Classics: Classics PhD; Field: Ancient Philosophy

PhD Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Classics' additional admission requirements stated below.

  • Applicants are considered for admission if they have successfully completed a master's program in classics with sufficient training for the field in which they are seeking admission.

  • Students who have completed the MA program in Classics at the University of Toronto are required to have grades of at least B+ in all graded coursework and a grade of at least A– on the Graduate Research Paper CLA2000Y.

Completion Requirements

  • Coursework. Satisfactory completion of 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) with an A– average selected in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator. At the department's discretion, students who need additional language preparation may be required to take a selection of courses approved by the department during Year 1 before beginning to prepare for the qualifying examinations. Students will be notified of such additional requirements at the time of their offers of admission or early in their first session following the entrance diagnostic exam. The 3.0 FCEs will include:

    • CLA2000Y Graduate Research Paper to be completed by May of Year 1 with a grade of at least A–. Progress is assessed at the end of the Fall session by an interim pass/fail mark. Each student is assigned to a faculty advisor for CLA2000Y and works independently on the preparation of a research paper (about 8,000 words in length). The Graduate Research Paper is assessed by a committee of two faculty members, including the advisor. Students who have previously completed CLA2000Y, or an equivalent graduate research paper, will instead complete 1.0 elective FCE selected in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator.

    • AMP2000Y Collaborative Specialization in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy (CSAMP) Proseminar. Students who have previously completed AMP2000Y will instead complete 1.0 elective FCE selected in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator.

    • 1.0 elective FCE selected from the following recommended courses: CLA1300-level series, CLA5000-level series, GRK/LAT1800-level series, and MAC1000H or MAC2000H. Students may only take up to 1.0 FCE in courses from the CLA1300-level series unless approved by the Graduate Coordinator. Of the 1.0 elective FCE:

      • At least 0.5 FCE is taken from courses not offered by or cross-listed by the Department of Classics.

      • Students may, but are not required to, take the methodology courses outside their field as part of the elective courses selected.

      • GRK1000H and LAT1000H, or courses below the GRK/LAT1000-level, are not eligible to fulfil the elective requirements.

  • Qualifying exams. Successful completion of both Greek and Latin qualifying exams. One of these exams must be passed by May of Year 2, and both must be passed by January of Year 3; passing the exams at an earlier stage is advisable. Both exams must be passed before the major field examination is attempted.

  • Sight translation examinations. Successful completion of both Greek and Latin sight translation examinations. One of these exams must be passed by May of Year 2, and both must be passed before the major field examination is attempted.

  • Demonstration of adequate reading knowledge of two modern languages of research other than English, one of which will normally be German, before the major field examination is attempted.

  • Satisfactory completion of the major field examination (CLA4000Y). The major field defines a broad area of specialization, within which the dissertation topic will fall. It is normally established by Year 2 of the four-year PhD program and is directed by the supervisory committee. Preparation for the major field examination includes the completion of a satisfactory research essay. The major field is examined by means of two written examinations, one of which may involve translation from the list of primary sources, and an oral examination covering the research essay and the examination papers. The major field examination should be completed by the middle of Year 3 of the four-year PhD program.

  • The dissertation should be completed by the end of Year 4.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 4 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 6 years full-time

 

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Classics' additional admission requirements stated below.

  • Successful completion of a bachelor's program in classics of a related field with at least an A– average in the final year.

  • At least three years of study in both Greek and Latin and a broad preparation in the reading of ancient texts in the original languages is recommended.

Completion Requirements

  • Coursework. Successful completion of 6.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) with an A– average selected in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator. This includes:

    • CLA2000Y Graduate Research Paper to be completed by May of Year 1 with a grade of at least A–. Progress is assessed at the end of the Fall session by an interim pass/fail mark. Each student is assigned to a faculty advisor for CLA2000Y and works independently on the preparation of a research paper (about 8,000 words in length). The Graduate Research Paper is assessed by a committee of two faculty members, including the advisor.

    • CLA3020Y Ancient History Methods Course.

    • 4.0 elective FCEs selected from the following recommended courses: CLA1300-level series, CLA5000-level series, GRK/LAT1000-level series, GRK/LAT1800-level series, and MAC1000H or MAC2000H. Students may only take up to 1.0 FCE in courses from the CLA1300-level series unless approved by the Graduate Coordinator. Of the 4.0 elective FCEs:

      • At least 0.5 FCE is taken from courses not offered by or cross-listed by the Department of Classics.

      • Students may, but are not required to, take the methodology courses outside their field as part of the elective courses selected.

  • Qualifying exams. Successful completion of both Greek and Latin qualifying exams. One of these exams must be passed by May of Year 2, and both must be passed by January of Year 3; passing the exams at an earlier stage is advisable. Both exams must be passed before the major field examination is attempted.

  • Sight translation examinations. Successful completion in either Greek or Latin with a passing grade by May of Year 2, and both must be passed before the major field examination is attempted.

  • Demonstration of adequate reading knowledge of two modern languages of research other than English, one of which will normally be German, before the major field examination is attempted.

  • Satisfactory completion of the major field examination (CLA4000Y). The major field defines a broad area of specialization, within which the dissertation topic will fall. It is normally established by Year 3 of the program and is directed by the supervisory committee. Preparation for the major field examination includes the completion of a satisfactory research essay. The major field is examined by means of two written examinations, one of which may involve translation from the list of primary sources, and an oral examination covering the research essay and the examination papers. The major field examination should be completed by the middle of Year 4.

  • The dissertation should be completed by the end of Year 5.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 5 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 7 years full-time

 

Classics