StudyQA — Master: Classics — University of Notre Dame (Page 6)

Description Contents Requirements Funding

The Department of Classics at Notre Dame offers a funded, 2-year M.A. program in Classics, covering the language, literature, history and culture of the Greco-Roman world. The chief purpose of the program is to prepare students for doctoral study in these or other related areas.

Over a dozen regular and concurrent faculty of the Department of Classics represent a wide array of specialties covering Greek and Roman literature, culture, history, linguistics, philosophy and archaeology, from Archaic Greece through Late Antiquity.

Our students will benefit from the rich intellectual environment created by strong graduate programs at Notre Dame, including Early Christian Studies, the Medieval Institute, History, Philosophy (which offers ancient philosophy) and Theology (with strengths in late antiquity and patristics).

Students will choose from several possible areas of emphasis, including language and literature, history, philosophy, and late antiquity. A thesis or comprehensive written and oral examination will be required to complete the degree.

Full tuition scholarships and stipends are available. We will admit two to three students per year.

To earn the Masters in Classics, students must satisfactorily complete 36 class credits, a reading list, and several examinations. Students also have the option of writing a Masters Thesis.

Coursework
Reading List
Exams
Thesis

Coursework

Students will take 36 credits over 2 years in the MA program. The curriculum is well-defined, but includes room for adjustment based on students’ individual needs and interests. The details of any particular student’s coursework will depend on the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Graduate Committee. Here's a list of our current courses.

The chart below shows the curriculum that will normally be offered, followed by specific examples for different specialties. Students can choose from several areas of emphasis, including language and literature, history, late antiquity, and philosophy. Years A and B will alternate based on the courses offered that year; some students will begin in Year A, others in Year B.

General Curriculum
Greek and Latin Literature
History
Late Antiquity
Philosophy

General Curriculum

YEAR A	YEAR B
Topics and Methods in Classical Studies	Ancient History seminar
Survey of Latin Literature	Survey of Greek Literature
Advanced level language	Advanced level language
Advanced level language	Advanced level language/history/elective
Advanced level language	Thesis (or advanced level language)
Advanced level language/history/elective	Thesis or Comprehensive Examination

Emphasis in Greek and Latin Literature

YEAR A	YEAR B
Topics and Methods course	Ancient History seminar
Survey of Latin Literature	Survey of Greek Literature
Survey of Latin Christian Literature	Greek author course
Latin author course	Latin author course
Greek author course	Latin author course
Greek author course	Thesis

Emphasis in History

YEAR A	YEAR B
Topics and Methods course	Ancient History seminar
Survey of Latin Literature	Archaeology elective
Greek author course	Latin author course
Latin author course	Greek author course
Ancient History Seminar	Elective course (early Medieval history)
Greek author course	Thesis

Emphasis in Late Antiquity

YEAR A	YEAR B
Topics and Methods course	Ancient History seminar
Survey of Latin Literature	Survey of Greek Literature
Survey of Latin Christian Literature	Latin author course
Greek author course	Latin author course
Elective class (e.g. Patristics in Theology)	Greek author course
Survey of Medieval Literature	Thesis

Emphasis in Philosophy

YEAR A	YEAR B
Topics and Methods course	Ancient History seminar
Survey of Latin Literature	Survey of Greek Literature
Greek author class	Greek author class
Greek author class	Latin author class
Latin author class	Philosophy Seminar
Philosophy Seminar	Thesis

Reading List

In addition to completing all course requirements, students will be expected to read a list of texts in preparation for their examinations and for further study in the field of Classics. This reading list will be compiled with a view to the needs and interests of individual students by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Committee.

Exams

Greek and Latin:
- Students will be required to take examinations in Greek and/or Latin translation at the beginning of their fourth semester, with the possibility of taking the exam again in the spring. The exam will be based on a standard reading list of core texts, though some adjustment may be made according to individual needs.
Modern Languages:
- Since German, French and Italian are of major importance for research, all students will be required to demonstrate reading proficiency in one of these languages by passing an appropriate examination.
Comprehensive Examination:
- Students choosing not to write a thesis will be required to take a comprehensive written and oral examination at the end of the fourth semester. Unlike the Greek and Latin examinations, the comprehensive examination will focus on broad topics pertaining to classical history, literature, and culture.

Thesis

With departmental permission, students will have the option of writing a final MA paper in a 3-credit or 6-credit version. Students intending to go on to PhD programs will be advised to exercise this option especially. Students writing a thesis will not be required to take the comprehensive examination.