGS keeps track of how many years of funding a Ph.D. student has received.

Yearly evaluations of the Ph.D. students are a part of the student’s permanent record, and are posted to the University’s graduate student tracking system.

At the end of each semester, every graduate student’s performance of their assistantship duties is evaluated by the DGS, in consultation with the teaching supervisors or another appropriate faculty mentor. The following HR form is submitted for the student’s signature and placed in their employment file.

The University reserves the right to dismiss graduate students and terminate their enrollment in an academic program based on a number of different criteria, beyond that of GPA alone. Oversight is provided by The Graduate School, Office of Faculty Development and Advancement, and Office of the Registrar. Additional details on the steps involved in the process are available for faculty and administrators from the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement and for graduate students at the Graduate School.

Dismissed students will not be permitted to register for further graduate study, including registering as non-degree students, in the degree program or college from which they had enrollment terminated.

Graduate students who have been dismissed from one degree program may seek admission to another degree program but will not be readmitted or allowed to add the dismissed degree program back as a second major or degree. This includes seeking admission into a different degree program that shared a joint pathway with the dismissed degree program.

Program terminations (dismissal for a reason other than GPA) are generally identified by the faculty with support from the Department Chair (or unit head) in the department/unit or single-unit college level and may occur for a number of different reasons.

As specified by university policy, Graduate policy, or within the unit’s Graduate Student handbook, reasons may include but are not limited to:

• Inability to conduct independent research in a fashion appropriate with the accepted norms of a discipline.
• Inability to function within a team environment to the extent that it negatively affects the learning, practice and/or research of fellow graduate students.
• Behavior that does not meet the professional standards of a discipline (typically clinical, social work or school settings, but also including Motion Picture Arts, internship work, etc.).
• Failure to meet artistic or creative performance standards.
• Failure to be approved for an Extension of Time (EOT).
• Failure to complete important degree milestone requirements within a reasonable period of time.
• Inability to pass the doctoral diagnostic exam, preliminary exam for admission to candidacy in, etc.
• Failure to complete the doctoral degree or make timely progress towards the research or writing of their treatise or dissertation.
• Failure to complete the master’s degree or make timely progress towards the research or writing of their thesis, or the production of their thesis-equivalent creative project.

In addition, please note that suspension or expulsion from the university may result if a student is found responsible in a formal Academic Honor Policy (AHP) hearing for an egregious AHP violation, or as an outcome from a Student Conduct Code charge for which a student is found responsible.

Students who are dismissed for reasons other than grades may follow the General Academic Appeals Process if they have evidence that academic regulations and procedures have been improperly applied.

During the first two weeks of the term in which a student expects to graduate, he or she must apply for graduation at the Office of the University Registrar. If a student has previously filed for graduation but did not receive the degree, the application procedure must be repeated.

If a M.A. student writes a thesis, the student must register for a minimum of 1 credit hour of thesis in the final term in which the degree is to be awarded, even if all requirements for the degree were completed in previous semesters. A Ph.D. student must register for a minimum of 2 credit hours of dissertation in the final term in which the degree is to be awarded, even if all requirements for the degree were completed in previous semesters. This requirement is intended to reimburse the University for the administrative costs of manuscript clearance and final degree clearance procedures.

If a non-thesis M.A. student needs only to complete the comprehensive examination in a term and did not register for the examination in the previous term, registration must be requested from the Office of the University Registrar stating the department and name of examination, and the student must pay the “examination only” fee. Students who have not been enrolled for the previous two terms must apply for readmission to the university before registration.

1. Florida Residency

Graduate students must be continuously enrolled at the Tallahassee campus of the Florida State University for a minimum of 24 graduate hours in any period of 12 consecutive months. This residency requirement can be completed with either course work or dissertation hours.

The department will supply out-of-state tuition waivers to teaching assistants and fellows only during the first year of study. Thereafter, only in-state waivers are available, and all graduate students who hold assistantships or fellowships from the department or university must establish Florida residency by the start of their second year.

For the specific requirements for Initial Classification of all New & Readmitted Students, see the FSU Office of Admissions.

For the specific requirements for Reclassification for Currently Enrolled Students, see the FSU Office of Admissions.

2. Assistantships

The Department of Classics offers several types of assistantships to support its graduate students. Assistants normally receive a stipend plus a tuition waiver for 9 to 12 hours, depending on their residence status (in-state or out-of-state). These waivers, however, do not cover certain required fees. See below for more detail on residency requirements and tuition waivers. Tuition waivers may be used only for graduate-level classes related to a student’s degree program; they cannot be applied to recreational or self-enrichment courses. In return for this support assistants receive an appointment requiring an average of ten to twenty hours of work per week for the department.

