Studying the past gives you skills in critical thinking, writing, research, and argumentation that are keys to success in many fields, from law and medicine to advertising. Classics majors distinguish themselves in the eyes of prospective employers as sharp thinkers who write and speak well. Our students take small courses taught by senior faculty, who become excellent references for jobs and graduate school applications. Classics majors have an edge on the MCAT, LSAT, and GRE (Verbal Reasoning/Writing) because of their exceptional linguistic knowledge and ability to solve complex problems.
Popular Careers for Classicists
- Law – Classics teaches logical reasoning and reading comprehension.
- Medicine – Medical schools favor applicants who can write and communicate well.
- PR & Social Media – Classics majors understand how texts and images work.
- Data Science – Classics majors are analytical and detail oriented.
- Advertising – Classicists are trained in rhetoric and argumentation.
- Film/TV – Studying Classics fosters creativity and independent thought.
“The skills that you develop when you are reading ancient texts and historical materials are very much the same skills that you use when you are reading cases in law… And then there’s the bonus that the law uses a lot of Latin phrases!” – Kalina Kazmierczak, BA in Classics, UCLA Law
“As a biology major, I spent a lot of time memorizing scientific names and extremely niche jargon. In its own right, taking Latin has been fun and interesting, but it has also made much of biology and academia feel more familiar. Now, I am able to intuitively find patterns in words, remember them, and understand how and why they are formed.” – Vela Reynolds, BA in Biology, CCS
Wall of Fame
Classics majors who have made their mark in business, law, politics, medicine, journalism, education, and the arts include:
• Lynn Sherr, journalist, ABC News
• Toni Morrison (well, OK, Classics minor), author of Beloved, Nobel Prize in Literature, 1993
• Charles Geschke, software executive, founder of Adobe Systems
• David Packard, co-founder and first CEO of Hewlett Packard
• Ted Turner, founder of CNN
• Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense, President Texas A&M, Director of CIA, 1991-93
• Jerry Brown, former Governor of California
• James Baker, Secretary of State under Pres. Bush Senior
• William S. Cohen, former Senator and secretary of Defense under Pres. Clinton
• Hunter S. Rawlings, III, former President of Cornell University
• Robert Greene, hip-hop guru and author of The 48 Laws of Power
• Nathanial Fick, Afghanistan war veteran and author of One Bullet Away
• Mary Ann Hopkins, Professor of Surgery NYU Medical Center & volunteer for Doctors Without Borders
• Joseph Spellman, master sommelier for Joseph Phelps Vineyards
• Anthony Fauci, former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Double-Majoring
A Classics major complements STEM fields like Math or Biology, as well as English, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, Theater and Dance, and more. Pre-law students boost their LSAT scores and develop skills in textual analysis and reading comprehension. We recognize the unique challenges that double-majors encounter, and we work with students closely to plan out their degrees.
Transfer Students
Transfer students excel in Classics, and prior knowledge of Latin or Greek is not required for enrollment in the major. The Greek & Roman Culture emphasis is designed to be completed in two years, start to finish. This emphasis offers in-depth study of the Classical world through upper-division courses and seminars taught in translation. Classics majors who select this emphasis gain a solid grasp of the languages by completing one year of introductory Latin or Greek.
Undergraduate Research & Internships
We encourage Classics majors to participate in RA-ships with faculty and gain work experience in fields of potential interest. Career Services provide a number of valuable resources, including competitive scholarships to support summer internships. Classics majors also pursue opportunities in archaeological fieldwork, language study abroad, and museums.
Internships that pertain directly to the field of Classics are eligible for course credit (CLASS 196). The Ralph Gallucci Internship Award is designed to support Classics majors who undertake unpaid or low-paying internships that will further their professional development. A call for applications is circulated by the Undergraduate Advisor each spring.
Classics majors who wish to apply for additional departmental support should submit to the Undergraduate Advisor no later than one month before the intended start date: (1) a statement of purpose, including a budget; (2) documentation of acceptance to the internship or program; and (3) evidence that you have applied for other sources of funding. Applications will be reviewed by a faculty committee and funds allocated on a rolling basis. All awardees must submit a report of their activities to the Undergraduate Advisor no later than one month after the date of completion.