University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Department of Classics
MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING LATIN & CLASSICAL HUMANITIES HANDBOOK
Welcome!
The Classics Department at UMass Amherst is very glad you are interested in being a Latin teacher and a student in our Educator Preparation program that issues a Master’s degree in the Arts of Teaching Latin and Classical Humanities: a highly successful program preparing teachers since 1970.
This Graduate Student Handbook is designed to provide you information about the UMass Amherst Classics M.A.T. program: its nature and structure, the process of application, and expectations of students in the program. The Handbook also provides the regulations and policies of the program, of the UMass Amherst Graduate School, and of the campus of UMass Amherst.
Please take the time to familiarize yourself with this handbook. It provides an extremely useful orientation to the programs and standards of the Classics M.A.T. Program. If you have a question that is not adequately answered by this handbook or have feedback you would like to provide, please email me, the Graduate Program Director, at bbreed@umass.edu.
Best wishes in your academic journey,
Professor Brian Breed
Graduate Program Director
UMass Amherst Classics Department Faculty
Brian Breed, Professor and Undergraduate Program Director, B.A., Emory University; Ph.D., Harvard University. Special interests: Latin poetry, Hellenistic literature and society, literary criticism. bbreed@umass.edu.
Lauren Caldwell, Lecturer, B.A., Princeton University; Ph.D., University of Michigan. Special Interests: Roman social history, law, and medicine.
Virginia Closs, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director; B.A., Stanford University; M.A., Cambridge University; Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania. Special interests: Latin literature and cultural history, Latin epigraphy, historical and literary memory. closs@umass.edu.
Debbie Felton, Professor, B.A., University of California Los Angeles; M.A. & Ph.D. University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Special interests: folklore in classical literature, comparative mythology, classical tradition. felton@umass.edu.
Shannon L. Hogue, Assistant Professor, B.A., UNC Greensboro; M.A., Tufts University; Ph.D., University of Cincinnati. Special interests: Greek and Roman art and archaeology, Bronze Age Greece, Eastern Mediterranean interactions, archaeological survey, and landscape change & cultural memory. slhogue@umass.edu.
Melissa Mueller, Professor. B.A., Barnard College; B.A. Cambridge University; M.A. & Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley. Special interests: Greek drama and epic; cultural and gender studies. mmueller@umass.edu.
Simon Oswald, Assistant Professor. B.A. & M.A., University of Auckland; Ph.D., Princeton. Special interests: the literature, history, epigraphy, and archaeology of the Greek Early Iron Age up to the Classical period. soswald@umass.edu.
Eric E. Poehler, Professor, B.A., Bemidji State University; M.A. & Ph.D., University of Virginia. Special interests: Greek and Roman archaeology, Roman urbanism and architectural history, ancient economics. epoehler@umass.edu.
Teresa Ramsby, Professor and Graduate Program Licensure Coordinator, B.A., Northwestern University; M.A. & Ph.D., Indiana University. Special Interests: Latin poetry; Roman cultural and gender studies; Latin pedagogy. tramsby@umass.edu.
Anthony Tuck, Professor and Department Chair, B.A. Haverford College; M.A. & Ph.D. Brown University. Special Interests: Etruscan archaeology; Greek, Roman and Celtic archaeology. atuck@umass.edu.
Joseph Wilson, Lecturer. Ph. D. University of Florida, and M.A. Michigan Technological University and the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies. Special interests: Ancient Eurasia and the analysis of material culture, technology, and religion. josawilson@umass.edu.
Department Administrator: Lisa Marie Smith, Classics Office Herter 524: lisa@classics.umass.edu.
Cooperating Faculty
Laetitia LaFollette, Art History - Ph.D. Princeton University.
Jason Moralee, History - Ph.D. UCLA.
