Candidates will choose one of the following five concentrations: (1) Greek, (2) Latin, (3) Classical Art and Archaeology, (4) Classical Antiquity, or (5) Teaching of Latin.

It is expected that students opting for the teaching of Latin either have achieved accreditation at the secondary level or are planning to do so through the School of Education. The MA degree alone does not satisfy the state requirements for certification.

For more information, visit the department's Graduate Degrees in Classics webpage.

Bachelor's–Accelerated Master's Degree Program

Students may earn this degree as part of the Bachelor's–Accelerated Master's (BAM) degree program, which allows currently enrolled CU Boulder undergraduate students the opportunity to earn a bachelor's and master's degree in a shorter period of time.

For more information, see the Accelerated Master's tab for the associated bachelor's degree(s): Classics - Bachelor of Arts (BA).

Requirements

The degree requirements listed here are subject to change. Students wishing to pursue graduate work in classics should visit the department website for the most up-to-date degree requirements.

Students must complete 30 credit hours of graduate (5000 level or above) coursework, at least 21 of which must be taken at CU Boulder. At least 24 credit hours of coursework must be taken in Classics; courses outside the department must be approved by the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies. Students may earn the MA degree in classics through coursework alone; a thesis is optional.

All graduate students must follow the Graduate School's requirements for graduation (see the Graduation Requirements webpage).

Students will meet with the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies at least twice a year to guarantee that they are on track to meet these requirements.

Electives

The following is a comprehensive list of classics graduate courses, any of which can serve as electives depending on concentration.

Greek Language and Literature Courses
GREK 5013Topics in Greek Prose3
GREK 5023Topics in Greek Poetry3
GREK 5093Survey of Greek Literature3
GREK 6003Graduate Reading3
GREK 6843Graduate Independent Study1-3
GREK 7013Graduate Seminar in Greek Literature3
Latin Language and Literature Courses
LATN 5014Topics in Latin Prose3
LATN 5024Latin Prose Composition3
LATN 5044Topics in Latin Poetry3
LATN 5084Survey of Roman Literature Part 2: Imperial3
LATN 5094Survey of Roman Literature Part 1: Republican to Augustan3
LATN 5824Latin Teaching Methods: Open Topics3
LATN 6004Graduate Reading3
LATN 6844Graduate Independent Study1-3
LATN 7014Graduate Seminar in Latin Literature3
Literature and History Courses
CLAS 5110Greek and Roman Epic3
CLAS 5120Greek and Roman Tragedy3
CLAS 5130Greek and Roman Comedy3
CLAS 5140The Greek and Roman Novel3
CLAS 5840Graduate Independent Study1-3
CLAS 7840Graduate Independent Study1-3
CLAS 5021Athens and Greek Democracy3
CLAS 5031Alexander the Great and the Rise of Macedonia3
CLAS 5041Classical Greek Political Thought3
CLAS 5061Twilight of Antiquity3
CLAS 5071Seminar in Ancient Social History3
CLAS 5081The Roman Republic3
CLAS 5091The Roman Empire3
CLAS 5101Greek and Roman Slavery3
CLAS 5761Roman Law3
CLAS 7011Seminar in Ancient History3
CLAS 7012Graduate Seminar3
Archaeology Courses
CLAS 5099Ancient Greek Sculpture3
CLAS 5109Ancient Italian Painting3
CLAS 5119Roman Sculpture3
CLAS 5129Aegean Art and Archaeology3
CLAS 5139Greek Vase Painting3
CLAS 5149Greek Cities and Sanctuaries3
CLAS 5159Hellenistic Art and Archaeology3
CLAS 5169Topics in Ancient and Classical Art and Archaeology3
CLAS 5179City of Athens3
CLAS 5189City of Rome3
CLAS 5199Roman Architecture3
CLAS 5209Classical Archaeological Field Methods6
CLAS 5229Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology3
CLAS 5269Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East3
CLAS 6109Topics in Critical Theory and Ancient Art and Archaeology3
CLAS 6119Graduate Independent Study in Classical Art and Archaeology1-3
CLAS 7109Graduate Seminar in Ancient and Classical Art and Archaeology3

Concentrations

Students may earn an MA in classics with a concentration in one of the following options below.

Greek or Latin

Plan I 
  • A minimum of 30 hours of 5000-level credit or above (including thesis), to be distributed as follows:
    • 18 hours in Greek and/or Latin.
    • 6-9 hours of student's choice (including classes outside of the department, in consultation with the graduate advisor).
    • 4-6 hours of thesis credit.
  • Thesis (to be completed during 4th semester of graduate study)
  • Comprehensive Examination (upon submission of thesis): 4 hour written examination, consisting of translation and analysis of texts in the major language. This will be followed by a one-hour oral examination based upon the thesis. The translation examination will consist of two out of three prose passages and two out of three verse passages for a total of c. 100 lines. All passages will be drawn from the relevant (Greek or Latin) MA reading list. Students may fail the exam once.
Plan II

For many students Plan II will be more in line with their educational goals. They are encouraged to discuss this option with the ACGS. The requirements differ from Plan I in eliminating the 4-6 thesis hours and requiring instead 21 hours of Greek and/or Latin (5000-level or above) and 9 hours of the student's choice. The written portion of the Comprehensive Examination is the same as in Plan I; the oral portion of the exam covers the range of Greek or Latin literature represented by the reading list and tests the candidate's general knowledge of the primary sources and literary history.

