Students pursuing a PhD must be proficient in reading two modern foreign languages, typically French and German. Other modern languages may be substituted with the approval of the student's faculty adviser and the department chair. The requirements in one foreign language must be fulfilled by the beginning of the second year and in the other by the beginning of the third year.

PhD students will take a foundations exam at the end of the first year on broad themes in ancient Mediterranean history, literature, and culture. Over the next three years of the program, students will take two translation exams in ancient languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew/Aramaic, Coptic, or Syriac) and three field exams (Greek Literature, Latin Literature, Biblical Studies, Early Christianity, Mediterranean History, Mediterranean Archaeology, and Ancient World Digital Humanities). Field and translation exams are scheduled on an individual basis, either one or two per semester. The foundation and field exams are based on set reading lists, and consist entirely of take-home, open-book essay questions. The language exams are based on a set reading list and are taken in the department with dictionary access.

The final requirement for the PhD is the dissertation. A dissertation in classics is a substantive work of scholarship that involves research and analysis of primary sources (texts and/or material evidence), engages extensively with the history of scholarship on the topic, and represents an original contribution to knowledge. The dissertation typically takes the form of a book-length manuscript. With the advisor's approval, a final examination (oral defense) is scheduled. At least two weeks prior to the defense, a copy of the dissertation to be defended must be distributed to each member of the dissertation committee. According to Graduate College regulations, the defense will be publicly announced and is open to the public. Possible outcomes for the final examination are satisfactory or unsatisfactory. The dissertation itself may be: approved, conditionally approved (with specification of changes to be made before final approval is granted), or failed. The final examination (oral defense) may be repeated once at the option of the dissertation committee. All dissertations must be approved by a committee of five faculty members, including at least three from the Department of Classics and Religious Studies.