Classics
Director of Graduate Studies: Antonios Augoustakis
4080 Foreign Languages Building
707 South Mathews Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-1008
E-mail: classics@illinois.edu
Major: Classics
Degrees offered: M.A.
Graduate Concentrations: Greek, Latin, Medieval Studies
Major: Teaching of Latin
Degrees offered: M.A.
Major: Classical Philology
Degrees offered: Ph.D.
Graduate Concentration: Medieval Studies
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of the Classics offers programs of study leading to the Master of Arts in Classics. Within the master's degree program, students may choose from three options: both Greek and Latin (= Classics), Greek, or Latin. In addition, the department offers the Master of Arts in the Teaching of Latin and the Doctor of Philosophy in Classical Philology. A further concentration in Medieval Studies is available to students pursuing graduate degrees in the Classics.
Although the graduate program is designed to provide a thorough education in classical studies in the widest sense, students may concentrate at different stages upon Greek and Latin language and literature (including papyrology, paleography, gender studies and medieval and renaissance Greek and Latin authors); classical archaeology; ancient philosophy or, in conjunction with the appropriate department, comparative literature, ancient history, and classical linguistics. Additional information is available at: www.classics.illinois.edu.
Admission
Applicants for admission to the master's program in the classics curriculum must ordinarily present a minimum of 20 semester hours in either Greek or Latin and 15 semester hours in the other language; candidates for admission to the master's program with specialization in Greek or Latin or the teaching of Latin must ordinarily present at least 20 semester hours in that language. Previous work in ancient history, ancient art and archaeology, philosophy, literary criticism, or linguistics is desirable.
Applicants should apply online (www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply ) and submit a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation and a writing sample of approximately 20 pages (one or two papers) that showcases the applicant's ability to work in the original classical languages and incorporates relevant secondary sources as appropriate. Original transcripts showing all undergraduate and graduate work completed should be sent to SLCL Graduate Student Services, 3070 Foreign Languages Bldg., 707 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required and should be submitted to institution code 1836. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and must score at least 79 on the internet-based test (iBT); they must also pass the speaking sub-section of the iBT with a minimum score of 24 (see www.grad.illinois.edu/Admissions/instructions/04c). Applications are accepted for fall admission only. Application questions may be directed to SLCL Graduate Student Services at slclgradservices@illinois.edu.
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the department's graduate program requirements and the Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Arts
The Master of Arts may be taken in Classics requiring advanced work in both Greek and Latin (Master of Arts in Classics), or with a concentration in either Greek, or a concentration in Latin. Only the Master of Arts in Classics leads to Ph.D. level work in Classical Philology. The master's degrees with concentrations in Latin or Greek and likewise the Master of Arts in the Teaching of Latin are all terminal degrees.
Classics
| Required Courses: | Thesis Option- Required Hours |
Non-thesis Option-Required Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Greek and Latin in regular courses, with at least eight hours in each language, including Greek 411 and Latin 411, with at least 12 hours at the 500 level | 24 | 24 |
| CLCV 550 | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Thesis Hours Required – GRK/LAT 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 32 | 32 |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: | 12 (excluding 500-501) | 12 (excluding 500-501) |
| Other Requirements:*A concentration is not required. | Satisfactory examinations in Greek and Latin | Satisfactory examinations in Greek and Latin |
Classics, concentration in Greek
| Required Courses: | Thesis Option- Required Hours |
Non-thesis Option-Required Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 24 hours in Greek in regular courses, including 411, with at least 12 hours at the 500 level | 24 | 24 |
| CLCV 550 | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Thesis Hours Required – GRK 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 32 | 32 |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: | 12 | 12 |
| Other Requirements:* | Satisfactory examinations in Greek | Satisfactory examinations in Greek |
Classics, concentration in Latin
| Required Courses: | Thesis Option- Required Hours |
Non-thesis Option-Required Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 24 hours in Latin in regular courses, including 411, with at least 12 hours at the 500 level | 24 | 24 |
