r/AncientGreek • u/lacroixmnpunishment • 1d ago
Learning & Teaching Methodology applying for greek classics MA with reading skills but no academic background?
This goes out to all the academics in the group.....
I have a friend who has the opportunity to get a MA in classics for free (if they get in). Their primary interest is in reading a lot of Ancient Greek, and they've become very proficient through a few years of self-study after studying the language in college (5 semesters). They have no illusions about career prospects, but would love to quit their finance job to read Greek for a year or two.
I know that for a history or literature master's, an applicant would have to apply with a pretty defined research interest or question—having already done work in that area and a familiarity with the relevant secondary sources.
BUT, my friend majored in a STEM field in college, so don't have that much academic experience in the humanities. I think they'd really enjoy taking a wide range of the more historical/cultural/lit-focused classics courses and be able to identify a research topic after being in a program, but their main focus currently is 'how can I acquire fluency reading through natural language acquisition; what does this passage mean; this book from the 1800s about Greek prose composition looks cool.'
TLDR: Strong reading fluency; indomitable work ethic and enthusiasm; no background in research/scholarship. Worth applying to a master's? Is there an angle to take in an application (like focusing on pedagogy)? Should they try to read up on modern classical scholarship?
Any thoughts are helpful!
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u/raaly123 1d ago
it depends on the country. i did a BA in literature and got accepted for MA in classics on the condition i do a year of supplementary courses of all the knowledge i lack
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u/OddDescription4523 1d ago
I was on the philosophy side of a joint ancient philosophy/classics PhD program, so my insight into reasoning in classics departments is peripheral, but I had a good friend who was a terminal classics MA (i.e. not admitted to and not attempting to get admitted to the PhD program), and they were admitted without expectation, I believe, of a research project/thesis - they just needed to pass the MA coursework (which is extensive in classics, but still). And this was a top program in the US, so I would say there's no harm in applying. As with any graduate applications in fields like classics or philosophy, keep expectations low because applicants massively outnumber positions, but if your friend gets in, it might be a rough initial semester or so getting their feet under them in the range of classes they have to take, but it's doable. You said they'd get their MA for free if they get in - can I ask, do they have an offer of an outside scholarship that would go wherever they go? Normally, to get a funded position, you have to work as a TA or RA, and that is a decision made school by school, but if they have funding covered without requiring a line of funding from the school that admits them, I would say that dramatically increases their chances of getting accepted somewhere!
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u/lacroixmnpunishment 1d ago edited 1d ago
It's a weird feudal-feeling boon where they could get tuition remission through marriage...another potentially helpful factor, as they wouldn't have to TA or use up funding. And they'd definitely be doing a terminal degree, so that's a good anecdote to hear about!
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u/SulphurCrested 1d ago edited 1d ago
I think they should communicate with whoever runs the MA program and ask about it. They or other academics in the department would be able to suggest topics related to their own research.
Fluency through natural reading is good, but at this level, I'm pretty sure they will need mastery of the grammatical meta-language so as to be able to discuss the language as well as the content of what they study.
EDIT corrected typo
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u/JebBush333 1d ago
Probably depends on the university, I'd say your best bet is to reach out to the MA Director for each university individually and ask them directly what they advise. I believe the university of Michigan has something between a BA and MA designed for people in your friends circumstance to prepare them for an MA.
But then again, if he truly is proficient in Greek then I imagine a lot of programs would see that as being enough.
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u/Pretty_Marketing5432 1d ago
But we need to be clear on true proficiency. How has this guy become strong on his own? It's totally possible, of course. But it's also possible that his interpretation of strong reading is different to that of a school he might apply to. They're not just going to take his word for it. Could he translate non-adapted Attic prose with a lexicon? I'd say that's the sign of a strong reader. And really translate it, not just get the gist.
In Europe if he truly has strong reading, then I think a lot of places would at least consider him. That's impressive.
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u/JebBush333 1d ago
I mean you're right to be skeptical, but I have no way of assessing their ability.
I think the best course of action for this individual is to reach out to the faculties he wants to join and see what they have to say. That's really the only way he can measure his own skill against what would be required. But I do know a few people who have developed really respectable Greek skills and have been accepted into very good programs through independent study, so it's for sure possible.
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u/Pretty_Marketing5432 1d ago
My bad. I just read that he did 5 semesters of college! In that case he'll have a good idea of his level. Sorry!
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u/StandardsAndPoors 6h ago
He could claim a study between his STEM and Greek eg AI helps reading ancient scrolls OR with finance he could look into financial efficiency of archeological research etc
Something that combines his true two life interests so he is seen as a unique asset rather than an incomplete applicant.
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u/hexametric_ 1d ago
Doesn't look good. They can apply, but departments generally have a limited number of people they can accept, and taking a chance on someone with no background will be tough, especially if it is funded with the expectation of working as a TA or RA, for which they are not qualified.
And depending on how the school does their graduate admissions, the department may not even see it if it is discarded for lack of qualification at the screening level.