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Hello ladies/gents,I would like to introduce myself to you all and ask for a bit of help in mapping out the next few years of my life. I have always loved history, languages, and learning in general but decided to go to college and work in engineering for a few years until I decided that I would probably be happier teaching. I want to return to school, only this time to university and for humanities, but I am not entirely sure about some of the specifics yet. I watch many documentaries and do a lot of reading, mostly history textbooks, classics, and various websites (most lately this one). I have read mostly Tacitus and Suetonius, and a few of the other classics.I would like to eventually move on to teaching, high school preferably as I think I have the right attitude and many years of tutoring experience with that age group. The local university here told me I would be best to focus my studies on canadian history and french, which is in high demands as far as teaching jobs go. However, I am much more inclined to (in this order): ancient history, american history, and thirdly British history. If I were to return to school again, I would not be doing it this time just for the sake of finding a job; I would much rather attend for something that will hopefully enrich me personally and secondly to build a solid foundation on which I can work towards becoming a teacher.Lately I have been trying to teach myself Latin, I already speak English, French, and Spanish fluently. The local university requires learning a second language (to English), so I believe I have that covered, meaning I can free up a lot of units for what I want to learn. My first question is whether I should pursue a major in Classics or in History? What are some of the major differences between both? I am under the impression that Classics focuses mostly on of course the classics and history at this university entails study of Canadian, British, American, or European history. As I have been out of school for many years what should I do to prepare myself for an undergraduate degree that I am not already doing? For those of you that work in teaching, what are your experiences? If I choose to study Greece/Rome which is my preferred period what type of job opportunities aside from teaching are available? When you see these archaeologists on TV in Ephesus, Pompeii, Vindolanda, etc. how do they make a living? i.e. who pays them, how does one apply for a job doing this, and what kind of education is required?Last question: in a 4-year program, how realistic is it to work part-time? Is it anything as intense as an engineering program? I don't live with mommy/daddy any more so the bills need to be paid! My last year of college was pretty intense and I started to rely on scholarships to get by which I barely did.I have already received a lot of help from my local university from the Humanities faculty and have interviewed a couple of very kind professors in their spare time, but I would like to hear different opinions on this choice, because for me this is an important phase of my life and I want to feel more assured that I am making the right decision in a way that would benefit me most. Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
Hello garbanzo! While I will not pretend that I can answer all of your questions, I can address a few.
When you see these archaeologists on TV in Ephesus, Pompeii, Vindolanda, etc. how do they make a living? i.e. who pays them, how does one apply for a job doing this, and what kind of education is required?
I think these are normally scholars with doctorates in their field. They can get paid by their university, or perhaps with aid from a foundation which supports research for X number of months. Andrew Wallace-Hadrill is one of the premiere scholars on the houses of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and he was (still is?) at the British School at Rome.
If I choose to study Greece/Rome which is my preferred period what type of job opportunities aside from teaching are available?
Archaeology is an option, if you are so inclined. This is a separate field from history, though, and if you were to learn it you would become versed in the technical aspects of excavation, preservation, etc. There are digs that you could potentially volunteer to work on during your summers, which would give you some insights into the field. A question I have for you - you state that you would like to teach at the high school level. In your area (Canada, I presume) do high school teachers generally have their own areas of specialization, or are they generalists? If you truly enjoy classical history, as opposed to Canadian history, etc., I would suggest following your heart first and foremost. However, I would try to get a "sub-specialty" as well in something which is more practical in terms of getting you a job. If you do your primary focus in Greek history, for example, you might want to do a secondary focus in something which could help you get your foot into the door at a school.
Garbanzo Ancient History is a hard field to make a living in. The only way you could apply it would be for World Civilization classes at the high school level. You would be better served to major in American or Canadian History (if you live in Canada) and then teach an elective in World Civilization if the school system allows you.
Garbanzo, I can tackle a few questions as well. I also have one or two of my own.To teach, you probably want to major in history, but keep in mind that on order to teach in many States, (I am not sure of Canada) you must have a teaching certificate. A teaching certificate entails Graduate level work. I Texas and Oklahoma, the two states I am sure of, a teaching certificate leaves you 6 hours shy of an MA in Education.You will probably want a general history degree, to teach anything else you would have to get lucky and find a private school to hire you or go to a charter or specialty high school. The benefit of teaching private is that each school sets their own certification standards and many want you to have a degree in what you are teaching and not just an education degree.My own question is if you already have an undergraduate degree why not just take the required undergrad history courses for pre-requisite purposes and pursue a History MA directly? You probably do not need a second BA/BS. It is the graduate level work that will set you up for teaching not undergrad stuff unless you go for an undergrad education degree with a specialty in history or more likely humanities.I considered teaching and decided it was not for me, especially at the public high school level. I do not have the patience to deal with teenagers. It is as much as I can do to keep from strangling my own, I am sure somebody else?s parents would be understandably upset if I strangled their undisciplined little precious.
A teaching certificate entails Graduate level work.
