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Studies & Degrees in Greek and Roman Civilization

Greek and Roman civilization is the study of the ancient Mediterranean world: the languages, literature, history, philosophy, religion, art and material remains of Greece and Rome. Universities teach it under several names, including classics, classical studies, classical civilization, Greek and Roman studies and, in Spain, Filología Clásica. The names point to a real difference. Some programmes are built around reading Greek and Latin texts in the original; others study the same world mainly through history, archaeology and texts in translation.

Students learn to read closely, to weigh incomplete evidence and to write a sustained argument. The Greek and Roman Classics major at Temple University, for example, asks students to develop proficiency in Latin or Greek and to study how the ancients thought through their architecture, art, history, languages, literature and mythology, and examines institutions such as slavery, gender and the city.

Qualifications and levels

The subject is taught at university, from bachelor's level to the doctorate. How much Greek and Latin a degree requires is the main thing to compare.

  • United States. The subject is a major within a four-year Bachelor of Arts. The University of Chicago shows the range in a single department: its Classical Studies major has three variants. The Language and Literature variant requires six courses in Greek or Latin and six in classical civilization. The Language Intensive variant requires six courses in each language and is designed for students who expect to continue to graduate study. The Greek and Roman Cultures variant requires three language courses and nine in classical civilization, and suits students who want to focus on history and material culture. All three end with a senior seminar in the fourth year.
  • Spain. The equivalent is the bachelor's degree (grado) in Filología Clásica. Official degrees have 240 ECTS credits, and master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120. At the Universidad Complutense de Madrid the Grado en Filología Clásica has 240 ECTS credits over four years, treats Greek and Latin on equal terms in the compulsory subjects and includes a 36-credit track in one of the two languages. Subjects include Greek and Latin linguistics and literature, mythology, Indo-European linguistics and the transmission of texts.
  • Study abroad terms. Students of other degrees can spend a term in Greece or Italy. Perrotis College in Thessaloniki runs 12-week autumn and spring programmes of four courses (12 credits) and a six-week summer term; every student takes a Greek Cultural Experience course. Chicago and Temple send their own students to Rome, and Chicago also teaches a course sequence in Athens.

A master's degree and a doctorate follow for those who want to teach at university or do research. Graduate programmes usually expect a solid reading knowledge of both ancient languages, which is why language-intensive tracks exist at bachelor's level.

Where to study it

This directory lists six active schools for Greek and Roman civilization: three in the United States and one each in Canada, Greece and Germany. They include The University of Chicago, Temple University in Philadelphia, the University of Calgary and the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg. The language of instruction follows the country, so most of the listed programmes are taught in English.

Beginners are normally welcome. Programmes of this kind start Greek and Latin from introductory level, and Chicago counts introductory courses in the second language towards its most demanding variant. Applicants should check how many language courses are compulsory, whether a period in Greece or Italy is built in, and whether the degree ends with a thesis or a seminar.

Careers

The degree does not lead to one profession. Graduates go into school teaching (Latin, Greek, classical culture, history), museums and heritage, archives and libraries, publishing, translation and the civil service, and some continue to law or other postgraduate studies. The most closely related occupations often require further study. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, historians typically need at least a master's degree; they held about 3,800 jobs in the United States in 2025, with growth of 3% projected from 2025 to 2035. Archivists, curators and museum workers held about 38,500 jobs in 2025, archivists and curators typically need a master's degree, and employment is projected to grow 4% over the same period.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need to know Latin or Greek before starting?

Usually not. Degrees start the languages from introductory level, but the amount required differs: at The University of Chicago it ranges from three language courses in the Greek and Roman Cultures variant to twelve in the Language Intensive variant.

What is the difference between classics and classical civilization?

Classics, or classical philology, centres on reading Greek and Latin texts in the original. Classical civilization programmes study the same world mainly through history, art, archaeology and literature in translation, with fewer language courses.

How long is the degree?

In Spain the Grado en Filología Clásica has 240 ECTS credits over four years. In the United States the subject is a major within a four-year bachelor's degree.

What can you do with a degree in Greek and Roman civilization?

Teaching, museums and heritage, archives, publishing and public administration are common routes. Research and university posts require a master's degree and a doctorate.