<p>I use to go to a high school in which Latin was a mandatory course all 4 years, but because I was an idiot I left the first quarter of 9th grade and never took Latin (something I regret so much).</p>
<p>Now I wish to learn a classical language.</p>
<p>Could I major in Latin if I never took it in high school? How much would I actually learn in 4 years starting as a beginner? How about if I double major?</p>
<p>I feel your pain. I was very disappointed when my high school stopped offering Latin III (darn Catholic church started doing mass in English). It really depends on your goals in life. If you want a job out of college, a major in Latin is not going to do it. If you want to have a more practical discipline, a minor in Latin might be a nice way to go. </p>
<p>Latin would be more for personal enrichment, I don’t know how much would I actually learn if I minor in it. </p>
<p>Yes, you certainly can major in Latin, even if you are studying it for the first time in college. You also can include Latin as part of a double major or major-minor combination. A second major doesn’t need to be directly related to your other major. Many students study Latin for personal enrichment or cultural reasons. Many Classics departments also offer a major in Classical Civilization, which does not emphasize language study, or at most, requires only a year or two of a classical language, though more is recommended. For several other majors, Latin is a useful language to know (e.g., English, Linguistics, Romance languages, Philosophy, Rhetoric, Art History, Religious Studies, Music, History).</p>
<p>The personal enrichment did not escape me. The minor will get you started. Personal enrichment is a lifelong pursuit. There is no reason you can’t have a few semesters of the language then read Cicero after you graduate. </p>
<p>I would say to take the basic Latin courses and see how you like it first. You don’t need to major in Latin to study it on the side for personal enrichment, like you said.</p>