The Program
The degree of Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) may be earned in Latin and Classical Humanities. In keeping with guidelines from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE), the M.A.T. Program in Latin and Classical Humanities prepares candidates for teaching careers in public, independent, and parochial middle schools and junior and senior high schools, grades 5–12. Since 1972, when the Program graduated its first class, more than 250 candidates have earned the M.A.T. degree in Latin and Classical Humanities. The degree requires two years of study for the M.A.T. Degree and Initial Licensure with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
See our promotional video on the department website here: www.umass.edu/classics/graduate-program-classics
Teaching Assistantships with a stipend of approximately $24,000 and waivers of tuition, some university fees, and most health fees are provided to all students admitted into the program. We typically admit four or five students per year. In partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree, Teaching Assistants teach sections of elementary and intermediate Latin and assist in large-lecture, ancient civilization courses during their two years in the Program. Students also participate in licensure-required field experiences: pre-practicum and practicum. This provides students in our program with critical teaching experience.
The Department’s record for placing its graduates in professional careers over the years has been excellent, and the demand for highly qualified Latin teachers in middle schools, junior high schools, and high schools remains strong. For some time, there has been a national shortage of Latin teachers, as identified by the National Department of Education.
The Program recommends additional study and/or professional development during the intervening summer at domestic conventicula, the ACL Institute, the American Academy in Rome, the Vergilian Society in Italy, the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, at archaeological excavations run by our faculty, as well as other programs. Scholarships are available from the Department for summer study, and active support is given to students applying for nationally available scholarships.
NOTE: Access to an automobile is recommended for ease in traveling to Pre-Practicum sites (for observations in a variety of schools) and to Practicum (for student teaching in a regional school). Limited public transit does exist in the area, so having a car is not a pre-requisite for candidacy, but all students are expected to make their own arrangements for transportation to sites for required field experience.
Certification
The Massachusetts state regulations for certification (effective October 1, 2003) define the following two types of licensure relevant to our program: Initial and Professional. The following two paragraphs are quoted from the Massachusetts Department of Education:
Initial License: An educator license issued to a person who has completed a bachelor's degree, passed the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure, completed an educator preparation program approved by the DESE Commissioner, and met other eligibility requirements established by the Board. The Initial license is valid for five years of employment and may be renewed at the discretion of the Commissioner for an additional five years. This license is equivalent to a provisional educator certificate with advanced standing as defined in M. G. L. c. 71, § 38G. This is the licensure issued after completion of the UMass Amherst Classics M.A.T. program.
Professional License: An educator's license issued to a person who has met the requirements for an Initial license in that field and met requirements established by the Board set forth in 603 CMR 7.04 (c), 7.09, or 7.11. The Professional license is valid for five years and renewable for additional five-year terms as set forth in 603 CMR 44.00. This license is equivalent to a standard educator certificate as defined in M. G. L. c. 71, § 38G.
Persons who have fulfilled all of the requirements for the M.A.T. in Latin and Classical Humanities and have passed both parts of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (see below) apply, in their fourth semester of our program, for an Initial Licensure to teach Latin and Classical Humanities at the middle-school and high-school levels, grades 5–12, within Massachusetts and over thirty states that have signed the Interstate Certification Compact (I.C.C.).
The Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL)
There are two Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure, namely, a communication and literacy test and a subject matter (Latin and Classical Humanities) test. Students entering the M.A.T. Program are required to take the communication and literacy test as early as possible, usually in October of their first year in the Program. They are required to take the subject matter test in Latin and Classical Humanities prior to student teaching (in the spring of their first year in the program or in the fall of their second year). gStudents must pass both tests before the Program can recommend them for certification.
Eligibility Requirements and Recommendations
Persons who seek admission to the Program should possess a B.A. degree with a major in Latin or Classics.* Course work should demonstrate a strong emphasis on Latin language and literature (with a cumulative average of 3.0 or better in the major and of 2.75 or better in one’s overall undergraduate course of study). Specific requirements/expectations include
Undergraduate courses in:
· Latin (4 courses beyond the elementary/intermediate level is ideal, but 3 courses is admissible)
· Elementary and Intermediate Classical Greek (12 semester hours)
· Surveys of Greek and Roman History (6 semester hours)
Deficiencies in the pre-program requirements may be filled after admission to the Program, but, in that case, the candidate will need to take course(s) during the summer prior to matriculation or use electives to meet those requirements.
Strongly recommended but not required:
· Undergraduate Minor (at least 18 semester hours) in a second teaching area.
· A Romance language, especially Spanish, widens employment opportunities.
