Graduate Programs in Classics
Master of Arts
The Department of Classics at Washington University in St. Louis invites applications to its graduate degree programs from individuals with a strong undergraduate foundation in Latin and Greek. The M.A. degree, awarded upon completion of coursework, language exams, and in some cases a thesis, is a solid basis for a variety of further pursuits, including but not restricted to teaching and research in Classics and related fields. Many past M.A. graduates have subsequently entered top-ranking Ph.D. programs to continue their training.
Admitted students will have demonstrated a strong undergraduate foundation in Latin and Greek, and will enter advanced author- or genre-based courses in preparation for the reading list exams. Increased language proficiency is the primary goal of the degree. Other strengths of the program include instruction and mentoring by faculty with diverse specialties within the field and opportunities for coursework in affiliated departments such as Philosophy and Art History & Archaeology. Financial assistance is available through teaching assistantships or fellowships.
Other degrees
Prospective students who desire to teach Latin at the secondary level may apply to the University's M.A.T. program with a concentration in Latin. These applicants must demonstrate proficiency in Latin. Enrolled students will take the required courses in Education from the Department of Education and some course work in Latin authors read at the secondary level. Arrangements for study of methods of teaching Latin and for practice-teaching of Latin will be worked out in consultation with the Classics Department and the Department of Education. For further information on this program, consult the Washington University Department of Education.
In the past, many successful M.A. candidates have been admitted to top-ranking Ph.D. programs in Classics and related fields, and the Washington University Classics Department will continue to advise suitable candidates on finding the right program for their interests and strengths. Some M.A. candidates may also apply to continue their graduate studies at Washington University, where there are opportunities to pursue an interdisciplinary Ph.D. that joins the resources of the Classics program with those of Art History & Archaeology, Comparative Literature, or Philosophy. To inquire about these options, contact the Classics Department Chair or the Director of Graduate Studies.
M.A. Degree Requirements
Candidates may obtain a Master of Arts degree in Classics by completing 30 units of credit, completing a reading list, and taking a series of examinations. If the student elects to write a Master's Thesis in the second year, this will normally represent 3 of those credits; a student who does not write a thesis will fulfill the required credits with additional coursework.
All students will complete 30 units of coursework. Two courses are required of all candidates for the MA in Classics: Classics 502, Research and Publication on the Greek and Roman World (a proseminar introducing the student to the profession) and Classics 510, Comparative Grammar of Greek and Latin. The remaining courses will be 400- and 500-level seminars on Greek and Latin authors, genres, and literary periods, as well as some on historical and cultural topics.
A diagnostic sight reading exam in Greek and Latin will be administered at the beginning of the first term of residence, and another will be administered at the end of the first year, to assess progress and help individual students plan summer reading. At a point during the second year of residence to be determined by the student and faculty, each student will take a written examination based on a standard reading list. Students not planning to go on to a Ph.D. program in Classics may opt to take the exam in one language (Greek or Latin) only. Those who pursue this option must still complete at least 6 credits in the other language at the 400 level. The examination will require the student to demonstrate competence in translation and interpretation, as well as knowledge of the relevant scholarship.
A reading knowledge of either French or German is also required for completion of the degree, and may be demonstrated either by exam or by appropriate coursework. Students going on to a Ph.D. program should have command of both French and German. M.A. students may be eligible for funding that will allow them to study one of these languages during their enrollment at Washington University.
Admission Requirements
The normal prerequisite for entry into the Master of Arts program in Classics is the successful completion of an undergraduate (B.A.) degree in Classics, or the equivalent. Graduate Record Exam scores indicating an aptitude for such graduate study are also required, as well as strong letters of recommendation from instructors acquainted with the candidate's accomplishments to date. The applicant should be prepared to enter both Greek and Latin courses at the 400 (third year) level. This preparation will be demonstrated by way of courses successfully completed for graded credit and by strong letters of recommendation from current or past instructors. An applicant not yet prepared for 400-level courses in one of the languages will most likely be advised to reapply after additional preparation. Applicants with more serious deficiencies in the ancient languages may want to apply to a Post-Baccalaureate Year program in order to better equip themselves for graduate work in Classics. Washington University does not currently offer such a Post-Baccalaureate program in Classics.
Funding
Applicants may be eligible for financial assistance through teaching assistantships or fellowships. Many M.A. candidates have served as teaching assistants in popular undergraduate courses such as Classical Mythology, Greek History, Roman History, and Women and Slaves in the Greco-Roman World.