First-time applicants to the department’s graduate programs are automatically considered for assistantship support and normally serve as graders assisting instructors of large lecture courses.

Continuing students must reapply for funding each year. In the Fall, they will receive an email, from the DGS, informing them of the deadline by which they have to submit the Financial Request Form. On this form, they will specify for which semesters they would like to apply for funding, including the summer availability, and which courses they would like to teach in the following year. Normally returning students teach their own sections of Latin, Myth, or Debates. Other assignments may include research assistantships or departmental library coordinator.

Teaching assistants who are assigned to be Instructors of Record must already have taken a minimum of 18 hours of graduate coursework in Classics.

In addition, all graduate students must attend the required online Essential Policies & Practices training through the Center for the Advancement of Teaching before their first semester as graduate students at FSU. They must also take, in the Spring of their first year of study, FLE 5810, “Teaching Classics,” the departmental course designed to prepare graduate students for their role as teachers of undergraduates.

The department strives to fund as many of its graduate students as possible, but assistantships are limited in number and are awarded on a competitive basis. Retention of an assistantship depends on satisfactory academic progress towards degree and satisfactory performance of assigned duties. Support for M.A. students is normally limited to two years. Renewal beyond the second M.A. year depends on satisfactory academic progress, availability of funding, and departmental needs. The length of support for Ph.D. students will depend on several factors. Students entering with an M.A. should expect to receive, assuming satisfactory academic progress, up to 5 years of assistantship support. Students entering with only a B.A. should expect to receive up to 7 years of assistantship support. Renewal beyond those limits requires a petition from the student which shows a clear timeline of completion, and depends on satisfactory academic progress, availability of funding, and departmental needs.

3. Fellowships

Fellowship opportunities are available at the departmental and university level.

a. Departmental Fellowships:

Thompson Dissertation Fellowship in Classics

The Thompson Dissertation Fellowship supports advanced doctoral students in the Department of Classics who are completing dissertations on topics regarding ancient Greek and/or Latin texts. The purpose of the dissertation fellowship is to provide promising Ph.D. candidates financial support for two semesters to complete the dissertation and prepare to enter the job market. The fellowship is a one-time award equivalent to a regular Ph.D. stipend, disbursed in regular payments over a period of two semesters. Recipients of the Thompson Dissertation Fellowship will be recognized at the departmental graduation ceremony.

Eligibility

• The student must be dissertating Ph.D. candidate in Classics (Greek and Latin), who will complete the dissertation at the end of the award year.
• Past recipients of a Faculty Dissertation Fellowship or Thompson Dissertation Fellowship are not eligible.

Application Materials

• A cover letter including a timeline for completion of the dissertation and an explanation of how the fellowship will facilitate reaching the student’s goals.
• A copy of a chapter, approved by the Dissertation Director.
• A letter of recommendation from the dissertation Director. The dissertation director will email the letter to the chair of the Philology Committee by the deadline below.

Application Deadline

• All materials should be emailed in pdf format to the chair of the Philology Committee by the first Friday after Spring Break.

Selection

• The applications will be reviewed by the Philology Committee by vote and a recommendation forwarded to the Executive Committee for approval.

Notification

• All applicants will be notified about the decision by the end of the second week in April in the term of the application.

Faculty Dissertation Fellowship in Archaeology

The Faculty Dissertation Fellowship supports advanced doctoral students in the Department of Classics who are completing dissertations in the field of archaeology. The purpose of the dissertation fellowship is to provide promising Ph.D. candidates financial support for two semesters to complete the dissertation and prepare to enter the job market. The fellowship is a one-time award equivalent to a regular Ph.D. stipend, disbursed in regular payments over a period of two semesters. Recipients of the Faculty Dissertation Fellowship will be recognized at the departmental graduation ceremony.

Eligibility

• The student must be dissertating Ph.D. candidate in Classics (Classical Archaeology), who will complete the dissertation at the end of the award year.
• Past recipients of a Faculty Dissertation Fellowship or Thompson Dissertation Fellowship are not eligible

Application Materials

• A cover letter including a timeline for completion of the dissertation and an explanation of how the fellowship will facilitate reaching the student’s goals.
• A copy of a chapter approved by the dissertation director.
• A letter of recommendation from the dissertation director. The dissertation director will email the letter to the chair of the Archaeology Committee by the deadline below.

Application Deadline

• All materials should be emailed in PDF format to the chair of the Archaeology Committee by the first Friday after Spring Break.

Selection

• The applications will be reviewed by the Archaeology Committee by vote and a recommendation forwarded to the Executive Committee for approval.

Notification

• All applicants will be notified about the decision by the end of the second week in April in the term of the application.

