The PhD program in Classical Arts & Humanities (CAH) offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the ancient Mediterranean world, combining coursework in AMS and an outside area of the candidate’s choice (e.g., Art, Black Studies, Creative Writing, Digital Humanities, Music, Reception Studies, Theatre, Visual Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies). The program is open to students, whether they have a background in ancient languages or not (all required AMS coursework is in English), who wish to pursue intellectual/artistic careers beyond traditional academic disciplines.

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. 12 hours (= 4 classes) in AMS, of which 6 (= 2 classes) at the seminar level
  • min. 12 hours (= 4 classes) in Outside Area, of which 6 (= 2 classes) at the seminar level

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 one language at the MA level before entering the PhD program. Proficiency in a second language must be demonstrated (by exam, coursework, or the equivalent) by the end of their first year of PhD study.

Committee, Examinations, and Thesis/Project

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 two outside members (from outside AMS), one of which must be from the student’s Outside Area. The committee advises the candidate on coursework, comprehensive examinations, and doctoral thesis/project work at the PhD level.

Once PhD candidates in CAH have completed all course and language requirements, it is expected that they will take Comprehensive Examinations by the end of their second year in the program or, at the latest, the beginning of the third. The Comprehensive Exams consist of three exams, which are written and then defended by oral examination: 1) AMS Area; 2) Outside Area; 3) Interdisciplinary Topic/Project 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/project stage. It is expected that students will schedule a meeting with the DPC to discuss their plans for their dissertation thesis/project within a month of the completion of the comprehensive exams.

The PhD Thesis/Project (or Doctoral Dissertation) is a substantial piece of interdisciplinary work (combining research in AMS and the student’s Outside Area) that may take the form of a thesis or a project. It is expected to take 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/project is scheduled.