Classics and Philosophy Combined Ph.D. Program

It is recommended that applicants to the program possess a basic knowledge of Greek, up to the level of being able comfortably to read Plato’s Socratic dialogues and/or comparable abilities in Latin. While this level of proficiency is recommended, the minimum requirement for entry to the Philosophy Track is intermediate proficiency in at least one of Greek and Latin (where such proficiency standards could be met by attendance at an intensive summer school, such as the CUNY course, in which the course covers the ground typically covered by both a beginners and an intermediate course, in the summer prior to entry). Students who satisfy only the minimal level requirement in Greek and Latin must, in addition, have demonstrable proficiency in one of the Modern Languages: French, German or Italian. Such students should make clear in their applications their current level of language attainment and their plans to meet the minimum language requirement. On completion of the program, graduates will have proficiency in Greek and Latin and a reading knowledge of two of the following languages; French, German, or Italian. These will be established and assisted by diagnostic tests as follows:

Greek and Latin Proficiency Tests in Greek and/or Latin

Diagnostic sight translations in Greek and Latin will be given to assess the student’s progress in the Classical languages and to assist with placement into classes. These exams are offered at the beginning of the first and third semesters of registration. Diagnostics must be taken in at least one of Greek and Latin at the beginning of the first semester and repeated in the third. Diagnostics in the second language must be taken no later than the third semester. Depending on the student’s progress, additional diagnostic testing may be required in consultation with the program committee.

Modern Languages

1. Departmental language exam in German, French, or Italian by the beginning of the second year (early September). Native speakers are excused. Students have up to two attempts to pass. 
2. Departmental language exam in a second language of German, French, or Italian by the beginning of the third year (early September). Native speakers are excused. Students have up to two attempts to pass.
3. Students with sufficient language proficiency may take the tests in two languages in the first year.

The First Year Seminar, Philosophy 705, must be taken by all students in their first year.  This course counts towards the 5 courses to be taken in Philosophy but does not count toward any of the distribution groups.

• At least 4 should be in ancient philosophy, including at least two involving original language work.
• Of 10 remaining courses 5 should be in Classics, 5 in Philosophy.
  • Of 5 in Philosophy, one should be in history of philosophy other than ancient philosophy, at least one should be in Metaphysics, Epistemology, Philosophy of Mind and/or Philosophy of Language, and at least one should be in ethics and value theory. Students must satisfy the Logic requirement as per the general Philosophy PhD program.
  • The First Year Seminar, Philosophy 705, must be taken by all students in their first year.  This course counts towards the 5 courses to be taken in Philosophy but does not count toward any of the distribution groups.
• Of 5 in Classics, at least one course should involve original language work in Greek and at least one course should involve original language work in Latin. Courses beyond this should be chosen, in consultation with the program committee, so as best to prepare candidates for their qualifying examinations. It is expected that candidates will at least audit one course per year involving reading of a philosophical text in the original language, irrespective of courses taken.
  • In recognition of previous graduate-level work done at Yale or elsewhere, the Program Committee in consultation with the two Directors of Graduate Studies may recommend waiving a maximum of three courses of the requirement (including logic), not more than two of which may be counted against Philosophy graduate courses and not more than one of which may be counted against Classics graduate courses at Yale. Graduate students must take at least one class in two of the three categories listed in the Yale Philosophy department, not counting classes in ancient philosophy. Credit for course work done elsewhere does not reduce the tuition or residency requirement of the Graduate School. Whether a waiver is granted is ultimately be decided by the Graduate School.

1. Translation examinations in Greek and Latin, based on the Philosophy Track Reading List, by the beginning of the 6th term in residence.
2. An oral examination in Greek and Latin based on the Philosophy Track Reading List, by the end of the 6th term in residence.
3. Two qualifying papers, one of which must be in ancient philosophy and one of which must be on a philosophical topic other than ancient philosophy, by the end of the 5th term in residence.

A Dissertation Prospectus must be complete by the end of the 7th term in residence.

The Philosophy Department has a work-in-progress seminar once or twice a year where students present their work-in-progress (qualifying papers, chapters of the thesis, or other publications) and discuss other students’ work.  We strongly encourage those who are advanced to candidacy to take this seminar.

Timing
Candidates should expect to complete their dissertations within 6 years of entering the program.

Adviser
Registered doctoral candidates must have a principal adviser with an appointment on the Graduate School faculty. The Graduate School requires that each dissertation be read by at least three people but not more than five, at least two of whom hold faculty appointments in the Graduate School. All readers must hold the Ph.D. degree as well as a faculty position or be considered otherwise qualified to evaluate the dissertation

Length
It is recommended that the dissertation not exceed 75,000 words.

Joint work
Dissertations that rely on joint work must include in their Preface a detailed description of which parts of the thesis are the result of joint work and what the candidate’s contribution was to the joint work. The primary advisor must verify the description in a message sent to all readers of the dissertation. We leave it to the readers to factor this information into their judgment about the merit of the dissertation.

No dissertation should be submitted to the Graduate School until a PDF copy has been seen by the dissertation committee. (See Submission Procedures for Dissertation(opens in a new window/tab) available from the Graduate School Registrar’s Office. This document also includes format instructions for dissertations). An oral defense of the thesis is required.