Prerequisite exams

The comprehensive exams for the M.A. in Greek and Latin are preceded by two other foundational requirements: the modern language exam and the sight-translation exams.

Modern language examination in French or German

Competence in French or German is demonstrated by passing a departmental examination. The examination is one hour long and consists of a single passage of academic French or German. A dictionary may be used. To pass the examination, students must be able to translate approximately one full page into standard English with a high level of accuracy. Students who have not previously studied the language at the college level should first take and pass the graduate-level reading courses offered by the Department of Modern Languages (French 500 or German 500).

Sight-translation exams

To qualify to take their translation (reading list) examinations in Greek or in Latin, graduate students must pass a sight examination in that language. Sight examinations are one hour long in each language, and consist of a single passage in prose and a single passage in poetry. They are taken without a dictionary by arrangement with the graduate advisor.

Comprehensive exams

The comprehensives for the M.A. in Greek and Latin consist of the following four exams:

1. Two 3-hour translation examinations, one in Greek and the other in Latin, based on official departmental reading lists of Greek and Latin texts:

• Greek M.A. reading list (for students entering before summer 2023)
• Greek M.A. reading list (for students entering in or after summer 2023)
  
  
• Latin M.A. reading list (for students entering before summer 2023)
• Latin M.A. reading list (for students entering in or after summer 2023)

2. Two 3-hour essay examinations, in Greek and in Roman Literature/History, based on official departmental lists of secondary scholarship, with essay questions (one or more required) drawn from official departmental lists of questions known in advance:

• Greek M.A. secondary scholarship list (for students entering before summer 2023)
• Greek M.A. essay questions (for students entering before summer 2023)
  
  
• Greek M.A. secondary scholarship list (for students entering in or after summer 2023)
• Greek M.A. essay questions (for students entering in or after summer 2023)
  
  
• Latin M.A. secondary scholarship list (for students entering before summer 2023)
• Latin M.A. essay questions (for students entering before summer 2023)
  
  
• Latin M.A. secondary scholarship list (for students entering in or after summer 2023)
• Latin M.A. essay questions (for students entering in or after summer 2023)

A passing grade on comprehensive examinations is B minus (80%). Each examination is graded separately and awarded a high pass (90-100%), pass (80-89%), or failure (below 80%). Students who fail any examination may retake that examination a second time; failure on the second attempt at any one examination will result in dismissal from the program.