CLASS-PHD - Classics (PhD)

There are three sub-plans within the Classics PhD program: language and literature, classical archaeology, and ancient history. The requirements of these subplans are detailed later in this Bulletin. These subplans appear on the transcript and the diploma.

Complete 135 units of academic credit or equivalent in study beyond the bachelor’s degree by the end of autumn quarter of the fourth year.

Maintain satisfactory progress throughout the degree program. The Classics department sets a higher standard for satisfactory progress than the university minimum requirements. To maintain that standard, students are expected to:

• Enroll in all four academic quarters as instructed by the Classics Department

• Maintain good grades (within the Classics department, this generally means grades in the A range; a grade of B or below is a cause of significant concern)

• Pass all required exams by the required deadlines

• Write a minimum of three seminar papers per year in the first two years

• Demonstrate high-quality research and writing

• Take no more than one incomplete grade at a time (unless given special permission by the Director of Graduate Studies)

• Demonstrate effective teaching when serving as a Teaching Assistant or Teaching Fellow

Students who fail to maintain satisfactory progress may be subject to dismissal from the program.

Enrollment:

In Year 1, all students are required to enroll in 15-18 units autumn, winter, and spring quarters and one unit in summer quarter.

In Years 2 and 3, all students are required to enroll in 15-18 units in the quarter they are not teaching, and in 1 unit in summer quarter. During the quarters they are teaching, they must enroll in ten units.

In Year 4, students are required to enroll in ten units per quarter until they complete 135 units and reach TGR status.

Once students reach TGR status, they must enroll in course until completion of the degree.

Examinations:

• Diagnostic Exams: By the end of the first week of their first quarter, students must take diagnostic exams in Greek and Latin. Depending on performance, students may be required to enroll in undergraduate language classes in one or both of these languages to improve their skills to the level required for graduate work.

• Latin and Ancient Greek Language Translation Exams: These exams are based on reading lists posted on the website and have the following format: a choice of translating into English four out of six passages in a 3-hour period. The Latin translation exam is offered at the end of the Latin Core sequence (offered every other year) and the Ancient Greek translation exam is offered at the end of the Greek Core sequence (offered in alternating years to the Latin). Students on the Language and Literature track must take these translation exams in both Latin and Ancient Greek. Classical Archaeologists have two options.

  1. They take two graduate-level ancient language courses (both in the same language, i.e. Greek or Latin) and a separate translation exam in the same language, based on a shorter reading list developed in consultation with the examining faculty member.

  2. Alternatively, if they take three quarters of a given Core sequence, a separate language exam is not required. 

• A student who does not attain a B- or better, in a translation exam must retake the exam before the first day of Autumn Quarter of the same calendar year. If a student receives a failing grade a second time, they may submit a petition to the DGS to request taking the exam a third time. A third failure to attain a B- or better will result in dismissal from the program. Ancient Historians are required to take the final offered at the end of each Core segment or Special Topics class, and do not have to take a separate translation exam.

• During their first two years, students, in consultation with the course instructor, are required to identify one departmental seminar in which they will produce a critical bibliographical survey of relevant foreign-language scholarship, analyzing no fewer than 15 items in three languages other than English. No fewer than four items shall be chosen in each of the three languages, and at least one full-length book shall be chosen in each of two of the languages. For each title on the full list, students will:

  • a) explain how it was accessed

  • b) identify its argument

  • c) locate it within larger debates on the topic; and

  • d) offer independent critical observations

    They must then incorporate the results into their paper assignment for that seminar, demonstrating in a measurable way their ability to identify and make proper use of such scholarship. This assignment will be considered a key component of the course and given a separate mark (which in turn will contribute to the overall seminar grade). A student’s satisfaction of the requirement will be recorded by the course instructor, with simultaneous notification of the DGS and the student’s track advisor. The seminar in question must be taken no later than the spring quarter of the second year; this is a prerequisite for advancing to candidacy. The assignment itself must be completed no later than the end of the fall quarter of the third year. In the event of an unsatisfactory outcome, students may repeat the assignment in a different seminar but are required to meet the aforementioned deadline for successful completion.

• Students must take general examinations in four of the following fields: Greek literature, Latin literature, Greek history, Roman history, Greek archaeology, and Roman archaeology. Students must take both exams that correspond to their tracks (e.g., Greek and Latin literature for the language and literature track) and may freely select the other two. At least one general exam must be taken by the first week of the studentʼs second year (generally late summer or early autumn quarter). The remaining exams must be taken by the first week of the studentʼs third year (typically late summer or early autumn quarter). Moving the timing of any of the exams or increasing the number of exams requires prior consultation and approval by the Director of Graduate Studies. The Director must approve all exam choices of Graduate Studies in the spring quarter before the examination. To prepare for the exams, students are encouraged to take at least one course in each of their chosen exam fields and consult with the faculty examiner in a timely manner. Reading lists for each exam are posted on the website.

Dissertation Proposal (Prospectus):

During the third year, the candidate, in consultation with the dissertation proposal advisor (usually the same as the dissertation advisor), writes a dissertation proposal, which is evaluated by a committee of faculty (dissertation proposal committee). The dissertation proposal defense should be scheduled either for the end of spring quarter of the third year or for the beginning of the autumn quarter of the fourth year; it must take place no later than the end of autumn quarter of the fourth year. If the proposal does not pass, the defense is repeated in the following quarter and must be passed. Failure to pass on the second attempt results in the student’s dismissal from the program.

Teaching is core to the academic and professional training of doctoral students in the Classics department. All PhD students are required to complete four quarters of academic-year teaching experience by the end of their third year, regardless of their financial support. Typically, students complete more than the required number of teaching quarters as part of their professional training and financial support.

To ensure that students are able to fully engage in the teaching experience, enrollment is limited to 10 units during these quarters. 

Summer teaching may be available through Summer Session, subject to approval by the DGS. Summer teaching does not count towards the department’s teaching requirement.

Admission to candidacy is a prospective judgement by the faculty of a student’s potential to successfully complete the requirements of the degree program. Students are expected to complete qualifying procedures and apply for candidacy by the end of their second year in the program, and be approved to advance to candidacy by the end of summer quarter of their second year.

The University Oral Examination is the defense of the candidate’s dissertation. To take this exam, a pre-final draft of the entire dissertation must be completed and approved by the dissertation advisor(s), the exam committee must have been established and approved by the department chair, and a date and time must have been arranged with the department. The exam consists of a public presentation with a question and answer period, followed by a private examination between the student and the exam committee.

Upon passing the defense of the candidate’s dissertation, students must submit their completed and approved dissertation and apply to graduate as per university Dissertation Submission guidelines.

*Or an alternative course on the history of the disciplines of Classical Archaeology or Classics.

Sub-topics may vary from year to year, but students will receive credit for the above courses regardless of the specific sub-topic covered.