To understand today’s world, look back – way back.
The ideas of ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt still resonate throughout modern life. Study the languages, literatures, arts, and civilizations of the ancients to gain a deeper understanding of today’s multicultural world. You’ll gain critical thinking and communications skills that open up careers – in education, museums, translation, archaeology, law and more.
Degree Awarded
Students majoring in Classical Studies who complete all requirements earn the degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Anthropology.
Areas of Study
Classical Studies is a rigorous, humanistic discipline that interrogates the cultural interactions, geopolitical dynamics, artistic production, literary traditions, and evolving cultural identities of the peoples of the Ancient Mediterranean world. Spanning roughly 13,000 years of human societies—from the Neolithic Aegean to the late Roman Empire—the field draws on a rich constellation of evidence: archaeological remains, language and linguistics, literary and epigraphic texts, material culture, visual art, and built architecture.
Students of Classical Studies critically examine the lives, beliefs, conflicts, and creative achievements of Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Etruscans, Venetii, and/or the many other peoples who lived and interacted in the ancient Mediterranean basin. Classical Studies does not treat the ancient world as a monolithic or static entity. Rather, it foregrounds the complexity and dynamism of ancient societies. Students learn to read the ancient world not merely as a set of facts to be memorized, but as a layered, contested, and profoundly human past that continues to shape the modern world.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Classical Studies program pursue successful careers in a wide variety of fields, including:
- Law: Classical Studies majors consistently perform strongly on the LSAT and in law school. The program’s emphasis on argumentation, textual interpretation, and logical reasoning provides an excellent foundation for legal study and practice.
- Academia and Graduate Study: Students interested in advanced research may pursue graduate degrees in Classical Studies, Classical Archaeology, Ancient History, Art History, Comparative Literature, or related humanities fields.
- Museums, Cultural Heritage, and Preservation: Graduates–especially those who earn complementary Minors in Museum Studies–are well prepared for roles as museum curators, collections managers, and cultural heritage specialists, as well as careers in archaeological field work and site conservation.
- Education: The major provides a strong pathway into secondary and post-secondary teaching in Latin, history, and humanities, as well as educational program development for cultural institutions.
- Government, Policy, NGOs, and Diplomacy: The cross-cultural perspective and analytical rigor of Classical Studies are valuable in public service, international relations, and policy research, particularly given the deep roots of Western governmental and legal institutions in ancient practice.
- Publishing, Media, and Communications: Strong writing skills and broad humanistic knowledge prepare graduates for editorial, journalism, content strategy, and communications roles in print and digital media.