Application
Application Information
The department begins to make decisions on admissions and financial aid for new students in January of each year. Although the deadline for applications is Dec. 13 and the deadline for recommendation letters is Dec. 28, it is recommended to upload applications and materials even earlier in order to avoid any problems. The Classics department does not separately consider applications for admission in the spring semester; applicants interested in beginning work in the spring semester must meet the normal deadlines for consideration and to be admitted for the academic year. The department urges applicants to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) no later than the October of their application year. The department awards both M.A. and Ph.D. degrees, but it is assumed that all applicants are interested in completing the Ph.D. We do not offer a terminal M.A. so we only accept students who want to pursue their Ph.D. All students must work toward their M.A. first. Applicants should check their online application often to see if items have been received by the Department.
For information on our department's graduate programs please contact the director of graduate studies or the chair of the archaeology committee. To make arrangements to visit the department please contact Kim Miles, the department's student services manager.
Each year the department receives 100 to 120 applications to the Ph.D. program, and we enroll between four and six new students. The applications are read by an admissions committee, who make recommendations to the chair. Then, the chair extends offers of admission or admission with financial support. At times an applicant is at first simply admitted, and then offered support later in the spring. Applicants should read carefully the requirements for each degree and note how these conditions may differ from those of other universities, including language requirements and the requirements for all students to do some coursework in history and archaeology. The most attractive applications will be those that suggest the student will be ready to complete our requirements and to do interesting and valuable work as soon as possible.
To take full advantage of the department’s program, an applicant ideally should have strong preparation in Latin and Greek, in ancient history and archaeology, and in appropriate modern languages. Although many applicants have not had the opportunity to prepare in all areas, entering students usually have an undergraduate major in Greek, Latin, or archaeology, with supporting courses in other areas such as philosophy, literature, linguistics, art, anthropology, or religion. A Latin major, for example, might have the equivalent of 10 semester-long courses in Latin, six in Greek, and four in history and archaeology; an archaeology major might have six semester-long courses of archaeology, with six of one language, two of the other, and two in ancient history. Applying archaeology Ph.D. candidates without fieldwork experience are rarely successful in gaining admission. For all applicants it is very good to have at least some acquaintance with German and with French or Italian. The stronger a student’s preparation, the more rapid the progress he or she can make toward the degree. This is especially true with Latin and Greek. In recent years, our most highly ranked applicants for degrees in philology studied an average of 10 semester-long courses of Latin and eight semesters of Greek. Similar applicants in archaeology averaged between six and seven semester-long courses in each of the two languages.
Applying to the Graduate School
Application Process
All prospective students wishing to undertake graduate study at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill should use the online application system. Applications must be accompanied by a non-refundable fee for each program to which you are applying. For information, requirements, and application forms, please see the UNC-CH Graduate School website. Please note that the languages section of the application only allows you to list three languages, so please list just your modern languages, if listing any languages.
Application Deadline
The deadline by which the complete application and all supporting materials must be received is Dec. 13.
Letters of Recommendation
Three electronic letters of recommendation from persons qualified to evaluate your academic and professional qualifications are required. In order to allow for electronic submission and delivery of your recommendations, you must submit the email addresses of your three recommenders during the application process. The deadline for recommendation letters is Dec. 28. Applicants should check their online application often to make sure recommenders have submitted their letters before the deadline.
Transcripts
One unofficial transcript from each university attended must be uploaded within the application. Unofficial transcripts must be complete (not select courses), issued in the original language, and be accompanied by certified English translations when applicable. If offered admission, one paper official transcript from each university attended will be required. Transcripts of all post- secondary education (including community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs) are required to be uploaded in the application. Applicants may submit transcripts before mid-year grades are posted, but final transcripts must then follow. If the institution will not release official transcripts directly to you, they may send the transcripts directly to the Graduate School.
Graduate Record Examination Scores
The GRE General Test is required as part of the application to the Graduate School. UNC-Chapel Hill's institution code is #5816. No departmental code is required. Test scores must be official (reported directly by ETS) and current (no more than five years old). Information on computerized testing and score distribution requests is available from ETS. Plan to take the GRE exam no later than October of your application year.
Personal Statement Section
Unless the system allows you to individually upload the four following items, you should upload all items as a single document to the personal statement section. These include,
1) A personal statement which briefly describes your professional goals, your reasons for wanting to pursue graduate work in Classics, your particular interests in our program and faculty, and any other special circumstances relating to your application that might help us in making our decision;
2) a list of fall and spring classes that you plan to take for your senior year as an undergraduate;
3) a list of works you have read in Greek and Latin; and
4) a writing sample or sample of work on a Classical topic totaling 20-30 pages, double-spaced in a font large enough to be legible.
Supplemental Information
The online application will prompt you to upload a curriculum vitae.
Additional Instructions For Application To the Graduate Program In Classical Archaeology
Curriculum Vitae
Because transcripts do not provide extensive information on courses, please provide the following information in your CV in four separate tables:
1. All courses in archaeology and ancient art history, including relevant courses taken in other departments/ disciplines, e.g., anthropology.
