Classical Languages

back to Careers & KU Majors

The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences offers a BA, BGS, and Minor, as well as a MA in Classical Languages. The Classical Languages major trains you to read the great authors of Classical antiquity (e.g., Homer, Plato, Vergil, Sappho, Saint Augustine) in the original language and prepares you for graduate study in Classics and for teaching in some private schools. You might also combine your classical language interest with a degree in the School of Education. A degree in education with a Latin major allows you to teach Latin in public high schools.

Classics Department website

Sample of Related Skills

• Read and comprehend works of poetry and prose in their original language(s) from all periods of classical antiquity 
• Know how to place these texts in their literary, social, and historical context 
• Demonstrate broad understanding of the history and culture of the ancient world 
• Describe and discuss the grammatical, rhetorical and stylistic features of Latin and Greek texts as well as the way these features shape the ideas in these texts 
• Use linguistic analysis in the historical, philosophical and theological interpretation of Greek and Latin texts 

Popular Career Paths

Archeology: Involves the analysis of past civilizations by uncovering and studying artifacts and architecture to gain knowledge about the way people lived in the past.

Government: Involves understanding and participating in the development of public policy to guide the well-being of citizens and societies, whether at a city, state, or federal level.

Law: Involves providing legal services for clients that may include things such as advising them of their rights, analyzing or writing legal documents, or defending them from lawsuits.

Literary Editing: Involves proofreading and providing feedback and reviews on written material such as books, newspaper or magazine articles.

Museum Work: Involves the planning and overseeing the arrangements, cataloging, and exhibition of collections of arts and historic objects.

Teaching: Involves facilitating students learning by developing lesson plans, providing instruction, and creating a learning environment.

Jobs to Consider

Places to Seek Employment

View specific employers by state.

Employment Strategies

1. Choose your area of focus (i.e., culture or languages) and then become familiar with the required professional qualifications (i.e., advanced degrees, licensure and/or certifications)
2. Gain direct experience within the areas that interest you most through research projects, independent study, internships, part-time jobs, student organization involvement, or volunteering
3. Register for HireJayhawks.com and subscribe to the Internship Newsletter to receive automated weekly emails with specific internship information
4. Consider joining a professional organization related to your area of interest and, if possible, attend local and/or regional conferences to make connections with professionals working in your field
5. Practice interviewing on your own or by conducting a mock interview at the University Career Center. List of practice questions: general interview (pdf), law school (pdf)
6. Consider traveling or doing a study abroad experience in Italy or Greece
7. Maintain a strong GPA if you are considering pursuing graduate or professional school
8. Consider getting involved with a student organization at KU related to your area of interest, such as: The Classics Club

Job and Internship Search Resources

• American Classical League - Resources and job postings by state for teaching Classical Greek and Latin
• American Library Association  - Career information and job listings for libraries 
• American Philological Association - A listing of jobs for classicists and archeologists
• Archeological Institute of America - Find opportunities for fieldwork through the AIA
• Archeology Fieldwork.com - A listing of archeology fieldwork jobs
• Association of Art Museum Curators - A comprehensive list of art museums across America
• Careers for Classicists - Information on career opportunities for Classics majors
• Society of American Archivists - Job listings with the SAA