Very possibly, you just read the title of this article and thought, what is a Classics major anyway? Does it mean you study Bach and Mozart and classical music? Or maybe it’s like an English major–but you only read literature written before 1900. Good guesses, but nope. A Classics major is someone who studies Latin, Greek, and the ancient world, particularly Greece and Rome.
And now you’re probably thinking, well why would I do that? What relevance could the Classics possibly have on our modern world? (The answer is: a lot.) And why on earth would I major in something so antiquated? Let me explain.
First of all, there are some great financial opportunities. A couple colleges offer scholarships to Classics majors every year, as well as research grants. And when your field of study isn’t as saturated as, say, biology, you have a much better chance of receiving some of those grants and scholarships. But let’s talk about some of the practicalities.
When I tell people I’m majoring in Classics, I inevitably am asked, “But what can you do with that?” It drives me crazy, because actually, the answer is pretty much anything. Classics majors look great on applications to grad school first off, because it’s something different. For instance, if you’re heading into medical school, it’s obviously important to take all the necessary biology and chemistry classes. But the people reading applications for the school you’re applying to have probably seen fifteen hundred biochemistry majors. Classics really stands out, and it shows that you’re willing to take on a challenge.
Classics majors also develop really great critical thinking skills and often become excellent writers. The best English grammar class I ever took was my Latin 101 class in high school. Critical thinking and strong writing are skills that are going to be really important to your success, no matter what field you happen to be pursuing. Reading Classical literature opens up discussions of morality, ethics, human nature, and other topics that are still extremely relevant in today’s society, allowing readers to see how ancient literature forms the basis of many of today’s tropes, stereotypes, and concepts. And for those of you who are more logically oriented, not to worry. My professor once said that people who enjoy and are good at math tend to like Latin and Greek, because math itself is like another language. So translation is an equation, in a way, a puzzle to be solved.
The study of Classics helps students form skill sets that employers love to see in job applications. And Classics majors go into every career field imaginable. Georgetown did a study to see where some of their Classics graduates landed, and found that they were in jobs varying from psychologists to state legislators to entrepreneurs. Lots of Classics majors go into teaching or research. Others may work at museums, law firms, hospitals, and pretty much anywhere you can imagine. Anthony Leggett James, a Nobel Prize winning physicist, studied Classics, as did bestselling author J.K. Rowling, and lead singer of Coldplay, Chris Martin. Classics doesn’t limit you to one profession, but rather opens up a whole world of possibilities!
The other big argument I get besides the job one is that the Classics are a dying, irrelevant branch of study. Not true! The ancient world is at the core of our modern society. Fifth century Athens was hailed as the founder of democracy, every planet in our solar system (except Earth) is named after a Greek or Roman god, and our Capitol building in DC is lined with Corinthian columns. The influence of ancient Greece and Rome is present in art, literature, medicine, government, architecture, sports, and pretty much every avenue of life. Those who say Classics is irrelevant and antiquated? They couldn’t be further from the truth.
Classics is a major that catches people’s attention. It’s different, and stands out on your resume, grad school application, or even when you’re meeting new friends. Classics is an excellent major to consider no matter what field you wish to pursue. It will always be relevant because the ancient world holds the very foundations of our modern society. Whether you study the language or the culture, pair it with biology or English, Classics is a major that will serve you well in whatever career you pursue!