Anita Rée, Orpheus with animals

Why DAGRS?

At the Department of Ancient Greek and Roman Studies (DAGRS), we combine the resources of a world-class research university with the supportive, close-knit environment of a small academic department.

Whether you are passionate about ancient history and literature or seeking a versatile humanities major that cultivates elite critical-thinking skills, DAGRS offers an extraordinary undergraduate experience.

🏆 Voted #1 on Campus for Student Experience

In the UC Undergraduate Experience Survey (UCUES), DAGRS majors voted our department #1 at UC Berkeley across multiple categories. Our students gave us the campus-wide highest marks for:

  • ⭐ Overall Academic Experience
  • ⭐ Overall Social Experience
  • ⭐ Quality of Faculty Instruction
  • ⭐ Faculty Accessibility Outside of Class
  • ⭐ Department Staff Advising
  • ⭐ Sense of Belonging at UC Berkeley

🏛️ Explore Ancient Worlds with Freedom & Flexibility

Studying the ancient Mediterranean offers a powerful lens for examining historical systems of power, artistic creation, philosophy, and governance across ancient societies. Our program gives you the flexibility to design a degree tailored to your specific passions:

  • Diverse Course Offerings: Explore an array of courses spanning ancient philosophy, archaeology, history, religion, and literature, as well as full language tracks in ancient Greek and Latin.
  • Accessible World-Class Scholars: Learn directly from world-renowned faculty in every setting, from introductory lectures like Introduction to Ancient Greece to specialized upper-division seminars like The History of Hell.
  • The "Homey" Advantage: Enjoy the rare balance of top-tier research opportunities, museum collections, and academic resources paired with a warm, accessible, and friendly departmental environment.

💼 Launch a Diverse & High-Impact Career

Through the study of ancient cultures, DAGRS majors master analytical writing, complex problem-solving, and persuasive argumentation. Graduates apply this versatile training to build careers across business, law, technology, healthcare, education, and the creative sector.

Where Our Recent Alumni Work:

  • Business & Finance: Investment Associate at a hedge fund, Senior Research Analyst at The Nielsen Company, Manager of Administration for an NHL team
  • Tech & Engineering: Civil Engineer, Operations & E-Commerce Manager (Gilt)
  • Education & Cultural Institutions: Curatorial Assistant at a major collection, High School Librarian, Preschool Teacher
  • Graduate & Professional School: Law, public policy, medicine, and academic research