MA in Ancient Societies and Cultures

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The degree is designed for students whose interests go beyond a particular region or period in the ancient world or who wish to develop a wider critical framework from which to study a subject, region, or period. Students in this program are particularly encouraged to incorporate inter- and cross-disciplinary approaches in their education and research. The scope of the program allows students to pursue, for instance, advanced comparative studies in Greek, Roman and other ancient historiography; cross-linguistic studies; ancient Mediterranean cross-cultural studies; research in contacts between ancient civilizations; and comparative studies in ancient religions, societies, polities, built spaces, and visual cultures.

Students will be able to develop their personal research interests and critical skills by taking advantage of the broad range of expertise in the Department of History and Classics with respect to the ancient world. Areas of faculty expertise include Ancient History and Historiography; Classics; Ancient Religions; Late Antique and Early Medieval Europe; Archaeology and Material Culture of the Ancient World; Historical and Archaeological Theory and Methodology; and Latin and Greek Languages and Literatures.

Entrance Requirements

In addition to general Departmental requirements, students must have a BA either in Classics or History or a suitable related field (e.g., Religious Studies, Philosophy, Anthropology)

Applicants to the MA in Ancient Societies and Cultures must demonstrate appropriate level of language proficiency to conduct research on the primary sources, as applicable to the student's program (e.g., suitable preparation in Ancient Greek, Hebrew, Latin and/or Sanskrit).

Program Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of «19 in coursework and a thesis.

Coursework (★19)

Six ★3 graduate-level courses subject to approval of the Department

At least two of these courses must be related to the chosen area of concentration.

CLASS 501 (★1)

Thesis

Registration in 900-level THES. Students are required to write a thesis which should normally be not more than 100 pages in length.

Ethics Requirement

Students must complete INT D 710, a 6-hour, self-paced online course by the end of their first semester in the program.

Professional Development Requirement

Students fulfill four hours of the FGSR Professional Development Requirement through HIST 602 if it is taken as part of their doctoral program. See the FGSR website for more information. 

Modern Language Requirement

Students must demonstrate competence in French, German or Italian or another modern language appropriate to their area of study according to the procedures specified in the Departmental Language Requirement.