A brief description of the department:
The department has traditionally prepared graduate students for careers in classics and the humanities while encouraging interdisciplinary literary and historical studies; particular strengths are Greek tragedy/comedy, Augustan/Flavian literature, epic, rhetoric, translation, history, and the classical tradition. Other departments contribute classical philosophy, archaeology, and art history. The department is home Arion and The International Journal of the Classical Tradition.
Particular strengths or unique areas of interest for the department: Tragedy, Comedy, Augustan, Epic, Classical Tradition
Application deadline: January 15 (fall admission), October 15 (spring admission)
Unusual features of the application: No
GRE scores required: Yes
Writing sample required: Paper of about 10 pages.
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):
600+ GRE, 3.5 GPA, 3 years/language (college level)
Average number of new graduate students per year: 3 PhD, 2 MA
Approximate percentage of applicants this represents: 7-10%
Number of new students entering program this fall: 2 PhD, 2 MA
Approximate percentage of incoming students given full funding: 100% PhD, 0% MA unless enrolled in PhD program
Number of guaranteed years of funding: 5 years PhD
Out of those years, number student will be expected or required to serve as TA, RA, or the like: 1 non-TF fellowship year awarded per year to an entering student; the remainder serve as TFs
International students eligibility for financial aid: Yes
PhDs and MAs awarded since January 2005: 4 PhDs; 15 MAs
Major changes anticipated in the department over the next few years, if any: No.
Best contact person for questions: Professor Jeffrey Henderson (jhenders@bu.edu)
2008 Survey Response