Classics and Philosophy Joint Program
The Classics and Philosophy Program is a joint program, offered by the Departments of Philosophy and of Classics at Yale, for students wishing to pursue graduate study in ancient philosophy. Suitably qualified students may apply for entry to the program either through the Classics Department for the Classics Track, details of which are given below, or through the Philosophy Department for the Philosophy Track details of which can be found here.
Applicants for the Classics Track of the Joint Program must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the Classical Philology Graduate Program, in addition to the requirements of the Classics Track of the Joint Program. The Program is overseen by an Interdepartmental Committee currently consisting of Professors Susanne Bobzien, Verity Harte, and Barbara Sattler, together with the Director of Graduate Studies for Philosophy and the Director of Graduate Studies for Classics.
- (1) Proficiency sight translation examinations in Greek and Latin (these are taken before the beginning of the first term and at the beginning of the second year in residence) are given to assess the student's progress in both languages.
- (2) A proseminar, in the first term, offering an introduction to the discipline and its various subdisciplines.
- (3) Departmental reading examinations in French (or Italian) and German. The first (in either language) is to be passed by the end of the first year, the second by the end of the second year in residence.
- (4) A minimum of 14 term courses, of which (i) at least 4 should be in ancient philosophy, including at least 2 involving original language work; (ii) Of the 10 remaining courses 5 should be in Classics, 5 in Philosophy: (a) Of 5 in Classics, either 2 terms of history of Greek literature or 2 terms of history of Latin literature are required, and 2 courses at 700/800 level in Greek or Latin; (b) Of 5 in Philosophy, 1 should be in history of philosophy other than ancient philosophy, 3 in non-historical philosophy. It is recommended that students without formal training in logic take a logic course appropriate to their philosophical background.
- (5) Translation examinations in Greek and Latin, based on the Classics and Philosophy PhD Reading List for the Classics Track of the Program, at the beginning of the fifth term in residence.
- (6) Oral examinations in Greek and Latin literature, based on the Classics and Philosophy PhD Reading List for the Classics Track of the Program and consisting of 1 hour long oral examination on non-philosophical Greek and Latin works from the list (which may be taken in two parts, one half-hour exam on Greek and one half-hour exam on Latin) and 1 hour long oral examination on philosophical Greek and Latin works from the list, to be completed by the end of the fifth term in residence. Students may choose to take the non-philosophical Greek and/or Latin half hour component of their oral examination in conjunction with taking the history of Greek or Latin literature, along with the Classical Philology cohort, in the May of the year in which the corresponding history is taken.
- (7) One of the two qualifying papers required for the Ph.D. in Philosophy by the end of the sixth term in residence; this paper should be on a philosophical topic other than Ancient Philosophy..
- (8) Oral examinations/Special Fields in two areas of concentration selected by the candidate in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies in Classics and the Program Committee, one of which must be in ancient philosophy and which will in addition include a written component, while the other must cover a Classical topic other than ancient philosophy, by the end of the sixth term in residence.
- (9) A dissertation prospectus, by the end of the seventh term in residence.
- (10) A dissertation.