Langadas Travel and Research Fund

Through the generous donation of Angelos C. Langadas, the department has a fund for graduate students who pursue research in the study of Greece and Greek civilization. A student who has a research project related to the above area of specialization can apply to the chair of the department for funding from the Langadas Fund.

Application Materials

• A cover letter presenting the project and a timeline for completion.
• A detailed budget.

Application Deadline

• All materials should be emailed to the chair of the department on a revolving deadline.

Selection

• The applications will be reviewed and voted on by the Executive Committee.

Notification

• All applicants will be notified about the decision in a timely fashion.

Departmental Travel Funding

The department has funds, although limited, to support graduate students’ travel to national and international conferences excluding graduate conferences and symposia. A student can apply for departmental travel funding by sending an application to the chair of the department.

Application Materials

• An application letter.
• A detailed budget.
• Evidence that the student has applied for travel funding from COGS (see below). Female graduate students are also strongly encouraged to apply for funding from the Owenby Graduate Travel Funds (see below).

Application Deadline

• At the beginning of each term, the chair of the department solicits applications for travel funding.

Selection

• The applications will be reviewed and voted on by the Executive Committee.

Notification

• All applicants will be notified about the decision in a timely fashion.

b. University Fellowships

The university offers a number of fellowships for new and returning graduate students. Please consult the University’s Graduate School for up-to-date information.

Additional travel funding may be available from COGS and, for female graduate students, from the Owenby Fund.

A health insurance supplement for full-time graduate assistants with a .25 FTE and above is offered on an annual basis and by semester. For questions concerning the Graduate Student Health Insurance supplement policies and procedures, please refer to the Graduate School website or contact the Graduate School at 850-644-3501. For questions concerning the university sponsored health insurance plan, please refer to the University Health Services or call 850-644-6380.

The department has limited amount of funding, provided by the College of Arts and Sciences, to support graduate students during the summer months. Summer funding is very limited for out-of-state students, i.e., first year graduate students who do not have Florida Residency.

The Support ranges from teaching assistantships in which students have primary responsibility for teaching lower-division courses, mentorships to assist the teaching of online courses, and special stipends to assist the department and individual faculty members in research and administration. The applications for summer funding is a part of the Funding Request Form, emailed by the Director of Graduate Studies in the beginning of the spring semester.

1. Departmental Library

The M. Lynette Thompson Library is the departmental library and hosts a collection of primary sources (Budé, OCT, Teubner, and Loebs), reference materials (OLD, LSJ, CAH, OCD, Pauly-Wissowa), and a variety of commentaries, monographs, and other books on archaeology, ancient history and Greek and Latin literature. All graduate students in Classics are entitled to admittance, which is regulated by an ID card system. Under no circumstances are those without this access to be admitted.

Students may not remove books from the Thompson Library, and unauthorized removal will result in loss of library privileges. Books should be returned to their shelves immediately after use. Food and drink are prohibited. Administration of makeup exams and meetings with undergraduate students are also prohibited and should take place in graduate office space or the graduate student lounge.

A faculty committee oversees administration of the Thompson Library. Suggestions for improvements and recommendations for new acquisitions are welcome and should be directed to the DGS, who will forward them to the head of the Thompson Library Committee.

2. University Libraries

The FSU university libraries have a robust collection of print and digital resources in Classics and related disciplines. The libraries offer extensive services through U-Borrow (a program which allows members of the university to borrow books from participating libraries in the State of Florida) and through Interlibrary Loan Program (ILL). Graduate students enjoy the privilege to order, online, books to be checked out and delivered to the department (LED program). The department has a strong connection with the Humanities Librarian. Anyone interested to see what kind of digital resources are available for Classics, should check Classics at Strozier section of the university library.

3. Offices for Teaching and Research Assistants

In the beginning of each academic year, the department assigns offices for Teaching and Research Assistants.

4. Computer Lab

The department has a small computer lab with desktop computers available for graduate student use. It is equipped both with PC and Mac computers, as well as scanners and printers. Academic software for archeological and philological research is available, including the TLG (Thesaurus Linguae Graecae) and GIS (Geographical Information Systems). The lab is also equipped with a wide-body scanner and printer for maps.

5. Graduate Student Mail and Copier Room

The department has a mail room for all graduate students which is equipped with a copier for students' teaching needs.

6. Electronic Mailing Lists

All FSU students are assigned a university e-mail address upon registration, and these serve as the principal means of disseminating departmental and university-wide announcements. Students who regularly use another e-mail address, should see to it that their FSU e-mail is forwarded to the appropriate address.

