Students pursuing the Ph.D. in Greek and Latin Languages and Literatures may apply to receive the M.A. in Greek and Latin Languages and Literatures (or Classical Studies, if enrolled in the legacy “Classical Studies” program) upon completion of the Ph.D. Qualifications Evaluation Examination (normally at the end of the second year in the program).
The degree is not awarded automatically: students must apply to graduate with the Research Master’s degree after completing the Research Master’s requirements described below.
To begin the process, please submit a graduation application for the M.A. and email the graduate chair and the graduate coordinator sharing your thesis or research paper, including title.
Continuing students who are eligible to apply for the M.A. are encouraged to do so: receipt of the M.A. degree recognizes significant progress in your studies.
Admission to the GLLL graduate group is exclusively for the Ph.D. program. Students who do not continue in the Ph.D. program, however, but have completed the Research Master’s requirements described below may apply to receive the M.A. in Greek and Latin Languages and Literatures (or in Classical Studies, if enrolled in the legacy “Classical Studies” program).
The degree is not awarded automatically: students must apply to graduate with the Research Master’s degree after completing the Research Master’s requirements described below.
Please note that students who are preparing to withdraw from the Ph.D. program and who wish to receive a Research Master’s degree must complete all requirements for the Research Master’s degree, apply to graduate, and be awarded the Research Master’s degree before they withdraw from the University.
To begin the process, please submit a graduation application for the M.A. and email the graduate chair and the graduate coordinator sharing your thesis or research paper, including title.
In order to receive the M.A. in Greek and Latin Languages and Literatures (or in Classical Studies, if enrolled in the legacy “Classical Studies” program), students must satisfactorily complete the following requirements, all subject to approval by the graduate chair:
- One full academic year (two terms) of graduate coursework.
- Eight graduate-level courses (= 8 c.u. numbered 5000 or above), including at least four in the field of ancient Greek and Roman studies; of these four, one must have a strong focus on Greek and/or Latin language and one must have a research component.
- An M.A. thesis or a research paper written for a Penn graduate course in the field of ancient Greek and Roman studies (submitted to the graduate chair for approval).
- The Master’s Final Exam Requirement. This requirement is satisfied through demonstration of a broad knowledge of the field of Greek and Latin Languages and Literatures, as documented by the graduate chair. The requirement is typically met through completion of the Qualifications Evaluation Examination in Greek and/or Latin.
Questions about the M.A. degree should be directed to the graduate chair. See also the University’s Academic Rules for Research Master’s Programs.