Latest Version of the Grad Handbook
The latest Graduate Handbook is version 4.12, edited February 29, 2024, and is available as a pdf: Graduate Handbook 4.12
Previous versions of this document:
Grad Handbook 4.11
Grad Handbook 4.10
Grad Handbook 4.9
Grad Handbook 4.8
Grad Handbook 4.7
Grad Handbook 4.6
Grad Handbook 4.5
Grad Handbook 4.4
Grad Handbook 4.3
Grad Handbook 4.2
Grad Handbook 4.1
Grad Handbook 4.0
Grad Handbook 3.9
Changes
The handbook's internal Word stylesheet was updated and re-applied to make the document easier to edit in the future. The pagination will be slightly different but the only substantial changes are below.
VII.E.8 Comprehensive Examinations changed from:
8. The written exams must be completed within no more than nine weeks of a semester, and the oral exam will be scheduled as soon as possible after the last written exam is passed. Students do not need to use all nine weeks, and some students may be encouraged to develop a shorter exam schedule in consultation with their Graduate Director.
to:
8. The written exams must be completed within no more than nine weeks from the start of a semester, and the oral exam will be scheduled as soon as possible after the last written exam is passed. Students do not need to use all nine weeks, and some students may be encouraged to develop a shorter exa, schedule in consultation with their Graduate Director.
The sections VII.B.1 and 2 were reworked heavily from:
1. Candidacy
a. A doctoral student shall be admitted into candidacy when she/he has met the requirements described below; has successfully completed all required course work, except as specifically excepted; has satisfactorily completed the language requirements; has completed the residency requirement; has satisfactorily completed the Comprehensive Examination; and has presented the dissertation proposal to the approval of the dissertation committee and program faculty.
b. Admission to candidacy requires the completion of the “Admission to Candidacy” form immediately after the acceptance of the dissertation proposal, on which the Graduate Director attests that all requirements have been met. The student must also declare the names of three members of the dissertation committee at this time. Faculty have the right to decline to serve on a dissertation committee. (The membership of the committee may change later.)
c. After admission into candidacy for the doctoral degree, registration and fee payment for at least one graduate credit hour each year is required in order to maintain candidacy.
2. Time limitation
a. According to Graduate School regulations, doctoral candidacy automatically terminates nine years after matriculation. Candidates may petition the Graduate School through the Department for extension of candidacy prior to its expiration or for reinstatement if candidacy has expired. A period of seven months must elapse between admission to doctoral candidacy and receipt of the degree. See the University Graduate Handbook for extension and reinstatement procedures.
b. Students with sound and thorough undergraduate training may earn the Ph.D. degree in four years, but most require a longer period. The minimum requirement for the Ph.D. is 90 graduate credits beyond the Bachelor’s degree or 60 graduate credits beyond the Master’s degree, including at least seven hours in dissertation research.
c. All students in the doctoral program must complete three years in residence by the date when their degree is awarded. Any student receiving financial support from the Department or the University of Cincinnati must be in residence, except in cases where a program of study or travel approved by the Graduate Studies Committee requires them to be elsewhere.
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Section VII.D.1 changed from:
1. Modern Languages
a. Sight examinations in modern languages test a student’s proficiency in reading scholarly texts in two such languages: French, German, Italian, Modern Greek, or Spanish. The languages of choice have to be relevant to the research area in which the student intends to specialize, and they have to be approved by the appropriate Graduate Director. A student should demonstrate a satisfactory knowledge of the modern language by translating a passage selected by a Classics faculty member into idiomatic English within a time limit of 90 minutes. A student may use dictionaries, but should have a working knowledge of morphology and syntax and of basic and scholarly vocabulary and idiomatic expressions. A student’s translation should bring out the meaning and the argument of the original.
b. Modern language sight exams take place once per semester. Students should prepare proactively (e.g. by taking courses) and, once they have some proficiency, take the exams each time until they pass.
c. Modern language requirements are the same for all Ph.D. concentrations. Students must pass one modern language exam no later than the Fall semester of their third year. Failure to pass one modern language exam by that time will result in probation; failure to pass one modern language exam in the following semester will result in dismissal (see II.F above). Students must pass the second modern language exam no later than the Fall semester of their fourth year. Failure to pass the second modern language exam by that time will result in probation; failure to pass the exam in the following semester will result in dismissal (see II.F above). Well prepared students should be able to pass two modern language exams by the beginning of their second year.
d. Students must pass both modern language exams before taking Comprehensive Examinations.
