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Objectives
Structure
Specializations
Master’s thesis
Requirements for graduation
Requirements Teachers Training programme Classics
Sector plan
Students’ Counsellor: Classics
Objectives
The objectives of the Research Master’s programme in Classics and Ancient Civilizations are:
The broadening and deepening of knowledge, insight, skills and use of methodology in the field of Classics and Ancient Civilizations studies;
The furtherance of academic and professional training; to solve scholarly problems in an independent way, critically and creatively; and to report research results with clarity both orally and in writing;
Preparation for an academic career in universities, and/ or post-graduate education and for functions outside of academe in the public or private sector in which advanced research skills and substantial practical research experience are among qualifications required.
As a graduate of a two-year Research Master’s degree you are qualified to work as a junior academic researcher in an academic environment or carry out further research work on a PhD programme.
Structure
The Research Master’s programme in Classics and Ancient Civilizations provides intensive and comprehensive training covering the entire range of present-day research on the civilizations of Greece and Rome and the Ancient Near East. The programme introduces a wide variety of research methods: traditional philology with its intimate knowledge of languages and texts, while still indispensable, is enriched by social history and economic theory, comparative literature, the study of religion in an anthropological perspective and, of course, archaeology and material culture.
The study load runs up to 120 EC and is divided over four semesters. Apart from the obligatory core courses, a student of the Research Master programme follows a number of tracks electives within the programme. Though these track electives are shared with the 1-year Master programme Classics and Ancient Civilizations, students in the Research Master follow these courses at a more advanced level:
Common core courses (20 EC)
Track electives (60 EC)
Tutorial in preparation for the thesis (10 EC)
Thesis presentation and research proposal (5 EC)
Thesis (25 EC)
Please visit our website (and click on your specialization in the Research Master Programme) to find more details about the structure of the programme.
Specializations
The Research Master has five specializations, all of which focus on reading ancient texts in their original languages and discussing the interpretations these texts give rise to. Ranging from the sources of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece and the Roman Empire to the medieval texts in Neo-Latin, Coptic and Hebrew: Assyriology, Classics, Egyptology, Hebrew Bible Studies, and New Testament and Early Christian Studies.
The specialization Classics refers to the multidisciplinary study of the Greek and Roman world and provides students with a comprehensive view of the classical world, while defining the significance it still has for modern society. This programme includes Greek and Latin literature and/or linguistics, and –if desired– courses from the cultural-historical disciplines (Ancient History, Classical Archeology, or Ancient Philosophy). A total of six special track electives (10 EC each), the subject of which changes yearly, are to be chosen. The academic staff responsible for this specialisation is internationally renowned for their research work.
For more information on the other four specializations, see Classics and Ancient Civilizations research.
Master’s thesis
The thesis for the Research Master’s programme Classics and Ancient Civilizations is worth 25 EC, and contains a maximum of 25,000 words including notes, bibliography and appendices. Students who (have) start(ed) writing their thesis, should attend the seminar: Thesis presentation and research proposal.
Classics: Students write their thesis under supervision of one of the staff members of the Department of Classics possessing the appropriate expertise in the field addressed in the thesis; a second supervisor – the second reader – will be indicated by the supervisor in consultation with the student. As a rule it is written in English.
All theses are based on a substantial amount of primary texts in Greek or Latin relevant to the line of investigation, which is either of a linguistic or literary nature, or of a cultural-historical nature; in the case of the latter, there are two supervisors, one from one of the language sections and one from the cultural-historical disciplines. In that case, the thesis plan must be approved by both the first and the second supervisor/reader before the start of the writing process.
Requirements for graduation
To complete the specialization for which you have been accepted, students will have to conclude the two common courses (20 EC). They have to accumulate 60 EC of track electives, of which a number can be replaced by a stay abroad. Further, they should have finished a thesis in their field of specialization (40 EC, including a thesis tutorial and thesis seminar).
Requirements Teachers Training programme Classics
If students want to meet the nationally determined requirements for admission to the Teachers Training programme Classics (in Dutch), they are required to take at least 45 EC (including a Master’s thesis of 25 EC) in Greek and Latin literature or linguistics, and they are required to take at least one course (seminars/tutorials) of 10 EC for each language. The academically more advanced cultural-historical element in the Master’s programme, and the requirements of the Greek/Latin language component provide an adequate basis for the Teachers Training programme Classics required for a qualification for teaching Greek and Latin in secondary school.
Sector plan
The Research Master’s specialization track Classics is part of the Sector plan and is offered in close collaboration with the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and the Vrije Universiteit (VU). Students can choose from all the courses on offer within the Sector plan, both in Leiden and at the sister institutions. For more information about the procedures regarding the Sector plan, please contact the coordinator of studies Classics or check this website.
Students’ Counsellor: Classics
J.K. Koning MA
Phone: +31 (0)71 527 2665
Office hours: Wednesday and Thursday
Consultation hours: Wednesday 3.30-4.15pm and Thursday 12.15-1.00pm
Website
