The graduate program in classics
at Rutgers offers full- and part-time courses of study leading to the degrees
of master of arts for teachers (M.A.T.), master of arts (M.A.), and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.).
Entering students are assumed to have the equivalent of at least three years of
college-level Latin and two years of college-level Greek. Competency in one or
more modern foreign languages at the time of matriculation is desirable. There are six different degree
tracks leading to three different degrees in the Department of Classics:
M.A.T., M.A. (classics), M.A. (interdisciplinary classics and ancient history),
Ph.D. (classics), Ph.D. (interdisciplinary classics and ancient history), and Ph.D.
(joint program in classics and art history, by individual arrangement). The
master of philosophy degree (M.Phil.) is available to doctoral candidates and
is awarded to exceptional students in the program.
Graduate training in the Department of Classics focuses on interpreting the original Latin and Greek in the light of modern literary criticism and archaeological data. It also makes use of the theories and methodologies of other disciplines that deal with ancient Greece and Rome, namely ancient history, art history, philosophy, and epigraphy. While the study of original texts is central, the program attempts to relate these texts to the present day. The aim is to prepare students to apply their knowledge of the classics to the general humanistic tradition. The M.A. candidate must demonstrate a general knowledge of
the principal ancient Greek and Roman authors and may write a thesis
(equivalent to 6 credits). The M.A. candidate also is expected to demonstrate a
reading knowledge of French, German, or Italian. The M.A. examination tests the
candidate's knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages, as well as general
knowledge about Greek and Latin literature. It consists of a three-hour
written translation exam and a one-hour oral exam covering general questions
about Greek and Latin literature. Students may take the M.A. examination after
completing 30 credits of graduate work (12 credits of which may be earned
through enrolling in undergraduate coursework at the 300 or 400 level).
The M.A. program in Latin for teachers (M.A.T.) is designed
to assist Latin teachers in secondary schools. Candidates are expected to pass
a competency test in ancient Greek or, alternatively, to demonstrate a reading
knowledge of French, German, or Italian. The student is expected to complete a
total of 30 credits, 12 credits of which may be earned through enrolling in
undergraduate coursework at the 300 or 400 level. Six credits are to be taken
outside of Latin literature in areas such as Greek literature, ancient history, or
ancient philosophy. In addition, candidates must complete an expository or
critical essay, which normally relates to coursework, and they must pass
comprehensive general knowledge (oral) and translation (written) examinations
based on a reading list of Latin authors.
The Ph.D. candidate is expected to have a knowledge of all
major authors, including work beyond the Greek fourth and fifth centuries BC
and the Republican and Augustan periods of Rome. While the candidate is
expected to research a specific aspect of the classics, he or she also should
be acquainted with the interdependence of Greek and Roman culture; to
demonstrate an understanding of past and current scholarly trends; and to
undertake research in a specific aspect of classics or its related fields. Students
may supplement their work with related programs, such as art history,
comparative literature, or philosophy.
The Ph.D. candidate is expected to complete at least 48
credits of coursework beyond the bachelor's degree (12 credits of which may be
earned through enrolling in undergraduate coursework at the 300 or 400 level) and to demonstrate a reading knowledge
of German and either French or Italian. The Ph.D. comprehensive examination
tests the student's knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages and literatures
and draws from the material included in coursework and the material on the
Ph.D. reading list. It consists of three hours of translation, a one-and-a-half-hour oral examination covering general knowledge in Greek and Latin literature,
and two examinations testing a student's knowledge of a particular Greek or
Latin author and a special field. The special author and field exams may be
either oral or written and may also be satisfied by a research paper. General
reading lists for the M.A., M.A.T., and Ph.D. degrees are available to all
graduate students at the department office. Reading lists for special fields
and authors can be worked out with the graduate adviser in conjunction with the
student's special field and author advisers.
After he or she completes satisfactorily the qualifying examination, the Ph.D. candidate forms a dissertation committee, which must include three professors on the graduate faculty of the Department of Classics and one professor from outside this group (and normally from outside of Rutgers). The candidate then submits a dissertation proposal to the classics department as a whole for approval. The proposal should include a general statement of the project, a list of chapters and topics to be treated within each chapter, and an annotated bibliographical survey. The candidate must have his or her proposal in an acceptable form within the semester that follows the qualifying examination.
An interdisciplinary Ph.D. in art history and classical archaeology may be worked out with advisers from the art history and classics programs. Students in such a program would have to show proficiency in French, German, Greek, and Latin. A concentration in interdisciplinary classical studies and ancient history is available for M.A. and Ph.D. candidates. Applicants for this option are expected to possess a background in Greek and Roman history in addition to the other qualifications for admission to the classics program. Specialized M.A. and doctoral reading lists are provided for this concentration, and special field/special author examinations for the Ph.D. are focused on classical history. Doctoral candidates are examined on their knowledge of Greek and Roman history, in addition to literature.
