The PhD in Archaeology is a program for students who have received an MA in Archaeology (or an equivalent field) from outside MU. It focuses on the material culture of ancient Greece and Rome and is designed to prepare students for academic careers in Archaeology and related fields at the college/university level.
Expected time to degree: 5 years.
A year of study at an outside institution (such as the American Academy in Rome or the American School of Classical Studies at Athens) is recommended for students at the PhD level and may add to their time-to-degree.
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. 18 hours (= 6 classes) in Archaeology, of which 9 (= 3 classes) at the seminar level
- min. 6 hours (= 2 classes) in AMS Language/Literature coursework
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 both 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.
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. The Comprehensive Exams consist of three exams, which are written and then defended by oral examination: 1) Major Area; 2) Minor Area; 3) Special Topic. Each exam will consist of 4-6 questions and be completed within 4 to 6 hours. 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 format and length of the proposal will be determined by the candidate and advisor in consultation. The proposal, typically prepared in the fourth or fifth semester, must be submitted to the DPC at least one month before the oral defense is held.
The PhD Thesis (or Doctoral Dissertation) is a substantial piece of scholarly writing that usually takes PhD 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.