The Department of Classics also maintains several e-mail lists for the dissemination of departmental information:

plebs (plebs@lists.fsu.edu): all graduate students

magistri (magistri@lists.fsu.edu): all Classics faculty members omnes (omnes@lists.fsu.edu): all Classics faculty, staff, and students

These e-mail lists are for departmental announcements, and users should avoid sending messages of a personal or commercial nature.

7. Langford Family Eminent Scholar in Classics and Langford Conference

The Langford Family Eminent Scholar Chair and the Langford Conference were established in 1992 through the benefaction of George and Marian Langford and the sons Lawton and G. Robertson Langford, Jr. This gift allows the department to host in some years the Langford Family Eminent Scholar in Classics, who offers a seminar in his or her specialty and who hosts an academic conference devoted to his or her research interests. Recent Langford Scholars have included Miriam Griffin, Kenneth Reckford, Douglas Cairns, and Susan Rotroff. The Langford Eminent Scholar hosts the Spring Langford Conference on a topic relevant to their area of research expertise. In other years, when there is not a Langford Family Eminent Scholar in residence, the department invites a number of distinguished scholars to visit campus and offer lectures and seminars on topics in their areas of expertise.

8. Fall Langford Conference

The department also hosts the Fall Langford Conference on a topic proposed by a faculty member and approved by the department's Conference and Colloquia Committee.

9. Departmental Lectures, Workshops, Reading Groups

Throughout the academic year, the department hosts a number of lectures, workshops, and reading groups. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in them.

10. Spotlight Series

The Spotlight series of events is a professional development series of meetings, organized by the DGS, to offer information about the important milestones in the graduate career such as comprehensive exams, applications to doctoral programs, entering the job market, publishing, etc. The events in the series are announced in the beginning of each semester and are hosted by members of the faculty, the university, and the Classics alumni community.

1. Sample Course of Study by degree and major

The following course of study per degree and major constitute, in the eyes of the faculty, “satisfactory progress” towards the degree. Significant deviation from the outlines below may jeopardize a student’s standing.

M.A. in classics with a major in ancient history

1st year

• 1st semester
  • Proseminar
• 2nd semester
  • FLE5810
• Summer
  • Readings to prepare for M.A. Comprehensive Exam

2nd Year

• 3rd semester — N/A
• 4th semester
  • Completion of coursework
  • Retake comprehensive exams if needed
  • Registration for paper/thesis credits
  • Completion of modern language requirement
  • Completion of M.A. paper

M.A. in classics with a major in classical archaeology

1st year

• 1st semester
  • Proseminar
  • History/archaeology course
  • Latin/Greek as needed
• 2nd semester
  • FLE5810
  • History/archaeology course
  • Latin/Greek as needed
  • Application for outside fieldwork (if relevant)
• Summer
  • Readings to prepare for M.A. Comprehensive Exam
  • Completion of fieldwork requirement

2nd Year

• 3rd semester
  • Archaeology courses as needed
  • Latin/Greek as needed
  • Last week in September: comprehensive exams, thesis/paper abstract due
  • Last week in October: M.A. prospectus due to major advisor
  • End of semester: two thesis chapters or first draft of paper
  • Students seeking the concentration in museum theory and practice must apply in the Department of Classics. The concentration above will necessitate meeting additional requirements.
• 4th semester
  • Completion of coursework
  • Retake comprehensive exams if needed
  • Registration for paper/thesis credits
  • Completion of ancient language requirement
  • Completion of modern language requirement
  • Completion of M.A. paper

M.A. in classics with a major in classical civilizations

1st year

• 1st semester
  • Proseminar
  • Latin/Greek as needed
  • History/archaeology course
• 2nd semester
  • FLE5810
  • Latin/Greek as needed
  • History/archaeology course
  • Additional Latin/Greek
• Summer
  • Readings to prepare for M.A. Comprehensive Exam

2nd Year

• 3rd semester
  • Additional courses as needed
  • Last week in September: comprehensive exams, thesis/paper abstract due
  • Last week in October: M.A. prospectus due to major advisor
  • End of semester: two thesis chapters or first draft of paper
  • Students seeking the concentration in museum theory and practice must apply in the Department of Classics. The concentration above will necessitate meeting additional requirements.
• 4th semester
  • Completion of coursework
  • Retake comprehensive exams if needed
  • Registration for paper/thesis credits
  • Completion of ancient language requirement
  • Completion of modern language requirement
  • Completion of M.A. paper

M.A. in classics with a major in Greek and Latin

1st year

• 1st semester
  • Proseminar
  • Latin
  • Greek
  • History/archaeology course
• 2nd semester
  • FLE5810
  • Latin
  • Greek
  • Additional Latin/Greek
  • History/archaeology course
• Summer
  • Readings to prepare for M.A. Comprehensive Exam