In addition, applicants are requested to submit:
· at least two letters of recommendation from previous instructors
· a well-considered statement indicating a genuine commitment to a career as a teacher of Latin and Classical Humanities, grades 5–12.
Persons who have completed state certification requirements in their undergraduate programs in addition to having earned a B.A. degree in Latin or Classics are also eligible for the M.A.T. Program, provided they have met all other requirements and are prepared to undertake the full extent of the Pre-Practicum and Practicum.
*Students who cannot pursue a major in Classics, but have met these requirements in another major are encouraged to apply to the program as well. Anyone with questions about this should contact the current graduate program director.
Applying to the UMass Amherst Classics M.A.T. Program
Application requirements and materials: Applications are sent to the Graduate School Division of the UMass campus (not the Classics department). The deadline for application to enter the program in the 2025-2026 academic year is February 1, 2025. The website explaining the UMass Graduate School application process is here: http://www.umass.edu/gradschool/admissions. The application is done through an online system. The link to the secure online application is on the site just provided. Please be sure that your application includes all required materials (see here: https://www.umass.edu/graduate/apply/how-apply).
Important: The university application requires a transcript for consideration. You may send in an unofficial transcript for the consideration process, but you must provide an official transcript if you are accepted. The UMass Graduate School states this on their website: https://www.umass.edu/graduate/apply/how-apply.
Your original, official transcript should be sent by way of a third-party, secure, electronic, delivery-service (digitally signed, passcode protected, and properly certified) to gradadm@grad.umass.edu; or by mail to:
Graduate Admissions Office
534 Goodell Building / UMass Amherst
140 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003-9333
Additional instructions on sending in your official transcript(s) are available at the above website as well.
Letters of Recommendation (at least two): Once you submit your application, your recommenders will receive contact from the Graduate School so that they can submit their recommendations online. Please make sure that your letters of recommendation are sent to the Graduate School by the February deadline. Your recommenders can also send their letters by email to the Graduate School at gradadm@grad.umass.edu, and to the Classics Graduate Program Director, Professor Breed, bbreed@umass.edu.
Personal Statement: It would be very helpful if you could include in your personal statement a list of the upper-level Latin and all Greek courses you have taken in your career in higher education.
Interviews: Once you have applied, or at your request, the Graduate Program Director will seek an interview with you via Zoom or some other platform. We have found this to be an efficient and informative way for applicants and faculty to meet and discuss the program and answer questions. You may also visit the program in person prior to the February application deadline. Please contact Professor Breed if you wish to visit or set up an interview.
Further questions about the program and about the application process should be directed to the Graduate Program Director: Professor Brian Breed, Graduate Program Director, bbreed@umass.edu, (413) 577-3479.
Transfer of Credits
A maximum of 9 graduate credits with a grade of B or better from another accredited institution may, upon recommendation of the Department and Graduate Dean, be transferred into the M.A.T. Program. However, no more than 6 of these credits can come from either the academic field or the professional education component (i.e., to transfer 9 credits, 6 must be from one area and 3 from the other).
The M.A.T. Program -- Requirements
Courses and Field Experiences Counted toward Initial Licensure
The courses for the program are broken down into three general categories: Knowledge, Professional, and Field Experience.
I. Knowledge (of Subject Area) [21 credits]
A. How to read, compose, and translate Latin and methods of research and criticism:
1. Two of the following courses (6 credits):
Latin 625 Epic
Latin 635 Elegy and Lyric
Latin 640 History and Biography
Latin 650 Cicero’s Orations
Latin 695B Ovid
Before completing the M.A.T. Program, all students should have read extensively in major Roman authors,
such as Caesar, Cicero, Catullus, Horace, Vergil, and Ovid.
2. Latin 612 Advanced Prose Style (3 credits) – now commonly called Latin Composition.
B. Linguistics and methods of research and criticism:
1. Latin 691B History of Latin Literature (3 credits) – this course includes works chosen to highlight the multicultural makeup of the ancient world.
2. Latin 616 Advanced Latin Grammar (3 credits)
C. Relationships with other fields of knowledge: Two electives (6 credits). Students take one elective in each year of the program. There are many courses offered within the department and in other departments that can be counted as electives toward the M.A.T. degree.