To:
1. Modern Languages
a. Sight examinations in modern languages test a student’s proficiency in reading scholarly texts in two such languages: French, German, Italian, Modern Greek, or Spanish. The languages of choice have to be relevant to the research area in which the student intends to specialize, and they have to be approved by the appropriate Graduate Director. A student should demonstrate a satisfactory knowledge of the modern language by translating a passage of 400-450 words selected by a Classics faculty member into idiomatic English within a time limit of 90 minutes. A student may use dictionaries, but should have a working knowledge of morphology and syntax and of basic and scholarly vocabulary and idiomatic expressions. A student’s translation should bring out the meaning and the argument of the original.
b. Modern language sight exams take place once per semester. Students should prepare proactively (e.g. by taking courses) and, once they have some proficiency, take the exams each time until they pass.
c. Modern language requirements are the same for all Ph.D. concentrations. Students must pass one modern language exam no later than the Fall semester of their second year. Failure to pass one modern language exam by that time will result in probation; failure to pass one modern language exam in the following semester will result in dismissal (see II.F above). Students must pass the second modern language exam no later than the Fall semester of their fourth year. Failure to pass the second modern language exam by that time will result in probation; failure to pass the exam in the following semester will result in dismissal (see II.F above). Well prepared students should be able to pass two modern language exams by the beginning of their second year.
d. A student may apply to the graduate directors to have the exam waived in a given language if they have received a degree (high school or above) from an institution where education was conducted in that language.
Section VIII.B.1.a changed from:
a. Ancient History
i. For students entering the program with an M.A. degree: 2 problems courses (CLAS7001-7003) and 4 seminars (CLAS9001), one of which has to be documentary.
ii. For students entering the program without an M.A. degree: 2 problems courses (CLAS7001-7003) and 5 seminars (CLAS9001), one of which has to be documentary.
To:
a. Ancient History
i. For students entering the program with an M.A. degree: 2 historical sources courses (CLAS 7005, 7007); 2 problems courses (CLAS 7001-7002); and 2 seminars (CLAS 9001).
ii. For students entering the program without an M.A. degree: 2 historical sources courses (CLAS 7005, 7007); 2 problems courses (CLAS 7001-7002); and 3 seminars (CLAS 9001).
Section VIII.B.4.a and b changed from:
a. Students must pass two Special Field exams. One Special Field exam should be in an auxiliary discipline (e.g., Roman Law, papyrology, Greek or Latin epigraphy, palaeography, numismatics, mythology, ancient religion, some area of archaeology, etc.), in order to give students an opportunity to gain control of useful techniques of research and add an extra area of competence in teaching. The second Special Field exam can be on any topic in Classical Studies, including a Greek or Latin author or a topic in archaeology. In consultation with the Graduate Director, students will select topics and request faculty examiners. All exams will be administered by the Graduate Director.
b. Each exam will last four hours, and both exams must be completed no later than the end of the Spring semester of the fourth year, and it is necessary to complete and pass the Special Field exams before beginning the comprehensive exams. There is no course reduction given for fulfilling this requirement.
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a. Students must pass one Special Field exam on any topic in Classical Studies, including a Greek or Latin author or a topic in archaeology. In consultation with the Graduate Director, students will select topics and request faculty examiners. The exam will be administered by the Graduate Director.
b. The exam will last four hours. It must be completed no later than the end of the Spring semester of the fourth year, and it is necessary to complete and pass the Special Field exam before beginning the comprehensive exams. There is no course reduction given for fulfilling this requirement.
Added section II.D.9:
9. If applicable, the Department will cover the cost of the minimum one-hour registration requirement necessary to maintain graduate status for one year after the expiration of departmental funding.