Classical Antiquity

Plan I
  • A minimum of 30 hours of 5000-level credit or above (including thesis), to be distributed as follows:
    • 6 hours of Ancient History and/or Classical Archaeology
    • 6 hours of Greek and/or Latin
    • 12-15 hours of student's choice
    • 4-6 hours of thesis credit
  • Thesis (to be completed during 4th semester of graduate study)
  • Comprehensive Examination (upon submission of thesis): 3 hours of written examination on two of the following special fields: a) Greek history, b) Roman history, c) Roman art and archaeology, d) Greek art and archaeology, e) Greek religion and mythology, f) Roman religion and mythology, g) philosophy and political theory, h) Greek translation, or i) Latin translation, and one-hour oral examination based upon the thesis. The special field examinations of 90 minutes each are based on reading lists published in the Graduate Handbook and on the department's website. The examination committee serves in an advisory capacity, in addition to setting and grading the written examinations. Students electing Greek or Roman archaeology as a special field must pass a thirty-minute slide identification exam before taking the Comprehensive Examination.
Plan II

For many students Plan II will be more in line with their educational goals. They are encouraged to discuss this option with the ACGS. The requirements differ from Plan I in substituting 3-6 additional hours of ancient history or classical archaeology for the 4-6 thesis hours of Plan I. The written portion of the Comprehensive Examination is the same as in Plan I (as above); the oral exam will focus on coursework and the reading lists. Language courses may, with the approval of the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, be substituted for other courses in fulfilling the requirements for this degree.

Classical Art and Archaeology

Plan I
  • A minimum of 30 hours of 5000-level credit or above (including thesis), to be distributed as follows:
    • 6 hours of Greek and/or Latin
    • 15 credit hours of ancient, classical, and/or medieval art and archaeology.
    • 3-6 hours of student's choice
    • 4-6 hours of thesis credit
  • Thesis (to be completed during 4th semester of graduate study)
  • Slide Identification Exam: A one-hour slide identification exam must be passed in advance of the Comprehensive Examination.
  • Comprehensive Examination (upon submission of thesis): Candidates must pass written and oral examinations in the fields of Greek art and archaeology and Roman art and archaeology. The three-hour written exam will be based on candidates' coursework and the reading lists. The oral exam will explore further aspects of candidates' understanding of theories, methods, and material culture, based primarily on the thesis.
Plan II
  • For many students Plan II will be more in line with their educational goals. They are encouraged to discuss this option with the ACGS. The requirements differ from Plan I in substituting 3-6 additional hours of ancient, classical, and/or medieval art and archaeology or graduate-level language for the 4-6 thesis hours of Plan I. The Slide Identification Exam and the Comprehensive Examinations are the same as in Plan I (as above), except that the oral examination focuses on understanding of theories, methods, and material culture gained through coursework and the reading lists rather than a thesis.

The faculty strongly recommend that students planning to apply for PhD programs in classical archaeology attain graduate-level proficiency in both Greek and Latin. Language courses may, with the approval of the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, be substituted for other courses in fulfilling the requirements for this degree.

Teaching of Latin

Plan II only

Note: Students entering the MA in classics with a concentration in the teaching of Latin program who have not yet received teaching certification at the secondary level are encouraged to do so through the School of Education. Classes in the program can be taken concurrently with classes in the School of Education. Generally, it takes three years to fulfill the requirements of both qualifications, if they are embarked upon concurrently. The MA in classics alone does not satisfy the state's requirements for certification. Many students elect to pursue certification after completing the degree. Students should contact the Office of Student Services in the School of Education for further information about teaching certification. For information about licensure through the School of Education, see the Secondary Latin Teacher Licensure Program Form

  • A minimum of 30 hours of 5000-level credit or above, to be distributed as follows:
    • 12 hours of Latin
    • 3 hours of workshop in Latin Teaching Methods.
    • 3 hours of Roman History
    • 9 hours of student's choice
    • 3 hours of Special Teaching Project covering the planning, teaching, and evaluation of a sequence of approximately 10 to 15 lessons.
  • Special Teaching Project (to be completed during the 4th semester of graduate study). This may be extended if the student is pursuing teaching certification concurrently.
  • Comprehensive Examination (upon submission of Special Project): A three hour written Latin translation examination, and a one-hour oral comprehensive examination on teaching methods and the special project.