About Master’s Program,
Earn a professional degree, solidify your languages, develop your research skills, and gain hands-on teaching experience with the Masters of Arts in Classics at Texas Tech University.
The M.A. is the highest degree that a student can earn in Classics at Texas Tech; our graduate students benefit in many ways from this privileged position. Graduate students receive extensive pedagogical training by serving as Teaching Assistants in language and large culture courses. They can also gain research and publishing experience through opportunities like faculty-student research collaboration and by working with the journals Helios and Intertexts, both of which are edited on campus. Students also have opportunities to work with our local branch of the Archaeological Institute of America and with area K-12 Latin programs. Funding is available for summer research and for presenting at conferences. Graduate students here enjoy full access not only to our departmental Classics library, but also to the Texas Tech Library, one of the best libraries in Texas for Classics – including full access to Interlibrary Loan. Our graduate students also have dedicated individual office space in the department.
Students are typically admitted with at least intermediate level proficiency in both Ancient Greek and Latin (4+ semesters at the college level).
All students undertake the same core coursework and exams in Classical Languages, Literature, Culture, and Archaeology and Material Culture as a part of the M.A. degree. We also offer supplementary opportunities and individualized mentorship to suit the goals of our students who wish to specialize further in Philology, Archaeology and Material Culture, and/or Pedagogy. For instance: Students on the Philology track are able to take an additional course in Literary Theory, Philosophy, History or other relevant field, depending on student interest. Those on the Archaeology and Material Culture track are able to participate in one of our faculty-led field projects, take an additional course in Anthropology, History, or other relevant discipline and/or pursue the Geo-Sciences certificate. Those on the Pedagogy track are able to participate in the region’s vibrant secondary school Latin community, especially through the regional arm of the Texas Junior Classics League. All students also have the opportunity to participate in faculty research and other Departmental activities.
The Classics Program prides itself on the diverse perspectives and interests of our M.A. students and welcomes applications from all students.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Admission to the Languages & Cultures – Classics M.A. degree program presupposes an undergraduate major’s proficiency in either Latin or Greek, or as close to the equivalent as possible. Proficiency in the other of the two classical languages is needed for completion of the degree. Applicants wishing to specialize in ARCHAEOLOGY AND MATERIAL CULTURE may be considered with lower levels of language proficiency and should contact Dr. Christopher Witmore.
Study can be pursued with a concentration in one of two areas or a combination thereof: Archaeology or Language and Literature. A degree plan for each student will be set in consultation with the Graduate Advisor. Students who wish to study Language and Literature should have significant experience in Greek or Latin, preferably both. Students for Archaeology should have significant background in Archaeology and/or Classical Culture; knowledge of Greek and/or Latin is highly desirable, In all cases, admission decisions and the formation of a degree plan will be based on a holistic review of the candidate’s dossier. There is broad scope to create a program of study suited to students’ needs.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
Students usually receive financial support via employment as a Teaching Assistant, Graduate Part-Time Instructor, or as the Editorial Assistant to Helios or Intertexts. The University also offers several competitive scholarships. Deadlines for these opportunities, which include support from the Graduate School, are January 15th. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply before these deadlines. TTU’s financial support packages are sufficient to cover students’ reduced tuition fees, accommodation, and board.
Application Requirement,
Unofficial copies of transcripts, and test scores are required for application evaluation purposes. If admitted, you will be required to submit official transcripts, diplomas/degree certificates, and test scores. Please do not send official transcripts until you have received a notice of acceptance from Texas Tech Graduate School.
Provide Program Materials: In addition to transcripts and test scores, most Texas Tech graduate programs require supplemental materials for admission review. These materials may include (but are not limited to) items such as a statement of purpose, recommendations, writing samples, creative portfolio, etc. Supplemental materials are reviewed by the department only, not the Office of Graduate Admission. Please refer to the homepage of your intended graduate department as well as the instructions on the “Program Materials” quadrant on our online application to verify which supplemental materials are needed. You may also find the required material here.
While you will be able to add to certain segments on the application (e.g. test scores) post submission, you will not be able to make revisions once the application has been submitted.
Submitting incorrect information on your application or failing to include important details can delay the admissions process.
Statement on use of generative AI: As an emerging research institution, Texas Tech University values exploring new technologies such as generative AI tools like ChatGPT. However, we value the applicant’s unique voice in their personal statements, writing samples and other application materials. Should you use generative AI, it is important that the use only complements your original ideas and not be used to compose your work entirely. We hold prospective graduate students to the same academic integrity standards as our current students and applicants are expected to abide Texas Tech University’s policy on Academic Integrity.
Application Deadline,
Jan 15, 2025
Application Fee,
Non-refundable application fee (Required) – $75 initial application fee, or $25 for each subsequent application in the same term.
