A brief description of the department:
Classics has been taught at Dalhousie-Kings for more than 200 years. Philosophy and religion to the end of the Middle Ages are the focus of three of the seven chairs and of the Department’s journal Dionysius. Hebrew and Arabic are taught as well as Greek and Latin. A two-year MA with thesis is the major graduate degree.
Particular strengths or unique areas of interest for the department: philosophy, late antiquity, religious studies, history, literature
Application deadline: January 15 for top scholarship consideration; February 15 for other scholarship consideration; June 1 absolute deadline.
Unusual features of the application: In order to be eligible for our highest scholarship categories, Canadian citizens must apply for SSHRC (CGS) funding in the fall of the year prior to application.
GRE scores required: No
Writing sample required: Yes. A term paper or thesis chapter of about 20 pages is most acceptable.
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):
GRE scores are not required. A GPA of 3.7 (on a 4.3 scale, or an average of A-, 80% or better, or first-class standing) allows the best possibility of admission and funding, as does the equivalent of a BA (Hons.) degree in Classics at Dalhousie, which carries with it the requirement of 3 full years of one ancient language (Greek or Latin) and 2 full years of the other. All applications are, however, adjudicated on a case-by-case basis, and accommodations are occasionally made for exceptional applicants with undergraduate backgrounds in cognate fields or with joint-honours degrees.
Average number of new graduate students per year: MA: 4-5, PhD: 1
Approximate percentage of applicants this represents: MA: 50-60% PhD: 30%
Number of new students entering program this fall: 2 MA, 1 PhD
Approximate percentage of incoming students given full funding: 90%
Number of guaranteed years of funding: There can be no guarantees for MA students, but the majority of first-year MA students are fully funded and virtually all students receive some degree of financial assistance during the usual duration of the degree (2 years). Doctoral students are only accepted into our programme with full funding from an external scholarship source (usually a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Doctoral Fellowship or a Killam Doctoral Scholarship (administered by Dalhousie).
Out of those years, number student will be expected or required to serve as TA, RA, or the like: MA: 2 years PhD: 3-4 years
International students eligibility for financial aid: International students have equal access to all funds administered by the Department and Dalhousie University, but are not eligible for Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) scholarships.
PhDs and MAs awarded since January 2005: 1 PhDs and 21 MAs
Major changes anticipated in the department over the next few years, if any: In July, 2008 Religious Studies became an undergraduate programme administered by Classics; within Religious Studies, Classics will be responsible for the teaching of Christianity to the end of the Middle Ages as well as for the sources languages of Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Arabic. We anticipate the connection will enable the further development of our established work in Greek, Roman, Jewish, Christian, Islamic philosophy and religion at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Best contact person for questions: Dr. Peter O’Brien, Graduate Coordinator
2007 Survey Response