The name McMicken was removed in three places
Preface changed from:
The Department of Classics belongs to the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences, which is the largest of the University's colleges. The department's graduate programs are supervised by the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati. The Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School serves as coordinator to graduate programs, consults with the deans of colleges containing graduate programs, and assigns and monitors departmental allocations of assistantships and scholarships. The Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences coordinates College-level graduate program activities. The Department employs a Program Coordinator who maintains records and facilitates the operation of graduate programs.
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The Department of Classics belongs to the College of Arts and Sciences, which is the largest of the University's colleges. The department's graduate programs are supervised by the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati. The Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School serves as coordinator to graduate programs, consults with the deans of colleges containing graduate programs, and assigns and monitors departmental allocations of assistantships and scholarships. The Divisional Dean for Humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences coordinates College-level graduate program activities. The Department employs a Program Coordinator who maintains records and facilitates the operation of graduate programs.
Introduction changed the number of books in the Burnam collection from 260,000 to 300,000.
The last paragraph of the Introduction changed from:
The Department supports graduate students in their professional and intellectual development. We encourage students to study abroad. Aside from associations with The American School of Classical Studies at Athens and The American Academy in Rome, the department has ties, institutional and personal, with other European centers of learning. Students specializing in archaeology have participated as field assistants in excavations or surface surveys carried on or supported by the University of Cincinnati at Troy (1932-39, 1988-2002), Pylos (1939-65, 1994-), Ayia Irini-Keos (1960-87), Pyrgos-Crete (1971-75), Maroni-Cyprus (1980-84), Midea (1985-2001), Apollonia-Albania (1998-2003), Episkopi-Bamboula (2001- 2010), Pompeii (2007-), and Knossos (2007-). A full history of the Department is available on the departmental website.
To:
The Department supports graduate students in their professional and intellectual development. We encourage students to study abroad. Aside from associations with The American School of Classical Studies at Athens and The American Academy in Rome, the department has ties, institutional and personal, with other European centers of learning. Students specializing in archaeology have participated as field assistants in excavations or surface surveys carried on or supported by the University of Cincinnati at Troy (1932-39, 1988-2002), Pylos (1939-65, 1994-),
Ayia Irini-Keos (1960-87), Pyrgos-Crete (1971-75), Maroni-Cyprus (1980-84), Midea
(1985-2001), Apollonia-Albania (1998-2003), Episkopi-Bamboula (2001- 2010), Pompeii
(2007-), Knossos (2007-), and Tharros, Sardinia (2018-). A full history of the Department is available on the departmental website.
Section I.A.4 changed from:
All prospective students must apply online at: http://grad.uc.edu/. For further information about the application process, see the departmental website: https://classics.uc.edu/graduate
All applicants are encouraged to contact the Graduate Director appropriate for the subdiscipline in which they are interested, whose email can be found on the Department website.
To:
All prospective students must apply online at: https://grad.uc.edu/. For further information about the application process, see the departmental website: https://classics.uc.edu/departments/classics/graduate. All applicants are encouraged to contact the Graduate Director appropriate for the subdiscipline in which they are interested, whose email can be found on the Department website.
Section I.C.6 (second paragraph) changed from:
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all applicants whose native language is not English. The test must be taken in the student's own country before admission is granted. This requirement may be waived (with permission from the Dean of the Graduate School) for international students who have a degree from an accredited American college or university and who have studied oral and written English while a student in the American college or university. The minimum University TOEFL score acceptable for graduate work is 520 (paper-based test), 190 (computer-based test) or 68 (internet-based test).
To:
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all applicants whose native language is not English. The test must be taken in the student's own country before admission is granted. This requirement may be waived (with permission from the Dean of the Graduate School) for international students who have a degree from an accredited American college or university and who have studied oral and written English while a student in the American college or university. The minimum University TOEFL score acceptable for graduate work is 550 (old paper-based test), 80 (internet-based test), or 20 or higher on each of the three components of the new paper-delivered test.
