School of Arts and Sciences
Department of Classical Studies

MA in Classics with Teaching Licensure

The master's program in classics with licensure allows students to pursue intensive study of the classical world beyond the bachelor's level and simultaneously to acquire the credentials for a professional teaching career in public education. As a student in the program, you'll have an opportunity to study literature, history, archaeology, and digital humanities in the Classical Studies department. Concurrently you'll prepare for a career in teaching (grades 5-12) through coursework and supervised teaching offered by the Education Department at Tufts. 

In strengthening language, research, and teaching skills, you'll be prepared to pursue a career in secondary school teaching with Massachusetts licensure and/or move on to a PhD program. Students typically complete the program in two or three years. 

Program Requirements and Policies

  • Candidates must successfully complete six graduate courses in Classical Studies and seven in Education. Candidates will usually have completed the equivalent of an undergraduate Latin or Greek major. If not, additional courses will be required. 
  • Reading knowledge of Latin or Greek and one modern foreign language (usually German or French) is tested by examination.
  • To demonstrate research and presentation, the candidate may submit for evaluation by a Classical Studies faculty committee either two qualifying papers (written for courses at Tufts and revised as necessary after completion of the course) or a thesis. The thesis normally counts as two of the required six Classical Studies courses. Students usually find that writing a thesis takes a full term of uninterrupted work. An oral examination based on the qualifying papers or thesis is required.
  • A comprehensive written examination integrating course work with knowledge of the reading lists in Greek and Latin literature is required.

Course Requirements

Classical Studies courses: 

  • Two courses in upper-level Latin
  • Two courses in upper-level Greek or One course in upper-level Greek plus one additional course in upper-level Latin
  • Two courses in 100-level Latin, Greek, Classics, Archaeology, or approved related fields

Education courses:

  • ED 130: Human Development and Learning 
  • ED 160: Post-Colonial Theories in Education, ED 161: Anthropology and Sociology of Schooling, ED 162: Critical Histories of U.S. Education, ED 163: Philosophies, or ED 167: Critical Race Theory
  • ED 142: Education of the Exceptional Child or ED 144: Learning Disabilities
  • ED 101: Intro to Teaching
  • ED 102: Supervised Teaching/Seminar

Second Language Teaching:

  • ED/CLS 114:  Second Language Acquisition
  • ED/CLS 125:  Methods for Teaching Latin and Classical Languages

Exams

  • Latin translation OR Greek translation
  • Foreign language (usually German or French)
  • Comprehensive exam

Program Objectives

  1. Students will have developed the ability to conduct research and write a graduate level research paper and/or thesis.
  2. Students will have developed broad knowledge of the Classical world including literature, history and/or archaeology as well as a deeper focus in a particular area relevant to student interest.
  3. Students will have developed a strong competency in both Latin and Greek and have been exposed to new methods of learning and using the languages. (eg. Treebanking)
  4. Students will have gained reading knowledge of a modern foreign language relevant to research in the field.
  5. Students will have been exposed to new developments in the field of Classical Studies.
  6. Students will be prepared to go on to advanced graduate work and/or secondary school teaching.
  7. Students will have gained knowledge about classroom management, national and state educational standards, and a variety of methods for teaching ancient languages, based on research and special strategies for students with diverse learning styles, English language learners, and students with disabilities.
  8. Students will have gained practical classroom experience during a supervised Latin Practicum and been evaluated according to national and state standards for the profession in an accredited program. Final endorsement of readiness for classroom teaching (and initial teaching licensure) is the jurisdiction of the Tufts University Department of Education.