NOTE for present students: The requirements described here are new, and apply to students entering in fall 2023 and later. Present students are, strictly speaking, subject to the old requirements, but the spirit of the new requirements will be applied wherever possible, following this transition plan.
Students in the program must complete at least 18 c.u. (course units) over three years, taking at least three c.u. per semester. This coursework combines a common set of required courses and a range of elective options, providing an introduction to the field, advanced training in language, literature, and culture, and experience in research methods and specialization.
Students will work with the graduate chair each semester to customize a courseplan appropriate to their needs and interests. The coursework must include required and elective items as follows:
(i) 13 c.u. of required coursework
This set of required courses and seminars usually accounts for all three of a student’s courses in the first semester of the program (i.e., Proseminar + Reading Greek/Latin + Seminar), and two courses per semester thereafter (i.e., Reading Greek/Latin or Advanced Language and Composition + Seminar). It is intended to provide a common core of training in field-awareness, Greek and Latin language, literature and culture, and research, taken over three years:
CLST 6000 Materials and Methods: Proseminar in Greek and Roman Literary Studies and Ancient History. Offered in fall and taken in the first year. The proseminar offers an up-to-date orientation to the professional academic fields conventionally known as classical studies and ancient history. The course is responsive to present debates within, and about, these fields. (1 c.u.)
At least six research seminars on topics in Greek and Roman literature and culture (including ancient history, archaeology, linguistics, philosophy, reception, etc.), usually ANCH / CLST / AAMW / GREK / LATN 7000-level. At least one per semester must be taken in years 1–2, and at least one during year 3. For further explanation of the seminar requirement, see on “Program Expectations”. (6 c.u.)
At least two intensive reading courses, one in Greek and one in Latin; these are taught in fall, alternating between Greek and Latin (1+1 = 2 c.u.):
- GREK 6610 Reading Greek: Intensive reading in ancient Greek literature, focusing on the skills and practices required to read closely a 150-page “short list” of key texts and to become familiar with authors, chronology, meters, dialects, and genres. Exercises include analysis, sight translation, and practice versions of the Qualifications Examination in Greek.
- LATN 6610 Reading Latin: Intensive reading in ancient Latin literature, focusing on the skills and practices required to read closely a 150-page “short list” of key texts and to become familiar with authors, chronology, meters, dialects, and genres. Exercises include analysis, sight translation, and practice versions of the Qualifications Examination in Latin.
At least one advanced language and composition course, in either Greek or Latin; these are taught in spring, in alternating languages (and alternating with Reading Greek/Latin) (1 c.u.):
- GREK 5801 Advanced Greek Language and Composition: Study of Greek grammar, vocabulary, and stylistic features, combining exercises in analysis, composition, and sight translation.
- LATN 5801 Advanced Latin Language and Composition: Study of Latin grammar, vocabulary, and stylistic features, combining exercises in analysis, composition, and sight translation.
CLST 8000 Language Pedagogy Workshop. Fall, usually taken in second year. Graded S / U (Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory), not for credit. The Workshop meets for one hour per week and is coordinated by the faculty supervisor of the language program; it serves as a forum for discussing course-plans and pedagogical theories and strategies, collaborating on course materials, and addressing any concerns in the language courses presently being taught. The Workshop counts as part of the teaching requirement and is separate from the three courses that students normally take when teaching in a given semester. (0 c.u.)
Two CLST 9991 Special Topics. Independent studies advised by faculty, usually taken in the third year (earlier only by permission of the graduate chair). For further description of these faculty-advised independent studies, see on “Program Expectations”. (2 c.u.)
CLST 9000 Dissertation Prospectus Workshop. Spring, in third year. For further details, see on Prospectus and Dissertation. (1 c.u.)
(ii) 5 c.u. of elective coursework over three years
This range of elective options allows each student to devote regular credit hours to specific areas in their training that will benefit from attention, and also to pursue topics and projects of special interest:
Up to five self-directed independent studies, a maximum of one per semester. Not subject to weekly supervision, but each must have a faculty sponsor, with proposal and outcomes subject to review by graduate chair; graded S / U (Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory). Proposals must be submitted at least one week prior to the beginning of classes, using the official template that can be obtained by emailing the graduate chair. For further description of the expectations for these self-guided independent studies and faculty sponsorship, see on “Program Expectations”. Options include:
- One or more additional research seminar or graduate-level course (5000+) in a Greek or Roman topic or in any another field relevant to the student’s interests—with approval of graduate chair.
