Last updated: February 17, 2023 @ 10:26PM
Classics
Master of Arts in Classics
Field of Specialization
Art and Archeology
Text and Culture
Dean
Carol U. Merriam
Faculty of Humanities
Associate Dean
Elizabeth Vlossak
Faculty of Humanities
Core Faculty
Professor
Michael J. D. Carter, Allison M. J. Glazebrook, Elizabeth S. Greene, Carol U. Merriam, R. Angus K. Smith
Associate Professors
Fanny L. Dolansky, Carrie Murray, Katharine T. von Stackelberg
Assistant Professors
Roberto Nickel, Adam Rappold
Professor Emeritus
David W. Rupp (Director, Canadian Institute in Greece)
Graduate Program Director
Roberto Nickel
rnickel@brocku.ca
Administrative Assistant
Jordan Hawman
905-688-5550, extension 3575
International Centre (GLB) 309
classics@brocku.ca
brocku.ca/humanities/classics/
Program Description
The Master of Arts in Classics emphasizes a holistic approach to the Greek and Roman worlds and encourages all students to study languages, literature, history, and material culture. Students continue their study of Greek and Latin in order to ensure that they can access the wealth of literary and documentary sources that have survived and continue to surface. The program also assigns prominence to historical context and material culture, especially promoting active archaeological research and travel to the Mediterranean. The program is structured on the principle that these diverse approaches inform one another and produce a cross-disciplinary, well rounded and thus broader understanding of the world and legacy of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Admission Requirements
Successful completion of four year Bachelor's degree, or equivalent, in Classics with a minimum average of B and a minimum average of 75% in Classics courses. Applicants must have completed the equivalent of at least four full credits in any combination of ancient Greek and Latin courses at the university level.
The Graduate Admissions Committee will review all applications and recommend admission for a limited number of suitable candidates.
Individuals interested in part-time study should consult with the Graduate Program Director.
Degree Requirements
There are two schemes for the MA degree: (Scheme A) Course work with major research paper (normally completed in five terms), and (Scheme B) Course work with thesis (normally completed in six terms).
Acceptance into the thesis stream requires explicit departmental agreement that the candidate is prepared to pursue advanced scholarly research, and the preparation of an acceptable thesis proposal.
Option 1: Critical Ancient Studies
Scheme A: Course Work and Major Research Paper
CLAS 5P00; two half credits designated GREE or LATI 4(alpha)00, (5(alpha)00 or above; five additional half-credits designated CLAS 4(alpha)00, 5(alpha)00 or above, GREE 5(alpha)00 or above, or LATI 5(alpha)00 or above; CLAS 5P90, a satisfactory research paper, normally 40-50 pages in length, on an approved topic, written in the second year of study under the guidance of a Supervisor. Not more than 0.5 credits numbered at the 4(alpha)00 level and not more than 0.5 credits numbered CLAS 5P81-89 or 5V80-89 may be counted toward the fulfillment of the degree requirements.
Scheme B: Course Work and Thesis
CLAS 5P00, two half credits designated GREE or LATI 5(alpha)00 or above, and four half-credits designated CLAS 5V10-5V79, CLAS 5P80, GREE 5(alpha)00 or above or LATI 5(alpha)00 or above, and CLAS 5F90 a satisfactory thesis on an approved topic, normally 80-100 pages in length, written in the second year of study under the guidance of a Supervisor and Supervisory Committee and an oral examination to defend the thesis.
Additional advanced undergraduate Greek or Latin courses may be recommended to address deficiencies in the languages.
In addition to the above course requirements, students must also fulfill the following language requirement:
Each student must pass a reading exam in a modern language, normally French, German, or Italian. Students may instead choose to fulfil this requirement by successfully completing one of the following courses with a grade of 75% or higher: FREN 1F90, GERM 1F90, ITAL 1F90. This requirement should be completed by the end of the first year.
Option 2: Art and Archaeology Specialization
Scheme A: Course Work and Major Research Paper
CLAS 5P00; three half credits designated CLAS 5P80, CLAS 5V10-5V29 or 5V30-5V49; four additional half credits designated CLAS 4(alpha)00, 5(alpha)00 or above, GREE 5(alpha)00 or above or LATI 5(alpha)00 or above; CLAS 5P90, a satisfactory research paper, normally 40-50 pages in length, written in the second year under the guidance of a Supervisor. Not more than 0.5 credits numbered at the 4(alpha)00 level and not more than 0.5 credits numbered CLAS 5P81-89 or 5V80-89 may be counted toward the fulfillment of the degree requirements.
Scheme B: Course Work and Thesis
CLAS 5P00, three half credits designated CLAS 5P80, CLAS 5V10-5V29 or 5V30-5V49, three half credits designated CLAS 5V10-5V89, CLAS 5P80-5P89, GREE 5(alpha)00 or above or LATI 5(alpha)00 or above and CLAS 5F90, a satisfactory thesis, normally 80-100 pages in length, written in the second year of study under the guidance of a Supervisor and Supervisory Committee and an oral examination to defend the thesis. Not more than 0.5 credits numbered -89 or 5P80-89 may be counted toward the fulfillment of degree requirements.
