Medieval Latin

Doctor of Philosophy in Medieval Latin

Prerequisites. Competence in both Greek and Latin sufficient to allow the student to take courses numbered above 100 upon entering Graduate School. 

Academic Residence. Minimum of two years of full-time study (16 courses, or 64 credits). Students are not normally permitted to take more than two courses numbered 301 before sitting for their General Examinations.

Program of Study (for students who entered the program in or after 2023). As well as acquiring close familiarity with Medieval Latin, candidates will be expected to continue their study of classical Latin. Programs of study will be determined on an individual basis in consultation with a faculty director in Medieval Latin. The program will be such as to foster expertise in:

  1. The methodology covered in the Proseminar, Classic 350, or its equivalent in Medieval Studies. (one course)
  2. Classical Latin language and literature. To this end, candidates must pass the courses Latin 112a and Latin 112b. (two courses)
  3. Medieval Latin language and literature. To this end, candidates must pass two courses labeled Medieval Latin or 301. (two courses)
  4. Advanced interpretation. To this end, before taking the Special Examinations, candidates must pass two courses designated "primarily for graduates" and given by faculty of the department or courses on medieval topics given outside the department. One of these courses will normally be in classical Latin, one in Medieval Latin. (two courses)
  5. Syntax and stylistics. This requirement is met by passing Latin 175 (or the equivalent); it must be fulfilled before the Special Examinations are taken.
  6. Historical linguistics. This requirement is met by passing Latin 134 or equivalent work; it must be fulfilled before the Special Examinations are taken. (one course)
  7. Medieval history or art history. (one course)
  8. Classical reception in the Middle Ages. (one course)

Students are also encouraged to take courses in Greek at the appropriate level, and will be advised on opportunities to pursue training in Latin palaeograpy, either through coursework or summer study.

Program of Study (for students who entered the program before 2023). As well as acquiring close familiarity with Medieval Latin, candidates will be expected to continue their study of both Greek and classical Latin. Programs of study will be determined on an individual basis in consultation with a faculty director in Medieval Latin. The program will be such as to foster expertise in:

  1. The methodology covered in the Proseminar or its equivalent in Medieval Studies (one required).
  2. Classical and Medieval Latin language and literature, to be tested in the General Examinations (see below).
  3. Advanced interpretation. To this end, before taking the Special Examinations, candidates must pass four courses designated "primarily for graduates" and given by faculty of the department or courses on medieval topics given outside the department. Two of these courses will normally be in classical Latin, two in Medieval Latin.
  4. Prose composition. This requirement is met by passing Latin K (or the equivalent) and Greek H; it must be fulfilled before the Special Examinations are taken (see below).
  5. Historical linguistics. This requirement is met by passing Latin 134 or equivalent work; it must be fulfilled before the Special Examinations are taken (see below).
  6. Latin palaeography (which may be met by passing Classical Philology 277 or equivalent work).

Modern Languages. The demonstration of a reading knowledge of French or Italian and of German, to be tested by the department (with the aid of dictionaries). This requirement must be fulfilled before the dissertation prospectus is approved. Tests are normally administered in October and April.

Pedagogy. Students take a practicum course (Classic 360) in the craft of teaching, normally in their third year. Strategies will be applicable to courses taught in translation as well as language courses.

General Examinations (for students who entered the program in or after 2023). All students will take General Examinations comprising four parts, namely:

  1. Two written examinations of three hours each in the translation of classical Latin and Medieval Latin authors; each examination will consist of six passages (half prose and half verse) of which four will be from the reading list and two will be at sight (i.e., not from the reading list). Each component may be taken separately and both must be passed by the fall of the third year.
  2. Two oral examinations of forty-five minutes each, on the history of classical and Medieval Latin literature. The classical Latin literature oral exam will normally be taken at the end of the survey courses (Latin 112a/b). The contents of the classical Latin literature exam will be based on the material covered in those courses. The examining committee will normally consists of the instructors from the 112 courses along with an additional faculty member to moderate the proceedings and to intervene at his or her discretion. The Medieval Latin literature oral exam will normally be taken at the end of the second year.

General Examinations (for students who entered the program before 2023). All students will, normally by the end of the April of their second year, take General Examinations comprising:

  1. Two written examinations of three hours each in the translation of classical Latin and Medieval Latin authors; each examination will consist of six passages (half prose and half verse) of which two will be at sight.
  2. An oral examination of one-and-one-half hours on the history of classical and Medieval Latin literature. The examinations will be based on two reading lists in classical and Medieval Latin which will be approximately the same in length as those in classical Greek and Latin literature required for the PhD in Classical Philology.

These examinations may only be repeated once in the event of failure. If a student fails only one part of the examination, then he or she need only repeat that part.

Special Examinations (for students who entered the program in or after 2023). By the end of the third or, at the latest, the fourth year the candidate must take a two-hour oral examination devoted to

  1. An ancient Latin author, with attention to the author's influence on medieval literature or thought;
  2. A major Medieval Latin author (e.g. Alcuin, Peter Abelard, John of Garland, or Thomas Aquinas) or text (e.g., the Carmina Burana), including the manuscript tradition and historical background; and
  3. A special subject to be selected from fields such as medieval history; philosophy; theology; law; art; Latin palaeography; Latin grammar and metrics; literary and cultural interactions between Latin Christendom on the one hand and medieval Byzantium, Islam, or Judaism on the other; a period of special interest (e.g., the Carolingian era, the long twelth century, scholasticism); a major genre (such as epic, lyric, letters, or drama); the classical tradition in the Middle Ages; or the passage of Medieval Latin from script to print.

The choice of authors and subject should be submitted for approval at the time of the General Examinations or within a month following them (unless they are taken right before the start of the term, in which case they should be submitted immediately). Preparation for this examination will be by independent study, with regular supervision by a faculty member for each part of the examination (Classic 302). These examinations may be repeated only once in the event of failure.

Special Examinations (for students who entered the program before 2023). By the end of the third or, at the latest, the fourth year the candidate must take a two-hour oral examination devoted to

  1. An ancient Latin author, with attention to the author's influence on medieval literature or thought;
  2. A Medieval Latin author, including the manuscript tradition of the author's works and historical background; and
  3. A special subject to be selected from the following fields: medieval history, philosophy, theology, law, art, Latin palaeography, Latin grammar and metrics.

The choice of authors and subject should be submitted for approval at the time of the General Examinations or within a month following them. Preparation for this examination will be by independent study, with regular supervision by a faculty member for each part of the examination (Classic 302). These examinations may be repeated only once in the event of failure.

Dissertation Regulations. See the Dissertation Regulations page.