2nd Year

• 3rd semester
  • Additional Latin/Greek as needed
  • Last week in September: comprehensive exams, thesis/paper abstract due
  • Last week in October: M.A. prospectus due to major advisor
  • End of semester: two thesis chapters or first draft of paper
• 4th semester
  • Completion of coursework
  • Retake comprehensive exams if needed
  • Registration for paper/thesis credits
  • Completion of ancient language requirement
  • Completion of modern language requirement
  • Completion of M.A. paper

M.A. degree program in Greek

1st year

• 1st semester
  • Proseminar
  • Greek
  • Additional Greek/Latin
  • History/archaeology course
• 2nd semester
  • FLE5810
  • Greek
  • Additional Greek
  • History/archaeology course
• Summer
  • Readings to prepare for M.A. Comprehensive Exam

2nd Year

• 3rd semester
  • Additional Greek as needed
  • Last week in September: comprehensive exams, thesis/paper abstract due
  • Last week in October: M.A. prospectus due to major advisor
  • End of semester: two thesis chapters or first draft of paper
• 4th semester
  • Completion of coursework
  • Retake comprehensive exams if needed
  • Registration for paper/thesis credits
  • Completion of ancient language requirement
  • Completion of modern language requirement
  • Completion of M.A. paper

M.A. degree program in Latin

1st year

• 1st semester
  • Proseminar
  • Latin
  • Additional Latin/Greek
• 2nd semester
  • FLE5810
  • Latin
  • Additional Latin
  • History/archaeology course
• Summer
  • Readings to prepare for M.A. Comprehensive Exam

2nd Year

• 3rd semester
  • Additional Latin as needed
  • Last week in September: comprehensive exams, thesis/paper abstract due
  • Last week in October: M.A. prospectus due to major advisor
  • End of semester: two thesis chapters or first draft of paper
• 4th semester
  • Completion of coursework
  • Retake comprehensive exams if needed
  • Registration for paper/thesis credits
  • Completion of ancient language requirement
  • Completion of modern language requirement
  • Completion of M.A. paper

---

Ph.D. degree in classics with concentration in classical archaeology

1st Year

1st semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Proseminar
  • One or two archaeology courses (1 seminar) or one archaeology and one history course Latin and/or Greek
• Without M.A.
  • Proseminar
  • One or two archaeology courses (1 seminar) or one archaeology and one history course Latin and/or Greek

2nd semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • FLE 5810
  • One or two archaeology courses (1 seminar) or one archaeology and one history course Latin and/or Greek
  • Complete second modern language
• Without M.A.
  • FLE 5810
  • One or two archaeology courses (1 seminar) or one archaeology and one history course Latin and/or Greek
  • Complete first modern language

2nd Year

3rd semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • One or more seminars/courses
  • Latin/Greek exam or one arachaeology exam
• Without M.A.
  • One or more seminars/courses
  • Latin/Greek as needed

4th semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • One or more seminars/courses
  • Complete history exam (by course or exam) Latin/Greek exam or one archaeology exam
• Without M.A.
  • One or more seminars/courses
  • Complete history exam (by course or exam) Latin/Greek exam or one archaeology exam
  • Latin/Greek as needed
  • Complete second modern language

3rd Year

5th semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Courses as needed
  • Latin/Greek exam or one archaeology exam
  • Complete formal coursework
• Without M.A.
  • Courses as needed
  • Latin/Greek exam or one archaeology exam
  • Complete formal coursework

6th semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Take special topic and special field exams; advancement to candidacy
• Without M.A.
  • Latin/Greek exam or one archaeology exam
  • Complete formal coursework

4th Year

7th semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Submit dissertation prospectus
• Without M.A.
  • Latin/Greek exam or one of special topic/special field exams

8th semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Draft 1 chapter
• Without M.A.
  • Latin/Greek exam or one of special topic/special field exams; advancement to candidacy

5th Year

9th semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Draft one or two chapters
• Without M.A.
  • Submit dissertation prospectus

10th semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Draft remaining chapters
• Without M.A.
  • Draft one chapter

6th Year

11th semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Final revisions/defense*
• Without M.A.
  • Draft one or two chapters

12th semester

• Without M.A.
  • Draft remaining chapters

7th Year

13th semester

• Without M.A.
  • Final revisions/defense*

*Students whose dissertation requires fieldwork may need an additional year of research to complete the degree.

