The MA 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: 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. 21 hours (= 7 classes) in AMS, of which 9 (= 3 classes) at the seminar level
  • min. 21 hours (= 7 classes) in Outside Area, of which 9 (= 3 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

Proficiency must be demonstrated (by exam, coursework, or the equivalent) in one language at the MA level, the other by the end of a student’s first year at the PhD level.

Theses/Projects, Committees, and Examinations

MA candidates in CAH are required to produce a written thesis or a project. To this end, they will assemble in consultation with the director of graduate studies a thesis committee that consists of two AMS members and one member from the student’s Outside Area. It is further recommended that students 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 MA oral examination (in the form of a thesis or project defense) is presided over by the candidate’s thesis committee. Successful completion of all MA degree requirements makes the candidate eligible to continue on to PhD work in CAH.

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

It is expected that MA/PhD candidates in CAH, having completed all course and language requirements by the end of their first year at the PhD level, will take Comprehensive Examinations at the beginning of their second year at the PhD level. 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 the 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.