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Prospective Students

Students at Purdue may pursue Majors or Minors in Classical Studies at the undergraduate level. This rich interdisciplinary field explores all aspects of ancient Greek and Roman life and thought.

We also study the impact of Classical cultures on the world today, and compare Greek and Roman civilization - history, society, literature, science, religion, mythology - with other ancient world cultures.

To help students develop their own interests, we offer a choice of three tracks emphasizing Classical languages (Latin and ancient Greek), literature and culture, or material culture and history.

Latin Placement Information
A Latin AP 3 score places a student into LATN 201, and earns 6 placement credits (LATN 101, 102) on successful completion of LATN 201.

A Latin AP 4 score places a student into LATN 202, and earns 9 placement credits (LATN 101, 102, 201) on successful completion of LATN 202.

A Latin AP 5 score places a student into any 300- or 400-level LATN course, and earns 12 placement credits (LATN 101, 102, 201, 202) on successful completion of that course.

If you don't have an AP score, please take the Latin placement test http://www.cla.purdue.edu/slc/main/news/Language_Placement_Testing.html. 

Placement credits from the test are awarded on successful completion of the course you place into. So, for example, if you place into Latin 201 and successfully complete that course, you will receive not only your 3 credits from Latin 201, but also 6 placement test credits for Latin 101 and 102. 

If you are uncertain about which level in Latin or Greek is appropriate for you, or would like any other information, please consult the co-ordinators: asyson@purdue.edu for Latin (Prof. Antonia Syson), and kdickson@purdue.edu for Greek (Prof. Keith Dickson). We are a small and friendly program, so a bit of flexibility is sometimes possible.

Latin and Greek 101 and 201 are taught each Fall, with the 102 and 202 courses following each Spring.

The first three semesters of the Latin and Greek sequence (101, 102, and 201) present core grammar, vocabulary, and approaches to reading and translation (including rhetoric, style, and cultural context); the fourth semester (202) develops reading skills in preparation for upper level courses (any course at the 300 or 400 level).

Careers for Classics majors
A degree in Classics prepares students for an unusually wide variety of careers. As an inherently interdisciplinary field, Classics demands both analytical depth and intellectual versatility. Exploring ancient cultures from diverse perspectives challenges students to connect different areas of knowledge. Studies have shown that this training will equip you to succeed in such careers as education, law, business, management, the arts, and many other fields.

Important note:
If you wish to pursue a PhD in Classics, we strongly recommend that you study Latin and Greek well beyond the minimum level required for completing the Classical Languages track.

If you are considering graduate work in Classics, classical archaeology, or ancient history, please discuss your plans with Classics faculty members as early as possible, so that we can help you devise a suitable plan of study.

For information about careers in middle and high school teaching, please visit the American Philological Association and American Classical League websites.

For more information, questions or to visit the College of Liberal Arts, contact the College of Liberal Arts Student Recruitment Office at 765-494-6291 or email newstudent@purdue.edu.

For private school job listings in Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, Louisiana and Alabama, click here.

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