Graduate Ph.D. Degrees
The Department of Classics offers three programs leading to the PhD degree:
- PhD in Philology
(Traditional, Full-Time, On-Campus) - PhD in Latin and Roman Studies
(Distance Option 1) - PhD in Classical Civilization
(Distance Option 2)
1. Ph.D. in Classical Philology
The program in classical philology is a traditional course of study in Greek and Latin language and literature that prepares students for careers in research and teaching at colleges and universities.
Assistantships and Fellowships
Students awarded a TA position receive a stipend plus a full tuition waiver. The University also offers competitive fellowships. The Department routinely provides research fellowships for its Ph.D. candidates. Department Awards are also available for study abroad opportunities. Students are expected to become Florida residents after one year.
REQUIREMENTS:
Course Work
Sixty hours total beyond the MA. Thirty of the sixty hours must
cover:
- Five seminars in Classics (15 hours)
- Three of the following seminars (9 hours): Proseminar; Classical Research Tradition; Latin Prose Composition; The Roman Tradition; Greek Prose Composition; The Greek Tradition
- Elective course work at the 5000-6000 level (9 hours)
- Proficiency in German; proficiency in Italian or French
Beyond these courses, which total thirty-three hours, an additional twenty-seven hours are required for a total of sixty hours beyond the MA (or ninety hours beyond the BA). These additional twenty-seven hours may be earned through additional seminars, independent study projects (including those leading to examinations), supervised teaching, additional elective course work, and dissertation research (CLA 7979 and 7980). The university requires that 30 hours of doctoral work be completed in residence on campus. Application for credit for previous graduate work (MA + up to 15 hours) must be made by the third semester of doctoral study.
Examinations and Dissertation
- 6 Written examinations (as specified below)
- Comprehensive preliminary oral examination (including a presentation of a dissertation-prospectus)
- Dissertation
- Final examination/public defense of the dissertation
Written Examinations in Classical Philology.
(i-ii) Comprehensive Reading Examinations in Greek and Latin
Two three-hour translation examinations, one in Greek and one in Latin.
Each examination will present the student with four to six passages (in
prose and
in poetry) of approximately 25-30 lines each. Students should pass both examinations
by the end of the second semester of the second year. If a student’s performance
on either exam is not acceptable, the examination may be retaken. Any student
who fails to pass a reading exam on the third attempt is subject to dismissal
from the program. Only in exceptional cases will a student who has failed to
pass both examinations be allowed to proceed to a third year.
(iii-iv) Comprehensive Examinations in the History of Classical Literature in
its Historical Context
Two two hour examinations on all aspects of the development and history of Classical
literature (one on Greek literature and one on Roman literature). Students should
be able to identify, date, and describe the works of all major authors from Homer
to Augustine. Factual knowledge will be tested through identification questions
and short answer. Passages may also be submitted for scansion and commentary.
Longer essays on literary issues or topics requiring the student to place authors,
works, or genres in historical context will also be included. These examinations
should be passed by the end of the third year at the Ph.D. level, though students
are urged to complete them no later than the end of the first semester of the
third year. Any student who fails to pass either exam on the third attempt is
subject to dismissal from the program.
(v) Special Author or Special Topic
Typically a two-hour examination or a 15-25 page paper on the work of an author
or
on
a
literary or historical topic studied in depth under the direction of a major
professor.
(Refer
also
to the description above.) Depending on the student’s area of research,
this exam may include a set of authors. This examination should be completed
by the end of the second year at the Ph.D. level, but, under no circumstances,
later than the end of the third year.
(vi) Foreign Language Proficiency
A student may demonstrate proficiency [1. German (mandatory), and 2. Italian or French
or Modern Greek] by completing a graduate reading knowledge course with
a
grade
of
at
least a
B or
by passing
an exam administered by the Department of Classics. The student should meet the
proficiency requirement in both languages by the end of the second year at the
Ph.D. level.
2. Ph.D. in Latin and Roman Studies (Distance Learning Option 1)
This program is designed for high school teachers and community college
teachers who wish to improve their skills, prepare for serious research,
and improve their credentials with a special emphasis in Latin literature
and Roman history.
Most students in the distance learning track will not be taking course
work in the traditional, full time manner. Instead, we expect that there
will be considerable use of special summer courses, independent study,
shared courses at other SUS campuses, as well as distance education course
work through the web and other means. Also, students transferring into
this program from other institutions will have greatly differing needs.
For all these reasons, it would be difficult to construct a program of
course work for a typical student in each track since there will be no
“typical” student. Instead, listed below are the general
requirements for these tracks, from which students, in consultation with
the department's faculty, will make up their individualized program of
study.