Ph.D degree in classics with concentration in classics

1st Year

1st semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Proseminar
  • Latin and Greek (1 seminar)
• Without M.A.
  • Proseminar
  • Latin and Greek (1 seminar)

2nd semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • FLE 5810
  • Latin and Greek (1 seminar)
  • One history course/exam
• Without M.A.
  • FLE 5810
  • Latin and Greek (1 seminar)
  • Complete first modern language

2nd Year

3rd semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • One or more seminars/courses Latin/Greek
  • Complete history requirement (by course or exam)
  • Latin or Greek exam
• Without M.A.
  • One or more seminars/courses Latin/Greek

4th semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Latin and Greek one or more seminars/courses
  • Complete second modern language
  • Latin or Greek exam (translation exams completed)
• Without M.A.
  • Latin and Greek one or more seminars/courses
  • Complete second modern language
  • Complete history requirement (by course or exam)
  • Latin or Greek exam

3rd Year

5th semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Courses as needed
  • Greek and Roman literature exams
• Without M.A.
  • Courses as needed
  • Latin or Greek exam (translation exams completed)

6th semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Special author/field exams (special exams completed)
  • Advancement to candidacy
• Without M.A.
  • Greek and Roman Literature Exams
  • Complete formal coursework

4th Year

7th semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Submit dissertation prospectus
• Without M.A.
  • One of special author/field exams

8th semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Draft 1 chapter
• Without M.A.
  • One of special author/field exams (special exams completed)
  • Advancement to candidacy

5th Year

9th semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Draft one or two chapters
• Without M.A.
  • Submit dissertation prospectus

10th semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Draft remaining chapters
• Without M.A.
  • Draft one chapter

6th Year

11th semester

• With M.A. in relevant field
  • Final revisions/defense
• Without M.A.
  • Draft one or two chapters

12th semester

• Without M.A.
  • Draft remaining chapters

7th Year

13th semester

• Without M.A.
  • Final revisions/defense

Reading Lists

M.A. Degree in Classics with a Major in Ancient History: Greek or Latin Exam

This is the reading list for the exam, i.e. the list of passages from which exams will be created. Students intending to pass will read all of the texts listed below, carefully and with a commentary. Students must pass either the Greek or the Latin exam (not both).

Greek

• Aeschylus: Agamemnon
• Aristophanes: Clouds
• Demosthenes: Olynthiacs 1
• Euripides: Bacchae
• Herodotus: Book 1
• Homer: Iliad 1, 6, 9; Odyssey 1, 9-12,
• 22
• Inscriptions in Meiggs and Lewis (1988): Drakon’s Law of Homicide (# 86, pp. 264-67), Foundation of Cyrene (# 5, pp. 5-9)
• Lyric poetry (selections from Campbell): Archilochus, Tyrtaeus, Solon
• Lysias: 1
• Plato: Apology
• Polybius: Book 6
• Sophocles: Oedipus Tyrannus
• Thucydides: Book 1, 2.1-45
• Xenophon: Hellenica 1

Latin

• Caesar: Bellum Civile 1
• Catullus (all)
• Cicero: Catilinarians 1, Philippics 2
• Horace: Odes 1
• Inscription: Laudatio Turiae; Augustus’ Res Gestae
• Juvenal: 1 and 6
• Livy: Books 1 and 21
• Lucan: Book 1
• Lucretius: Book 1
• Ovid: Metamorphoses 1
• Petronius: Cena Trimalchionis
• Plautus: Miles Gloriosus
• Pliny: Epist. 1.1, 6.16 and 6.20 (on Vesuvius)
• Sallust: Catiline
• Suetonius: Augustus
• Tacitus: Annals 1
• Virgil: Eclogues 1, 4; Georgics Book 4; Aeneid Books 1, 4, 6, 8, 12.

M.A. Degree in Classics with a Major in Ancient History: Greek and Latin Exams

This is the reading list for the exams, i.e. the list of passages from which exams will be created. Students intending to pass will ideally read all of the texts listed below, carefully and with a commentary.

Greek

• Aeschylus: Prometheus
• Apollonius: Book 3
• Aristophanes: Clouds
• Demosthenes: Philippics 1
• Euripides: Bacchae, Medea
• Herodotus: Book 1
• Homer: Iliad 1, 6, 9, 24; Odyssey 1, 9-12
• Lysias: 1
• Plato: Apology
• Sophocles: Oedipus Tyrannus
• Thucydides: Book 1, 2.1-45
• Xenophon: Hellenica 1

Latin

• Caesar: Bellum Civile 1
• Catullus
• Cicero: Catilinarians 1, Pro Archia, Philippics 2
• Horace: Odes 1
• Juvenal: 1
• Livy: Book 1
• Lucan: Book 1
• Lucretius: 1
• Ovid: Amores 1, Ars Amatoria 1, Metamorphoses 1
• Petronius: Cena Trimalchionis
• Plautus: Miles Gloriosus
• Pliny: Epist. 1.1
• Propertius: Book 1
• Sallust: Catiline
• Suetonius: Augustus
• Tacitus: Annals 1
• Virgil: Eclogues 1, 4; Georgics Book 4; Aeneid Books 1, 4, 6, 8, 12

M.A. Degree in Latin: Latin Exam

This is the reading list for the exam, i.e. the list of passages from which exams will be created. Students intending to pass will ideally read all of the texts listed below, carefully and with a commentary.