II. Professional (Application of Subject Area Knowledge) [22 credits]
A. Instructional Practice, Developing Curriculum, Creating Assessments, Adjustment to Practice, Theories of Language Acquisition, Using Effective Classroom Technologies, Reading and Language Arts, Manages Classroom Climate and Operation, Promotes Equity, and Meets Professional Responsibilities:
1. Latin 607, Teaching the Latin Language (3 credits)
2. Latin 608, Teaching Latin Literature (3 credits)
3. Classics 608, Teaching Classical Humanities (3 credits)
B. Instructional practice and assessment: At least one, 1-credit seminar in Teaching Greek Civilization or Teaching Greek Myth or Teaching Roman Civilization or Teaching Classical Archaeology to accompany service as a teaching assistant in Greek civilization or Greek mythology course – all are taken as Pass/Fail.
Classics 691A, Seminar: Teaching Greek Civilization (1 credit)
Classics 692A, Seminar: Teaching Greek Mythology (1 credit)
Classics 692C, Seminar: Teaching Greece, Rome, and Beyond (1 credit)
Classics 692D, Seminar: Teaching Classical Archaeology (1 credit)
Classics 692E, Seminar: Teaching Magic in the Ancient Mediterranean World (1 credit)
Classics 693A, Seminar: Teaching Roman Civilization (1 credit).
C. Instructional Planning and Assessment Seminar to accompany student-teaching in Latin 110–246 at the University. At least three 1-credit seminars: Latin 69X (“x” depends on which Latin course you are assigned to teach), (1 credit per course, 3 credits total). These courses are taken Pass/Fail.
D. Manages Classroom Climate and Operation, Promotes Equity, and Meets Professional Responsibilities: Education 524: The Work of the Middle and High School Teacher – this course is taken in the first semester in the Program (3 credits).
E. Delivers Effective Instruction, Communicates High Standards, Manages Classroom Climate and Operation, Promotes Equity, Meets Professional Responsibilities: one of the following courses (or its equivalent, 3 credits):
Education 306: Educational Psychology (or Psychology 355: Adolescent Psychology).
III. Field Experience [9 credits]
A. Pre-Practicum. Latin 698A. First year of program. The Program requires an established number of hours of pre-practicum observations fulfilled in the fall and spring semesters, and during the winter intersession of the student’s first year. Students fulfill these observation hours at a variety of schools, including middle school, junior high, and high school and including both Latin and Classical Humanities, as well as other subjects. The observations must include at least 8 hours in classes with substantial minority enrollments and at least 8 hours in classes containing students with learning disabilities. Some additional hours may be completed in conjunction with Educ 524, Classics 608, Latin 607, Latin 608, and Pioneer Valley Classics Day. The MA Department of Education requires that the pre-practicum field experience shall culminate in one student-teacher teaching event in a grade 5-12 setting, hosted by a teacher whose class the student-teacher has observed significantly. In our program this event will take place in the initial phase of the Practicum placement. (3 credits – Pass/Fail).
B. Practicum (Student Teaching). Latin Education 500U. Third or fourth semester (ca. 12 weeks). Practicum takes place under the supervision of the hosting teacher, the Classics M.A.T. faculty, and the Educator Preparation Office. The state requires a minimum of 300 clock hours, of which the state requires 100 clock hours full responsibility in the classroom. Our program asks for 150 hours of full responsibility whenever possible. Students wishing for additional experience at a middle school near to their high school site should spend at least 50 clock hours at that site as part of their 300 hours (6 credits – Pass/Fail).
Total credits for M.A.T. Degree with Initial Licensure at UMass: 49. In keeping with the university graduate school requirements for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, all courses except for those especially approved for the program of study must be taken at the graduate level (numbered 6XX).
Core courses are taken on a letter graded basis.* The University requires that a minimum of half the required credits for a master’s degree must be on a letter graded basis. Departmental permission must be secured for taking any courses other than those listed above on a pass/fail basis.
*The following courses are typically taken on a pass/fail basis (as also noted above):
Classics 691A, Seminar: Teaching Greek Civilization. 1 credit.
Classics 692C, Seminar: Teaching Greece, Rome, and Beyond. 1 credit.
Classics 692D, Seminar: Teaching Introduction to Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology. 1 credit.