| CLCV 550 | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Thesis Hours Required– LAT 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 32 | 32 |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: | 12 | 12 |
| Other Requirements:* | Satisfactory examination in Latin | Satisfactory examination in Latin |
Teaching of Latin
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| 16 hours in Latin in regular courses, including 411, with at least 12 hours at the 500 level | 20 |
| CLCV 550 | 4 |
| Education courses | 4 |
| Electives | 8 |
| Total Hours | 32 |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: | 12 |
| Other Requirements:* | Certification requirements if needed |
Doctor of Philosophy
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| 24 hours of Greek and Latin, with at least eight hours in each language and at least twenty at the 500 level, including Greek/Latin 595, if not taken previously, Greek 511 and Latin 511; and four hours of 580 in each language | 24 |
| CLCV 550 (if not taken previously) | 0-4 |
| Elective | 4-8 |
| Language Requirement: Reading knowledge of two ancillary languages:, German and either French or Italian. Knowledge of one of these languages must be demonstrated at the time of admission to Stage II and the second before the start of the second year at Stage II. | |
| Thesis Hours Required – GRK/LAT 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 12-32 |
| Total Hours | 64 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD? | Yes |
| Qualifying Exam Required | No |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
The Doctor of Philosophy is offered only in classical philology, which requires advanced work in both Greek and Latin. Candidates for the Ph.D. program are eligible for acceptance upon completion of the master's degree in classics or its equivalent. Once admitted, they must complete at least 64 additional graduate hours of coursework. Admission to Stage III requires passing examinations in Greek and Latin sight-translation, the history of Greek and Latin literature, and a special author, as well as the preliminary oral examination.
Certifications
Students wishing to add teacher certification in Latin to an MAT, M.A. in Latin, or Ph.D. must apply to the Foreign Language Teacher Education Program and consult its Director, Linda Hemminger (lhemming@illinois.edu) about requirements.
Students must complete an M.A. in Classics with a concentration in Latin, an M.A. in Classics with a concentration in Greek and Latin or an M.A. in the Teaching of Latin in order to receive certification.
Medical Scholars Program
The Medical Scholars Program permits highly qualified students to integrate the study of medicine with study for a graduate degree in a second discipline, including Classical Philology. Students may apply to the Medical Scholars Program prior to beginning graduate school or while in the graduate program. Applicants to the Medical Scholars Program must meet the admissions standards for and be accepted into both the doctoral graduate program and the College of Medicine. Students in the dual degree program must meet the specific requirements for both the medical and graduate degrees. On average, students take eight years to complete both degrees. Further information on this program is available by contacting the Medical Scholars Program, 125 Medical Sciences Building, (217) 333-8146 or at www.med.illinois.edu/msp.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program, and almost all students teach. Non-native English speakers must first pass a test of their oral English ability (see www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/taengprof.htm).
Faculty Research Interests
Greek and Latin literature of all periods, Greek and Roman epic, Greek and Roman tragedy, Greek and Roman comedy, Greek and Latin epigraphy, ancient philosophy (Epicureanism, Hellenistic moral theory), Greek political theory, Greek and Roman religion, Roman historiography and biography, gender studies of the Greco-Roman world, ancient Greek music theory, Greek mythology, Medieval Greek and Latin philology, the ancient world in film, the reception of Greek and Latin literature history of classical scholarship, Greek and Roman archaeology. For details see www.classics.illinois.edu/people/faculty.html
Facilities and Resources
The superb Classics Library (see www.library.illinois.edu/clx/) at the University of Illinois houses over 60,000 volumes on open shelves and boasts two specialist librarians. The University of Illinois Library's Rare Book Room houses the Turyn Archive of Greek manuscript photographs and the American Center of the International Photographic Archive of Papyri. The Department of the Classics also publishes the journal Illinois Classical Studies and its Supplements. The Krannert Art Museum and the Spurlock Museum of World Cultures have outstanding collections of ancient vases and other artifacts.
Financial Aid
University fellowships are available for the academic year. Teaching assistantships are available for both the academic year and Summer Session II.