Classics MA

The MA in Classics studies Greek and Latin language, literature and civilisation.

Key Features of MA in Classics

The MA in Classics allows students to develop advanced reading skills in ancient languages and to apply them to the study of a selection of some of the most important literary texts from the ancient world.

The College of Arts and Humanities has a Graduate Centre. The Graduate Centre fosters and supports individual and collaborative research activity of international excellence and offers a vibrant and supportive environment for students pursuing postgraduate research and taught masters study. The Centre provides postgraduate training to enhance academic and professional development and facilitates participation in seminar programmes, workshops and international conferences.

The MA in Classics aims:

• To acquire advanced reading skills in ancient Greek and Latin.
• To develop the ability to translate from ancient Greek and Latin accurately and sensitively.
• To develop the theoretical and analytical skills relevant to the study of ancient texts in the original languages.
• To prepare for further text-based research on any aspect of Greek or Roman history and culture.
• Through the precision and awareness to detail entailed in the study of ancient languages, to acquire a range of transferable skills relevant to a range of employment opportunities, including those which involve language acquisition and translation.

Modules

Modules on the MA in Classics course may include:

• Research Methodologies in Ancient History
• Narrative genres and theory
• Greek
• Greek Texts
• Latin
• Latin Texts
• Roman houses and households
• Being Greek under Rome: Greek literature and culture in the Imperial Period
• Royal Space: The King and His Palace in the Ancient World
• Saints and Sinners in Christian Late Antiquity
• Magic in the Ancient World: Exploring the Sources
• Archaeology and Topography of Ancient Rome

MA in Classics Course Structure

The full-time Classics course is split across the year offering three modules in each academic semester (a total of six modules) and then a dissertation over the summer. The dissertation component is written on a specialist research topic of your choosing.

Part-time Classics students take three modules in the first year, three in the second year and write the dissertation in the third year.

Careers

Career expectations are excellent for Classics graduates. MA degree holders may move on to doctoral study or enter employment in such areas as museums, heritage and tourism; marketing, sales and advertising; business, art, design and culture; media and PR; social and welfare professions; humanitarian organisations; the civil service, and education.

Classics Research Interests

Staff research interests in Classics cover the core disciplines of culture, religion, language, history and archaeology.

Particular strengths include:

• Ancient Narrative Literature
• The Ancient Novel
• Plato and Platonism
• Greek Tragedy
• Ancient Technology
• The Archaeology of Roman Egypt
• Graeco-Roman Urbanisation
• Greek Social History
• The History and Archaeology of Asia Minor
• Late Antiquity
• Roman Military History

All staff in History and Classics are research active and publish books and articles in their areas of expertise. In addition, regular research seminars and lectures are run through the Research Institute for Arts and Humanities (RIAH) which Classics students are encouraged to attend.

The College of Arts and Humanities also has a Graduate Centre. The Centre fosters and supports individual and collaborative research activity of international excellence and offers a vibrant and supportive environment for students pursuing postgraduate research and postgraduate taught masters study. The Centre also provides postgraduate training to enhance research skills and offers support for career development.

Visit the Classics MA page on the Swansea University website for more details!