A brief description of the department:
We offer range and balance, philological rigor, interchange with related areas (including a joint PhD program in AncientHistory). Faculty specialize in literary criticism (many genres and periods, including medieval and Byzantine); ancient history; the intersection of literature and history; values, ideas, and religion; philosophy; archaeology; epigraphy; linguistics; papyrology; Sanskrit.
Particular strengths or unique areas of interest for the department: Literature, language, history, philosophy, epigraphy, papyrology, Sanskrit, and more.
Application deadline: January 1
Unusual features of the application: No
GRE scores required: Yes
Writing sample required: The writing sample should be between about 10 and 20 pages. Several short samples are also valid.
For “best consideration for admission”, applicants should have (note that there are always special cases, and that meeting the stated numerical goals will not guarantee admission to any program):
Averages for GREs among our selected applicants are in the 650-800 range. 700s preferred, or at least high 600s in verbal (with some allowance for non-native English speakers) and 600s in quantitative; essay scores of 5 or higher expected.
GPA: 3.5-4.0, with honors grades in Classics courses
We require a minimum of three years of college training in both Latin and Greek. Applicants should be able to demonstrate competency in translating both languages at the advanced undergraduate level.
Average number of new graduate students per year: 4-5 PhD students is our yearly target.
Approximate percentage of applicants this represents: 4-5%
Number of new students entering program this fall: 8 PhD
Approximate percentage of incoming students given full funding: 100%
Number of guaranteed years of funding: 5 years of funding are guaranteed for PhD students. A sixth year of funding is not
uncommon.
Out of those years, number student will be expected or required to serve as TA, RA, or the like: PhD students normally spend 3-4 years (but not their first year) as TAs, Teaching Fellows, and department proctors; students are regularly awarded a year-long dissertation fellowship.
International students eligibility for financial aid: Yes
PhDs and MAs awarded since January 2005: 8 PhDs and 6 MAs
Major changes anticipated in the department over the next few years, if any: Yes. We anticipate exciting new hires, as several department members expect to retire within the next few years.
Best contact person for questions: Pura Nieto Hernández Pura_Nieto_Hernandez@brown.edu
2008 Survey Response