Additional advanced undergraduate GREE or LATI courses may be recommended to address deficiencies in the languages.
In addition to the above course requirements, students must also fulfill the following language requirement:
Each student must pass a reading exam in a modern language, normally French, German, or Italian. Students may instead choose to fulfil this requirement by successfully completing one of the following courses with a grade of 75% or higher: FREN 1F00, GERM 1F90, ITAL 1F90. This requirement should be completed by the end of the first year.
Option 3: Text and Culture Specialization
Scheme A: Course Work and Major Research Paper
CLAS 5P00; three half credits designated GREE or LATI 4(alpha)00, 5(alpha)00 or above; two half credits designated CLAS 5P80, CLAS 5V50-5V69 or 5V70-5V79, two additional half credits designated CLAS 4(alpha)00, 5(alpha)00 or above, GREE 5(alpha)00 or above or LATI 5(alpha)00 or above; CLAS 5P90, a satisfactory research paper, normally 40-50 pages in length, written in the second year of study under the guidance of a Supervisor. Not more than 0.5 credits numbered at the 4(alpha)00 level and not more than 0.5 credits numbered CLAS 5P81-89 or 5V80-89 may be counted toward the fulfillment of the degree requirements.
Scheme B: Course Work and Thesis
Requirements for the MA Degree with a Field in Text and Culture with thesis are: CLAS 5P00, three half credits designated GREE 5(alpha)00 or above and/or LATI 5(alpha)00 or above, two half credits designated CLAS 5P80, CLAS 5V50-5V69 or CLAS 5V79, one half credit designated CLAS 5V10-, CLAS 5P80, GREE 5(alpha)00 or above or LATI 5(alpha)00 or above and CLAS 5F90, a satisfactory thesis, normally 80-100 pages in length, written in the second year of study under the guidance of a Supervisor and Supervisory Committee and an oral examination to defend the thesis.
Additional advanced undergraduate GREE or LATI courses may be recommended to address deficiencies in the languages.
In addition to the above course requirements, students must also fulfill the following language requirement:
Each student must pass a reading exam in a modern language, normally French, German, or Italian. Students may instead choose to fulfil this requirement by successfully completing one of the following courses wth a grade of 75% or higher: FREN 1F90, GERM 1F90, ITAL 1F90. This requirement should be completed by the end of the first year.
Facilities
Museum of Cypriote Antiquities (170+ objects, Chalcolithic through Mediaeval, mostly Geometric-Archaic ceramics).
Slide and Digital Image Collection (15,000+ images).
On-line TLG (Thesaurus Linguae Graecae)
L'Année Philologique on-line.
Archaeological Field Equipment (funded by Canadian Foundation for Innovation and Ontario Innovation Trust): Leica TCR750 reflectorless total station; Trimble Geoexplorer XT Global Positioning System.
Institutional Memberships: American School of Classical Studies in Athens; Canadian Institute in Greece, Classical Association of the Middle, West and South.
Associated Archaeological Field Projects: Burgaz Harbors Project (Turkey); Gournia Archaeological Project (Crete); Marzamemi Maritime Heritage Project (Italy); Pantelleria Excavation Project at Lago di Venere (Italy).
Overseas Opportunities
Faculty working on excavations overseas take students to assist them when possible. Current projects include excavation and ceramic study with Prof. Smith at the Bronze Age site of Gournia on Crete; excavation with Prof. Greene in the harbours of Burgaz, Turkey and the late antique shipwreck at Marzamemi, Sicily, as well as conservation and analysis of cargo from the Archaic shipwreck at Pabuç Burnu, Turkey; and excavation with Prof. Murray at the Punic and Roman sanctuary site in the Lago di Venere area on the island of Pantelleria, Italy. Such experiences can be given a course number (e.g. CLAS 5V82), but do not count towards requirements for the MA degree. Students may also participate in overseas projects not run by the Department of Classics, but must obtain permission from the Graduate Program Director in consultation with their supervisor.
The Department regularly offers a field school and a study tour for its undergraduates in alternating years. Recent field schools have brought students to excavations at Burgaz, Turkey; Gournia, Greece; and Marzamemi and Pantelleria, Italy. Recent study tours have also brought students to Greece, Italy, and Turkey. Qualified graduate students are given priority whenever teaching assistantships are available for undergraduate field schools and study tours.
The Department also has an internship (CLAS 5N00) at the Canadian Institute in Greece (CIG). The internship provides an opportunity for students to live in Greece for three months while working on their Thesis or Major Research Paper projects. CIG will offer free membership, a free museum pass, discounted accommodation and free classes in modern Greek at the Athens Centre. The student will perform twenty hours of work a week for CIG and have access to all the libraries of the various archaeological schools in Greece through a CIG membership. The course does not count towards requirements for the MA degree.
Course Descriptions
Note that not all courses are offered in every session. Refer to the applicable timetable for details
Students must ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met.
CLASSICS COURSES
CLAS 5F90
MA Research and Thesis
Extended research project involving the preparation and defence of a thesis that shall demonstrate capacity for independent work and original research and thought.
