Bachelor’s-to-Master’s in Classics & Archaeology

Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Programs are linked bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in which the two degrees are conferred sequentially. This Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Program allows students to apply a maximum of 8 units from their undergraduate degree toward the associated master’s degree. The units applied toward the master’s degree must be at the 500 level or above.

Students must apply to Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Programs before the conferral of the bachelor’s degree. Typically, students apply to the Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Program in Classics & Archaeology in their second or third year of undergraduate study. Students in the Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Program in Classics & Archaeology must complete at least 24 units while enrolled as a graduate student. Students should consult with the Financial Assistance office to learn how entrance into the Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Program might impact their financial aid.

The BA-to-MA in Classics & Archaeology will enable students completing the BA in Classics & Archaeology to continue into the MA in Classics & Archaeology in their fifth year. It will give students training in Ancient Greek and Latin, archaeological methods and practices, and the study of ancient Mediterranean material culture. The degree is designed for students who hope to pursue a PhD in Archaeology, Ancient History, Art History, or Classics; to move into cognate humanistic fields; or to pursue employment in fields where knowledge of classical and Near Eastern antiquity is valuable, such as heritage management, historic preservation, publishing, tourism, and employment in museums, especially if students choose to couple the degree with the certificate in museum studies (offered through the History of Art & Architecture department).

Learning Outcomes

Students with a BA in Classics & Archaeology will be able to:

• Demonstrate a broad understanding of the history and material culture of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East.
• Read with comprehension works in Ancient Greek and Latin writers and demonstrate an understanding of genre, style, and cultural context.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the material variety of the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East as well as their influence on peoples and places of subsequent historical periods.
• Communicate these understandings clearly and persuasively, both orally and in writing.

Students with an MA in Classics & Archaeology will be able to:

• Demonstrate a broad understanding of the history and material culture of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East.
• Read with comprehension works in Ancient Greek and Latin and demonstrate an understanding of genre, style, and cultural context.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the material variety of the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East as well as their influence on peoples and places of subsequent historical periods.
• Communicate these understandings clearly and persuasively, both orally and in writing.
• Produce and defend an original contribution to knowledge.
• Conduct scholarly activities in an ethical manner.

Application Procedure

Applications must be received by April 1 of the junior year. If the application does not meet the deadline, a Request for Waiver of Application Deadline must be completed and signed by the department chair and submitted with an application. The applicant must include their BU transcript, two faculty recommendation letters, a writing sample (10 pages, usually drawn from previous coursework), a plan of study, and a personal statement describing the applicant’s interest in the program. Ordinarily, applicants are expected to have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 to be considered for admission.

Requirements

Students must complete at least 38 courses (152 units).

Students must complete all requirements of the BA in Classics & Archaeology and all of the requirements of the MA in Classics & Archaeology. Up to 8 units of graduate-level coursework from the BA may count toward the MA, reducing the number of additional MA courses needed to six. All courses counted toward the MA must be passed with a grade of B– or better. Specific requirements beyond those for the BA in Classics & Archaeology are:

• Two courses in Ancient Greek or Latin above the 500 level.
• Three of the following four courses:
  • CAS AR 591 Contemporary Theory in Archaeology (4 units)
  • CAS AR 592 Archaeological Ethics and Law (4 units)
  • CAS AR 594 Scientific Methods in Archaeology (4 units)
  • CAS AR 595 Professional Practice in Archaeology (4 units)
• Three electives at the graduate level in consultation with an advisor.
• A master’s project in Archaeology. This project should include original research or comprise examples of professional development, such as a conference poster, a course syllabus, a museum display plan, or a cultural heritage management plan. One elective may be a Directed Study for the purposes of completing the master’s project.

Honors in the Major

The department encourages work towards graduation with Honors. The primary requirement is successful completion of a two-term program of directed research and writing in the student’s senior year, culminating in a written honors thesis and oral defense with a minimum of two examiners. The thesis should exhibit knowledge of primary and secondary sources, with bibliography, or the equivalent at the discretion of the readers, and ordinarily it should not exceed 10,000 words. The submission of a detailed outline by the end of the fall term is also required.

In order to qualify for the honors track, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of no less than 3.4 in the major, must submit an application to their Faculty Project Advisor in the spring of their junior year, and must have approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies and Department Chair.