一个多世纪以来，经典系一直处于经典研究生教育的最前沿。它提供了多种方法，强调的是广泛的知识和技能，而不是狭窄的早期专业知识。传统上，古典语言学的博士学位是大多数博士候选人的学历，但该系还提供古代历史，古典考古学，古典哲学，中世纪拉丁语，拜占庭希腊语和现代希腊语的学位。预计所有被博士学位课程录取的候选人都将以古老和现代的相关语言入选，并在其研究生学习过程中以此为基础。准学生必须具有足够的希腊语和拉丁语能力，以使他们能够在进入研究生院学习高级课程。
The Department offers doctoral degrees in ancient history, Byzantine Greek, classical archaeology, classical philology, classical philosophy, medieval Latin, and modern Greek. Our faculty and graduate students take innovative approaches to the study of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, drawing from fields and methodologies that include archaeology and art history, ancient history, ancient science, comparative literature, digital humanities, historical linguistics, history of rhetoric, literary theory, pedagogy of classical languages, philosophy, textual transmission, classical reception, and performance studies. We consider Byzantium, the Latin Middle Ages, and Modern Greek integral parts of the study of Greek and Roman antiquity. In addition, our affiliate faculty have interests in early Christianity and Second Temple Judaism, Greek law and comparative legal theory, early modern reception of the Classics, and Byzantine history. The department also offers specialized training in such disciplines as papyrology, epigraphy, paleography, and numismatics. The resources of other Harvard departments are open to those interested in other ancient languages and scripts, comparative theories and methodologies, the history of science, the relations of the Greeks and the Romans with other ancient cultures, and the reception of classical culture in subsequent periods.<br><br>The program will be such as to foster expertise in:<br><br>The methodology covered in the Proseminar or its equivalent in Medieval Studies (one required).<br>Classical and Medieval Latin language and literature, to be tested in the General Examinations (see below).<br>Advanced interpretation. To this end, before taking the Special Examinations, candidates must pass four courses designated primarily for graduates and given by faculty of the department or courses on medieval topics given outside the department. Two of these courses will normally be in classical Latin, two in Medieval Latin.