Students enrolled in the graduate program leading to the Ph.D. in Classics are expected to maintain progress toward the degree. For students entering the program with a B.A., the normal schedule of progress calls for the completion of the requirement in one of the modern languages and the requirement in either Greek or Latin composition by the end of the second year. Such students should, except under unusual circumstances, complete their M.A. within their first two years of the program. At that point the Department will make a decision whether to recommend formal admission to the Ph.D. program. By the end of the winter quarter of the third year, students will normally fulfill the remaining requirements in composition and the modern languages and take at least two of the four Ph.D. translation and special author examinations. By the end of winter quarter of the fourth year, students are expected to have passed the remaining written examinations. The oral general examination should be taken by the end of the fourth year.
Students entering the program with an M.A. in Classics from another institution are not required to take an M.A. at the University of Washington, but they too must be formally admitted to the Ph.D. program. They will be considered for such admission in their second year, if the faculty deems them to have made satisfactory progress. In addition to maintaining the schedule of progress that is desirable for students entering without an M.A., they should have shown the ability to write a research paper at the graduate level. They should also be prepared to attempt the Ph.D. language exam in either Greek or Latin by the Winter quarter of their second year. If such students have not been admitted to the Ph.D. program by the end of their second year, the faculty will take a formal vote as to whether or not they should remain in the program.
NB: The various examinations and their requirements are summarized in a document entitled “Summary of Graduate Exams administered in the Department of Classics,” which is available from the departmental office and on the departmental webpages.