Master of Arts (MA) in Classical Studies

The program information below was valid for the spring 2023 term (May 1, 2023 - August 31, 2023). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

Students are responsible for reviewing the general information and regulations section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Program information

  • Admit term(s) 
    • Fall
  • Delivery mode 
    • On-campus
  • Program type 
    • Master's
    • Research
  • Registration option(s) 
    • Full-time
  • Study option(s) 

Admission requirements

  • Minimum requirements 
    • An Honours Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Classical Studies (or closely related discipline with similar language training) with an overall average of 78% in the last two years of undergraduate study.
    • An Honours Bachelor’s degree from a program other than Classical Studies (or closely related discipline with similar language training) may be acceptable if evidence justifying admission is offered; however, a program of appropriate preparatory studies (a qualifying year) may be required of such students.
  • Application materials 
    • Résumé
    • Supplementary information form
    • Transcript(s)
      • Official transcript from all other post-secondary institutions.
    • Writing sample
  • References 
    • Number of references:  3
    • Type of references: 

      normally from academic sources
  • English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Degree requirements

    Thesis option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Students must complete 4 one-term graduate level courses in Classical Studies (CLAS, GRK or LAT), including CLAS 600 Research Methods in Classical Studies.
    • GRK 602 and LAT 602 cannot be counted toward the number of required courses taken in the thesis option.
  • Link(s) to courses
  • Master's Language Requirement
    • Students must pass 1 modern language exam. This language must be one other than English, usually French, Italian, German, or Spanish, but other modern languages may be acceptable subject to approval of the student’s supervisor and Departmental graduate advisor. The language should be appropriate to the student’s research interests. These exams are two hours in duration and dictionaries and grammatical aids are allowed.
  • Master’s Thesis
    • The Master's Thesis must be 50-75 pages in length.

    Master's Research Paper option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Students must complete 6 one-term graduate level courses in Classical Studies (CLAS, GRK or LAT), including CLAS 600 Research Methods in Classical Studies.
    • 2 of the 6 one-term graduate courses can be substituted with either GRK 602 or LAT 602.
  • Link(s) to courses
  • Master's Language Requirement
    • Students must pass 1 modern language exam. This language must be one other than English, usually French, Italian, German, or Spanish, but other modern languages may be acceptable subject to approval of the student’s supervisor and departmental graduate advisor. The language should be appropriate to the student’s research interests. These exams are two hours in duration and dictionaries and grammatical aids are allowed.
  • Master’s Research Paper
    • The Master’s Research Paper must be 25-40 pages in length.
Approved Doctoral Dissertation Supervisors (ADDS) list
Department of Classical Studies website
Master of Arts (MA) in Classical Studies future students program page