The major is appropriate for students who seek a rigorous humanities degree; for students who plan to graduate and seek employment in working environments engaged with Greece or Greek affairs in multiple contexts; those students who wish to pursue further graduate work on matters related to Greece.

In light of these goals, a solid foundation in the modern Greek language is a prerequisite for all majors. Furthermore, given that many students will wish to carry over their skills from the interdisciplinary field of Hellenic Studies to graduate programs in more established disciplines, students must develop a concentration in particular disciplinary areas. (It should be noted that the core faculty of the program hold joint appointments with the departments of Classics, Comparative Literature, History, and Politics).?

Work in these areas would indicate to potential graduate departments the prospective student's familiarity with foundational work in the respective field. As a consequence, all students will be expected to complete certain core requirements in the program (language requirements & surveys), and then enroll for electives in their chosen area of concentration.