• Caesar: Bellum Civile 1
• Catullus
• Cicero: Catilinarians 1, Pro Archia, Philippics 2
• Horace: Odes 1
• Juvenal: 1
• Livy: Book 1
• Lucan: Book 1
• Lucretius: 1
• Ovid: Amores 1, Ars Amatoria 1, Metamorphoses 1
• Petronius: Cena Trimalchionis
• Plautus: Miles Gloriosus
• Pliny: Epist. 1.1
• Propertius: Book 1
• Sallust: Catiline
• Suetonius: Augustus
• Tacitus: Annals 1
• Virgil: Eclogues 1, 4; Georgics Book 4; Aeneid Books 1, 4, 6, 8, 12

M.A. Degree in Greek: Greek Exam

This is the reading list for the exam, i.e. the list of passages from which exams will be created. Students intending to pass will ideally read all of the texts listed below, carefully and with a commentary.

• Aeschylus: Agamemnon
• Apollonius: Book 3
• Aristophanes: Clouds
• Demosthenes: Olynthiacs 1
• Euripides: Bacchae, Medea
• Herodotus: Book 1
• Homer: Iliad 1, 6, 9; Odyssey 1, 9-12, 22
• Lysias: 1
• Plato: Apology
• Sophocles: Oedipus Tyrannus
• Thucydides: Book 1, 2.1-45
• Xenophon: Hellenica 1

Ph.D. in Classics with a Concentration in Classical Archaeology: Greek or Latin Exam

Greek

• Aeschines: Against Ctesiphon (159- end)
• Aeschylus: Persians
• Aristophanes: Lysistrata
• Demosthenes: Olynthiacs 1; On the Crown (199-end); Phillipics 1
• Euripides: Bacchae
• Herodotus: Books I, VII, VIII
• Hesiod: Works and Days
• Homer: Iliad I, III, VI, IX, XVI, XVIII, XXI, XXII, XXIV; Odyssey I, V, VI, IX-XIII, XIX, XXII-XXIV
• Homeric Hymns: Hymn to Demeter
• Lyric Poetry: the selection in Campbell
• Lysias: 1
• New Testament: Luke
• Pausanias: Books I, X
• Plato: Apology, Symposium
• Plutarch: Alexander
• Sophocles: Oedipus Tyrannus
• Theocritus: 7
• Thucydides: Books I, II, III (70-85), V (84-116), VI (8-23), VII (84-87), VIII (1)
• Xenophon: Hellenica I
• Inscriptions: Nos. 1, 2, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 33, 37, 41, 44, 54, 58, 67, 69, 74, 79, 95 in Meiggs and Lewis

Latin

• Augustus: Res Gestae
• Caesar: Bellum Gallicum I
• Catullus: All
• Cicero: Fourth Verrine, Letters (the selection in Shackleton Bailey’s school edition)
• Horace: Odes, Satires I, Epistles II 2
• Juvenal: 1, 3, 4, 10
• Livy: Books I, II, XXI Lucan: Book VII
• Lucretius: Books I (1-126), VI (1138-1286)
• Ovid: Amores I, Ars Amatoria I, Metamorphoses I, Tristia IV. 10
• Petronius: Cena Trimalchionis
• Plautus: Miles Gloriosus
• Pliny the Elder: N. H. XXXIII-XXXVII
• Pliny: Epist. I 1 and X 96, 97
• Propertius: Book IV
• Quintilian: Book X
• Sallust: Catiline
• Seneca: Medea
• Suetonius: Augustus
• Tacitus: Histories I, Annals XIII-XVI
• Terence: Adelphoe
• Virgil: Eclogues, Georgics I and IV, Aeneid
• Vitruvius: Books III, IV, VI, VII
• Inscriptions: the selection in Gordon, Illustrated Introduction to Latin Epigraphy