Requirements
Course Work
Sixty hours total beyond the MA. Thirty of the sixty hours must
cover:
- Five seminars in Classics (15 hours)
- Latin prose composition (3 hours)
- Elective course work at the 5000-6000 level (9 hours)
- Proficiency in German; proficiency in Italian or French
- Supervised teaching or pedagogy (3 hours)
Beyond these courses, which total thirty hours, an additional thirty hours are required for a total of sixty hours beyond the MA (or ninety hours beyond the BA. study. These additional credits may be earned through independent study projects, including those leading to examination, supervised teaching, additional elective course work, and dissertation research (CLA 7979). The university requires that 30 hours of doctoral work be completed in residence on campus. Residency requirements can be satisfied through participation in the department's intensive, on-campus two-week summer institutes.Application for credit for previous graduate work (MA + up to 15 hours) must be made by the third semester of Ph.D.
Examinations and Dissertation
- Written examinations (as specified below)
- Comprehensive oral examination and prospectus defense
- Dissertation
- Public defense of the dissertation
Written Examinations in Latin and Roman Studies.
N.B. Ideally, students would write their exams during the summer of their fourth year, but we understand and expect that the exact scheduling of these exams will vary, depending on each student's other particular goals.
- (i) Comprehensive Latin reading examination
A two-hour examination in Latin translation. The examination will present the student with four passages (two in prose, two in poetry) selected from the reading lists. The student will translate three of the four passages. - (ii) Comprehensive examination in the history of Latin literature
in historical context
A four-hour examination on all aspects of the development and history of Latin literature. Students should be able to identify, date, and describe the works of all major authors from Livius Andronicus to Augustine. Factual knowledge will be tested through identification questions and short answer. Passages may also be submitted for scansion and commentary (but not translation). Longer essays on literary issues or topics requiring the student to place authors, works, or genres in historical context will also be included. - (iii) Special topic
A two-hour examination on a literary or historical topic studied in depth under the direction of a major professor. (Please refer also to the description in the introduction.)
Please refer to the introduction for descriptions of the oral examination,
prospectus defense,advancement to candidacy, dissertation work, and public
defense of the dissertation.
3. Ph.D. in Classical Civilization (Distance Learning Option 2)
This program is designed for high school teachers and community college teachers who wish to improve their skills, prepare for serious research, and improve their credentials with a more general emphasis in classical civilization.
Most students in the distance learning track will not be taking course work in the traditional, full time manner. Instead, we expect that there will be considerable use of special summer courses, independent study, shared courses at other SUS campuses, as well as distance education course work through the web and other means. Also, students transferring into this program from other institutions will have greatly differing needs. For all these reasons, it would be difficult to construct a program of course work for a typical student in each track since there will be no “typical” student. Instead, listed below are the general requirements for these tracks, from which students, in consultation with the department's faculty, will make up their individualized program of study.
Requirements
Course Work
Sixty hours total beyond the MA. Thirty of the sixty hours must
cover
- Five seminars in Classics (15 hours), three of which must be in Latin
- Elective course work at the 5000-6000 level (12 hours)
- Proficiency in German; proficiency in Italian or French
- Supervised teaching or pedagogy (3 hours)
Beyond these courses, which total thirty hours, an additional thirty hours are required for a total of sixty hours beyond the MA (or ninety hours beyond the BA. study. These additional credits may be earned through independent study projects, including those leading to examination, supervised teaching, additional elective course work, and dissertation research (CLA 7979). The university requires that 30 hours of doctoral work be completed in residence on campus. Residency requirements can be satisfied through participation in the department's intensive, on-campus two-week summer institutes.Application for credit for previous graduate work (MA + up to 15 hours) must be made by the third semester of Ph.D.
Examinations and Dissertation
- Written examinations (as specified below)
- Comprehensive oral examination and prospectus defense
- Dissertation
- Public defense of the dissertation
Written Examinations in Classical Civilization.
N.B. Ideally, students would write their exams during the summer of their fourth year, but we understand and expect that the exact scheduling of these exams will vary, depending on each student's particular goals.
- (i) Comprehensive examination in the history of Classical literature
in historical context
A four-hour examination on all aspects of the development and history of Classical literature. Students should be able to identify, date, and describe the works of all major authors from Homer to Augustine. Factual knowledge will be tested through identification questions and short answer. Longer essays on literary issues or topics requiring the student to place authors, works, or genres in historical context will also be included. - (ii) Special topic 1
A two-hour examination on a literary or historical topic studied in depth under the direction of a major professor. (Please refer also to the description in the introduction.) - (iii) Special topic 2
A two-hour examination on a literary or historical topic studied in depth under the direction of a major professor. (Please refer also to the description in the introduction.)
Please refer to the introduction for descriptions of the oral examination, prospectus defense, advancement to candidacy, dissertation work, and public defense of the dissertation.
