Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other.

Degree Overview

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other (CIP 16.1299) is a specialized category for advanced philologists and cultural historians who focus on the specialized fringes of the Greco-Roman world and its neighbors. While a standard Classics major focuses on "Golden Age" Latin and Greek, professionals in this "Other" category are "Linguistic Detectives." They study obscure dialects, Late Antique transformations, Papyrology, and the interaction between Classical and non-Classical tongues (like Coptic, Etruscan, or Oscan). It is a path for "intellectual archivists" who want to decode the foundational texts of Western civilization in their most raw and unedited forms.

This field is ideal for "deep-time thinkers"—individuals who enjoy the thrill of translating a 2,000-year-old fragment of pottery or analyzing how the grammar of Ancient Greek changed as it spread across the empires of Alexander the Great.

What Is an "Other" Classics and Classical Linguistics Degree?

A degree in this category is a research-intensive STEM-adjacent path that emphasizes textual criticism, paleography, and comparative Indo-European linguistics. You will study the "Classical Core"—becoming proficient in Greek and Latin—but your upper-level work will move into niche or technical applications. Because this code houses specialized programs, your studies might focus on Digital Classics (using AI to reconstruct texts), Neo-Latin (the language of the Scientific Revolution), or Epigraphy (the study of stone inscriptions). It prepares you to be a "Technical Humanist" who can bridge the gap between ancient data and modern analysis.

Schools offer this degree to:

• Train "Papyrologists" who can physically handle and read fragmented Egyptian papyri written in Greek
• Develop experts in Historical Linguistics, tracking how Proto-Indo-European became the specific dialects of the ancient Mediterranean
• Prepare professionals for Digital Humanities, creating the databases and algorithms that allow global access to ancient texts
• Study Comparative Literature, looking at how ancient themes influenced the languages and laws of the Middle Ages and Renaissance

What Will You Learn?

Students learn that an ancient text is a "biological entity"; it changes over time as it is copied by hand. You focus on the "Science of Transmission" and the precision of the ancient word.

Core Skills You’ll Build

Most students learn to:

• Master Advanced Philology—the study of how languages develop and how words change meaning over centuries
• Use "Critical Apparatus" to compare different surviving versions of a text and determine the original wording
• Design Database Architectures for ancient inscriptions and archaeological finds
• Perform Paleographical Analysis—identifying the date and origin of a manuscript based on the handwriting style
• Utilize Archaeological Context—understanding how a physical object (like a coin or statue) changes the meaning of a text
• Understand Comparative Mythology—tracing shared linguistic and narrative patterns across different ancient cultures

Topics You May Explore

Coursework is a blend of hard linguistics, history, and physical science:

• Epigraphy and Numismatics: Learning to read writing on stone and ancient coins.
• Vulgar Latin and Proto-Romance: Studying how the "street speech" of Rome turned into French, Spanish, and Italian.
• Ancient Science and Medicine: Translating the original technical manuals of Greek and Roman engineers and doctors.
• Indo-European Linguistics: The "math" of language—reconstructing lost prehistoric tongues from their descendants.
• Coptic and Hellenistic Egypt: Exploring the linguistic melting pot where Greek met ancient Egyptian.
• Classical Rhetoric: Mastering the ancient art of persuasion and its influence on modern law and politics.

What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?

Graduates find roles as elite researchers, archivists, and high-level analytical consultants in sectors that value "Deep IQ" and linguistic precision.

Common job roles include:

• Museum Curator/Conservator: Managing and interpreting collections of ancient artifacts and inscriptions.
• Archivist or Rare Book Librarian: Protecting and cataloging ancient and medieval manuscripts for universities or private collections.
• Digital Humanities Specialist: Building the software tools that help researchers analyze millions of lines of ancient text.
• Technical Translator: Providing the linguistic foundation for legal, medical, or theological institutions.
• Intelligence Analyst: Using the "pattern-matching" skills of linguistics to solve modern data puzzles for government agencies.
• Editor or Publisher: Managing the production of high-end academic and historical publications.

Where Can You Work?

Classics specialists are the "guardians of the Western archive":

• Universities and Research Institutes: Leading the next generation of historical and linguistic discovery.
• Global Cultural Institutions: Working for the Smithsonian, the British Museum, or the Vatican Library.
• Auction Houses and Art Law: Verifying the authenticity and provenance of ancient artifacts for firms like Sotheby’s.
• Technology Sector: Assisting in the development of AI for translation and decipherment of damaged texts.
• Think Tanks and Government: Using the study of ancient politics and rhetoric to advise on modern governance and law.

How Much Can You Earn?

While entry-level academic roles vary, the specialized skills in "Digital Humanities" and "Artifact Provenance" lead to high-level compensation.

• Curators and Senior Archivists: Median annual salary of approximately $65,000–$95,000.
• Digital Humanities Leads: Salaries typically range from $85,000 to $115,000+.
• Artifact Authentication Experts: Median annual salary of around $75,000–$120,000.
• Entry-Level Junior Researchers: Often start between $48,000 and $62,000.

Is This Degree Hard?

The difficulty is in the extreme mental discipline and memorization. You must master at least two dead languages with complex grammar systems that have no modern native speakers to help you. It requires a meticulous and patient mindset—you may spend an entire month trying to identify a single word on a charred piece of papyrus. It is a major that rewards those who find joy in "the hunt" for information and who have a deep respect for the physical and digital preservation of history.

Who Should Consider This Degree?

This degree may be a good fit if you:

• Are fascinated by "deciphering" codes, symbols, and ancient scripts
• Enjoyed Latin or Greek in high school and want to take it to a "technical" level
• Love the idea of working in a quiet library or an active archaeological dig
• Want a career that connects the roots of human history with the future of digital data
• Are interested in how the "Big Ideas" (democracy, logic, medicine) were first written down

How to Prepare in High School

• Take as much Latin or Greek as your school offers; they are the required "entry ticket"
• Take AP World History and AP European History to understand the "Map of the Ancient World"
• Practice Logic and Coding; the way you analyze an ancient sentence is very similar to the way you analyze computer code
• Join a Junior Classical League (JCL) or Latin club to connect with other students in the field
• Read about Papyrology and Decipherment (like the story of the Rosetta Stone) to see the field in action

The ability to apply rigorous linguistic logic and historical mastery to the foundational texts of the ancient world is the hallmark of a successful professional in this field.