PhD in Classics - Ancient History in Ithaca United States | Cornell University

Earning a Ph.D. involves completing six residential semesters and successfully finishing one of the specified programs (the M.A. is not required for admission). Our doctoral curriculum strongly encourages interdisciplinary exploration of antiquity. Students can design a tailored academic path across six specializations: ancient history, classical philosophy, archaeology and art history, classical literature and philology, Greek/Latin linguistics, and interdisciplinary Classics. Key research strengths include: Platonic through Augustinian philosophy. Religious practices from Classical Greece to Late Antique Egypt. Archaeological studies spanning Bronze Age to Byzantine eras (including excavation opportunities). Scientific methodologies in classical studies. Analysis of ancient textual and visual artifacts.

Cornell offers ancient history studies through both the History and Classics departments. These programs collaborate closely, with cross-disciplinary coursework strongly recommended for all graduate students. The Classics department's ancient history track prepares scholars for innovative historical research while developing expertise in teaching about Greco-Roman civilization, including its literary and linguistic traditions.