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 philosophy, archaeology, and art history. The department is home to 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: Application deadline for merit-based financial aid: January 15 (for fall admission)
Application deadline without financial aid: July 1 (for fall admission), October 15 (for spring admission)
Unusual features of the application: No
GRE scores required: Yes
Writing sample required: 1 scholarly writing sample required.
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: 10%
Number of new students entering program this fall: 4 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: 3 PhDs; 3 MAs
Major changes anticipated in the department over the next few years, if any: None.
Best contact person for questions: Professor Jeffrey Henderson (jhenders@bu.edu)
2007 Survey Response