The PhD in Classical Languages is a program for students who have received an MA in Classical Languages (or an equivalent field) from outside MU. It focuses on the languages and literatures of ancient Greece and Rome and is designed to prepare students for academic careers in Classical Studies and related fields at the college/university level.
Expected time to degree: 5 years.
General Requirements
- 72 total credit hours at the graduate (7000+) level, of which up to 30 transferred from MA
- 15 hours must be taken at the seminar (8000+) level
- Two 9-hour semesters or three 6-hour semesters in 18-month period in residence at MU
N.B. Graduate students receiving financial support in the form of full-time (.5) assistantships are expected to register for 9 credit hours of graduate level coursework per semester until they pass their PhD comprehensive examinations. Thereafter, they may maintain “continuous enrollment” by enrolling in AMS 9090: Doctoral Dissertation Research (for credit 2 hours every Fall and Spring semester, 1 hour every Summer semester) until they complete the PhD degree.
Program-Specific Minimums & Requirements
Credit Hours
- min. 9 hours (= 3 classes) in Greek, of which 6 (= 2 classes) at the seminar level
- min. 9 hours (= 3 classes) in Latin, of which 6 (= 2 classes) at the seminar level
- min. 6 hours (= 2 classes) in Archaeology
Coursework
1 credit hour class required of all first-year AMS graduate students.
A 3 credit hour class required of all AMS graduate students examining the relationship between texts and material culture.
Languages
It is expected that candidates will have demonstrated proficiency in a modern foreign language at the MA level before entering the PhD program. Proficiency in a second modern foreign language must be demonstrated (by exam, coursework, or the equivalent) by the end of their first year of PhD study.
Candidates must pass translation exams (also known as “qualifying” exams) in both Greek and Latin by the end of their third semester in the PhD program. These exams consist of 6 passages (3 prose, 3 poetry), of which 4 (2 prose, 2 poetry) must be translated into English. Students have four (4) hours within which to complete the exam and may use a dictionary of their choice.
Committee, Examinations, and Thesis
By the beginning of their second semester of PhD work, candidates are expected to form a Doctoral Program Committee (DPC) in consultation with the director of graduate studies. This committee consists of one chair (from AMS), two members (from AMS), and at least one outside member (from outside AMS). It advises the candidate on coursework, comprehensive examinations, and doctoral thesis work at the PhD level.
It is expected that candidates, having completed all course and language requirements, will take Comprehensive Examinations by the end of their second year in the program or, at the latest, the beginning of the third. These exams consist of three exams, which are written and then defended by oral examination: 1) Greek literature; 2) Latin literature; 3) Special Topic/Area. The content, format, and scheduling of these exams are arranged by the student in consultation with their DPC. Successful completion of these exams makes the candidate eligible to move on to the doctoral thesis-writing stage. It is expected that students will schedule a meeting with the DPC to discuss their plans for their dissertation thesis within a month of the completion of the comprehensive exams.
The PhD Thesis (or Doctoral Dissertation) is a substantial piece of scholarly writing that usually takes candidates about two years to complete. Once the candidate has completed the dissertation and the DPC approves its defense, an oral defense of the thesis is scheduled.