Department of Classics
Department of Classics

Introduction to the Major

What do Homer and Virgil, Plato and Cicero, and even the New Testament have in common? They are foundational texts of our civilization — and Classics majors read them in the original Greek and Latin. Through this deep engagement with masterpieces of poetry, history and philosophy, Classicists gain a perspective on language that makes them especially talented at analyzing texts and the arguments they contain. In a world where so much changes so quickly, there’s something particularly rewarding about engaging slowly with literature so rich that, even after thousands of years, each new generation finds new insights in it that speak to their own times. Whether you’ve always loved mythology and want to read Greek tragedies or want to understand where democracy comes from, you’ll learn about it in Classics. 

Which Program is Right for Me?

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Classics is offered in one of three concentrations: Greek, Latin and Greek & Latin.

Greek or Latin Concentrations: For students who want to explore related fields like history, philosophy or archaeology alongside their language study.

Greek & Latin Concentration: For students who want their classes to focus primarily on reading ancient texts in the original languages. 

Amplify Your Major

  • Apply for the Lazenby Travelling Fellowship and fund your own journey to Greece, Italy or other classical lands.
  • Join the Classics Club and take part in social activities like Classics Day — including the certamen, a Classics quiz bowl competition.
  • Get your own key to the Constantine Library — a 24-hour reading room with nearly 3,000 classical texts, exclusive to Classics majors. 

What Can I Do With My Major

Recent Graduates’ Jobs and Employers 

  • Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati
  • Consultant, Ernst & Young
  • Litigation Associate, Squire Patton Boggs
  • Proposal Development Associate, University of Maine
  • Staff Assistant, Office of the Vice-President of the US
  • Teacher, Friends School of Baltimore 

Recent Graduate Programs 

  • University of Michigan, Classical Studies
  • Northwestern University, Journalism
  • University of Virginia, Law
  • Vanderbilt University, Medicine
  • Oxford University, Ancient Philosophy
  • Boston College, Theology 

“I love the supportive community of Classics — whenever I’m studying in the Constantine Library, there’s always a fellow scholar I can turn to when a verb’s principal parts escape me.” 

Stella Broome, Class of 2028

See what our graduates are doing on LinkedIn

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Life of the Major

Classics BA
First Year
  • Advance
    • Choose Engagement Courses that expose you to professors from a range of disciplines. 
    • Start (or continue) learning Greek or Latin. 
    • Take an introductory Greek or Roman civilization course. 
    • Start exploring your options with your pre-major advisor. 
  • Explore
    • Consider the Summer Latin Institute to cover two years of Latin in one intensive summer. 
    • Attend lectures and events hosted by the Classics department and related departments like History, Art and Philosophy. 
    • Visit the Fralin Museum to explore ancient art and artifacts. 
  • Build
    • Sign up for the Classics department mailing list to stay connected with lectures, events and opportunities. 
    • Visit a Classics professor during office hours to learn about their research. 
    • Join the Classics Club to connect with students who share your passion for the ancient world. 
  • Prepare
Second Year
  • Advance
    • Advance further in your language work: read Catullus and Cicero in Latin, or Plato, Euripides and the New Testament in Greek. 
    • Take courses in related fields, like ancient history or archaeology. 
    • Meet with your pre-major advisor to map out your remaining requirements. 
    • Once you have completed your pre-requisites, complete your major declaration form. 
  • Explore
    • Apply for the Lazenby Travelling Fellowship to fund travel to Greece, Italy or other classical lands. 
    • Apply for a summer research or internship program — consider opportunities at institutions like the Smithsonian or the VMFA. 
  • Build
    • Help the Classics Club put on Classics Day, featuring a certamen competition — a Classics quiz bowl. 
    • Attend the Margaret Lowe Annual Memorial Lecture by a prominent visiting scholar. 
    • Explore UVA’s Public Service Pathways program to connect your Classics training with real-world community impact. 
  • Prepare
    • Meet with a Classics faculty member to discuss career options and post-graduate goals, and begin building a resume. 
    • Learn about the Society for Classical Studies’ career resources for Classicists. 
    • Connect with alumni in fields that interest you through the Virginia Alumni Mentoring program. 
Third Year
  • Advance
    • Focus on upper-division coursework, exploring advanced language courses on Virgil or Homer. 
    • Meet with your major advisor to review your degree progress. 
    • Begin exploring independent study opportunities with a faculty member. 
  • Explore
    • Discuss the Distinguished Majors Program (DMP) with your advisor. 
    • Get involved in a faculty research project or independent study. 
    • Attend the Virginia Undergraduate Research Symposium in Classics (VURSIC) to connect with classical scholars across the region. 
  • Build
    • Attend the Friday luncheon series, where professors and graduate students present their research. 
    • Learn about the Society for Classical Studies and consider attending one of their regional meetings. 
    • Run for an officer position in the Classics Club or seek leadership roles in other campus organizations. 
  • Prepare
    • Explore post-graduate options with advisors, professors and current graduate students. 
    • Research admissions exams required for your post-graduate path. 
    • Identify a paper from your coursework that could be developed into a writing sample for graduate or professional applications. 
    • Update your resume and LinkedIn profile. 
Fourth Year
  • Advance
    • Challenge yourself by taking a graduate seminar. 
    • Complete any “bucket list” courses — like Ancient Athenian Democracy — that filled up before you could get in. 
    • Apply to graduate in the spring. 
  • Explore
    • If pursuing the DMP, conduct and present original research with your faculty advisor. 
    • Present your research at the university Undergraduate Research Symposium. 
  • Build
    • Join the Society for Classical Studies to connect with scholars and professionals in the field. 
    • Contact recent graduates from the program to learn about their post-graduate experiences. 
    • Request recommendation letters from faculty early — especially if applying to graduate school or law school. 
  • Prepare
    • Apply to jobs, graduate school and other opportunities. 
    • Polish your writing sample for graduate and professional school applications. 
    • Explore Fulbright and other prestigious fellowships through the Office of Citizen Scholar Development. 
    • Use Handshake and other job boards to search for opportunities.