Classics (Thesis) (M.A.) (45 credits)
Offered by: History and Classical Studies (Faculty of Arts)
Degree: Master of Arts
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
The M.A. in Classics (Thesis) focuses on language and philology to material culture, ancient religions, and reception studies, including Classical datasets (literary, material, historical, or performance-based) studies, as well as advanced research and writing skills. The MA thesis project is the final product, researched and written under the advisement of a Classics faculty member.
Required Courses (21 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CLAS 685 | Methods Seminar. | 3 |
Methods Seminar. Terms offered: Fall 2026 Selected topics in the diverse research methods deployed in classical studies, including (but not limited to) different approaches to interpreting ancient evidence, the acquisition of research skills, grant writing, and publication strategies. | ||
Thesis Courses
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CLAS 695 | M.A. Thesis Proposal. | 6 |
M.A. Thesis Proposal. Terms offered: Fall 2026 Preparatory work for the writing of an M.A. thesis under the supervision of the thesis advisor(s), leading to a thesis proposal. | ||
| CLAS 696 | M.A. Thesis Research 1. | 6 |
M.A. Thesis Research 1. Terms offered: Fall 2026 Continued work for the writing of an M.A. thesis under the supervision of the thesis advisor(s), including production of an annotated bibliography. | ||
| CLAS 698 | M.A. Thesis Submission. | 6 |
M.A. Thesis Submission. Terms offered: Fall 2026 Continued work under the supervision of the thesis advisor(s), leading to completion and submission. | ||
Complementary Courses (24 credits)
Research Seminar
3-6 credits from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CLAS 500 | Classics Seminar. | 3 |
Classics Seminar. Terms offered: Winter 2027 Seminar on a topic in ancient Greek or Roman literature and society. Topic varies by year. | ||
| HIST 550D1 | Ancient History: Seminar. | 3 |
Ancient History: Seminar. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in ancient Mediterranean history, focusing on Greek and/or Roman society. | ||
| HIST 550D2 | Ancient History: Seminar. | 3 |
Ancient History: Seminar. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in ancient Mediterranean history, focusing on Greek and/or Roman society. | ||
Intermediate Language
0-6 credits from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CLAS 609 | Intensive Latin Review. | 3 |
Intensive Latin Review. Terms offered: Fall 2026 Intensive review of advanced Latin grammar, morphology, syntax and vocabulary, and strategies and techniques for advanced translation prose and poetry. | ||
| CLAS 619 | Intensive Ancient Greek Review. | 3 |
Intensive Ancient Greek Review. Terms offered: Fall 2026 Intensive review of advanced grammar, morphology, syntax and vocabulary of ancient Greek, and strategie and techniques for advanced translation of prose and poetry. | ||
Permission of the Classics Program Advisor is required to enroll in these courses. May be taken only one time each.
Advanced Language
6-21 credits from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CLAS 610 | Readings in Latin Literature. | 3 |
Readings in Latin Literature. Terms offered: Fall 2026 Translation and analysis of selected texts in Latin. Authors or texts change from year to year. This course may be taken more than once. | ||
| CLAS 612 | Topics in Latin Literature. | 3 |
Topics in Latin Literature. Terms offered: Winter 2027 Examination of a selected topic in Latin literature through the translation and analysis of relevant Latin texts. Topics vary by year. Course may be taken more than once. | ||
| CLAS 620 | Readings in Ancient Greek Literature. | 3 |
Readings in Ancient Greek Literature. Terms offered: Fall 2026 Translation and analysis of selected texts in ancient Greek. Authors or texts change from year to year. This course may be taken more than once. | ||
| CLAS 622 | Topics in Ancient Greek Literature. | 3 |
Topics in Ancient Greek Literature. Terms offered: Winter 2027 Examination of a selected topic in ancient Greek literature through the translation and analysis of relevant ancient Greek texts. Topics vary by year. Course may be taken more than once. | ||
Advanced Language courses can be repeated for credit.
