The MA/PhD program in Classical Languages 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: 2 years (MA) + 3 years (PhD) = 5 years total.
General Requirements
- 72 total credit hours at the graduate (7000+) level, of which a minimum of 30 at MA level
- 24 hours of required total MA hours in residence at MU, and at least two 9-hour semesters or three 6-hour semesters in an 18-month period in residence at PhD level
- 12 hours of required total MA hours at the seminar (8000+) level, and 3 additional hours at PhD level
- No more than 40% of required total MA hours in research, readings, and problems courses
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. 15 hours (= 5 classes) in Greek, of which 6 (= 2 classes) at the seminar level
- min. 15 hours (= 5 classes) in Latin, of which 6 (= 2 classes) at the seminar level
- min. 12 hours (= 4 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
Proficiency must be demonstrated (by exam, coursework, or the equivalent) in one language at the MA level, the other by the end of their first year at the PhD level.
One of these translation exams (also known as “qualifying” exams) must be passed at the MA level, the other by the end of the first year at the PhD level. The exam consists 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.
Theses, Committees, and Examinations
Candidates are not required to write a thesis. Should they choose to do so, they will assemble a thesis committee in consultation with the director of graduate studies. It is expected that thesis-writers will sign up for 3 credit hours of AMS 8090: Master’s Thesis Research in each semester of their second year of graduate study.
A final oral examination is given by a faculty committee selected by the student in consultation with the director of graduate studies. The examination will include a defense either of a thesis (if the candidate has chosen to write one) or of a compiled portfolio of seminar papers.
Successful completion of all MA degree requirements makes the candidate eligible to continue on to PhD work. Once candidates begin PhD work, they are expected to form a Doctoral Program Committee (DPC), consisting of one chair (from AMS), two members (from AMS), and at least one outside member (from outside AMS). This committee 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 at the beginning of their second year at the PhD level. 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.