PROGRAM DETAILS (for entrance beginning 2003-04 and thereafter):

Course Requirements

The Department normally requires each student to take a total of 12 courses over three years. Students are strongly encouraged to continue taking courses in the third year and beyond, and to take courses in the fields of classical philosophy, art and archaeology, and linguistics, as well as in literature and history.

Preliminary Examinations

All students should work on their languages so as to pass sight examinations (prose and poetry) in the program languages (Greek and Latin, or Greek, Latin and Byzantine or Modern Greek for CHS students) as early as possible.  These and the examinations in modern scholarly languages should be passed by the end of the second year.

General Examinations

The general examinations in literature, history, and philosophy are designed to test the candidates' in-depth knowledge of the subject.  Students in the Literature and Philology (LP) as well as History (PAW) options are examined in Greek and Latin literature; PAW students are also examined in Greek and Roman history, while LP students may choose to take only one of the History examinations and to satisfy the balance of the History requirement through seminar work.  Classical Philosophy students are examined in Classical Philosophy and in either Literature (Greek and Latin) or History (Greek and Roman).  Classical and Hellenic Studies candidates take examinations in Byzantine and Modern Greek Literature and in three more subjects chosen from among Greek and Latin literature and Greek and Roman History.

Special Examinations

Special examinations are designed to test the students' expertise on a specific topic of their choice.  Students concentrating on Literature and Philology take one special examination, in a Greek author, a Latin author, or a special area; History (PAW) students are examined in Material Culture and Methodology; Philosophy (PCP) students are examined in a Greek or Latin author; finally, students belonging to the Classical and Hellenic Studies Program take one author and one area examination, one of which must be on a Byzantine or Modern Greek topic.
 
Dissertation

The fourth and fifth years of study are normally devoted to the writing of the doctoral dissertation. No later than November 1 of the fourth year, each student will present a detailed dissertation proposal to a faculty committee. When the dissertation is completed, it will be read by at least two readers in addition to the supervisor. Once it is accepted by the Department, on their recommendation, the candidate must pass a final public oral examination.