The knowledge of languages, arts and literature, research methods, history, government, geography, and human behavior gained from a major in Classics form a strong foundation for many careers. Graduates in Classics can pursue careers in teaching, historical preservation, archaeological research, the arts, government, communications, and nonprofit work. Classics is also useful in preparation for law school, medical school, architecture school, and graduate study in languages, literature, education, archeology, and many more fields.
Students may also earn Secondary School Latin Teaching Certification, or may choose to pursue a second major in a closely related field, e.g. anthropology, history, philosophy.
Classics, like most majors, teaches content and skills that can be applied to a wide variety of career fields. This major does not restrict you to a specific field. Following are career fields that may most closely relate to this major. Many of the career areas and job titles below require an advanced degree.
Potential Career Areas:
- Teaching
- Translation
- Communications
- Museum curating
- Archiving
- Research
- Outreach
- Art purchasing
- Law
- Linguistics
Sample Employers:
- Colleges and universities
- Schools
- Museums
- Historical societies
- Theatre companies
- Nonprofit organizations
- Magazines and media
- Legal firms
Sample Job Titles and National Salary Ranges:
| Job Title | Salary Range |
|
Historic Preservationist
|
$25,670 - $54,530
|
|
Foreign Language Teacher
|
$17,700 - $29,800
|
|
Translator/Interpreter
|
$22,900 - $43,300
|
|
Archeologist
|
$31,300 - $54,200
|
|
Curator
|
$27,600 - $48,400
|
|
Archivist
|
$25,500 -$45,200
|
|
Foreign Language/Literature Instructor (Postsecondary)
|
$33,800 - $59,100
|
|
Museum Technician
|
$24,400 - $47,300
|
Sources of Information: United States Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2010); DISCOVER (2011); Facts on File: Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center (2011).