CLASS-MA - Classics (MA)

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ClassicsClassicsMA - Master of Arts

The study of Classics has traditionally centered on the literature and material culture of ancient Greece and Rome, including Greek and Latin language, literature, philosophy, history, art, and archaeology. At Stanford, Classics also explores connections with other ancient cultures and the modern world, as well as specialized fields such as ancient economics, law, papyrology, and science. The department’s faculty approaches Classics from an interdisciplinary perspective that crosses geographical, temporal, and thematic territories. Studying ancient epic poetry can lead to looking at modern cinema afresh; ancient Athenian politics opens new perspectives on contemporary politics; and the study of Rome presents parallels with other empires just as Latin illuminates the history of English and the Romance languages. In short, Classics at Stanford is an interdisciplinary subject concerned not only with Greek and Roman civilization but also with the interaction of cultures and societies that influenced the ancient Mediterranean basin and continue to influence human society across the globe.

The MA in Classics is no longer accepting new students. The last admit date for this program was Spring 2024.

Admissions Information

The master’s degrees are only open to Stanford students. It is a one-year terminal degree program and does not qualify applicants for admittance to the Stanford PhD program. Refer to the coterm program’s website for more detailed requirements and guidance.

Minimum Units in the Program

Minimum University Units

Program Requirements

Completion requirement

Master of Arts in Classics

Fulfill ALL of the following requirements:

University Requirements for Masters Degree

Graduate Degrees describes university requirements for the master’s degree.

AND

Classics Masters Overview

The Classics master’s degree is broken into three subplans. For full details, see the subplan listings below.

All master’s students, regardless of subplan, must complete and receive approval of the Program Proposal for a Master’s Degree form during the first quarter of enrollment, at least five days before the Final Study List deadline.

All master’s students must choose a faculty advisor from the Department of Classics no later than the end of the second week of the first quarter in the program. Students should consult with the Student Services Officer and/or the Director of Graduate Studies for help with selection.

Coterminal Master's Degree in Classics

Fulfill ALL of the following requirements:

Stanford students in any undergraduate major who wish to pursue graduate work in Classics may apply for Stanford’s coterminal master’s program. Students considering a coterm are encouraged to consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies and the department’s student services officer about their plans before applying. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.7 in the major and no Incomplete grades on record. Undergraduate coursework in Greek and Latin and one of the required modern languages is usually a prerequisite for graduate-level work.

To apply, students must complete the Coterminal Online Application, submit two letters of recommendation from Classics faculty, an unofficial copy of their undergraduate transcript, a one to three-page statement of purpose, and a 10-15 page writing sample. GRE scores are not required. Applications are due in early January of the intended graduation year for the undergraduate degree; please see the departmental website for the specific deadline.

University Coterminal Requirements

Coterminal master’s degree candidates are expected to complete all master’s degree requirements as described in this Bulletin. Coterminal Master's Degrees describes university requirements for the coterminal master’s degree. Graduate Degrees describes university requirements for the master’s degree.

After accepting admission to this coterminal master’s degree program, students may request a transfer of courses from the undergraduate to the graduate career to satisfy the requirements for the master’s degree. Transferring courses to the graduate career requires review and approval of both the undergraduate and graduate programs on a case-by-case basis.

In this master’s program, courses taken during or after the first quarter of the sophomore year are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career; the timing of the first graduate quarter is not a factor. No courses taken before the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master’s degree requirements.

Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor’s degree has been conferred.

The university requires that the graduate advisor be assigned in the student’s first graduate quarter even though the undergraduate career may still be open. The university also requires that the Master’s Degree Program Proposal be completed by the student and approved by the department by the end of the student’s first graduate quarter.

Language and Literature Subplan

Completion requirement

Subplan Overview

Students who have completed an undergraduate major in Classics (Greek, Latin, or Greek and Latin fields of study) or equivalent may be accepted as candidates for the MA degree in Classics and may expect to complete the program in twelve months (usually three quarters of coursework plus three months study for the thesis or examination). Students with an undergraduate major in Classics (Ancient History or Classical Studies fields of study) or without an undergraduate major in Classics may also be accepted as candidates. However, they may require a more extended study period before completing the degree requirements. These requirements are:

1. A minimum of 25 of the 45 units must be graduate-level courses (generally 200-level or higher, but not always). The remaining units must be at the 100-level or higher.

2. Completion of one Greek language course at the 100 level (if the undergraduate major field of study was Latin) or one Latin language course at the 100 level (if the undergraduate major field of study was Greek). This requirement is waived for students with an undergraduate major in Classics with a field of study in Greek and Latin.

3. Passing a Greek or Latin language examination testing the candidate’s ability to translate into English from a selected list of Greek or Latin authors. The student will need to compile a reading list that reflects what they have read and submit to the examiner to set an exam on that basis. Students will be given four passages and asked to translate three of them in two hours (with ten minutes to review at the start of the exam).

4. Syntax Sequence

Completion of the syntax sequence in at least one language. For Latin, this is CLASSICS 204 Latin Syntax and CLASSICS 210 Latin Prose Composition. For Greek, this is CLASSICS 205 Greek Syntax and Classics 211G - Greek Prose Composition

Complete at least 2 of the following Courses:

Completion of the syntax sequence in at least one language. For Latin, this is CLASSICS204A. For Greek, this is CLASSICS205A Greek Syntax: Prose Composition and CLASSICS205B.

