BA/MA in Classics & Archaeology

The BA/MA in Classics & Archaeology will enable students completing the BA in Classics & Archaeology to continue into the MA in Classics & Archaeology in their fifth year. It will give students training in Ancient Greek and Latin, archaeological methods and practices, and the study of ancient Mediterranean material culture. The degree is designed for students who hope to pursue a PhD in Archaeology, Ancient History, Art History, or Classics; to move into cognate humanistic fields; or to pursue employment in fields where knowledge of classical and Near Eastern antiquity is valuable, such as heritage management, historic preservation, publishing, tourism, and employment in museums, especially if students choose to couple the degree with the certificate in museum studies (offered through the History of Art & Architecture department).

Learning Outcomes

Students with a BA in Classics & Archaeology will be able to:

• Demonstrate a broad understanding of the history and material culture of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East.
• Read with comprehension works in Ancient Greek and Latin writers and demonstrate an understanding of genre, style, and cultural context.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the material variety of the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East as well as their influence on peoples and places of subsequent historical periods.
• Communicate these understandings clearly and persuasively, both orally and in writing.

Students with an MA in Classics & Archaeology will be able to:

• Demonstrate a broad understanding of the history and material culture of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East.
• Read with comprehension works in Ancient Greek and Latin and demonstrate an understanding of genre, style, and cultural context.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the material variety of the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East as well as their influence on peoples and places of subsequent historical periods.
• Communicate these understandings clearly and persuasively, both orally and in writing.
• Produce and defend an original contribution to knowledge.
• Conduct scholarly activities in an ethical manner.

Application Procedure

Applications must be received by April 1 of the junior year. If the application does not meet the deadline, a Request for Waiver of Application Deadline must be completed and signed by the department chair and submitted with an application. The applicant must include their BU transcript, two faculty recommendation letters, a writing sample (10 pages, usually drawn from previous coursework), a plan of study, and a personal statement describing the applicant’s interest in the program. Ordinarily, applicants are expected to have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 to be considered for admission.

Requirements

Students must complete at least 39 courses (156 units).

Students begin graduate-level work in the third and fourth years of the undergraduate program by taking necessary Greek and Latin courses in Classics and electives at the graduate level in Archaeology. To enter the fifth (MA) year, students must have completed at least four terms of both Ancient Greek and Latin as well as completed all requirements of the BA in Classics & Archaeology.

Successful completion of the program requires an additional 8 graduate-level courses (= 32 units) in Classics & Archaeology or in related disciplines with an advisor’s permission. One 500- or 600-level class may count toward both the BA and MA, reducing the number of additional MA courses to seven.

All courses for the MA must be passed with a grade of B– or better.

Specific requirements beyond those for the BA in Classics & Archaeology are:

• Two courses in Ancient Greek or Latin above the 500 level.
• Three of the following four courses:
  • CAS AR 591
  • CAS AR 593
  • CAS AR 594
  • CAS AR 595
• Three electives at the graduate level in consultation with an advisor.
• A master’s project in Archaeology. This project should include original research or comprise examples of professional development, such as a conference poster, a course syllabus, a museum display plan, or a cultural heritage management plan. One elective may be a Directed Study for the purposes of completing the master’s project.

Honors in the Major

The department encourages work towards graduation with Honors. The primary requirement is successful completion of a two-term program of directed research and writing in the student’s senior year, culminating in a written honors thesis and oral defense with a minimum of two examiners. The thesis should exhibit knowledge of primary and secondary sources, with bibliography, or the equivalent at the discretion of the readers, and ordinarily it should not exceed 10,000 words. The submission of a detailed outline by the end of the fall term is also required.

In order to qualify for the honors track, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of no less than 3.4 in the major, must submit an application to their Faculty Project Advisor in the spring of their junior year, and must have approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies and Department Chair.