Master of Arts in Classical Studies
The Department of Classical Studies works together with the Waterloo Institute for Hellenistic Studies to create a unique and intense research environment for faculty and students working in Classical and Medieval Studies. Students receive substantial individual attention from an expert in their subject(s) of specialization and benefit from an interdisciplinary approach. With regular guest speakers, research days, and colloquia, which bring together our international partners, the Department of Classical Studies at the University of Waterloo offers a unique and full experience for graduate students. The department promotes international experiences for students through travel awards, course offerings, and research opportunities.
Program of study
The Master of Arts in Classical Studies is a 16-month program fulfilled through course-work, a modern language exam and, normally, a Major Research Paper (MRP) of 25 to 40 pages. Courses offered through our own instructors may have a historical, archaeological, literary, or linguistic focus; they regularly emphasize research techniques as well as a careful and critical approach to primary sources and modern scholarship. All students must take the research methodology course. If you enter the program with little or no background in ancient languages, you will be encouraged to take introductory and intermediate Greek and Latin courses (0.25 credit each), which are offered in the fall and winter. Those students with advanced language skills will have the opportunity to take ancient language seminars (0.5 credit each); Greek is offered every winter, Latin every fall. You may also choose one graduate course from other disciplines, such as Philosophy, Anthropology, Religious Studies, or English, provided that it is relevant for your research and you are admitted into the course by the officer of the other graduate program. There is a requirement of six regular graduate courses (0.5 credit each).
Students who enter the program with advanced methodological training may be considered for a Thesis of 40 to 60 pages (instead of the MRP), which requires a closer engagement with primary sources and international scholarship. In this case, you will be required to take four graduate courses.
Note that our standard funding package consists of salaries for a Teaching Assistantship in the first fall and winter terms, followed by stipends in the spring and second fall term. It is important to plan ahead so that you complete the program within the four funded terms, or to secure funding from other sources in case you wish to extend your stay in our program (e.g., for further language training). Also remember to make time for our regular academic and social events, as you want to be an active member of a community of learners and researchers. Please ensure that you have reviewed all appropriate information on the Graduate Studies Office website, along with the Graduate Academic Calendar, and do not forget to be in regular contact with your supervisor/mentor and Graduate Studies officer.
Language Offerings and Requirements
Those students planning on further graduate studies in Classics should complete two graduate-level language courses, ideally one seminar in Latin (LAT 600) and one in Greek (GRK 600). Supplementary language training is arranged on an individual basis between the student and the supervisor or the Graduate Studies officer.
Applicants who did not have the opportunity to follow any BA-level courses in the ancient languages may consider enrolling in LAT 610 , LAT 620, GRK 610, or GRK 620. These are entry-level courses that assume no prior training in the languages, or intermediate-level courses that prepare students for the seminar level. If you are doing the thesis stream, these courses cannot be counted towards fulfilling the degree requirements, but they will appear on transcripts as MA-level courses. If you are doing the MRP stream, 1 or 2 of the 6 half-credit courses can be substituted with 2 or 4 of the quarter-credit language course (GRK 610/620 or LAT 610/20). See calendar for more information - Master of Arts (MA) in Classical Studies | Graduate Studies Academic Calendar | University of Waterloo (uwaterloo.ca).
Each student must pass one reading exam in a language other than English, usually French, Italian, German, or Spanish. Other modern languages may fulfill this requirement, subject to approval of the student's supervisor and the departmental Graduate Studies officer, if the language is shown to be particularly relevant to the student's research interests. These exams are two hours in duration, and dictionaries and grammatical aids are allowed. They are set and graded by the relevant language department at the university.