Prospective Students

Classics offers a wide range of courses on ancient history, literature, archeology, culture, and society, as well as courses on the Ancient Greek and Latin languages. On our website, you can find more information about Careers for Classics majors, Undergraduate Requirements for obtaining a major or minor, as well as a list of the Courses we offer.

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.

Here are some remarks from recent Classic graduates about their major:

The Purdue classics department provided me with a strong foundation in classical languages and prepared me well for graduate school. My relationships with professors and classmates helped me to succeed in my career path and gave me a meaningful experience during my time at Purdue. I’m very grateful for my experience here and the opportunities that were made possible through it!

—Anna Maria Wiljer ('21) received her MLIS from Catholic University.

I've always loved ancient history, but the Classics department at Purdue gave me a space where I felt a real sense of belonging and community. My time with the department also made me consider how the ancient world continues to influence modern society, which has had a major impact on me both professionally and personally.

—Jacob Muller ('22) is pursing his MLIS at IU Bloomington.

I graduated with my Classics degree in 2022, and I couldn't have enough nice things to say about my experience. Of all the professors I had while at Purdue, my Classics professors taught with an unmatched level of care and passion. It is what made me fall in love with the classics and propelled me to further my education.

— Joe Bertsch ('22) is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Library Science at IU, specializing in rare books and manuscripts.

I originally took Latin 201 to fulfill a credit requirement for my major, but I ended up enjoying it so much that I took Latin 202 the following semester just for fun. The Classics department made it easy for me to explore my interests outside of STEM, and I enjoyed not only the class but also the students and professors.

— Sam Bendekovic ('25) will be pursuing a Master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue.

While my time studying Latin and Classics at Purdue was brief, it was nothing short of extraordinary. I've been gifted a passion that I hope to carry beyond graduation.

— Himanshu Sinha ('25) will be heading to Denver where he will begin work as a software developer. He plans to continue studying Latin using Lingua Latina.