CLAS 5N00
Internship I
Three month internship at the Canadian Institute in Athens, Greece.
CLAS 5P00
Pro-seminar in Classics
Survey of the tools, resources and methodologies for a holistic study of Greco-Roman antiquity with emphasis on philology, history and material culture. Research writing for grant, abstract, conference proposal, and public presentation.
Note: this course will be evaluated as Credit/No-Credit.
CLAS 5P80
Directed Reading in Classics
Directed individual or group reading in a particular area of Classics.
Note: Approval of the Graduate Program Director is required.
CLAS 5P81
Advanced Archaeological Fieldwork in Greece
Fieldwork and study of archaeological material under the supervision of a faculty member.
Restriction: Permission of the instructor and the Graduate Program Director.
Note: Students are expected to pay their own expenses.
CLAS 5P85
Advanced Archaeological Fieldwork in Italy
Fieldwork and study of archaeological material under the supervision of a faculty member.
Restriction: Permission of the instructor and the Graduate Program Director.
Note: Students are expected to pay their own expenses.
CLAS 5P86
Advanced Fieldwork in Maritime Archaeology
Fieldwork and study of archaeological material under the supervision of a faculty member.
Restriction: Permission of the instructor and the Graduate Program Director.
Note: Students are expected to pay their own expenses.
CLAS 5P89
Study in Mediterranean Lands
Topographical investigations of ancient sites and monuments; study tours of important cities and museums of the Mediterranean world emphasizing the art and architecture of the Prehistoric, Classical and later periods.
Restriction: Permission of the Graduate Program Director.
Note: Students are expected to pay their own expenses.
CLAS 5P90
Major Research Paper
Major paper which shall demonstrate capacity for independent work and original research and thought.
CLAS 5V10-5V29
Seminar in Mediterranean Archaeology
Topics and problems in current archaeological method, theory and research in the Mediterranean basin.
CLAS 5V28
Archaeological Ethics
Ethical, legal and practical dimensions of Classical archaeology. Topics include looting and the antiquities trade, maritime archaeology and treasure hunting, archaeology as a profession, educational outreach, and museum exhibition.
CLAS 5V30-5V49
Seminar in the Art and Architecture of the Greco-Roman World
Topics and problems in current research in Greek and Roman art and architecture.
CLAS 5V30
Topography and Monuments of Rome
Development of Rome, including infrastructure and major monuments, using literary and archaeological sources; the methodological challenges of integrating material and literary sources.
CLAS 5V31
Art and Archaeology of Etruscan Italy
Etruscan culture through its monuments and material remains from the eighth to third centuries BCE.
CLAS 5V50-5V69
Seminar in Greek and Roman Social and Cultural History
Study of a topic in Greek and/or Roman social and cultural history with emphasis on methodology and the use of sources from a variety of media.
CLAS 5V57
Slaves and Slavery in the Greek World
Theoretical approaches to, practices of and attitudes toward slavery, and the experiences of enslaved people and enslavers.
CLAS 5V70-5V79
Seminar in Greek and Latin Literature
Topics and Trends in the Study of Greek and Latin Literature
CLAS 5V75
Helen of Troy
Representations of one of the most iconic and polarizing figures of the ancient Greco-Roman world through myth, literature, and art. Evidence for the cult of Helen will also be considered.
CLAS 5V80-5V89
Advanced Archaeological Research
Intensive archaeological fieldwork and study of material culture under supervision of a faculty member.
Note: Enrolment is limited. Not more than 0.5 credits numbered CLAS 5V80-89 may be counted toward the fulfillment of the degree requirements.
GREEK COURSES
GREE 5P80
Directed Readings in Ancient Greek Authors
Reading course constructed in conjunction with a faculty member. This course will be designed for individual students by the faculty member and given final approval by the Graduate Program Director.
GREE 5V00-5V19
Readings in Greek Literature: Prose
Intensive readings in a genre of Greek literary prose or the works of an individual prose author.
GREE 5V11
Pseudo-Demosthenes’ Against Neaira
Reading of Pseudo-Demosthenes’ Against Neaira, including an overview of scholarship.
GREE 5V20-5V39
Readings in Greek Literature: Verse
Intensive readings in a verse genre or the works of an individual verse author.
GREE 5V22
Euripides' Medea
Readings of Euripides’ Medea, including an overview of scholarship.
LATIN COURSES
LATI 5P80
Directed Readings in Ancient Latin Authors
Reading course constructed in conjunction with a faculty member. This course will be designed for individual students by the faculty member and given final approval by the Graduate Program Director.
LATI 5V00-5V19
Readings in Latin Literature: Prose
Intensive readings in a genre of Latin literary prose or the works of an individual prose author.
LATI 5V05
Caesar’s Gallic Wars
Readings from Julius Caesar’s Gallic Wars, including an overview of scholarship.
LATI 5V20-5V39
Readings in Latin Literature: Verse
Intensive readings in a verse genre or the works of an individual verse author.
LATI 5V23
Catullus
Readings in the poetry of Catullus, including an overview of scholarship.