Classics

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, 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.

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, and Byzantine and Renaissance authors); classical archaeology; or, in conjunction with the appropriate department, comparative literature, ancient history, ancient philosophy, and classical linguistics.

A statement of “Regulations for Advanced Degrees in the Classics” and special programs for prospective secondary school teachers may be obtained from the departmental office.

Admission

In addition to meeting the admission requirements of the Graduate College, applicants for admission to the master’s program in the classics curriculum must ordinarily present at least 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.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required and must be reported to the department. Applicants may be admitted to the program in either the fall or the spring semester.

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.

Master of Arts

The master of arts may be taken in classics with a specialization in both Greek and Latin, or a specialization in Greek, or a specialization in Latin. Candidates for this degree must complete 32 graduate hours of coursework. For the Master of Arts in Classics, the following is required: 24 graduate hours of Greek and Latin, with at least 8 graduate hours in each language and at least 12 graduate hours at the 500 level (excluding 500- 501); 8 graduate hours of electives; and sight-translation examinations in both languages. For the Master of Arts in Classics with a specialization in Greek or Latin, the following is required: 20 graduate hours in Greek or Latin, as the specialization requires, with at least 12 graduate hours at the 500 level; 12 graduate hours of electives; and sight-translation examination in Greek or Latin. With the consent of the student’s adviser, up to two units of thesis research may be counted toward elective credit for the Master of Arts in Classics with specialization in both Greek and Latin, or the Master of Arts in Classics with specialization in Greek or Latin. For the Master of Arts in the Teaching of Latin, the following is required: 16 graduate hours of Latin in regular courses, including 411, with at least 12 graduate hours at the 500 level; 8 graduate hours of appropriate education courses; and 8 graduate hours of appropriate electives.

Doctor of Philosophy

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. These include 24 graduate hours in Greek and Latin, with at least 8 graduate hours in each language and at least 20 at the 500 level and 8 graduate hours of appropriate electives. The department requires a reading knowledge of two ancillary languages, German and French or Italian. Knowledge of one of these must be demonstrated at the time of admission to Stage II and the other before the start of the second year at Stage II.

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.

Research

Two periodicals are edited in the department: Illinois Classical Studies and the Journal of Coptic Studies.

Resources

The separate Classics Library contains approximately 500 titles. 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 Krannert Art Museum and the Spurlock Museum of World Cultures have outstanding collections of ancient vases and other artifacts. The department has excellent computer resources, including CD-ROMs containing Greek and Latin texts from the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae, CCAT Biblical Materials, and the Duke Data Bank of Documentary Papyri.

Financial Aid

University fellowships are available for the academic year. Teaching assistantships are available for both the academic year and Summer Session Term II.