by our College Data Analytics TeamDive deep into history with a major in Classical and Ancient Studies. Explore past languages, history, art, and religion as you study both Western and non-Western cultures. Your coursework will involve decoding writing, looking at archaeology, and analyzing population changes. Some of the classes you will take include: archeology, ancient languages, history, art history, geography, religious studies, population studies, and environmental studies.
Some colleges have the opportunity to choose a concentration in the major. These include subjects like Ancient Civilizations or Archaeology and Classical Studies.
Classical & Ancient Studies was the 309th most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 278 degrees in this year alone. This year's Best Classical & Ancient Studies Schools ranking compares 4 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of classics programs later in this article.
Prospective students should love to read and explore history. Your reading lists will include an endless number of two to three thousand year old texts. These primary sources will help you better understand the cultures and regions of the past. You must be able to absorb and retain vast amounts of information and connect ideas between various subjects. Students are expected to write in-depth research papers and make class presentations.
Part of this major is studying populations and analyzing information from the lab. Observation and attention to detail will help you catch important details. Creative thinking will help you begin to piece together the mysterious past world.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most classics degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic classical & ancient studies program qualifications, to serve in some classics careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of classics degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in classical & ancient studies to something that takes less time like a . The time it takes to complete a classics degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to classics, with approximately 23.9% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to classics tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 23.9% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 20.4% |
| Some College Courses | 18.0% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 15.2% |
| High School Diploma | 9.4% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in classical & ancient studies careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the classics career you are seeking.
A degree in Classical and Ancient Studies allows you to go into various fields. Graduates may pursue careers as anthropologists, archaeologists, or historians. Competition may be fierce in this field. For those interested in other fields, grads are also successful in law, medicine, journalism, or business. These fields may require you to receive an advanced degree.
Want a job when you graduate with your classics degree? Classical & Ancient Studies careers are expected to grow 6.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to classical & ancient studies.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Historians | 3,500 | 6.1% |
As you might expect, salaries for classics graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for classical & ancient studies graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers classics grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Historians | $66,380 |
With over 125 different classics degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased classics school rankings to help you with this.
One of 51 majors within the Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies area of study, Classical & Ancient Studies has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Archaeology & Classical Studies | 160 |
| Ancient Studies/Civilization | 118 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Other Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 31,307 |
| Biological & Physical Science | 30,032 |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | 9,114 |
| International Studies | 6,614 |
| Nutrition Science | 5,598 |
Image Credit: By Benh LIEU SONG under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
