A brief description of the department:
The Stanford Department of Classics offers both the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees.
Recent graduates and current students are working on a variety of topics from
the poetics of Homer to the the construction of urban space in the Roman
Empire and demotic traditions in Hellenistic and Roman Egypt. We are a
full-service program with world-class faculty in philology and literary
study, history, archaeology, philosophy, and ancient science.
Particular strengths or unique areas of interest for the department: archaeology; socio-philology; science; social-science history; philosophy as literature
Average number of new graduate students per year: average five PhD, two MAFor “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 and GPA are less important indicators than years of language study (at
least three per language), experience in the field or after BA degree,
excellent letters of recommendation and excellent writing sample.
Approximate percentage of incoming students given full funding: All PhD candidates, no MA students.
Number of guaranteed years of funding: PhD students guaranteed 5 years of funding; a 6th year on competitive
Stanford fellowship is possible.
Out of those years, number student will be expected or required to serve as TA, RA, or the like: All students are required to serve a total of four quarters as TA or
equivalent (spread over years 2 and 3)
PhDs and MAs awarded since January 2004: PhD: 12; MA: 2
Major changes anticipated in the department over the next few years, if any:
More hiring in Latin literature and archaeology is anticipated; no immediate
retirements; focus will be as now.);
