MA in Ancient History or Ancient Mediterranean World, etc

[Byzantist]

What are the good programs? Who are the top profs? What and where should I avoid? I'm coming out of a BA in Biblical Arts, with a minor in Humanities (which was filled my things such as Ancient Near Eastern Backgrounds, Greek World, Modern World, etc). My GPA upon graduation is looking to be around 3.6 or 3.7 (retaking Hebrew as we speak to raise it) and I've got a background in both Hebrew and Greek.

[Byzantist]

I ask broadly because I'm having an issue narrowing myself. I want to study the Ancient World, with an emphasis on Greco-Roman history/culture, especially as it relates to the social context in which the Christian Church arose. But anything focusing on 200 BC to 200 AD in particular, maybe extending forward a few centuries as well, would be good.

I would like to do PhD work after my MA, or perhaps pick up a second Masters to fill out any weak areas. Ultimately I want to teach Ancient History or something similar at the university level, and I want a degree that'll open those kinds of doors.

[maeisenb]

I ask broadly because I'm having an issue narrowing myself. I want to study the Ancient World, with an emphasis on Greco-Roman history/culture, especially as it relates to the social context in which the Christian Church arose. But anything focusing on 200 BC to 200 AD in particular, maybe extending forward a few centuries as well, would be good.

I would like to do PhD work after my MA, or perhaps pick up a second Masters to fill out any weak areas. Ultimately I want to teach Ancient History or something similar at the university level, and I want a degree that'll open those kinds of doors.

Well if you are doing anything history wise pre-284, then it's typically in a classics department, with a focus on ancient history - although a few places are a little different. It also sounds like you are interested in religion as well, so if you were in theory going to do something to fill out your weak areas and, assuming you are strong in religion, then those two would be a history masters and more language study.

That being said, it sounds like you need to narrow down a focus a bit more, so, if I was you, I would read say 3-5 overarching books on that time period and see which one interests you the most. (i.e. something on post-Punic War Rome, something maybe on Caesar or Augustus, something on the high empire, and then something on Late Antiquity). Those intro books should lead you to a few more and, if you find some authors you like, google then and see where they teach. Then once you have a decent list of places with people you like, contact people there and find out more about the programs.

[Byzantist]

I definitely can say that I'm not going into classics - it's too early and I've not got the Latin to get into and do well in a classics program. So, if we narrowed it down to High Empire or Late Antiquity, where are some starting places? I can google folk all day, but I'd like some informed input so I don't pick up some charismatic crack pot and get taken. Or waste time.

[maeisenb]

I definitely can say that I'm not going into classics - it's too early and I've not got the Latin to get into and do well in a classics program. So, if we narrowed it down to High Empire or Late Antiquity, where are some starting places? I can google folk all day, but I'd like some informed input so I don't pick up some charismatic crack pot and get taken. Or waste time.

Well for both of those you will still need Latin and/or Greek plus, as I said above, high empire is still almost always in Classics Departments. As for where to start, you need to figure out what you like to do, which no one else can tell you. Go to your library, pick up a few books, and before you start reading look at where people teach. There are differences in opinions in all fields, so you need to figure out what line of arguments you support. If the person teaches at a prestigious school, then they are probably not a "crack pot," but you might not like their research or support their line of argument. No one else can do that for you.

If you like Late Antiquity though, I would read something by Peter Brown, but, as I said, there are differences in opinion when it comes to him, what he focuses on, regions he covers, topics, etc. You'll have to read him and then check his footnotes and works cited list to see if that leads you to more stuff.

[Byzantist]

Peter Brown, gotcha. Thanks sir!

[TMP]

You know yourself the best. You know what exactly you are interested in. You know your own qualifications. We all do our own grunt work because nobody can read our mind or understand our own needs.

Chances are very little that you'll land a crackpot. Bad advisors, yes, there's a chance but the only way to know is to talk to the graduate students there. We can't help you on that. You just have to go with it and trust your instincts when you interact with the professor.

It sounds to me based on your responses, you aren't exactly ready for a PhD program.... look into the MA program so you can be very competitive for the PhD.