To study the literature and culture of Roman antiquity requires excellent language proficiency. For this reason, you will need to have passed the qualifying examination in Latin (Latinum) at the time of your application. If you are not able to prove this through your certificate of higher education entrance qualification, you will have to take the state supplementary examination in Latin before you begin your studies.

You must complete the Graecum by the beginning of the 5th academic semester at the latest. Students usually prepare for the Graecum by taking ancient Greek practice classes in their own time over the course of three semesters. The same requirements apply to proof of proficiency in Greek as to proficiency in Latin.

Additionally, you should be interested in all dimensions of the Latin language (grammar, semantics, translation) and enjoy working with historical sources on Roman history, philosophy, or culture.

This subject is a subject of specialization in the ALPHA (B.A.) degree program. You can also study this subject as a minor within the two-subject bachelor’s degree program.

Program structure

• Understanding philology: Introduction to Classical Philology & Latin Studies
• Expanding your mastery of the Latin language: Translating from Latin to German as well as from German to Latin
• Building an understanding of literature and linguistics: Linguistic and contextual exploration of works of different genres and different periods of Latin literature; reception of Latin literature. The literary content will outweigh the linguistic content in your degree. 
• Ancient Studies content: Ancient History & Archaeology
• Practical content: research-oriented teaching; participation in field trips

Good to know:
The open concept of literature in Classical Philology (the subject of study can be any Latin text, including specialized texts and inscriptions) allows for an overlap with your second subject of study.

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

Between the 3rd and 5th semesters is the best time to go abroad during your Latin degree program.

Internships

This program of study does not include a mandatory internship. However, voluntary internships are a great way to gain insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

As a graduate of the Latin Studies program, you will have acquired a wide range of skills. This includes knowledge of the language, literature, culture, history, politics, and society of the ancient Roman world.

Alongside this specialist knowledge, you will also have acquired research and writing skills, experience in knowledge transfer and scientific communication, as well as intercultural and media competence. This makes you an interesting candidate for employers from a wide variety of professional fields, which primarily require intellectual or cultural skills.

Graduates typically work in the following fields:

• Researching language, culture, and literature (e.g., at universities)
• Education and culture (in association with museums, the theater, adult education, libraries, archives, and foundations of various types)
• Translation (including post-editing machine translations)
• Media and journalism, editorial work, publishing, copy editing, marketing
• Leisure, tourism, and event management

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.