Careers 

To learn more about advanced study and careers for Classical Studies majors, and to see what our alumni/ae have done, please visit the Classics World Careers and Advanced Study page.  

The question is not "what can you do with a Classics degree," but: "what can't you do with a Classics degree?" Strong critical skills and a broad knowledge base prepare students for a variety of life paths.

A degree in Classical Studies offers so much more than just a career path. It offers a life of curiosity and inquiry. Classical Studies majors learn reasoning and analytical skills and how to perfect their grammar and composition skills. Steve Jobs, the late CEO of Apple, Inc., said "I would trade all of my technology for an afternoon with Socrates," in a 2001 article from Newsweek. A Classical Studies major does not simply get you a diploma—it strengthens your problem-solving skills, vocabulary, and logical thinking, and gives you a deep foundation in what it means to be a citizen in your community and country. Here are some life pathways that Classical Studies majors often take.

1. Graduate School (higher education and research)

How about graduate school? Regardless of your area of interest, a study by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences showed Classics majors earning the highest GRE scores of any major (source). If you're looking for a post-baccalaureate, M.A., or Ph.D.  graduate program in the Classical Studies specifically, see the Classics World Advanced Study page.  

2. Latin Teacher

Perhaps teaching is your calling, but at a younger level and without the cost of graduate school. High school Latin teachers are in high demand and only an undergraduate degree in the field is required. Examples of successful DePauw alumni who have transitioned into teaching Latin are Austin Diaz '06, Ashley Brewer '06, Matt Behrensmeyer ’06, and Sara Robertson ’05. The American Classical League and the Southern Teachers Association have many postings for Latin teachers and other resources for students looking to teach the Classics.

3. Museum Curator/Management

Think back to the last time you were in a museum. Was there an exhibit or tour that made you stop and think deeply about the things you were looking at? Would you like to facilitate that experience for someone else? Many Classical Studies majors go on to curate or manage museums around the country. While this career requires the minimum of a Bachelor's degree, it also stresses prior experience in a museum setting. Museum curators, catalogue, plan all collections and exhibits. Museum Management is responsible for coordinating museum tours and overseeing the overall operation of the museum. DePauw alumnae Céline Wachsmuth ’16 and Ashley Ramsey Hannum ’11 both went on to careers in museology.

4. Attorney

If arguing is your cup of tea, you might funnel your Classics Major into Law School. This is exactly what DePauw graduates Jason McElroy '02, Frank Aba-Onu '07, and Mark Webb '07 did. According to the Law School Admissions Council, Classics majors are among the top scorers on the LSAT exam (the median score for Classics was 85th percentile for test takers in 2021 – 2024).

5. Doctor

For medical school, according to Association of American Medical Colleges, students who major or double-major in Classics have a better success rate getting into medical school than do students who concentrate solely in biology, microbiology, and other branches of science (source). Classics majors historically have placed among the top MCAT scores by major (source). More importantly, doctors are not just ‘mechanics’—they are healers who treat complete persons, and Classical Studies prepares students to engage intellectually and emotionally with others in thoughtful and productive ways.

6. Creative Artist

Have you dreamed of inspiring people with the written word? Well, that is exactly what J. K. Rowling did with her Harry Potter series. Rowling was also a Classics major. Several individuals have made the transition from Classics major to author, such as Toni Morrison, Dorothy Sayer, and J. R. R. Tolkien. Studying Homer, Vergil and Hesiod laid the foundation for these great writers and will undoubtedly inspire you. Chris Martin of Coldplay was also a Classics major (first-class honors in Greek and Latin)!

7. Archaeologist

Archaeologists travel the world with their shovels, brushes, and knowledge to uncover mysteries preserved in the physical remains of the past. DePauw professors Rebecca Schindler and Pedar Foss are archaeologists who direct a summer excavation each summer for students in Italy: the Trasimeno Regional Archaeology Project. DePauw graduates Steve Karacic ’07, Sarah Craft ’07, Jessica Tilley ’17, Rebecca Kerns ’19, Caleb O’Brien ’20, and Emilie Prince ‘23 have all become (or are becoming) professional archaeologists.

8. Librarian

Several DePauw students (e.g., Maggie Tresslar ’06, Leigh Plummer, ‘16) have gone into library studies, which is now much more than the cataloguing and management of books—it is the work of information sciences, a critical field in a world where artifical intelligence and misinformation can make it difficult to know what evidentiary sources are reliable. Classical Studies training helps students pay attention to key detail, and discern the significance of that detail and how it fits into larger and more meaningful patterns.

9. Politician/Reformer

Classical Studies can prepare you for a lifetime in politics. James A. Garfield, 20th president of the United States, former Secretary of State James Baker, and former Governor of Massachusetts William Weld all earned Classical Studies degrees. So did Jerry Brown, governor of California and Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson, founding father, author of the Declaration of Independence and 3rd President of the United States, was a scholar of the Classics. Frederick Douglass and W.E.B. Du Bois’ studies of classical authors inspired and informed their arguments for social and political reform.