About the College
HArCS
Featured Major
Classics
"If any student ever asks you “Why Classics?” tell them for me that it enriches one’s life in ways unimaginable and prepares one for handling whatever academic and professional (and even personal) challenges lie ahead."
-Julie, Class of 1999
"Classics is perfect for teaching attention to detail and problem solving skills, both of which are a definite asset in management! Plus, it’s fun to “wow” people with my knowledge of ancient languages."
-Susan, Class of 1995
Credit: Art Images for College Teaching Grave stela of a little girl with two doves, ca. 450-440 B.C.E.
The Classics major provides an in-depth exploration of ancient societies that have profoundly influenced our own ideas about democracy, citizenship, and the human condition. Classics students enjoy some of the world’s greatest literature while they also study history, philosophy, myth, science, law, art, and archaeology of ancient civilizations. These students find their lives enriched in unexpected ways. Because so much English vocabulary comes from Latin, they gain extraordinary proficiency in English – and as a group earn the highest verbal Graduate Record Examination scores. Classics students readily master a vast technical vocabulary, as modern languages turn to Latin and Greek roots to develop new scientific terminology. Above all, Classics students learn the invaluable skill of thinking analytically about subject matter that is as challenging as it is fascinating.
The Classics Major at UC Davis offers two tracks. The Classical Mediterranean Civilizations track, requiring one year of upper division Latin, Greek, or Hebrew supplemented by related courses in Classics, Archaeology, Art History, Comparative Literature, History, Philosophy, Political Science, and Religious Studies. Students planning graduate work in Classics or a related field choose the Classical Languages and Literatures track, which requires at least six upper division courses chosen from two of the ancient languages, plus at least two related courses. All Classics majors take a senior seminar, with intensive reading, discussion, research, and writing on a selected problem.
The Classical Studies Association is one of the most active student groups on campus. Students plan several events for every month of the academic year. Favorites include the faculty lecture series, trips to museums, the theatre, and the opera. C.S.A. members sponsor a classically themed Halloween party, a Saturnalia celebration, and an Ides of March bonfire. They also organize Classics Day, a Saturday in spring when they invite area high school students for performances, lectures, games, contests, and college advising. Students also publish an annual literary magazine, Nota Bene, featuring scholarly essays and creative work.
Our alumni/ae include Latin teachers and school principals, professors, lawyers, business professionals, doctors, museum consultants, a library curator, software developers and computer specialists. Our top-rated Internship and Career Center can help you broaden your scope of career options and direct you toward a wide spectrum of internships and professional opportunities. Many prospective employers come to UC Davis every year to recruit graduating seniors because of the high-caliber performance of our scholars. "If any student ever asks you "Why Classics?" tell them for me that it enriches one's life in ways unimaginable and prepares one for handling whatever academic and professional (and even personal) challenges lie ahead." -Julie, Class of 1999 "Classics is perfect for teaching attention to detail and problem solving skills, both of which are a definite asset in management! Plus, it's fun to "wow" people with my knowledge of ancient languages." -Susan, Class of 1995
Further information about majoring in Classics can be found on the departmental website at:
http://classics.ucdavis.edu/
For more information about this and other majors, visit our Departments, Programs and Centers page.