General Program Information

The Program in Greek and Roman History is an interdepartmental doctoral program jointly sponsored by the departments of History and Classical Studies. By requiring courses from both of the sponsoring departments the Program emphasizes both competence in the traditional disciplines of classical studies, including ancient languages, and familiarity with the interpretive perspectives and methodologies of historical studies. The goal is to prepare graduate students for careers of teaching and research in ancient history, within either a classics or a history department. For graduate students in other departments and programs at the University of Michigan the Program offers a Certificate in Greek and Roman history.

The Program interprets Greek and Roman history very broadly. Chronologically it covers the period from archaic Greece to the later Roman empire, ca. 750 B.C. to ca. A.D. 500, although with some overflow back to the Bronze Age and forward into early medieval and early Byzantine history. Geographically it focuses on the extensive region that came to be included in the Roman empire, in particular the regions surrounding the Mediterranean, although it also includes some neighboring regions with which Greeks and Romans interacted, such as northern and central Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus, the Near East, and northern Africa. In terms of topics and interpretive approaches the Program can accommodate many interests among its students. The best indication of this variety of interests is the extraordinary diversity of interests among the participating faculty. The Program can also accommodate interdisciplinary research with faculty in related departments, such as the departments of Near Eastern Studies and History of Art, and related graduate programs, such as the Programs in Classical Art and Archaeology, Anthropology and History, and Women’s Studies and History.

IPGRH 2160 Angell Hall 435 S. State St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1003
Phone: (734) 647-2330 Fax: (734) 763-4959