1. A minimum of thirty hours of graduate-level course work beyond the thirty required for the M.A. These hours must include six, but not more than six, hours of dissertation credit (994), and the remaining twenty-four hours must be in 400-level courses or higher. Approved courses taken before the completion of the M.A. in excess of the thirty hours required for that degree may be counted toward this requirement.
a. Four courses (12 hours) in archaeology, with a minimum of two courses (6 hours) at the seminar level.
b. One graduate-level course (3 hours) in ancient history in the History Department in addition to the one taken at the M.A. level.
c. One course (3 hours) in Greek or Latin at the 700-level or higher.
d. One course (3 hours) at the 400-level or higher in the language not used to satisfy requirement (c).
e. One course (3 hours) in Greek or Latin epigraphy, or an additional course in Greek or Latin.
f. Six hours, but no more than six hours, dissertation credit.
2. A reading knowledge of both German and French. For the means of satisfying this requirement, see above under M.A. requirements.
3. Teaching. All candidates for the Ph.D. are required to gain teaching experience at least equal to that of a course in which they conduct three class-hours weekly for one semester, or until teaching competence is acquired. This requirement may be fulfilled during the regular terms, in summer school, or in outside employment.
4. Written examinations. The following four examinations will ordinarily be taken in the spring of the fourth year of work. The student should consult the Chair of the Archaeology Committee at least one term before the examinations are to be taken. Three three-hour examinations will be in fields and areas determined by the student in consultation with one or more faculty members, while a fourth three-hour exam consists of visual analysis.
The examinations will be distributed as follows:
a. One three-hour examination consisting of two essays on topics in Greek archaeology in the agreed-upon areas (Neolithic to Byzantine).
b. One three-hour examination consisting of two essays on topics in pre-Roman and Roman archaeology in the agreed-upon areas (Neolithic to Late Roman/Early Medieval).
c. One three-hour examination consisting of two essays focusing on a special topic in archaeology that is relevant to the student’s prospective research, teaching specialty, or dissertation interest.
d. Three hours of visual analysis of six pictures of objects or works of architecture. The purpose of this examination is to test the student’s abilities to analyze and discuss a wide range of material culture.
5. The Ph.D. preliminary oral examination, consisting of two hours on two topics in Classical Archaeology. The oral examination will be scheduled within two weeks of successful completion of the written examinations. The composition of the oral examination committee will be determined by the Chair of the Archaeology Committee, after consultation with the student and other members of the faculty.
The oral examination will consist of two topics, one each in Greek and Roman archaeology, designed and chosen by the Archaeology Committee. The topics will be derived from current issues and problems in Greek and Roman art and archaeology. The student may substitute a special field (such as Aegean prehistory, Anatolian Iron Age, or Byzantine art) as the area for selection of one of the topics. The topics will be given to the student by the Chair of the Committee seventy-two hours in advance of the exam. The student will then prepare illustrated presentations of 20-30 minutes length on each topic, to be delivered in the oral examination. The faculty committee will ask specific or general questions on or related to the topics.
6. Dissertation Prospectus. A student should submit a dissertation prospectus as soon as feasible after successful completion of the comprehensive examination. The prospectus should be carefully developed in consultation with the members of the student’s dissertation committee (the members of which are appointed, in consultation with the student, by the Director of Graduate Studies). This committee will then meet with the student for a brief (roughly an hour) review of the prospectus. Upon approval of it the student is launched upon the task of writing the dissertation.
7. Dissertation. For the process of choosing a topic and satisfying all Departmental and Graduate School requirements, see "So You Want to Write a Dissertation?" which is available from the Department office. Students will need to submit to the Graduate School an “Application for Admission to Candidacy for a Doctoral Degree” and an “Application for Graduation” before the required deadline. The deadlines for submission are Fall (December) - 2nd Friday in October, Spring (May) - 2nd Friday in February, Summer (August) - 2nd Friday in June and they are available online.
8. The Final Oral Examination. A one-hour oral defense of the completed dissertation, conducted by the dissertation committee.
Located only ten miles apart in the central piedmont of North Carolina, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill together employ one of the largest concentrations of archaeologists in the United States, distributed in departments of classics or classical studies, art history, religious studies, and anthropology. The Consortium for Classical and Mediterranean Archaeology collaborates in order to enhance archaeology curricula and concentrations in the respective departments. The Consortium fosters an interdisciplinary dialogue on methods, theory, and practice in classical archaeology and material culture, provides students access to seminars, excavations, and other research opportunities, academic advising, and develops avenues for curricular and extra-curricular interaction.
Students in graduate programs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and at Duke University follow separate degree tracks in their respective departments. As members of the consortium graduate group, students may take any number of courses and seminars outside of their department and college within the limitations of their own degree program requirements; they may seek thesis and dissertation advising across departments and universities; and are encouraged to develop their program of study and research to integrate appropriate fields of study and areas of specialization not represented in their home department, in consultation with the appropriate advisors and directors of graduate study.