Section VI.A.3 changed from:
According to the Graduate School, the minimum time requirement for the M.A. degree is the equivalent of one academic year of full-time graduate studies, consisting of at least 30 graduate credits. The maximum time allowable by the Graduate School to complete all requirements is seven years from the date of the first registration in that degree program.
To:
According to the Graduate School, the minimum time requirement for the M.A. degree is the equivalent of one academic year of full-time graduate studies, consisting of at least 30 graduate credits. The maximum time allowable by the Graduate School to complete all requirements is five years from the date of the first registration in that degree program.
VII F. changed from:
1. Graduate students admitted to the Ph.D. program may choose to write an M.A. thesis with the permission of their Graduate Director. It is strongly recommended that Ph.D. students in archaeology write an M.A. thesis.The faculty as a whole may require a student to write an M.A. thesis in order to remain in good standing in the program.
(a) Graduate students are allowed only two semesters (one fall and one spring) to complete, successfully defend, and submit the M.A. thesis. Students writing an M.A. are required to declare a topic and name a director in writing to their Graduate Director by the end of the semester prior to commencement of the two semesters of M.A. thesis work. Archaeology students who write an M.A. thesis are required to begin the two semesters of thesis work in their second year in the program.
(b) During these two semesters of work students may take 8 hours of M.A. thesis research (CLAS8006) as part of their regular course load. For history and philology students the 8 hours may be taken either in one semester or over two semesters. For archaeology students all 8 hours of M.A. thesis research must be taken in one semester.
2. The M.A. thesis must be defended before the deadline for submission of the electronic thesis in the second semester of work. In the event of failure to defend a M.A. thesis successfully by that deadline, funding will cease at the end of that semester. If the student should successfully defend the thesis and submit it electronically at a future date (but only during a fall or spring semester), the faculty as a whole on the recommendation of the faculty in the student’s subdiscipline (archaeology, history, or philology) may re-instate that student’s fellowship for the beginning of the following semester.
3. For additional information about requirements for completion of a thesis M.A., see section VI.B.1.
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1. With the permission of their Graduate Director graduate students in the Ph.D. program may choose to write an M.A. thesis or not. The following exceptions apply. The faculty in any subdiscipline may require Ph.D. students in that subdiscipline to write an M.A. thesis in order to remain in good standing, even if they have earlier written an M.A. thesis at another institution. If Ph.D. students are required to write a second M.A. thesis, the maximum number of years of funding increases for them from six to seven. Ph.D. students in archaeology who were admitted without an M.A. are always required to write an M.A. thesis.
(a) Ph.D. students will normally complete their M.A. thesis within two semesters (excluding summers). If needed, they are allowed up to three semesters (excluding summers) to complete, successfully defend, and electronically submit their M.A. thesis. Ph.D. students writing an M.A. thesis are required to declare a topic and name a thesis director in writing to their Graduate Director by the end of the semester (excluding summers) preceding the M.A. thesis work. Ph.D. students in archaeology who write an M.A. thesis are required to begin the M.A. thesis work in their second year in the program.
(b) During the M.A. thesis work Ph.D. students may take a total of 8 hours of M.A. thesis research (CLAS8006) as part of their regular course load. Ph.D. students in history and philology may take the 8 hours of M.A. thesis research in one semester or spread them out 4-4 over two semesters. Ph.D. students in archaeology must take the 8 hours of M.A. thesis research in one semester.
(c) Ph.D. students writing an M.A. thesis must submit a first full draft to their thesis director at the latest by the beginning of the second
semester of the M.A. thesis work. To allow for revisions, if needed, Ph.D. students writing an M.A. thesis have until one month before the end of the second semester of work to submit a revised draft to their thesis director. When the thesis director releases the final draft of an M.A. thesis for the defense, there will be a reading period of at least two weeks before the defense. Such defenses can normally take place in the fall or spring semester.
(d) The defense will establish whether the thesis is (1) approved and ready to be electronically submitted without further revisions, (2) approved but in need of minor revisions before it can be electronically submitted, or (3) not approved but in need of major revisions and a new defense. In case of (1) and (2), the faculty members involved in the defense will recommend to the faculty as a whole that the student should continue in the Ph.D. program or not.