- An additional faculty-led Reading Greek or Reading Latin course (GREK / LATN 6610).
- Advanced Language and Composition course taken in the other language (LATN / GREK 5801).
- CLST 6699 Graduate Reading Group in Greek and/or Latin: A student-selected course of reading proposed by two or more students, focusing on Greek and/or Latin texts and selected key topics in literary history. In forming the group, students are encouraged, where feasible, to recruit one or more advanced students to consult on an author or genre on which they are working, either as a regular or occasional group member, or as a visitor to one group meeting. Proposal and outcome subject to approval by graduate chair. Graded S / U.
- CLST 8888 Local Project: Participation in, or pursuit of, a community-service or public-facing project or participation in an outreach program. Proposal and outcome subject to approval by graduate chair. Graded S / U.
- CLST 9999 Independent Study: Study devoted to pursuing a specific research topic, reading in a specific subject area or scholarly literature in English and other languages, or preparing a conference paper, publication, or comparable project. Proposal and outcome subject to approval by graduate chair. Graded S / U.
Another way to map the graduate program is to chronicle the curricular bookends and milestones that all students will share in common (here omitting research seminars and other electives to focus on the required courses):
- In Year 1, all students take the Proseminar in Classical Studies and Ancient History (in fall) as well as the Reading Greek or Reading Latin course (fall) and an Advanced Language and Composition course in the other language (in spring). At the end of the year, all students take the Qualifications Exam in Latin and Greek for diagnostic purposes.
- In Year 2, while teaching their first course (usually Latin), all students take the Language Pedagogy Workshop (fall), the other Reading Latin/Greek course (fall), and (optionally) the other Advanced Language and Composition course. At the end of the year, all students take the Qualifications Exam in Latin and Greek.
- In Year 3, while continuing to teach (in Latin, Greek, Myth, or other courses), each student takes two Special Topic independent studies with a faculty supervisor (fall and/or spring) and the Dissertation Prospectus Workshop (spring). During this year, all students take the Preliminary Exam Part 1 (“Generals”, in fall) and Part 2 (“Specials, in spring) and they submit their dissertation prospectus for discussion and approval, before advancing to candidacy.
- In Years 4 and 5, students have now advanced to candidacy and work on the dissertation, with optional participation in the informal Dissertation Workshop. The student publicly defends the completed dissertation.
Students are not limited to 3 c.u. per semester, but it is recommended that students generally take only 3 c.u., in order to devote maximum time and attention to every part of their coursework and to preserve time for private study, participation in departmental life, teaching responsibilities, and personal wellness.
It is expected (and may be required of particular students by the graduate chair) that students fill in any large gaps they have in their knowledge of ancient history and ancient material culture. If students have had little or no undergraduate training in these areas, it will often be most appropriate to begin by auditing an undergraduate class, such as Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome (ANCH 0101, 0102], and/or Introduction to Mediterranean Archaeology [CLST 1300]. Students may then be able to progress to upper-level classes or graduate seminars in these areas.
It is expected that students will take at least one graduate-level seminar, and probably more, in a sub-discipline outside “classical philology”, such as linguistics, ancient history, archaeology, art history, philosophy, anthropology, or comparative literature. Areas of specialization should be chosen in accordance with the student’s interests and intellectual goals, and in consultation with the graduate chair.
Students who arrive with minimal or shaky knowledge of modern languages (French, German, Italian) should make sure they schedule time to work on these early in the program. The modern language exams, in German and in either Italian or French, must be completed by October of the third year.
Incompletes are occasionally granted at the discretion of the instructor of the course.
By the rules of the School of Arts and Sciences, an incomplete in a course must be replaced by a grade not later than two semesters after the end of that course. This means that incompletes should be cleared by August 1 for courses from the preceding fall, and December 1 for courses from the preceding spring.
If a student has not completed all work necessary for an incomplete to be cleared within these two semesters, the student will be placed on probation in the third semester. For a fall incomplete, then, probation would consist of the fall semester of the following year; for a spring semester incomplete, probation would take place the following spring.
While on probation the student may not schedule nor take any exams. During that semester the student will be closely supervised by her advisor. If by the last day of class the student has not submitted all outstanding work she will be automatically terminated and may not register for classes the following semester.