5. Writing a thesis, or passing of an examination on a particular author or topic, or having written work accepted by the graduate committee as an equivalent. Three completed and satisfactory seminar papers are normally an acceptable equivalent, provided each paper has earned the grade of B+ or higher.

6. Students must pass a modern language reading exam in one of the following languages:

German, French, or Italian. In exceptional circumstances, the Graduate Studies Committee may permit a different language, e.g., Modern Greek or Russian, to be substituted in keeping with research plans. Students are allowed to use paper and online dictionaries. Exams are offered once a quarter (Autumn, Winter, Spring). Incoming graduates may choose to be tested as early as autumn quarter. The department strongly encourages students to take modern language exams as early as possible in the program. If the first attempt to pass the exam fails, the student can retake the test only once. Failing the second examination means automatic dismissal from the program. A grade of B- or higher is required to pass.

7. Completion and approval of a Program Proposal for a Master’s Degree form during the first quarter of enrollment, at least five days prior to the Final Study List deadline.

On the department’s recommendation, candidates for the PhD degree in Classics may also become candidates for the MA degree. In this case, requirement 5 above is waived provided the student has completed some work beyond the course requirements listed under requirements 1 and 2 above. Current Stanford graduate students in other degree programs may be considered for the MA degree but must be admitted and complete all requirements listed above.

Classical Archaeology Subplan

Completion requirement

Subplan Overview

Students who have completed an undergraduate major in Classics with a Classical Archaeology field of study or in a closely related field may be accepted as candidates for the MA degree in Classics with a Classical Archaeology field of study and may expect to complete the program in twelve months (usually three quarters of coursework plus three months study for the thesis or examination). Students without an undergraduate major in Classics with a Classical Archaeology field of study may also be accepted as candidates. However, they may require a more extended study period before completing the degree requirements. These requirements are:

1. A minimum of 25 of the 45 units must be graduate-level courses (generally 200-level or higher, but not always). The remaining units must be at the 100-level or higher.

2. Completion with a grade of B or higher of at least 15 units of graduate-level courses in classical archaeology, in addition to CLASSICS331 Words and Things in the History of Classical Scholarship. (see 4).

4. Completion with a grade of B or higher of CLASSICS331 Words and Things in the History of Classical Scholarship, or an equivalent course on the history of thought in classical archaeology approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Complete ALL of the following Courses:

5. Writing a thesis, or passing an exam on a particular topic, or having written work accepted by the graduate committee as an equivalent. Three completed and satisfactory seminar papers are normally an acceptable equivalent, provided each paper has earned the grade of B+ or higher.

6. Students must pass a modern language reading exam in one of the following languages:

7. Completion and approval of a Program Proposal for a Master’s Degree form during the first quarter of enrollment, at least five days prior to the Final Study List deadline.

On the department’s recommendation, PhD degree candidates may also become MA degree candidates. In their case, requirement 5 above is waived provided the student has completed some work beyond the course requirements listed under requirements 1 and 2 above. Current Stanford graduate students in other degree programs may be considered for the MA degree but must be admitted and complete all requirements listed above.

Ancient History Subplan

Completion requirement

Subplan Overview

Students who have completed an undergraduate major in Classics with an Ancient History field of study or in a closely related field may be accepted as candidates for the MA degree in Classics with an Ancient History field of study and may expect to complete the program in twelve months (usually three quarters of coursework plus three months study for the thesis or examination). Students without an undergraduate major in Classics with an Ancient History field of study may also be accepted as candidates. However, they may require a more extended study period before completing the degree requirements. These requirements are:

1. A minimum of 30 of the 45 units must be graduate-level courses (generally 200-level or higher, but not always) and the remaining 15 units of work must be at the 100-level or higher.

2. Satisfactory completion of 20 units of graduate-level courses in Classics and of 10 units of graduate-level courses in other programs.

3. Satisfactory completion of 15 additional units of courses in either ancient Greek or Latin at the 100-level or higher.

4. Writing a thesis, or passing an exam on a particular topic, or having written work accepted by the Graduate Committee as an equivalent. Three completed and satisfactory seminar papers are usually an acceptable equivalent, provided each paper has earned the grade of B+ or higher.

5. Students must pass a modern language reading exam in one of the following languages:

German, French, or Italian. In exceptional circumstances, the Graduate Studies Committee may permit a different language, e.g., Modern Greek or Russian, to be substituted in keeping with research plans. Students are allowed to use paper and online dictionaries. Exams are offered once a quarter (autumn, winter, and spring). Incoming graduates may choose to be tested as early as autumn quarter. The department strongly encourages students to take modern language exams as early as possible in the program. If the first attempt to pass the exam fails, the student can retake the test only once. Failing the second examination means automatic dismissal from the program. A grade of B- or higher is required to pass.

6. Completion and approval of a Program Proposal for a Master’s Degree form during the first quarter of enrollment, at least five days prior to the Final Study List deadline.

On the department’s recommendation, PhD degree candidates may also become MA degree candidates. In their case, requirement four above is waived provided they have completed some work beyond the course requirements listed under requirements 1 and 2 above. Current Stanford graduate students in other degree programs may be considered for the MA degree but must be admitted and complete all requirements listed above.

CLASS-MA - Classics (MA)

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General

Program Policies

Learning Outcomes

Program Overview

Admissions Information

Minimum Units in the Program

Minimum University Units