Classical Studies invites applications to the M.A. program. The M.A. Program in Classical Studies pursues an integrated approach to the ancient world. It particularly aims to acquaint students with the richness of evidence characterizing the study of classical antiquity, and to stimulate them to use knowledge of the relevant materials and texts with skill and imagination.
To this effect the program draws upon the many resources of Columbia in the classical field: students are given the unique opportunity to work with leading classicists specializing in a variety of areas, take advantage of the intellectual and organizational resources of the four participating Departments, get access to the libraries of the University; they are eligible to work with the materials of Columbia’s archaeological, epigraphic, and numismatic collections, can apply to Columbia’s excavation projects, and participate in the numerous initiatives organized by the University (seminars, lectures, conferences, museum trips).
Variety and flexibility are among the defining features of the program. Incoming students are encouraged to devise their own curriculum according to their specific intellectual and professional goals, in consultation with the advisors as well as with the Chair and Vice-Chair of Classical Studies. The M.A. program especially addresses those students who wish to enrich their vision of classical antiquity by developing new skills, or who wish to gain an interdisciplinary perspective on antiquity. The program will give more solid foundations to those students who intend to pursue a doctoral career but do not yet meet the admission requirements of Ph.D. programs in ancient studies. More generally, the M.A. degree will prove useful for everybody dealing with the ancient world—from museum curators to high-school teachers—and wishing to acquire a broader perspective in order to fully exploit the numerous potentialities inherent within ancient texts, images, and artifacts. Students who earn the self-standing M.A. degree in Classical Studies may apply for Distinction, which is awarded based on their M.A. thesis, their overall academic record, and the full range of their activities in the program.