Ancient history degree overview

Ancient history is the compilation of past events from the beginning of recorded human history to the Early Middle Ages. Historians who study this span of roughly 5,000 years are concerned with the societies, cultures, politics, and intellectual worlds of old civilizations, especially Greece and Rome. In other words, the ancient history discipline is a wide one. Degree programs in the field, therefore, exist at the intersection of ancient languages, philosophy, religion, war, revolution, archaeology, anthropology, and art.

Bachelor’s Degree in Ancient History – Four Year Duration
Bachelor’s programs in ancient history typically include archaeology and language modules and offer students options to study abroad. The language component is often comprised of Latin or ancient Greek and a modern language such as French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, or Japanese. Study abroad may take place for a single semester or an academic year.

Here is a snapshot of the kinds of courses that make up a bachelor’s level ancient history curriculum:

• Ancient History: Sources and Controversies
• Introduction to the Ancient World
• Wonderful Things: World History in 40 Objects
• Ancient Greek Language
• Ancient Greek Philosophy
• Ancient and Medieval Worlds
• Archaeological Methods for Fieldwork and Analysis
• Contemporary Debates and Issues in Archaeology
• From Alexander to Augustus: Leadership in the Ancient World
• Introduction to Ethnography: Food and Culture
• Landscapes and Seascapes of Britain’s Past
• Latin Language
• Literary Transformations
• Society, Culture, and Space
• Ancient Rome: The First Metropolis
• Arabian Nights and Days: The World of the 1001 Nights
• Bones, Bodies, and Burials: Osteology and Comparative Anatomy
• How the Arts Work: A Practical Introduction to Cultural Economics
• Imperial China: From China’s Mythical Emperors to the 19th Century
• Archaeology of Seafaring
• Myth and the Ancient World
• Roman Emperors and Imperial Lives
• The Life and Afterlife of the Vikings
• The Power of Rome: Europe’s First Empire
• A Short History of the Ethics of War
• Emperor Julian and the Last Pagans of Rome
• Framing the Past: Stardom, History, and Heritage in the Cinema
• Iron Age Societies
• Later Anglo-Saxon England
• Living with the Romans: Urbanism in the Roman Empire
• Ancient Egypt: More than Pyramids and Pharaohs
• Presenting the Past: Museums and Heritage
• Sumerian Cuneiform Script: The Oldest Discovered Form of Coherent Writing

Anthropology
Students of anthropology study the evolutionary history of people, how they interact, how they adapt to various environments, how they communicate and socialize with one another, and how their bodies and cultures have changed over time. The field attempts to answer big questions on many of the fundamentals of human culture, from gender to political systems to violence, religion, race, and economics.

Archaeology
The focus of archaeology degree programs is the study of how people lived in the past. Students of this social science learn about the culture and evolution of extinct civilizations. They attend lectures and work in labs and on research projects. They get a sense of archaeology degree jobs by conducting excavations to recover artifacts like tools, clothing, decorations, and ancient ruins.

Art History
Students of art history study the history and development of drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, filmmaking, and architecture.

Biblical Studies
Degree programs in biblical studies help students understand these themes through exploration of scripture. The discipline’s curriculum spans biblical interpretation, teaching, and languages.

Throughout the course of their studies, ancient history students develop a set of valuable and transferable skills:

• Intellectual curiosity
• Critical and creative thinking
• Data collection, assessment, organization, and interpretation
• Ability to identify and solve problems
• Ability to consider and discriminate between opposing theories
• Capacity to deal with complex subject matter
• Oral communication
• Debating skills
• Attention to detail
• Self-discipline
• Capacity to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Time and resource management
• Adaptability
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Patience
• Observational and research skills
• Writing and presentation skills
• Foreign language skills
• Cross-cultural awareness
• Computer literacy
• Numeracy skills
• Knowledge of statistical methods

Ancient history graduates apply their knowledge in several different industries and roles. Below are some of the most common. Some positions may require further education and/or specialized training.

Potential Sectors

• Antiques and Appraising
• Archives and Libraries
• Art Galleries and Collections
• Communications and Media
• Community Development
• Conservation and Restoration
• Culture and Heritage
• Database / Records Management
• Exporting / Importing
• Genealogy Companies
• Historic Sites and Societies
• Museums
• Publishing
• Research and Development
• Teaching
• Tourism