Fully Funded Master’s in Classical Studies at Tulane University

About PhD Program,

Tulane’s M.A. program in Classical Studies prepares students for further academic work in Ph.D. programs, for teaching in secondary schools, and for other types of careers. We emphasize building our students’ skills in Latin and Greek, while encouraging them to explore the ancient world through archaeology and ancient history. Our small, selective, and highly personalized program makes Tulane an excellent choice for those who are ready to engage deeply with the ancient Mediterranean in all its complexity.

PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,   

  • A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate-level credit (typically 10 courses) completed with a minimum grade of B. Typically, students complete 12 – 16 courses during the two-year program.
  • Two qualifying papers or an M.A. thesis, either of which must be defended before a committee of three faculty members.
  • Satisfactory completion of a reading exam in a modern language (German, French, or Italian). We expect students without preparation in a modern language (excluding English) to enroll in undergraduate language courses as part of their M.A. coursework.

PhD Funding Coverage,

We offer our best qualified applicants a full tuition fellowship and annual stipend. Students receiving a stipend will serve each semester as teaching assistants, helping a professor with course materials and grading. The funding package also includes guaranteed funding for research travel, as well as membership to the professional organization of the student’s choice.

The program typically requires two years for completion. In the first year, most students take three courses within the department per semester. In the second year, students might either take two courses per semester and work on the M.A. thesis or take three courses while substantially revising two earlier seminar papers into M.A. qualifying papers.

Funded graduate students received $3000 to travel abroad between the first and second years, either to academic programs like those led by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens or the American Academy in Rome, or to archaeological field projects. Depending on their individual research interests, students might opt to accompany Prof. Oddo to Knossos, Prof. Emmerson to Pompeii, or Prof. Boehm to Ashkelon; alternately, our faculty can connect students with field projects in other places, focusing on various time periods. In some cases, students might prefer to engage in an intensive summer language program, in either an ancient or modern language. Additional travel funding, including for the summer prior to the first year or following the second, is available by application. We also offer funding for professional activities such as participating in conferences as presenters or attendees.

Application Requirement,

  • fill in the required information on all sections of the application
  • upload a personal statement
  • enter the names and requested contact information of three people who will submit (online) letters of academic and/or professional recommendation
  • upload the most recent unofficial transcript from each university attended (for transcripts in a language other than English, please upload the original copy of a certified English translation with an explanation of the grading system)
  • upload writing sample, if required by the department
  • enter self-report GRE scores ONLY if required by the program and request ETS send the official scores to Tulane School of Liberal Arts.

Please check the individual department websites for application materials required by individual departments/programs. More details about personal statements, GRE scores, language scores and letters of recommendation follows in the questions below.

Should you be offered admission, you must send an official copy of your transcript from each institution you attended when you accept the admission offer. Official copies must either be in a sealed envelope, signed on the back by the University Registrar or sent electronically from the University’s certified transcript transmission service. Please ONLY send an OFFICIAL transcript if you accept an admission offer.

Application Deadline,

Feb 01, 2025

Application Fee,

The application fee is $30 payable by credit card or checking account transfer at the time the application is submitted.