As a Classics major, you can immerse yourself in the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome through four different tracks (Classics, Greek, Latin, Classical Civilization) taking programs in ancient languages, literature, history, archaeology, history of art, science, linguistics and philosophy. Classics majors work closely with individual professors in their areas of expertise, often in small classes, and have many opportunities for independent research and travel. The rigorous analytical training characteristic of a Classics degree helps to develop skills that are valued in a wide variety of careers, as well as giving students a firm foundation for understanding the history of Western culture. With a minor in classics, you’ll conduct your own odyssey through the ancient Mediterranean world by taking any five coherent classics courses (above 1000-level) from one of four different tracks, acquiring proficiency in either Greek or Latin along the way: Classical literature Ancient history (with emphasis on either Greek or Roman) Ancient philosophy Classical art and archaeology
Requirements
Want to start right away? Here are some basic requirements for students wanting to major in classics. The complete list of formal requirement can be found on the Courses of Study page.
The major in Classics offers four tracks — Latin, Greek, classics (combined Latin and Greek emphases) and classical civilization. Only classes passed with a C– or better may be applied to the classics major. One course must yield a seminar paper of at least 4000 words.
Sample classes
- Greek Mythology
- Introduction to Ancient Medicine
- Magic and Witchcraft in the Greco-Roman World
- Theater, Sport and Spectacle
Outcomes
All information below is based on the 2014-2018 First-Destination Post-Graduate Survey. Lists are not exhaustive, rather they are a sampling of the data.
"Other" includes time off, travel, volunteer experiences, and/or preparing for graduate school.
If you would like to more information, please email as_careers@cornell.edu
More than 4/5 of 2014-2018 Classics graduates reported being Employed or Attending Graduate School, with the majority Attending Graduate School.
79% of the Class of 2014-2018 Classics graduates completed the survey. n = 26
Below, you will find:
- Top Employment Sectors
- Where Graduates Work
- Top Graduate Fields
- Where Graduates Study
Top Employment Sectors
- Consulting/Prof. Practice
- Financial Services
- Government
- Other Nonprofit Organization
- Technology
Where 2014-2018 Classics Graduates Work
| Employer | Job Titles |
|---|---|
| Analysis Group | Analyst |
| Epic Systems | Server Systems Engineer |
| Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts | Corporate Fund Team Member |
| MedCap Funds | Intern Analyst |
| New York City Department of Education | Mixed Methods Research Consultant |
Top Graduate Fields Pursued
- Archaeology
- Classics
- Education
- English/American Studies
- History of Art
- Law
- Linguistics
- Medicine
- Near Eastern Studies
- Theology
Graduate Degrees Pursued
- PhD
- JD
- MA
- MD
Where 2014-2018 Classics Study
- Brown University
- Columbia University
- Georgetown University
- Harvard University
- Princeton University
- Stanford University
- University of California-Santa Barbara
- University of Chicago
- University of Oxford
- University of South Carolina
- University of Virginia
- Yale University
