Concentration in Greek and Latin Languages and Linguistics

Graduate applicants to the Field of Classics whose primary interest is in the Greek and Latin languages per se may choose to pursue the Concentration in Greek and Latin Languages and Linguistics. The aim of this concentration is to acquire a broad background in general linguistics; Greek, Latin, and Indo-European linguistics; and Greek and Latin philology.

Qualification for entrance
Applicants should have studied both Greek and Latin to an advanced undergraduate level (an ordinary minimum is three years of each). Also desirable is the kind of familiarity with Greek and Roman civilization in general that is provided by an undergraduate major in Classics or its equivalent. Students who have come to Classics late in their undergraduate careers should consider taking summer or post-baccalaureate courses to advance their knowledge of the languages before applying.
Students presenting themselves for admission to this concentration should mention it in their application to the Graduate School and include a relevant writing sample.

Requirements for the PhD
Students must satisfy the general degree requirements of the graduate program in Classics.

1. The First Year Examination is a written examination in Greek and Latin prose and poetry; it is designed to ensure basic linguistic competence in Greek and Latin.
2. The “Q” Examination is a written examination designed to examine knowledge of the Classics reading list and to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in Greek and Latin.
3. The Special Committee should include at least one member of the Field of Classics who is also a member of the Field of Linguistics and two additional members of the Field of Classics. The “A” Examination will have two parts: (a) a written examination in three areas, one of which must be Greek and Latin linguistics. The Field recommends that the other two be either Greek literature and Latin literature or Indo-European linguistics and Greek or Latin literature; (b) an oral examination that will follow up on the questions asked in the written portion.
4. Minimum course work will be distributed as follows:

• four 400- or 600- level non-linguistics Classics courses
• one semester of advanced Greek composition and one of advanced Latin composition
• four semesters of 400- or 600- level Greek and Latin languages and linguistics courses
• two semesters of Sanskrit
• one semester of introductory Indo-European linguistics (e.g. Linguistics 631)
• two semesters chosen from: Linguistics 632 (Indo-European Seminar) and Linguistics 634-635 (Indo-European Workshop)
• one semester of introductory phonological theory (e.g. Linguistics 301) and one of syntactic theory (e.g. Linguistics 303).