All AHMA students satisfy program requirements in four languages, two ancient and two modern. One ancient language is designated as primary, the other as secondary.
The primaryancient language requirement in Greek or Latin is satisfied by either (a) completion of the two-semester graduate survey of literature in that language (Classics 201A/201B for ancient Greek and Classics 202A/202B for Latin) with a grade of A- or better in both semesters, or (b) by examination. The examination for the primary ancient language, if a student selects that option, is based on a reading list of approximately 850 (OCT or Teubner) pages, developed in consultation with their advisory committee and approved by them. Passing the exam (four passages of about 175 words each, three hours, no dictionary) requires a virtually error-free translation.
The secondary ancient language requirement in Greek or Latin is satisfied either (a) by three courses at the upper-division or graduate level, with grades of A- or better, (b) by one semester of the survey, with a grade of A- or better, or (c) by examination. The examination for the secondary ancient language, if a student selects that option, is based on a reading list of approximately 400 (OCT or Teubner) pages, developed in consultation with their advisory committee and approved by them. Passing the exam (three passages of about 150 words each, three hours, no dictionary) requires a virtually error-free translation.
The primary ancient language requirement in Egyptian is satisfied by either (a) completion of four semesters of language coursework, with a grade of A- or better in both semesters, or (b) by an Unseen examination based on standard texts for that language. The secondary ancient language requirement is satisfied by either (a) two semesters of language coursework, with a grade of A- or better, or (b) by examination. The examination is based on the standard texts for each language, and passing the exam (four passages, three hours, no dictionary) requires a virtually error-free translation.
For Iranian languages, students may either take (a) four semesters of Middle Persian or (b) two semesters of Middle Persian, one semester of Old Persian, and one semester of Avestan for their primary ancient language requirement. To fulfill a secondary language requirement in Iranian languages, the student must complete two semesters of coursework in Middle Persian. If a student opts to fulfill the requirement for either a primary or a secondary ancient language by exam rather than coursework, the exam would allow the student to use a dictionary, approved in advance by the examiner.
For Akkadian cuneiform, six semesters of coursework are required for the primary language requirement, and four for the secondary. In addition to the coursework, and not as an alternative, students will demonstrate primary or secondary Akkadian language proficiency by writing an exam based on texts (seen and unseen) with the use of aids such as A Concise Dictionary of Akkadian and a standard sign list.
For Biblical Hebrew and related Northwest Semitic Languages (e.g., Aramaic, Phoenician, Punic, Ugaritic), six semesters of coursework are required for the primary language requirement, and four for the secondary. If a student opts to fulfill the requirement for either a primary or a secondary ancient language by exam rather than coursework, the exam would allow students to use a dictionary, approved in advance by the examiner.
Students should note that it is permissible to prepare one Classical and one Middle Eastern language as their two ancient languages. Their selection should correspond to and enhance their chosen fields and planned area of research expertise, and in making that selection they should consult with their advisory committee and with the Head Graduate Advisor.
Exams in ancient languages will be set and graded by an Ancient Language Exam Committee established by the Director. Committees will be formed based on faculty expertise for all languages in which AHMA students are taking an exam in a given year.
In a modern language (typically German and French, but Italian, modern Greek, Turkish, Arabic, modern Hebrew, or Persian may all qualify if they are deemed especially relevant to the future research of the candidate in their proposed fields of study) by passing an examination set by AHMA's Modern Language Exam Committee in that language. If an applicant to AHMA appears to have achieved an adequate level of proficiency in a relevant foreign language, AHMA can petition the Graduate Division at the time the student is admitted to graduate standing at Berkeley to recognize that the student has fulfilled the language requirement, in accordance with the Foreign Language Requirement of the Graduate Division
Students will have 90 minutes to translate one passage from a relevant scholarly work. They will have the option of translating ca. 300 words without use of a dictionary, or ca. 500 words with the use of a dictionary, from the same assigned passage.
Modern language exams are scheduled together during the week before classes start each semester, and a third time at the end of Spring semester, by AHMA's Modern Language Exam Committee
Failure to satisfy the ancient and modern language requirements—including failure of a primary, secondary, or modern language exam three times—constitutes grounds for dismissal from the program. Failure to register for an exam when you have been instructed to do so by advisors and/or faculty members, and failure to show up and take an exam for which you have registered will both be treated as automatic failures.