CBowling

Thanks for all the sound advice everyone. I will put forth my options and discuss things with the important people in my life (parents, girlfriend, advisors and close professors) and make a decision once I figure out what I truly wish to do. Thanks again for taking the time to help me out!

Aye, that is just as I feared. Is there any degree that allows me to focus on the history part of Greece and Rome, and allows me to begin taking the languages while in grad school? Like an Ancient History MA or Ph.D program? Then, once I do that and build up my languages, I can go back and get a Classics Ph.D perhaps? I was looking at the University of Michigan Greco and Roman History degree, which mixes the history and Classics department. Though it is a Ph.D program, I was wondering if I could perhaps get an MA somewhere, like a HIstory MA or an Ancient HIstory MA, and build up my languages and then apply for that program at Michigan? I noticed that the University of Edinburgh offers Beginning Latin and Greek to their grad students, so this makes me think that their language requirements might be more lax than others (though I don't know the quality of their program.) Thank you all, though, for the advice. The Theology degree would be interesting, but would they take someone with as little experience in the languages as I have? Here is the Michigan Program I talked about I(though the deadline for applications is past, and it seems they want grad school experience before you can apply) http://www.lsa.umich.edu/ipgrh/aboutus

Thanks for the quick reply Andrew! It sounds like the Post-Bac or Terminal MA options are the best at my current level, but I do have a question concerning this: This part makes it sound like you need to have some language experience before getting accepted to most Post-Bacs or MA's. Is that the case? If so, then I am at a disadvantage since I have had 0 experience in Greek and only 1 semester of Latin at the local CC. Thanks for any clarity you can bring to this!

Hi all! I posted this on the college confidential website, but I came across this one which is aimed strictly for grad students, so I figured I might get a better informed answer than there. To start with, I am in my fourth year of my undergraduate degree and I plan on graduating with a BA in European Studies/History in May of 2012. However, I am only going for the European Studies degree because that was the closest thing we had to a Classics undergrad at my school. (University of West Florida in Pensacola). This institution, however, has left me extremely limited in terms of Latin and Greek, for it offers neither for any student to study, so I am left with trying to teach myself. I have had a semester of Latin at a community college before I transferred, but I know that will not be nearly enough. This leads me to my question: What do you all recommend I do? I want to become a Classics professor someday (I am aiming to get a Ph.D) but I know that I am severely behind on the language requirements. I know that if I applied to a Ph.D program right now that I would not get accept. I know there are Post-Bac programs, but I am unsure if those programs are for those without any prior knowledge, or if they are made to simply expand and intensify the education of those already experienced in Latin and Greek. I also have heard of "terminal MA's" that might be able to get me in the right track. (I've never actually heard of a terminal MA, so I don't really know what it means.) Needless to say, I have done plenty of research and taken several courses relating to the history, art, and culture of the Greeks and Romans and I have put a great deal of effort into studying the subject in my spare time, though I am probably no where near the knowledge of a Classics BA. However, my biggest pitfall is the language requirement. Right now, I am looking to going to school somewhere in Europe, like St. Andrews, Exeter, UCL, or one of those other universities for a Ph.D. Before that, I was looking to getting an MLitt at UCD possibly (cost wise, UCD wasn't too bad). Will I be able to pick up on Latin and Greek while going for a degree at any of these universities, or will I have to already be extremely proficient in the language first? How about if I pursue an MA or MLitt first before a Ph.D? Sorry for the long post. I am just really confused about everything and really worried that I might not be able to go for a degree in the field that I love simply because of the lack of opportunities in the area I am at currently. Thanks for any advice, Chris EDIT: I'd also be willing to go to school in the US as well, like at FSU or, probably my top pick, Michigan. But I know that they want experience in the languages so I am still stuck on this point. And I guess this can lead to another question: Is it better for me to get a Classics Ph.D at one of the top-tier schools in the US, or will a UK school be just as "prestigious" and allow for a better chance at getting tenure?