Doctor of Philosophy in Classics
The doctoral program in Classics prepares students for careers as teachers and researchers at the university level. Degree requirements include completion of 72 semester hours and a dissertation. Most students hold teaching or research assistantships, and complete their doctoral studies in about six years.
The formal course of study typically consists of three phases:
The first phase emphasizes developing a broad knowledge of Greek and Roman literature and history and providing a solid foundation for reading Greek and Latin. The course work also includes Greek and Latin literature and history as well as Latin and Greek composition. Intensive readings courses in each language prepare students for sight-reading examinations in each language, which must be completed during this phase of study.
The second phase is devoted to specialized seminars that employ language skills to interpret literature and history. Courses focus on specific authors, genres, and periods. During this period, students must complete examinations on two authors/genres, one in Greek and the other in Latin. Students also are tested on the Greek and Latin reading lists.
After successful completion of all course work and examinations, students are admitted to Ph.D. candidacy and begin work on a dissertation.
Other Requirements
Students pursuing a Ph.D. must be proficient in reading two modern foreign languages, typically French and German. Other modern languages may be substituted with the approval of the student's faculty adviser and the department chair. The requirements in one foreign language must be fulfilled by the beginning of the second year and in the other by the beginning of the third year.
For more information, on the Ph.D. program in Classics, please contact Mary Depew, the Graduate Advisor.