2. An M.A. thesis must be defended at the latest by the last week of classes of the second semester of work, but it can be electronically submitted in the following semester (excluding summers). In the event of failure to defend an M.A. thesis successfully by the deadline, funding will cease at the start of the following semester (excluding summers). If a Ph.D. student should successfully defend the thesis later on, the faculty members involved in the defense may recommend to the faculty as a whole to re-instate the student’s fellowship.
3. For additional information about the requirements for the completion of an M.A. thesis, see section VI.B.1.
VII.D.1 changed from:
1. Modern Languages
a. The purpose of sight examinations in modern languages is to determine a student's proficiency in reading scholarly texts in German and French (or other approved languages). The student must demonstrate a thorough reading knowledge and an adequate knowledge of the grammatical structures of the respective foreign language by translating passages into idiomatically correct English within a time limit of 60 minutes. Although dictionaries may be used, a solid knowledge of basic and scholarly vocabulary, syntax, morphology, and idiomatic expressions is required. Since these sight exams are meant to test the reading comprehension of the student, passing will depend on an accurate rendering of the argumentation of the original passage and a general understanding of its meaning as a whole.
b. Modern language sight exams are offered once per semester. All students are required to prepare actively and, once some proficiency is obtained, to take the exams every time they are offered until they pass.
c. Modern language requirements are the same for all Ph.D. concentrations. Students must pass one language no later than the Fall semester of the third year. Failure to pass one language by that time will result in probation; failure to pass one language in the subsequent semester will result in dismissal. The second modern language exam must be passed no later than the Fall semester of the fourth year. Failure to pass the second exam by that time will result in probation; failure to pass the exam in the subsequent semester will result in dismissal (see II.F above). A well prepared student will pass two modern language exams by the beginning of the second year.
d. Both modern language exams must be passed before taking Comprehensive Examinations.
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1. Modern Languages
a. Sight examinations in modern languages test a student’s proficiency in reading scholarly texts in two such languages: French, German, Italian, Modern Greek, or Spanish. The languages of choice have to be relevant to the research area in which the student intends to specialize, and they have to be approved by the appropriate Graduate Director. A student should demonstrate a satisfactory knowledge of the modern language by translating a passage selected by a Classics faculty member into idiomatic English within a time limit of 90 minutes. A student may use dictionaries, but should have a working knowledge of morphology and syntax and of basic and scholarly vocabulary and idiomatic expressions. A student’s translation should bring out the meaning and the argument of the original.
b. Modern language sight exams take place once per semester. Students should prepare proactively (e.g. by taking courses) and, once they have some proficiency, take the exams each time until they pass.
c. Modern language requirements are the same for all Ph.D. concentrations. Students must pass one modern language exam no later than the Fall semester of their third year. Failure to pass one modern language exam by that time will result in probation; failure to pass one modern language exam in the following semester will result in dismissal (see II.F above). Students must pass the second modern language exam no later than the Fall semester of their fourth year. Failure to pass the second modern language exam by that time will result in probation; failure to pass the exam in the following semester will result in dismissal (see II.F above). Well prepared students should be able to pass two modern language exams by the beginning of their second year.
d. Students must pass both modern language exams before taking ComprehensiveExaminations.
II.F changed from:
9. Students working on the dissertation must produce a progress report each Spring semester in advance of the annual review meeting detailing what they have achieved to date and their plans for the coming year. Students should submit this report to the Graduate Director and the dissertation advisor. Failure to make satisfactory progress on the dissertation while on departmental funding will result in probation after consultation between the Graduate Studies Committee and the dissertation advisor.
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9. Students working on the dissertation must meet with their university committee once a year before March 1.* The student must present written work related to the dissertation to the committee as evidence of progress since the proposal or previous meeting and be prepared to discuss the development of the dissertation. After the committee meeting the dissertation advisor should report satisfactory or unsatisfactory progress to the Graduate Director. Students working on the dissertation must also submit a progress report to the Graduate Director in advance of the annual review meeting in the Spring detailing what they have achieved to date and their plans for the coming year. Failure to make satisfactory progress on the dissertation while on departmental funding will result in probation after consultation between the Graduate Studies Committee and the dissertation advisor.