Classics 692A, Seminar: Teaching Greek Mythology. 1 credit.
Classics 693A, Seminar: Teaching Roman Civilization. 1 credit.
Classics 692E, Seminar: Teaching Magic in the Ancient Mediterranean. 1 credit.
Latin 69X (depending on section of Latin assigned) Seminar: Instructional Planning and Assessment. 1 credit.
Latin 698A, Pre-Practicum. 3 credits.
Latin Education 500U, Practicum. 6 credits.
The course work and practica outlined above cover all of the requirements for the M.A.T. degree in Latin and Classical Humanities with Initial Licensure.
Program of Study for Students Entering the Program in Odd Numbered Years
Semester 1 (Fall):
1. Latin 691b History of Latin Literature
2. Classics 608 Teaching Classical Humanities
3. Education 524 The Work of the Middle and High School Teacher
4. Latin 69X (1 credit, “x” depends on section of Latin) Seminar: Instructional Planning and Assessment
Semester 2 (Spring):
1. Latin 608 Teaching Latin Literature
2. Latin 616 Advanced Latin Grammar
3. Education 306 (or equivalent) Educational Psychology
4. Elective (see Program Requirements: I. Knowledge, section F.)
5. Latin 69X (1 credit, “x” depends on section of Latin) Seminar: Instructional Planning and Assessment
6. Latin 698A Pre-Practicum
Semester 3 (Fall):
1. (Latin Author Course)
2. Latin 607
Teaching the Latin Language
3. Either Track A or B:
(If you follow Track A in the Fall, you MUST
follow Track A in the Spring; likewise for B.)
A. Latin Student Teaching 500U
(6 credits; 300 hours minimum)
-or-
B. I. Elective
(see Program Requirements:
I. Knowledge, section F.)
II. Latin 69X
(1 credit, “x” depends on section of Latin)
Seminar: Instructional Planning and Assessment
Semester 4 (Spring):
1. (Latin Author Course)
2. Latin 612 Advanced Prose Style
3. Either Track A or B: (If you followed Track A in the Fall, you MUST follow Track A in the Spring; likewise for B.)
A. I. Elective (see Program Requirements: I. Knowledge, section F on page 4.)
II. Latin 69X (1 credit, “x” depends on section) Seminar: Instructional Planning and Assessment
-or- B. Latin Student Teaching 500U (6 credits; 300 hours minimum)
The following courses must also be completed:
One semester of your first year, and one semester of your second year, you will also work as a TA (for 1 credit) for one of the large lecture classes, such as:
1. Seminar: Greek Civilization -or-
2. Seminar: Intro. to Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology -or-
3. Seminar: Greek Mythology -or-
4. Seminar: Roman Civilization -or-
5. Seminar: Magic in the Ancient Mediterranean World
Program of Study for Students Entering the Program in Even Numbered Years
Semester 1 (Fall):
1. Latin Author Course
2. Latin 607 Teaching the Latin Language
3. Education 524 The Work of the Middle and High School Teacher
4. Latin 69X (1 credit, “x” depends on section of Latin) Seminar: Instructional Planning and Assessment
Semester 2 (Spring):
1. Latin Author Course
2. Latin 612 Advanced Prose Style
3. Education 306 (or equivalent) Educational Psychology
4. Elective (see Program Requirements: I. Knowledge, section F.)
5. Latin 69X (1 credit, “x” depends on section of Latin) Seminar: Instructional Planning and Assessment
6. Latin 698A Pre-Practicum
Semester 3 (Fall):
1. Latin 691b
History of Latin Literature
2. Classics 608
Teaching Classical Humanities
3. Either Track A or B:
(If you follow Track A in the Fall, you MUST
follow Track A in the Spring; likewise for B.)
