Master of Arts Program 

The M.A. program allows for intensive study of the languages and cultures of ancient Greece and Rome. The degree, awarded upon completion of coursework, language exams, and in some cases a thesis project, is a solid basis for a variety of further pursuits, including but not restricted to teaching and research in Classics and related fields.

Admitted students will have demonstrated a strong undergraduate foundation in Latin and Greek, and will enter advanced author-based courses in preparation for the reading list exams. While language proficiency is the primary goal of the degree, other strengths of the program include instruction and mentoring by faculty with diverse specialties within the field, and opportunities for coursework in related programs such as Philosophy, Comparative Literature, and Archaeology. Financial assistance through teaching assistantships or fellowships is possible. Finally, students at Washington University enjoy the inexpensive living and rich arts scene offered by the city of St. Louis itself.

Degree Requirements

Candidates may obtain a Master of Arts degree in Classics by completing 30 units of credit, completing a reading list, and taking an examination.  If the student elects to write a Master's Thesis, this will normally represent 6 of those credits, a 3-credit course of directed reading in the area of the thesis followed by another 3-credit course for completion of the thesis research and writing.

There are two courses required of all candidates for the MA in Classics: Classics 502, Research and Publication on the Greek and Roman World (a proseminar, introducing the student to the profession) and Classics 510, Comparative Grammar of Greek and Latin.

All students will complete 30 units of course work and take a written examination based on a standard reading list.  Students not planning to go on to a Ph.D. program in Classics may opt to take the exam in one language (Greek or Latin) only.  Those who pursue this option must complete at least 6 credits in the other language at the 400 level. The examination will require the student to demonstrate competence in translation and in interpretation of the passages translated, as well as a knowledge of the relevant scholarship.

A reading knowledge of either French or German is also required.  Students going on to a Ph.D.  program should have command of both French and German.

Admission Requirements

The normal prerequisite for entry into the Master of Arts program in Classics, is the successful completion of an undergraduate (BA) degree in Classics, or the equivalent.  Graduate Record Exam scores indicating an aptitude for such graduate study are also required, as well as strong letters of recommendation from instructors acquainted with the candidate's accomplishments to date.  The applicant should be prepared to enter both Greek and Latin courses at the 400 (third year) level.  This preparation may be demonstrated either by way of courses successfully completed for graded credit, or by a sight-reading exam.  An applicant not yet prepared for 400-level courses in one of the languages may be required to take a 300-level course and to reapply.  Applicants with more serious deficiencies in the ancient languages may want to apply to a Post-Baccalaureate Year program in order to better equip themselves for graduate work in Classics.  Washington University does not currently offer such a Post-Baccalaureate program in Classics.

Graduate School and On-line Application

Request Paper Application