2. All courses in ancient history.
3. All courses in Greek and Latin, excluding courses that study ancient sources in translation.
4. All other courses in ancient civilizations, including courses that study ancient sources in translation.
For each course, please list:
• Course ID and number as it appears in transcript (e.g., CLAR 263, HIST 201, GREK 203)
• If not clear from the abbreviated name, please indicate in which department the course was offered (e.g., Classics, Art History, Anthropology, etc.); if you have taken courses at different schools, please give the name of college oruniversity, etc.
• Full course name and topic (e.g., Roman art, Roman history, Intermediate Greek, etc.)
• Name and title or position of main instructor
• Type of course (lecture, small seminar, fieldwork, etc.)
• Credit hours
• Your grade
In addition:
• If you have taken Latin or Greek in high school, please clearly indicate the number of years and which level you started taking Latin or Greek in college (e.g., Intermediate Greek or Advanced Greek).
• Please list all field experiences, including excavations, museum internships, etc. For each experience indicate:
o Site
o Length of stay or internship, etc.
o Your position and responsibilities
• You may also list other professional experience such as participation in conferences, teaching experience, etc.
Writing sample
Please submit a double-spaced writing sample of approximately 20-30 pages that preferably deals with a topic of ancient archaeology or art history.
Personal statement
Please keep this brief -- 1-2 pages, double-spaced -- and focus on the following questions:
• Why do you want to pursue a Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology?
• Which periods and fields or media do you think you want to focus on?
• Which professional career do you have in mind?
• What do you expect from UNC’s graduate program in Classical Archaeology?
Special Requirements for International Applicants
Application Process
An online application should be used by all prospective students wishing to undertake graduate study at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Applications must be accompanied by a non-refundable fee for each program to which you are applying. Applicants must send payment for the application fee in U.S. funds. For information, requirements, and application forms, please see the UNC-CH Graduate School website.
Application Deadline
The deadline by which the complete application and all supporting credentials must be received is Dec. 13.
Document Identification
Please be certain that your name appears exactly the same on the application and as on all supporting documents.
Letters of Recommendation
Three electronic letters of recommendation from persons qualified to evaluate your academic and professional qualifications are required. In order to allow for the electronic submission and delivery of your recommendations, supply the email addresses of your three recommenders during the application process. The deadline for recommendation letters is Dec. 28. Applicants should check their online application often to make sure recommendations have been sent by the recommenders before the deadline.
Transcripts
One unofficial transcript from each university attended must be uploaded within the application. Unofficial transcripts must be complete (not select courses), issued in the original language, and be accompanied by certified English translations when applicable. If offered admission, one paper official transcript for each university attended will be required. Transcripts of all post-secondary education (including community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs), are required to be uploaded in the application. Applicants may submit transcripts before mid-year grades are posted, but final transcripts must then follow. If the institution will not release official transcripts directly to you, you may request the transcripts be sent directly to the Graduate School.
Graduate Record Examination Scores
The GRE General Test is required as part of the application to the Graduate School. UNC-Chapel Hill's institution code is #5816. No departmental code is required. Test scores must be official (reported directly by ETS) and current (no more than five years old). Information on computerized testing and score distribution requests is available from ETS. Plan to take the GRE exam no later than October of your application year.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
All international applicants, except those from countries where English is the official language of instruction or those who have received or will receive a degree from an American university, must submit an acceptable, official (reported directly from ETS), current TOEFL Score that is no more than two years old. When registering for the test, you should indicate The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School institution #5816 as a score recipient. No departmental code is required. Plan to take the TOEFL exam no later than October of your application year. For information and requirements, please see the UNC-CH Graduate School website.
Personal Statement
Unless the system allows you to individually upload the four following items, you should upload all items as a single document to the personal statement section. These include,
1) A personal statement which briefly describes your professional goals, your reasons for wanting to pursue graduate work in Classics, your particular interests in our program and faculty, and any other special circumstances relating to your application that might help us in making our decision;
2) a list of fall and spring classes that you plan to take for your senior year as an undergraduate;
3) a list of works you have read in Greek and Latin; and
4) a writing sample or sample of work on a Classical topic totaling 20-30 double-spaced pages in a legible font size.
Financial Certificate
A completed Financial Certificate and supporting materials must be uploaded within the application. In order to meet U.S. Immigration requirements, proof of sufficient financial resources to cover educational and living expenses for the duration of your program must be in place before U.S. visa documents can be issued.
The completed Financial Certificate should outline financial support available to you. You should upload original evidence to support the amounts indicated (bank statements, scholarship letters, etc.) as well as a photocopy of the identification page of your passport. For information and requirements, please see the website of the UNC department of International Student & Scholar Services and the UNC-CH Graduate School.
UNC-CH Nondiscrimination Policy
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is committed to equality of educational opportunity. It is the policy of the University and of the Department of Classics not to discriminate against applicants, students, or employees on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, or handicap. Such discrimination is also prohibited by federal law. Any complaints alleging failure of this institution to follow this policy should be brought to the attention of the University's Affirmative Action Officer at (919) 966-3576.