A. Latin Student Teaching 500U
(6 credits; 300 hours minimum)
-or-
B. I. Elective
(see Program Requirements:
I. Knowledge, section F.)
II. Latin 69X
(1 credit, “x” depends on section of Latin)
Seminar: Instructional Planning and Assessment
Semester 4 (Spring):
1. Latin 608 Teaching Latin Literature
2. Latin 616 Advanced Latin Grammar
3. Either Track A or B: (If you followed Track A in the Fall, you MUST follow Track A in the Spring; likewise for B.)
A. I. Elective (see Program Requirements: I. Knowledge, section F on page 4.)
II Latin 69X (1 credit, “x” depends on section of Latin) Seminar: Instructional Planning and Assessment
-or- B. Latin Student Teaching 500U (6 credits; 300 hours minimum)
The following courses must also be completed:
One semester of your first year, and one semester of your second year, you will also work as a TA (for 1 credit) for one of the large lecture classes, such as:
1. Seminar: Greek Civilization -or-
2. Seminar: Intro. to Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology -or-
3. Seminar: Greek Mythology -or-
4. Seminar: Roman Civilization -or-
5. Seminar: Magic in the Ancient Mediterranean World
FURTHER INFORMATION
Teaching Responsibilities
All students admitted into the M.A.T. Program in Latin and Classical Humanities receive financial aid. As teaching assistants they teach sections of the undergraduate elementary and intermediate Latin courses each semester, and they assist with correction of papers and examinations in undergraduate, large-lecture courses one semester each year. No on-campus teaching or grading is required when fulfilling Practicum.
When teaching the elementary and intermediate Latin courses, the teaching assistants meet weekly with professors in the Department, and the teaching assistants receive guidance on lesson planning, teaching, and writing of exercises, quizzes, and examinations, and they earn a total of three credits in instructional planning and assessment. When teaching the elementary and intermediate Latin courses, the teaching assistants are observed three times in the course of the semester by faculty in the Program and have opportunities to discuss the progress of their teaching. The department maintains a complete set of previous tests, handouts, quizzes, and worksheets for new M.A.T. students’ use and consultation.
When assisting as graders for large lecture courses (such as Classics 100 - Greek Civilization, etc.) teaching assistants earn one credit.
Portfolios
Students in the Program maintain professional teaching portfolios containing lesson plans, activities, and assessments for all classes they teach, copies of observation-evaluation forms, and any reflections on pedagogical experience. Students provide access to this portfolio to faculty observers and to their IPA supervisor each semester, and when in Practicum students provide access to their Practicum portfolio to their faculty observer.
Teaching Assistant Offices
All candidates admitted to the Program share TA offices in the Department of Classical Studies on the fifth floor of Herter Hall and (sometimes) in Hampshire House. First and second year students share offices to stimulate peer mentoring and the sharing of ideas.
M.A.T. Library and Milton C. Davis Memorial Room
The Department maintains a Library for use by its M.A.T. graduate students for study and research. It contains extensive collections of current and historical Latin and Greek textbooks and books concerning Greek and Roman culture and civilization. This library also contains numerous periodicals, journals, and newsletters of classical and pedagogical associations, along with files of pedagogical materials. It also houses a set of materials for Latin teachers that are produced and distributed by the Teaching Materials and Resource Center of the American Classical League. The Department also owns an extensive collection of maps and videos devoted to Greek and Roman civilization.
The Milton C. Davis Room in the University Library contains the standard editions of Greek and Latin texts, commentaries, and general reference works on classical antiquity. The University’s own collection of books on classics is supplemented by collections at the neighboring colleges.
Computing Facilities
The department provides a printer in the Teaching Assistant offices, and a copier for your use is available in the department office. Students will need a laptop for teaching and student activities.
Graduation
passed the MTEL tests apply to graduate by filling out a Degree Application Form (Master’s “without thesis” form) and submitting this form to the Graduate Degree Requirements Office. The Graduate Program Director will supervise and advise you in this process. Graduate School awards degrees only in the months of May, September, and February. The graduation ceremony, however, is conducted only in May.
Certification
Application for certification by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is made through the School of Education’s Educator Preparation Office (EPO) to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). If a student also desires certification in a state besides those that are signatory to the Interstate Certification Compact (I.C.C.), they may supplement the program of studies to meet the requirements of that particular state. Descriptions of out-of-state requirements are available online here on the Society for Classical Studies website.
Job Placement and Employment
· M.A.T. faculty members provide assistance and mentoring as students apply for jobs; all M.A.T. graduates seeking positions find them by the end of the summer after graduation.
