The Graduate Program in Classical Literature at the Faculty of Philosophy, Letters, and Human Sciences at the University of São Paulo, established in 1971, aims primarily to prepare researchers committed to scientific and academic development in Greek and Latin Language and Literature, at the Master's and Doctoral levels. Thus, the Program seeks to equip its researchers to interpret ancient prose and poetry written in Greek and Latin and to produce studies of the highest level, in dialogue with the most advanced international research lines. Additionally, we also study the pathways and means of reception of Classical texts since Antiquity. Our Program, therefore, provides its researchers with competencies in Ancient Poetics and Rhetoric, in the exegetical methods of Classical Philology, as well as knowledge of modern literary and linguistic theories and Discourse Analysis.
The relevance of these objectives is due, first, to the difficulty of accessing Greek and Latin texts, as these are no longer spoken languages, and their conventions are either unknown or obsolete today. Therefore, their interpretation requires the mediation of specialists. Second, the importance of our Program also lies in the fact that the investigations conducted by our researchers establish historical relationships between the ancient and the modern and interdisciplinary connections between poetry and education, theater and politics, oratory and law, among other possibilities.
To achieve these objectives, the Program has established a set of parameters in its rules to favor not only the maintenance of the quality standard already reached but also the continuous improvement of its activities.
Thus, regarding the criteria for admitting students, which occurs every semester, our selection process requires three stages: 1. a proficiency exam in modern languages; 2. a proficiency exam in Greek or Latin; and 3. an evaluation of the research project submitted by the candidate, which assesses its fit within the Program, as well as its coherence, relevance, and bibliography. At this moment, the candidate's Lattes curriculum is also reviewed. Finally, candidates are questioned by a committee composed of members of the Program to clarify aspects of their project or curriculum.
Considering the particularities involved in acquiring the basic competencies for research in the field of classical languages and literatures, and taking into account the extra degree of difficulty present in translations and studies that must also contemplate the distance and cultural context (not just linguistic, but also religious, historical, etc.), our Program assumes and admits deadlines that are generally somewhat longer than usual. Thus, our rules allow 36 months for the Master's degree; 48 months for the Doctorate; and 68 months for the direct Doctorate.
Regarding the faculty, all our members hold PhDs, and most have postdoctoral experience from the most recognized centers of excellence.
Our Program also aims to consolidate its Research Groups, listed below:
- Studies of Ancient Theater
- The Dialogues of Plato
- Studies on the Jambus, Elegy, and Melic Poetry in Classical Antiquity
- Images of Classical Antiquity
- Between Greek and Latin Grammar and Rhetoric
- Greco-Latin Prose Genres
- Poetic Genres in Ancient Greece: Tradition and Context
- Verve: Verbum Vertere – studies of poetics, translation, and the history of translation of Latin and Greek texts
- Republic of Letters: studies of Renaissance literature in Latin
- Group for the Study of Ancient Indo-European Languages (GELIEA)
The Program also publishes a journal, Classical Letters, and regularly organizes events in which national and international guests present works alongside our students.
For example, we have:
- The Symposium of Classical Studies
- The Seminar of Classical Studies
- The Week of Studies on the Hellenistic Period
- The Colloquium Visions of Antiquity
- And many others organized by our Research Groups, such as the Meeting "Authors of the Renaissance."
The Graduate Program in Classical Literature continues to focus its efforts on improving, in all possible ways, and maintaining its high standards of excellence in an area in which we are a reference.
Research Lines – Master's and Doctorate
- Greco-Latin Poetry and Prose
- Greco-Latin Theoretical Discourse
- Reception of Greco-Latin Literature
The Research Line in Greek and Latin Poetry and Prose encompasses projects that investigate: 1. ancient narrative, both in verse (epic) and prose (historiography); ancient drama (comedy, tragedy, and satire) and the relationship between theater and ethics, politics, and philosophy; 3. ancient lyric (odes, epigrams, epodes, etc.), satire, and didactic poetry.
The Research Line in Greco-Latin Theoretical Discourse consists of projects that investigate: 1. Rhetoric and Dialectics; 2. The various practices and theories regarding discourse, such as grammar, arts and techniques, oratory, etc.; 3. The presence of what we call mythology in literary and philosophical works; 4. Ancient languages as instrumental and vehicular languages; 5. The teaching of ancient languages (Greek and Latin).
The Research Line in Reception of Greco-Latin Literature includes projects on the reception of Greco-Latin literature 1) within Antiquity itself; 2) in the cultural imaginary post-Antiquity, in its various languages; 3) on the horizon of the various forms of reception of Greco-Latin authors in modern and contemporary literatures, including the historical evolution of discursive genres and the characteristic procedures and topics of Greco-Latin literature.
Master's Degree
Admission in the first or second semester of each academic year, according to the University’s activity calendar.
Maximum duration: 36 months
Master’s Thesis
A Master’s Thesis is recognized as a written, theoretical, and critical research on a topic relevant to the field of Classical Studies, usually accompanied by a translation into Portuguese of an ancient text. It must also include a comprehensive bibliography on the study topic and present a well-developed and relevant theoretical foundation, as well as a clearly developed argument that reflects the student’s proficiency in scientific method and ABNT standards.
Doctorate
Admission in the first or second semester of each academic year, according to the University’s academic calendar.
Maximum duration: 48 months
Doctoral Thesis
A Doctoral Thesis is recognized as a theoretical and critical written research on a relevant topic in the field of Classical Studies, making a significant contribution. It must also include a comprehensive and updated bibliography on the study topic and present a well-developed and relevant theoretical foundation and a clearly developed argument that is original and reflects the student's mastery of scientific method. It must also adhere to ABNT standards.