*Members of the committee or the student may need to be present via telephone, Skype, etc. External members of the committee (i.e., non UC members) are not required to attend the meeting, but are, of course, welcome to do so if available.
VI.C changed from:
1. Students in the Ph.D. program who choose, in consultation with their Graduate Director, to write an M.A. thesis are expected to complete the thesis no later than the end of the second year in the program. In exceptional circumstances a student may request a one semester extension without fellowship support by applying to the Graduate Director. The thesis must be defended by the end of the extension semester or the student will be dismissed from the program. Thesis students may not begin Ph.D. comprehensive exams until the M.A. thesis is defended. After defending the M.A. thesis, students must apply for a thesis M.A. degree on the Graduate School website. There is an application fee, and the student is responsible for formatting the electronic thesis according to Graduate School specifications.
2. Students who choose to leave the Ph.D. program after the second year may, after consultation with the Graduate Director, write an M.A. thesis instead of taking an M.A. exam during their final year of funding.
to:
1. For information for Ph.D. students writing M.A. theses, see VII.F.
VI.C.3 was renamed C.2 with the contents unchanged.
A new section VII F was added:
F. M.A. thesis
1. Graduate students admitted to the Ph.D. program may choose to write an M.A. thesis with the permission of their Graduate Director. It is strongly recommended that Ph.D. students in archaeology write an M.A. thesis.The faculty as a whole may require a student to write an M.A. thesis in order to remain in good standing in the program.
(a) Graduate students are allowed only two semesters (one fall and one spring) to complete, successfully defend, and submit the M.A. thesis. Students writing an M.A. are required to declare a topic and name a director in writing to their Graduate Director by the end of the semester prior to commencement of the two semesters of M.A. thesis work. Archaeology students who write an M.A. thesis are required to begin the two semesters of thesis work in their second year in the program.
(b) During these two semesters of work students may take 8 hours of M.A. thesis research (CLAS8006) as part of their regular course load. For history and philology students the 8 hours may be taken either in one semester or over two semesters. For archaeology students all 8 hours of M.A. thesis research must be taken in one semester.
2. The M.A. thesis must be defended before the deadline for submission of the electronic thesis in the second semester of work. In the event of failure to defend a M.A. thesis successfully by that deadline, funding will cease at the end of that semester. If the student should successfully defend the thesis and submit it electronically at a future date (but only during a fall or spring semester), the faculty as a whole on the recommendation of the faculty in the student’s subdiscipline (archaeology, history, or philology) may re-instate that student’s fellowship for the beginning of the following semester.
3. For additional information about requirements for completion of a thesis M.A., see section VI.B.1.
The old section VII.F was renamed VII.G with the contents unchanged.
Addition of a Table of Contents
pg. 24 Sections VIII B 1 a i and ii were changed from:
i. For students entering the program with an M.A. degree: 2 problems courses (CLAS7001-7003), 2 documents courses (CLAS7005-7007), and 3 seminars (CLAS9001).
ii. For students entering the program without an M.A. degree: 2 problems courses (CLAS7001-7003), 2 documents courses (CLAS7005-7007), and 4 seminars (CLAS9001).
to:
i: For students entering the program with an M.A. degree: 2 problems courses (CLAS7001-7003) and 4 seminars (CLAS9001), one of which has to be documentary.
ii: For students entering the program without an M.A. degree: 2 problems courses (CLAS7001-7003) and 5 seminars (CLAS9001), one of which has to be documentary.
No actual list of changes but this note attached to the 4.1 version:
For your records, I attach our first revision to the new Graduate Handbook. This is now version 4.1. The changes were very minor--a couple cosmetic and a change of a word to make something clear about the 4+1 program. No changes at all to regular graduate requirements.
Version 4.0 of the handbook was a rather extensive rewrite caused by the University's move from the quarter system to the semester system.