CLASS-MA - Classics (MA)

Students pursuing an MBA, MD, master’s, or joint degree program cannot transfer units.  

The Department of Classics is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by the advisor and the advisee.

The goal of advising in the graduate program is to help students select courses that best suit their intellectual pursuits, design and conduct research, navigate degree requirements, explore academic and professional opportunities, and prepare for their postgraduate careers.

Graduate students are expected to be active collaborators in the advising relationship. They are responsible for seeking academic and professional guidance and informing themselves of the MA program’s policies and degree requirements. 

An essential part of the advisee-advisor relationship is for students to discuss their expectations for the adviser-advisee relationship with the advisor and revisit these expectations periodically. 

Director of Graduate Studies (DGS)

A Department faculty member is the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). The DGS monitors the degree progress of all MA and PhD students, offers advice on meeting department and university requirements, coordinates departmental advising and Teaching Assistant (TA) assignments, and approves petitions for funding or other needs before submission to the Graduate Committee (see below).

Track Advisor

MA students are admitted to one of four tracks within the Classics Department, each with its own requirements (Archaeology, History, Literature, and Philosophy). Each track also has an individual advisor in the pre-dissertation stage, advising on track-specific coursework, training in research methodologies, and professional development. Entering students should meet routinely (at least once per quarter) with both the DGS and the track advisor, who approve a course of study, monitor progress, and provide advice about funding opportunities, strategies for scheduling general and other exams required for degree progress, and to provide support if difficulties arise.

Student Services Officer (SSO)

In addition, the Department’s Student Services Officer serves as the student’s primary contact regarding department and university procedures and can provide information, assistance, and the appropriate forms and procedures for academic and financial matters.

The SSO monitors academic progress and student completion of program requirements and milestones, which is reviewed as necessary by the DGS and discussed by faculty at an annual meeting devoted to assessing graduate student progress. Students who have made satisfactory academic progress are typically advanced to candidacy at the end of their second year in residency by faculty vote at this annual review meeting.

Graduate Studies Committee

The DGS, the track advisors (the DGS typically serves as track advisor for their track), and the SSO constitute the Graduate Studies Committee. All requests for funding that fall outside of allowed discretionary spending, extraordinary travel away from campus, petitions for leave of absence, and any disciplinary issues that may arise must be reviewed and, as necessary, approved by the Graduate Studies Committee. 

Expectations 

MA students are expected to meet regularly with their advisors and to keep them informed about their academic progress. To facilitate this, each student must meet with the DGS and the Track Advisor at the beginning of autumn quarter, again in winter quarter, and early in spring quarter during their first two years in the program. DGS and Track Advisors are available for these meetings at the beginning of each quarter.

Additional Resources

A detailed description of the program’s requirements, milestones, and advising expectations is found on the Classics website. Additionally, the program adheres to the advising guidelines and responsibilities listed by the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education (VPGE) and the Graduate Academic Policies (GAP).

See Graduate Advising for a statement of university policy on graduate advising.