Yep it is similar here, a teacher's certificate is required. I plan to do this in 2 years following the BA. One of the benefits of the History program at my local university is that students are encouraged to focus mainly on 2 areas, so I suppose you and the professor I spoke with are correct in stating that taking, in this case, Canadian history and 1 other would be most beneficial for future prospects. I think I will take the minimum required units in that and put the rest into American history and if I have any leftover units hopefully I can take some courses from the Classics department. I believe the curriculum for public schools in this province have mandatory Canadian history for at least 1 semester, with world history, and possibly American & ancient history being taught only in some schools where they can find somebody with a background in that as well as a demand for that.If that is the case then what does one usually do with a degree in Classics? Does one usually go for the PhD and go straight to teaching in colleges/universities, is it usually taken by aspiring writers? I am a curious type and I don't think I ever really thought about it!Thanks a lot for all the informative answers fellas 🙂
Practically speaking, I dont think you can do much with a degree in Classics unless you have a PhD and even then you are confined to doing academics and research. Not that I think it is a bad thing, I just don't think there are many schools out there that still teach the Classics in any kind of depth. I think that is a crying shame BTW, the Classics are a part of Western Heritage we ignore or forget at our own peril. I read quite a few of the Classics in high school but then, I took four years of Latin and we used many Classics as texts after Sophomore year.
Practically speaking, I dont think you can do much with a degree in Classics unless you have a PhD and even then you are confined to doing academics and research. Not that I think it is a bad thing, I just don't think there are many schools out there that still teach the Classics in any kind of depth. I think that is a crying shame BTW, the Classics are a part of Western Heritage we ignore or forget at our own peril. I read quite a few of the Classics in high school but then, I took four years of Latin and we used many Classics as texts after Sophomore year.
Not unless you are going to teach Latin or Greek.
Maybe we should start a movement to reintroduce the classical Liberal Arts curriculum in Western Schools. Seems to me that that system turned out quite a few bright individuals that made scientific and other discoveries that have made everyday life immeasurably better. I cant think of a single practical application for women's/any other minority or ethnic group studies. I can think of plenty of practical uses for traditional history/humanities and the hard sciences though. There is even a place for traditional philosophy though I personally would get rid of most metaphysics. Metaphysics belongs in the seminary and not a traditional school. I have never understood how it is possible to study the unknowable.
Maybe we should start a movement to reintroduce the classical Liberal Arts curriculum in Western Schools. Seems to me that that system turned out quite a few bright individuals that made scientific and other discoveries that have made everyday life immeasurably better. I cant think of a single practical application for women's/any other minority or ethnic group studies. I can think of plenty of practical uses for traditional history/humanities and the hard sciences though. There is even a place for traditional philosophy though I personally would get rid of most metaphysics. Metaphysics belongs in the seminary and not a traditional school. I have never understood how it is possible to study the unknowable.
How do you know it's unknowable?
Maybe we should start a movement to reintroduce the classical Liberal Arts curriculum in Western Schools. Seems to me that that system turned out quite a few bright individuals that made scientific and other discoveries that have made everyday life immeasurably better. I cant think of a single practical application for women's/any other minority or ethnic group studies. I can think of plenty of practical uses for traditional history/humanities and the hard sciences though. There is even a place for traditional philosophy though I personally would get rid of most metaphysics. Metaphysics belongs in the seminary and not a traditional school. I have never understood how it is possible to study the unknowable.
How do you know it's unknowable?
Navel gazing is not philosophy. Neither is contemplating the sound of one hand clapping. Consider the pot sufficently stirred.
Alright, as perhaps the only philosophy major here, I must interject and take the mic for a moment. ;D I don't think that metaphysics is about the “unknowable”, but about what we can know about the things which are the most true in the universe – reason, knowledge, truth, etc. I would say that metaphysics forms the cornerstone of Western thought, and so should be included in curricula.
Alright, as perhaps the only philosophy major here, I must interject and take the mic for a moment. ;D I don't think that metaphysics is about the "unknowable", but about what we can know about the things which are the most true in the universe - reason, knowledge, truth, etc. I would say that metaphysics forms the cornerstone of Western thought, and so should be included in curricula.
I concur. 🙂
Update:I got accepted today for undergraduate studies... so now I am supposed to select my first year courses from anywhere in Humanities. Apparently I don't have a declared major until my 2nd year from what I heard from some of my advisors. As far as the details go in mapping out exactly which courses I want to take I think I'm going to have to sit down with some of the advising folks. @scout1067: I don't see what harm can come from teaching classics in high schools as a separate course. My high school did not have Latin, philosophy, or anything about antiquity other than a week or so brush-over in world history class, and if it were available I would probably have taken it back then. @Phidippides: I have seen Andrew on a handful of documentaries on Rome. Archaeology work sounds really neat but at the moment the amount of additional years I would have to spend in school doesn't really sound feasible but who knows. For now I think it's just as much fun to watch the experts on TV uncovering the past 😛