· Many graduates are offered several jobs, and the department is frequently informed by schools looking to fill positions with graduates from our program.
· Our graduates teach at a wide variety of schools – public, charter, magnet, private, denominational, urban and rural schools are all options for our graduates.
· Our program has an extensive alumni network, whereby we learn of teaching positions that are available, and whereby our graduates may receive mentoring, advice, and teaching tips – especially at our annual reunions.
A person teaching and a person learning should have the same end in view: the improvement of the latter, says Attalus the philosopher.
Seneca Epistulae, 108
Professional Organizations
It is important that our M.A.T. students become active in all aspects of the profession. The Department of Classical Studies is a contributing member of the American Academy in Rome, the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, and the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome. Our students routinely attend these institutions. Various members of the Department are active in the following national, regional, and state professional organizations:
American Classical League; Archaeological Institute of America; American Council for Teachers of Foreign Languages; The Classical Association (UK); Classical Association of Massachusetts; Classical Association of the Middle West and South; Classical Association of New England; Eta Sigma Phi (Classics Honor Society); International Ovidian Society; Massachusetts Foreign Language Association; Pioneer Valley Classical Association; Society for Classical Studies; Vergilian Society of America; Western Massachusetts Archaeological Association.
All members of the UMass Amherst Classics faculty have dynamic and widely respected research profiles, and provide their considerable expertise to the students in their graduate and undergraduate seminars, and to graduate students they observe. All members of the Classics faculty participate in observations and mentoring of our graduate students in the M.A.T. program.
The Classical Association of New England (CANE) holds an annual meeting that all M.A.T. students attend at the expense of the department. Students also sometimes attend the annual meeting of the Massachusetts Foreign Language Association. Sometimes our graduate students present workshops at these meetings as well. The Pioneer Valley Classics Association sponsors an annual Classics Day that brings together about 300 Latin students and their teachers from western Massachusetts schools, and our M.A.T. students regularly host workshops at this event.
Location
The University of Massachusetts is located in historic Amherst in the western part of the state, several miles north and east of Interstates 90 (Mass Pike) and 91. It is situated in the scenic Connecticut River Valley, a commuting region with approximately half a million residents. Twenty miles to the north are the states of Vermont and New Hampshire; the Berkshire Mountains with the Tanglewood Music Festival, skiing, and quintessential New England towns are thirty minutes to the west. Boston lies two hours to the east; New York City four hours to the south. The University is part of the Five College consortium (Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, and Smith Colleges, and the University), and together they enjoy extraordinary cultural and academic opportunities and facilities, including 4,500,000 holdings in their libraries, a rich tradition in museums and the arts, an abundant range of musical experiences from rock to classical, and four-season sporting events and activities. The Valley is served by the Peter Pan Bus Company, with hourly express busses to and from Boston, New York, Hartford, and Albany; and by Bradley International Airport (situated between Hartford, Connecticut, and Springfield, Massachusetts) with direct daily flights to all major and many regional cities across the country.
University Facilities
The University maintains an excellent library, extensive recreational facilities, a fine health service, and is located on an attractive campus that combines high-rise buildings and a spacious rural setting. Student life centers around the University Campus Center, Student Union, Fine Arts Center, and Mullins Arena. All graduate students participate in a dues-paying collective bargaining unit called GEO (Graduate Employee Organization). Off-campus graduate housing is readily available, and there is on-campus housing for graduate students on a limited basis. In regard to housing, this website provides information on housing options and resources: https://www.umass.edu/living/assign.
Title IX Statement and Other Policies at UMass Amherst
Title IX is a U.S. law that prohibits discrimination in education on the basis of gender (including discrimination based on gender identity and expression). A particular focus of Title IX is the prevention of sexual misconduct on college campuses. Extensive additional information about Title IX and the resources and policies of the University of Massachusetts Amherst are available by navigating to the UMass Title IX webpage: http://www.umass.edu/titleix.
UMass Amherst Code of Student Conduct: https://www.umass.edu/dean_students/sites/default/files/documents/07.01.2019%20Code%20of%20Student%20Conduct.pdf.
UMass Amherst Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Interpersonal Violence: https://www.umass.edu/equalopportunity/policy-against-discrimination-harassment-and-related-interpersonal-violence.