Admission Requirements
The Department welcomes applications from qualified individuals for admission to its programs of graduate study. The requirements for admission are specified below.
Grades
The Department’s minimum admission requirements are an undergraduate degree with a GPA (grade point average) of 3.5 in the last two years of undergraduate (or graduate) work at the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.
Language proficiency
Non-native speakers of English must have a TOEFL score of 580 (paper-based) or 92 (internet-based), as applicable. For native speakers of English, evidence of foreign language acquisition is an important consideration in admission decisions. See the relevant links for the specific language requirements for admission to the MA in Classical Languages, Classical Archaeology, and Ancient Societies and Cultures.
MA programs
A student holding a four-year Honours degree or BA degree in History or Classics from the University of Alberta, or a comparable degree from another university, who is continuing in the same field of study may be admitted to the status of candidate for the MA degree. A graduate of a four-year degree undergraduate program who is specializing for the first time in History or Classics, or whose undergraduate record is otherwise deemed deficient, may be required to take additional undergraduate courses or be admitted as a qualifying graduate student. Graduates holding an acceptable three-year bachelor’s degree will be required to take a qualifying year.
MA qualifying year
The qualifying year is intended for otherwise qualified students who have insufficient background in History or Classics, or less preparation in the languages in Classics. A qualifying graduate student normally takes ten courses (*30) or the equivalent, with at least six courses (*18) in History or Classics, as appropriate. The courses, usually senior undergraduate courses at the 300 or 400 level, will be chosen in consultation with the Associate Chair (Graduate Studies). The student must attain a GPA of at least 3.5, with no single grade below B-. The student should also plan to complete the language requirement by the end of his/her qualifying year; advancement to candidacy status may be delayed until the student has passed the language examination.
PhD programs
Applicants are normally expected to hold an MA degree or its equivalent. In exceptional cases, a student may be admitted directly into the PhD program without an MA, or, having been admitted as a candidate for the MA, be subsequently permitted to enter the PhD program without a master’s thesis/project paper.