Classics and Philosophy Program
General Introduction:
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 Philosophy Department for the Philosophy Track, details of which are given below, or through the Classics Department for the Classics Track, details of which may be found at: <www.yale.edu/classics/research_philosophy_program.html>.
Applicants for the Philosophy Track of the Joint Program must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the Philosophy Graduate Program, in addition to the requirements of the Philosophy Track of the Joint Program. Applicants for the Classics Track of the Joint Program must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the Classics 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.
Requirements of the Philosophy Track of the Classics and Philosophy Program:
(I) Entry Language Requirements:
It is recommended that applicants to the program possess a basic knowledge of Greek, up to the level of being able comfortably to read Plato’s Socratic dialogues and/or comparable abilities in Latin. It is required of graduates entering the program in Philosophy that they have intermediate proficiency in at least one of Greek and Latin (where such proficiency standards could be met by attendance at an intensive summer school, such as the CUNY course, in which the course covers the ground typically covered by both a beginners and an intermediate course, in the summer prior to entry). Students who satisfy only the minimal level requirement in Greek and Latin must, in addition, have demonstrable proficiency in one of the Modern Languages: French, German or Italian. Such students must also be available for interview in advance, possibly by telephone.
On completion of the program, graduates should have proficiency in Greek and Latin and a reading knowledge of two of French, German and Italian. These will be established and assisted by proficiency tests as follows:
A. Proficiency Tests in Greek and/or Latin as follows:
Proficiency sight translation examinations in one of Greek and Latin (taken at the beginnning of the first term, at the beginning of the second year and, where deemed appropriate, also at the beginning or end of the second semester) will be given to assess the student's progress in the Classical languages. The same pattern is repeated for the second language in the second year. Students with sufficient language proficiency may take the tests in both languages in the first year.
B. Proficiency Tests in Modern Languages as follows:
(i) Departmental language exam in one of German, French, and Italian by the beginning of the second year (early September). Native speakers are excused. Students have up to two attempts to pass.
(ii) Departmental language exam in a second of German, French, and Italian by the beginning of the third year (early September). Native speakers are excused. Students have up to two attempts to pass.
(iii) Students with sufficient language proficiency may take the tests in two languages in the first year.
(II) The first-year seminar in Philosophy.
(III) Courses:
Of 14 courses:
(i) At least 4 should be in ancient philosophy, including at least two involving original language work.
(ii) Of 10 remaining courses 5 should be in Classics, 5 in Philosophy
(a) Of 5 in Philosophy, one should be in history of philosophy other than ancient philosophy, at least one should be in Metaphysics, Epistemology, Philosophy of Mind and/or Philosophy of Language, and at least one should be in ethics and value theory. Students must satisfy the Logic requirement as per the general Philosophy PhD program.
(b) Of 5 in Classics, at least one course should involve original language work in Greek and at least one course should involve original language work in Latin. Courses beyond this should be chosen, in consultation with the program committee, so as best to prepare candidates for their qualifying examinations. It is expected that candidates will at least audit one course per year involving reading of a philosophical text in the original language, irrespective of courses taken.
(IV) Qualifying Exams
(i) 2 qualifying papers, one of which must be in ancient philosophy and one of which must be on a philosophical topic other than ancient philosophy, by the end of the 5th term in residence.
(ii) Translation examinations in Greek and Latin, based on the Philosophy Track Reading List, by the beginniing of the 6th term in residence.
(iii) An oral examination in Greek and Latin based on the Philosophy Track Reading List, by the end of the 6th term in residence.
(V) A Dissertation Prospectus, by the end of the 7th term in residence.
(VI) The Philosophy Department has a work-in-progress seminar once or twice a year where students present their work-in-progress (for qualifying papers, chapters of the thesis, or other publications) and discuss other students' work. We strongly encourage those who are advanced to candidacy to take the seminar.
(VII) A Dissertation.
