Classical Languages Curriculum

Curriculum - Classical Languages

The degree program consists of 30 hours, whether one chooses the thesis or non-thesis option.

The student may stress either Latin or Greek or a combination of both. Students who take only one of the ancient languages at the graduate level must present the equivalent of at least one year of elementary college-level in the other; this requirement may also be satisfied by passing a departmental examination. For a research skill, the student must demonstrate a reading knowledge of German, French, or Italian before receiving the MA (see the graduate catalog for details).

Students may select their 30 hours from graduate courses in Greek, Latin, and Classics, as well as certain courses in philosophy, history, art history, and linguistics that have been approved by the Department. Students with no undergraduate preparation in Greek and/or Roman art and/or archaeology must successfully complete a course in that area of study at some point in their graduate career. Credit earned in this course, if taken at the graduate level at KU, may be applied toward the program.  Eighteen of the hours required for the MA must be in graduate coursework in Greek and/or Latin.

Students who elect to write an MA thesis must complete at least 24 hours of graduate-level courses, in addition to 6 hours of Thesis (LAT 899 or GRK 899). Each student shall select, with the approval of the graduate faculty of the Department, a thesis committee of three members, at least two of whom, including the committee chair, must be members of the Classics Department.

The student selecting the non-thesis option must complete 30 hours of courses at the graduate level. In two of these courses the student must prepare research papers that meet the approval of the appropriate instructors and the Director of Graduate Studies. These papers will be placed on file in the Department office.

Examinations

  • (a) Diagnostic Exam: Upon the recommendation of the Admissions Committee, incoming graduate students may be required to complete a diagnostic reading examination in Greek and/or Latin. Students planning to take graduate-level courses in both languages may be tested in both languages.  
  • (b) Comprehensive Exam: All students must write a final translation examination prepared by a committee of three members of the graduate faculty, at least two of whom, including the committee chair, must be members of the Classics Department. The members of the examination committee will be selected by the student, with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies and the examination will be prepared by the committee using material drawn from the student’s reading list. 
    The student will present a reading list of no less than 300 pages, according to pagination in the Oxford Classical Text or its equivalent. Students are encouraged to draw from course readings to create their examination reading list. This list will consist of 25-150 pages from at least three of the following four categories: 

Greek Prose 

Greek Verse 

Latin Prose 

Latin Verse
 

One section of this examination will be drawn from material read in graduate classes. The student will present a reading list of no less than 400 pages, according to pagination in the Oxford Classical Text or its equivalent. This will consist of 50-150 pages from at least four of the eight major areas of Greek and Latin literature that form the four-semester cycle of courses (see below). A second section will be a sight passage from one of the major genres of Greek or Latin literature selected by the student.

Four-Semester Cycle of Courses

Headings indicate areas from which instructors may draw material for author or theme courses. Recent courses offered include:

Greek

  • Graduate Reading in Greek
  • Graduate Seminar in Greek Prose
  • Graduate Seminar in Greek Verse
  • Topics in: Greek

Latin

  • Graduate Reading in Latin
  • Graduate Seminar in Latin Prose
  • Graduate Seminar in Latin Verse
  • Topics in: Latin