In recent years, more colleges have begun to require general health and P.E. courses, as well as diversity and inclusion subjects. Every university crafts its own gen ed requirements, and within a university, specific schools may interpret those requirements differently.
These well-meaning classes get a bad rap. For the few who attend college with a predestined career path, general education or “Gen Eds” are loathed and seen as an obstacle to get to “the good stuff”.
To offset the time burden of gen ed requirements, many students — sometimes on the advice of their academic advisors — opt for the easiest gen ed options.
Most college students select a major by the end of their sophomore year. Gen ed lays the framework for those upper-level major courses and for students' future careers. A broad, college-level encounter with math, science, communication, writing, and other key disciplines develops critical soft skills, such as analysis and creative problem-solving.
Some of the most popular fields among classics majors are law, non-profits (including clergy), government, medicine, fine arts (including galleries and museums), knowledge creation and curation (includes research, publishing, libraries, and archives), computer science/tech, business, and financial services.
Studying classics requires self-discipline, the ability to research and analyze and a strong eye for detail. The fact it also allows you to stay in bed until at least 10am every day doesn't mean your life's easier.
If you want to study a classics degree, most universities expect you to have an A-level in Latin or ancient Greek, although there are some courses which allow you to start Latin and / or classical Greek from scratch.
Ultimately, though, Classics majors get on well in life because they develop intellectual rigor, communication skills, analytical skills, the ability to handle complex information, and, above all, a breadth of view which few other disciplines can provide.”
Classical Civilisation is listed on UCL's list of preferred A Level subjects and it is also listed on Trinity College, Cambridge's list of Generally Suitable Arts A Levels. It is also listed as a useful subject for degrees in Classical Studies and Philosophy in the Russell Group 'Informed Choices' document.
Classics graduates may also pursue a career as a teacher in elementary or high school. Their background may prepare them to teach history, literature, art, language or civics classes.
What subjects go well with Classical Civilsation? Classical Civilisation has links with many subjects, especially English, History, Drama & Theatre and Government & Politics. It works well as a complement to any of these subjects or as a contrast to sciences.
Greek or Latin at A level (or equivalent) is an essential requirement for the Classics (3-year) course. Almost everyone who takes the three-year course has Latin A level, but this is not an absolute requirement (see question 8).
No. The university does not require any knowledge of either classical language from Ancient and Modern Historians (although there are opportunities for those who have studied Latin or Greek to use it in their degree).
No, a classics degree is absolutely not worthless! However, there are few jobs involving reading and writing ancient Greek and Latin, and there are few secondary teachers who teach these anymore. In addition, a postgraduate degree in classics is unlikely to lead to a full-time, permanent academic appointment.
Furthermore, according to Harvard Magazine, Classics majors (and math majors) have the highest success rates of any majors in law school. Believe it or not: political science, economics, and pre-law majors lag fairly far behind.
Classic literature is still relevant today because it is able to give readers certain insights by giving a glimpse into the past and sharing its input on issues that have stayed as universal and timeless as they have.
No, a classics degree is absolutely not worthless! However, there are few jobs involving reading and writing ancient Greek and Latin, and there are few secondary teachers who teach these anymore. In addition, a postgraduate degree in classics is unlikely to lead to a full-time, permanent academic appointment.
What's it like to study classics? More than just reading Homer's Odyssey and Ovid's Metamorphoses, classical studies is a diverse and multidisciplinary degree – you'll be covering the languages, literatures, history, and philosophy of ancient Greece and Rome.
While the number of gen ed classes you're required to take varies depending on the school, most colleges require undergraduates to take at least 40...
Some gen ed classes are required for all undergraduates, but other gen ed subjects may present you with a list of classes from which to choose. Ult...
Failing a gen ed class means you will most likely have to retake that class at a later date or take (and pass) another course in that same gen ed s...
Typically, students simply need to complete all gen ed requirements by the end of their degree program. That said, some colleges may require you to...
Passing AP exams and IB exams in high school could allow you to fulfill certain general education requirements at your chosen college, helping you...