My daughter is considering applying to ND next year as a Classics major. Does anyone know how strong the program is, how many students in a given year are Classics majors (either on its own or as part of a double major with something else) and are there many rockstar Classics professors who could provide research opportunities in freshman/sophomore year?
Thanks!
Bump! Anybody?
Hmm… from what I’ve garnered about ND, it seems to be stronger in the sciences area. Still, I’m sure that their humanities program is good too. When I visited, I did not hear a lot about classics majors, but definitely a lot of biology, engineering, political science, and business. I would suggest also looking into some liberal arts colleges if you haven’t already.
Thanks. I just assumed that the top
Catholic universities would be very strong in Classics, given all of the Latin speakers they have on the faculty!
I don’t know much about the Classics program in general at Notre Dame, but I do know they have an exceptional resource with the Milton V. Anastos Library of Byzantine Civilization. It seems like a big deal.
Thanks. I did not get much response on my thread. Can I assume that Classics is not a very well attended major at UND?
it’s not a particularly big major, but I’m sure if your daughter reached out to a professor in the classics they’d love to talk to them about it.
If your daughter is interested she could consider doing the Program of Liberal Studies major in conjunction with Classics. PLS, as it is known, is a spinoff of the Great Books program started by Mortimer Adler in the 1950’s.
It is a program that starts in the sophomore year and is centered around the Great Books seminar, which involves reading the great texts and discussing/writing about them. The other classes in the major cover Natural Science, Philosophy, Ethics, Politics, etc.
It is phenomenal. I majored in it 30 years ago and with my elective slots I took the requirements to go to med school.
I am now practicing as a surgeon but have been profoundly influenced by the foundation in the Great Books.
Your daughter could use her elective time to do a minor in the Classics if she wished.
Visit the nd.edu website and go the the PLS link and look at the reading lists. You just don’t get this kind of education anymore unless you seek it out.
Thanks. I will look into it.
The program is definitely small, but I’ve only heard good things about it. Notre Dame generally offers great programs in more traditional areas of humanities. I can put you in touch with a recent classics program graduate if you would like more specific information.
Thanks! DD is finalising her college list next month after we do the last (hallelujah!) of the college tours. I have her get in touch directly if ND makes the final cut.
Also, Notre Dame has an outstanding Medieval Studies program, and one of the finest medieval libraries in the country. I think that would pair nicely with a classics major. Plus, they have an outstanding program in Rome, to augment her Classics major.