Program Tracks

The Literature and Philology track offers a thorough training in the languages, literature, and cultures of Ancient Greece and Rome. Students take survey courses in Ancient Greek and Roman literature and history, as well as specialized research seminars. Program Examinations in the Literature and Philology track expect a command of both languages and a broad training in their literatures, literary history, and research methodologies.

The History track offers a thorough training in the languages, histories, and cultures of Ancient Greece and Rome. All students enrolled in the History track are members of the Program in the Ancient World, an interdepartmental and interdisciplinary program that offers yearly seminars and a program of lectures. Students take survey courses in Ancient Greek and Roman literature and history, as well as specialized research seminars. Program Examinations in the History track expect a command of both languages, their literatures and material cultures, as well as in the methods of historical research.

The Program in Classical Philosophy offers a thorough training in the languages and philosophical traditions of Ancient Greece and Rome. Students are enrolled in the interdepartmental Program in Classical Philosophy, which organizes regular reading groups and colloquia. Students take survey courses in Ancient Greek and Roman literature as well as specialized seminars in philosophy (classical and non-classical). Program Examinations in the Program in Classical Philosophy expect a command of both languages and their philosophical literatures.

The Medieval and Byzantine Language and Literature track offers a thorough training in the languages, literatures, and cultures of Ancient Greece and Rome, as well as an interdisciplinary training in Medieval Latin and/or Byzantine literature and culture. Students take survey courses in Ancient Greek and Roman literature and history, medieval and/or Byzantine history and material culture, as well specialized seminars; they may choose to study a non-classical ancient or medieval language as well. Program Examinations expect a command of Ancient Greek and Roman languages and literatures, as well as in either Medieval Latin or Byzantine Greek literature.

The Contact, Transmission, Reception track offers a thorough training in the literatures and histories of Ancient Greece and Rome, with an eye toward their connections with other ancient and modern cultures. In addition to survey courses in Ancient Greek and Roman literatures and

histories, students select a third culture to study for its synchronic or diachronic links to Ancient Greece and/or Rome, and receive an interdisciplinary training in the methodologies of study of cultural contact, textual and material transmission, and classical reception. Program Examinations expect a command of Ancient Greek and Roman languages, their literatures or histories (depending on the student’s interest), as well as in theoretical and methodological modes of study.

Information on course requirements for each track is laid out in the Graduate Rules and Procedures.

Detailed information on the programs and their associated reading lists and exams is available internally on SharePoint.