Additional Courses (0-15 credits)
Students are limited to 6 credits of "Methods"-titled complementary courses.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CLAS 500 | Classics Seminar. | 3 |
Classics Seminar. Terms offered: Winter 2027 Seminar on a topic in ancient Greek or Roman literature and society. Topic varies by year. | ||
| CLAS 605 | Methods in Latin Literature in Translation | 3 |
Methods in Latin Literature in Translation Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Survey of Latin Literature in translation, confronting questions of genre and situating texts in their social and historical contexts, including epic, lyric, didactic, bucolic, and elegiac poetry; comedy and tragedy, historiography, and rhetoric. | ||
| CLAS 606 | Methods in Ancient Greek Literature in Translation 1 | 3 |
Methods in Ancient Greek Literature in Translation 1 Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Survey of Ancient Greek Literature in translation, confronting questions of genre and situating texts in their social and historical contexts, including epic, lyric and bucolic poetry; Classical tragedy, comedy, historiography, and rhetoric. | ||
| CLAS 607 | Research in Latin Literature in Translation | 3 |
Research in Latin Literature in Translation Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Readings, discussion, and research in Classical Latin literature on a specific topic or theme through translated texts. | ||
| CLAS 608 | Research in Ancient Greek Literature in Translation | 3 |
Research in Ancient Greek Literature in Translation Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Readings, discussion, and research in Ancient Greek literature on a specific topic or theme through translated texts. | ||
| CLAS 631 | Methods in Ancient Mediterranean Religion 1 | 3 |
Methods in Ancient Mediterranean Religion 1 Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in ancient Greek and/or Roman religion. Introduction to the historiography of the field, its central questions, theoretical approaches, and methods. | ||
| CLAS 632 | Methods in Ancient Mediterranean Religion 2 | 3 |
Methods in Ancient Mediterranean Religion 2 Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Studies in ancient Mediterranean religions. Thematic focus includes ritual and practice, ritual and practice, the concept of the divine and pantheons, the afterlife, the intersection of religion and philosophy, the role of religion in empire, the emergence of Christianity, and its development. Focus on ancient Greek and/or Roman contexts. | ||
| CLAS 633 | Research in Ancient Mediterranean Religions | 3 |
Research in Ancient Mediterranean Religions Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Readings, discussion, and research on a topic in ancient Greek or Roman religion | ||
| CLAS 646 | Methods in Classical Archaeology 1 | 3 |
Methods in Classical Archaeology 1 Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Investigation of the historiography, theoretical approaches, and methods employed in the field of classical archaeology. Focus on the Greek and/or Roman Mediterranean, broadly construed. | ||
| CLAS 647 | Methods in Classical Archaeology 2 | 3 |
Methods in Classical Archaeology 2 Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Case studies in classical archaeology from the Greek and Roman Mediterranean. Focus on specific sites, objects, and artworks to elaborate broader theoretical and methodological issues in the field. | ||
| CLAS 648 | Research in Classical Archaeology | 3 |
Research in Classical Archaeology Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Readings, discussion, and research on a topic in classical archaeology. | ||
| CLAS 649 | Archeological Fieldwork in Italy. | 3 |
Archeological Fieldwork in Italy. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Archaeological fieldwork in Italy; emphasis on archaeological field methods, laboratory work, and theoretical interpretation of archaeological data in an Italian archaeological context. Taught at an archaeological site in Italy. | ||
| CLAS 650 | Seminar. | 3 |
Seminar. Terms offered: Fall 2026 Topics in ancient Greek or Roman literature, culture, and society. Emphasis on the reading and interpretaton of texts in ancient Greek and Latin. | ||
| CLAS 653 | Methods in Classical Reception 1 | 3 |
Methods in Classical Reception 1 Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Investigation of the historiography of classical reception as a field, and the theories and methods employed in its study. | ||
| CLAS 654 | Methods in Classical Reception 2. | 3 |
Methods in Classical Reception 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of classical reception through case studies that underscore the diversity of media and message through time, and the significance of these patterns of engagement. | ||
| CLAS 655 | Research in Classical Reception | 3 |
Research in Classical Reception Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Readings, discussion, and research on a topic in classical reception. | ||
| CLAS 699 | Tutorial. | 3 |
Tutorial. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Individualized guided research on an approved topic. | ||
| HIST 550D1 | Ancient History: Seminar. | 3 |
Ancient History: Seminar. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in ancient Mediterranean history, focusing on Greek and/or Roman society. | ||
| HIST 550D2 | Ancient History: Seminar. | 3 |
Ancient History: Seminar. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in ancient Mediterranean history, focusing on Greek and/or Roman society. | ||
| HIST 607 | Seminar: Ancient History. | 3 |
Seminar: Ancient History. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Readings, discussion, and research in a theme in ancient Greek or Roman history. | ||
| HIST 617 | Ancient History Research Methods | 3 |
Ancient History Research Methods Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Discussion of key historical periods of ancient Greek or Roman history with emphasis on methods of analysis. | ||
| PHIL 650 | Seminar: Ancient Philosophy 1. | 3 |
Seminar: Ancient Philosophy 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar on a particular topic in ancient philosophy. Topic varies by year. | ||
| PHIL 651 | Seminar: Ancient Philosophy 2. | 3 |
Seminar: Ancient Philosophy 2. Terms offered: Fall 2026 An advanced course on a philosopher or philosophical issue articulated in antiquity. | ||
| PHIL 741 | Guided Research: Ancient Philosophy 2. | 3 |
Guided Research: Ancient Philosophy 2. Terms offered: Winter 2027 Guided research on a theme and/or problem in ancient philosophy. | ||
Or 3 credits offered by another department, at the 500 or 600 level, with permission from the Classical Studies Committee and permission of the course's instructor.