Latin Language and Literature

The Master’s degree study programme of Latin Language and Literature in the module of main study programme (major), or single-subject degree (completus), leads to further in-depth knowledge and extension of linguistic competences. Its focus is laid on gaining an undestanding of theoretical and methodological approaches used in philology. In contrast to the Bachelor’s study programme, concentrated prevalently on Classical Latin, this study programme provides students with a complex perspective on particular stages of development of Latin language from the oldest archaic epigraphical evidence to the Late Latin period with an outlook on further fortunes of the Latin language up to the period of humanism. The study programme deepens student's knowledge of ancient literature concerning both the characteristics of the style of significant Roman authors and the development of particular literary genres, focusing mainly on the literature of Late antiquity. It sets thus the knowledge of the ancient world in a broader context and shows the significance of Latin for the formation of European culture and erudition. The minor module of the Master’s programme is primarily designed for those students, who want to continue with studies of Latin language, because they study one of those study programmes, where Latin is one of the source languages. It may as well serve as a complement to study programme of Medieval Latin Language and Literature. The minor module enables students to deepen their knowledge of the development of the Latin language and literature and of the sociocultural background of the ancient world. This knowledge relates to the main chosen study programme and supplements it. Reading texts in their original language represents an essential part of all study plans, because it enables students to adopt the competence in multi-level reading of the original texts (grammatical, literary, and socio-historical). Equally important is reading works of ancient authors in translation.

Nemo nascitur sapiens, sed fit. No one is born to be wise, but will become.
Seneca

Further information

http://classics.phil.muni.cz/studium

Graduates are qualified to work in various cultural Institutions such as archives, libraries, and museums and at some faculties (faculty of Arts, Theology, and Medicine) and in humanities-oriented departments of the Czech Academy of Sciences, in positions appropriate for the Master's degree. Graduates can handle specialized and language-focused tasks (proofreading) in publishing houses or in all the media. The knowledge acquired by the study of the ancient world and Latin erudition/culture leads to a better orientation in the majority fields of European culture and scholarship. Graduates are able to search for different types of information sources, assess them critically, and use them appropriately. These skills will allow them to adapt to the changing requirements of the labour market.

Deadline for submitting applications: January 1 - April 30

Who the programme is intended for: The programme is intended for graduates of any Bachelor’s degree programme.

Subject matter of the entrance examination: written examination and oral interview.

The scope of required knowledge is determined by the recommended literature. The oral interview focuses on the study motivation of the applicant and general knowledge about the field. The interview takes about 15 minutes.

Waiver of the entrance examination: The entrance examination can be waived for applicants who have passed the Bachelor’s examination in the field/programme of Latin Language and Literature at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University with an excellent (A), very good (B), or good (C) result. Applicants can ask for a waiver for the entrance examination via the e-application form, section "Application for waiver of the entrance examination".

Website Department of Classical Studies.

General information on the course of the admission procedure to the follow-up Master’s degree programmes at FA MU can be found here. Documents for the current admission procedure are kept in Materials for Applicants.

Criteria for evaluation

Pass/fail line of the entrance examination: 60 points (out of 100).

Recommended literature

NOVOTNÝ, František. Základní latinská mluvnice. 2. vyd., 1. vyd. v H & H. Praha: H & H, 1992. ISBN 80-85467-91-7.

PANHUIS, Dirk. Gramatika latiny. Přel. Lucie PULTROVÁ. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2014. ISBN 978-80-200-2335-3.

KAMÍNKOVÁ, Eva, Bohumila MOUCHOVÁ a Antonín BARTONĚK. Cvičebnice latinské syntaxe. 1. vyd. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1973.

MIKULOVÁ, Jana. Syntax latinských vedlejších vět. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2014. ISBN 978-80-210-7073-8.

CONTE, Gian Biagio. Dějiny římské literatury. Přel. Dagmar BARTOŇKOVÁ a kol. Vyd. 1. Praha: KLP-Koniasch Latin Press, 2003. ISBN 8085917874.

Compulsory reading in the original

C. Iulius Caesar. Commentarii Belli Gallici I, VI.

M. Tullius Cicero. In Catilinam I; Pro Archia poeta; Somnium Scipionis; Tusculanae disputationes I.

C. Sallustius Cripus. Catilinae coniuratio.

P. Ovidius Naso. Metamorphoses I 1–360, 452–567; II 833–875. III 400–510; IV 55–166; VI 146–312; VIII 611–720; X 1–77, 243-297; XV 199-236, 745–776, 871-879; Tristia IV 10, Amores 5

T. Livius. Ab urbe condita I.

P. Vergilius Maro. Aeneis I, II, IV; Bucolica 1, 4.

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Minimum score and numbers of accepted applicants in past years

After completion of the Master’s degree study programme, graduates can continue further studies in any doctoral degree study programme provided that they meet the admission requirements. At the Department of Classical Studies, it is possible to study for a doctoral degree in Classical Philology (focusing on language and literature from the very beginning up to the first centuries AD) or in Medieval Latin Language and Literature (focusing mainly on medieval literature written in Latin and production of critical editions).