Ph.D. in Classics with a Concentration in Greek and Latin: Greek and Latin Exams

Greek

• Aeschines: Against Ctesiphon (159-end)
• Aeschylus: Agamemnon, Prometheus
• Antiphon: On Murder of Herodes
• Apollonius: selections in Hopkinson; Book 3
• Aristophanes: Clouds, Lysistrata
• Aristotle: Poetics, Politics 1
• Callimachus: selections in Hopkinson; Hymn 2
• Demosthenes: On the Crown (199-end); Philippics 1, Against Neaira
• Euripides: Bacchae, Medea, Hippolytus
• Hellenistic Poetry: selection in Hopkinson
• Gorgias: Encomium for Helen
• Herodotus: Books 1, 7, 9
• Hesiod: Theogony, Works and Days
• Homer: Iliad 1, 3, 6, 9, 16, 18, 21-22, 24; Odyssey 1, 5-
• 6, 9-13, 19, 22-24
• Homeric Hymns: Demeter and Apollo
• Isocrates: Antidosis
• Lyric Poetry: the selection in Campell
• Longus: Daphnis and Chloe
• Lucian: True History
• Lysias: 1, 12
• Menander: Dyscolos
• Pindar: Olympian 1; Pythian 7; Nemean 1; Isthmian 7
• Plato: Apology, Phaedrus, Symposium, Republic 10
• Plutarch: Alexander
• Sophocles: Antigone, Oedipus Tyrannus
• Theocritus: selection in Hopkinson + Idylls 1, 7
• Thucydides: Books 1, 2
• Xenophon: Hellenica I, Oeconomicus (7-14)

Latin

• Apuleius: Metamorphoses 1
• Caesar: Bellum Gallicum 1, Bellum Civile 1
• Catullus: All
• Cicero: In Catilinam 1, Pro Archia, Pro Caelio, Philippics 2, Brutus, Letters (selection in Shackleton Bailey)
• Fragments of Latin Poetry: selection in Courtney
• Horace: Odes Books 1-3, Epodes, Satires 1, Epistles 1, 2.2
• Juvenal: 1, 3, 4, 10
• Livy: Books 1, 21
• Lucan: Books 1, 7
• Lucretius: 1, 3
• Martial: Book 1
• Ovid: Amores 1, Ars Amatoria 1, Metamorphoses 1, 7, 8; Tristia 4.10
• Petronius: Cena Trimalchionis
• Plautus: Menaechmi, Miles Gloriosus
• Pliny: letters in Sherwin-White
• Propertius: Books 1, 4
• Quintilian: Book 10
• Sallust: Catiline
• Seneca: Medea, Thyestes, Ep. 7, 47, 114
• Statius: Silvae 4
• Suetonius: Augustus
• Tacitus: Histories 1, Annals 1.13-16
• Terence: Adelphoe, Phormio
• Tibullus: Book 1
• Virgil: Eclogues, Georgics 1, 4; Aeneid

2. Topic Lists

Ph.D. in Classics with a Concentration in Classical Archaeology: Greek and Roman Archaeology Exams

Students should consult the chair of the Archaeology Committee.

Ph.D. in Classics with a Concentration in Greek and Latin: Greek and Roman Literature Exams

Students are advised to read a number of comprehensive treatments of Greek and Latin literature but do not limit themselves merely to these. In an age of many Companions, students can often become very up-to-date with a particular field by using these. It is recommended that students keep an eye out as well for volumes in the Oxford Readings series (which collect standard scholarship on various authors and topics), and the Greece & Rome New Surveys in the Classics series (where you should especially look out for second editions, which are usually more up to date: new ones, e.g., on Homer and Horace in the last few years). Keep all such works as these in mind especially for core areas (Homer, Greek tragedy, Augustan poetry, etc.).

Greek and Latin Literature

R. Rutherford, Classical Literature: A Concise History, Wiley-Blackwell, 2005

Greek Literature

Though now some thirty years old, Cambridge History of Classical Literature, vol. 1, edited by P. E. Easterling and B. M. W. Knox is still worth reading.

K. J. Dover, Ancient Greek Literature, Oxford 1980.

I. C. Storey and A. Allan, A Guide to Ancient Greek Drama, Wiley-Blackwell, 2008.

M. Fantuzzi, and R. Hunter, Tradition and Innovation in Hellenistic Poetry, Cambridge, 2004.

Latin Literature

Though, like the Greek one, now some thirty years old, Cambridge History of Classical Literature, vol. 2, edited by E. J. Kenney and W. V. Clausen is still worth reading.

Stephen Harrison (ed.), A Companion to Latin Literature (Wiley-Blackwell, 2005).

Elaine Fantham, Roman Literary Culture: From Plautus to Macrobius (Johns Hopkins, 2d ed., 2013)

G. K. Galinsky, Augustan Culture: An Interpretative Introduction, Princeton, 1996

Other Valuable Works

Denis Feeney, The Gods in Epic: Poets and Critics of the Classical Tradition (Oxford, 1991).

Stephen Hinds, Allusion and Intertext: Dynamics of Appropriation in Roman Poetry (Cambridge, 1998)