PLEASE NOTE: Students applying for Fall 2027, the plan of study for the World Languages and Cultures BA concentration is still being finalized, but it is expected to closely resemble the current Classical Studies plan of study, which provides a helpful preview of the curriculum. 

Classics is the original interdisciplinary major. It explores the languages, literature, history, and cultures of Ancient Greece and Rome, as well as the broader ancient world. Three tracks available: Classical Languages, Literature and Culture, or Material Culture and History

Our majors and minors have the freedom to explore archaeology, history, politics, rhetoric, religion, magic, science, philosophy and mythology. And through the study of the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, they significantly enhance their vocabulary and verbal reasoning skills.

This broader course of study rewards curiosity and cultivates mental flexibility. Through close engagement with ancient texts and artifacts as well as timeless questions about justice, power, and human purpose, Classics students are equipped to bring the long view to bear on the ever-changing present.

To help students develop their own interests, we offer a choice of three tracks: Classical languages (Latin and Ancient Greek), literature and culture, or material culture and history. These tracks help students steer their way through a rich variety of interdisciplinary offerings.

The program also offers teaching of Latin under the Classical Studies: World Languages Teaching Concentration, BA

• For information about careers in Latin teaching at the middle and high school level, you may visit the American Classical League and Society for Classical Studies websites. Please also contact the Program Coordinator for World Language Education, Melinda White.

Careers

Classics majors have traditionally had a wide range of career options open to them, spanning various fields, including accounting, banking, business, communications, computer science, film, journalism, law, library science, marketing, medicine, museum work, religious studies and ministry, social work, and more.

A recent Oxford study of college graduates from 2000-2019 finds that humanities majors “successfully and flexibly” navigate the job market by “choosing their career pathways based on their own interests and ambitions.” They not only exhibit excellent “communication skills and creativity,” they also excel in “multi-disciplinary teams,” and are quite good at “avoiding ‘groupthink’”. These traits of versatility, creativity, interdisciplinarity, and independent thought are valuable in most jobs and increasingly desirable in a rapidly changing world.

When it comes to pursuing higher degrees, Classics majors top the charts in their performance on the LSAT, MCAT, and GRE.

• A study by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences showed Classics majors earning the highest GRE scores of any major.
• A study from the Association of American Medical Colleges found that students who majored or double-majored in Classics had a better success rate in entry into medical school than those who majored solely in biology, microbiology, or other scientific fields 
• According to the Law School Admissions Council, the median score for Classics majors on the LSAT has landed on the 85th percentile for test takers in 2021 – 2024. As the Council advises its members, “It is proper to prefer students who have taken courses such as those that develop skills in both written and oral communications, develop analytical and problem-solving skills, or promote familiarity with the humanities and social sciences to understand the human condition and the social context in which legal problems arise.” 

Beyond the classroom

Our department is home to a vibrant Classics community that consists of undergraduates and faculty passionate about the role that ancient history has played and continues to play in human history.

Anyone curious about Classics is welcome to reach out to any of our faculty members. And all are welcome to attend the department’s ‘CommuniTea’ events – our monthly gatherings organized around fun and pertinent topics related to the ancient world. Past topics have included ‘comedy workshop,’ ‘DIY ancient curse tablets’ and ‘Hadestown special: Orpheus revisited.’ Each semester culminates with a special CommuniTea (‘Saturnalia’ in the fall and ‘Convivium’ in the spring), at which students perform their own classically themed poetry and rhetoric, present their research, and enjoy a bevy of baked goods – some even based on ancient recipes.

Purdue Classics Club: Eta Sigma Phi- is an organization that focuses on giving students who are interested in Classical Studies the opportunity to connect with each other as well as Purdue's Classical Studies department. Eta Sigma Phi is the national honorary collegiate society for students of Latin and/or Greek. Any student interested in the ancient world is welcome. 

Graduate Work

If you are interested in pursuing graduate work in Classical Archaeology, Ancient History, or Classics per se, please meet with a Classics faculty member early in your Purdue career, so that a suitable plan of study may be tailored to your needs. Students must study Latin and Greek beyond the minimum required for completion of the Classical Languages track in order to pursue graduate work in Classics.

Language Placement

If you are interested in majoring or minoring in Classics, we offer a choice of three tracks emphasizing Classical languages: Latin and Ancient Greek, literature and culture, or material culture and history. If you have taken Latin before, and are interested in continuing Latin and achieved a Latin AP score of 2, 3, 4, or 5, please get in touch with the Latin coordinator, Professor Daniel Conner, to discuss the most suitable course options for you in the coming year.

For information about the college credit you receive at Purdue for Latin AP scores of 3, 4, or 5, please see the Admissions website. If you don't have an AP score, please take the Latin placement test.