What can I do with this degree?
CLASSICS

AREAS

EDUCATION
  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Administration
  • Student Affairs, such as Study Abroad/Exchange Programs
  • Library and Information Services
EMPLOYERS
  • Universities and colleges
  • Elementary and secondary schools, public and private
  • Professional language schools
STRATEGIES
  • Ph.D. required for college/university teaching
  • Earn graduate degree in college student affairs or library/information science for other university positions
  • Learn certification process for teaching K-12
  • Acquire certification in additional subject area(s) for increased job possibilities
  • Maintain a high GPA and develop strong recommendations from faculty
  • Get involved on campus as a resident assistant, orientation leader, admissions guide, etc.
THE ARTS
  • Administration/Management
  • Archival Work
  • Education
  • Research
  • Translation
  • Museum Work:  Curatorship, Conservation, Restoration
  • Design:  Period, Exhibit, Costume, Set
  • Development/Fundraising
  • Appraisal
EMPLOYERS
  • Museums: public, private, university
  • Art galleries
  • Art councils
  • Historical societies and sites
  • Archives
  • Libraries
  • Public research agencies
  • Private foundations
  • Theatrical companies
STRATEGIES
  • Minor in art history or take other relevant courses
  • Develop excellent writing and verbal skills
  • Acquire computer skills
  • Volunteer or intern in an art or historical museum
  • Earn a graduate degree in museum studies, art history, library/information science or other related field
  • Be prepared to relocate to areas with higher concentrations of art-related employers.
GOVERNMENT
  • Administration
  • Research
  • Policy Analysis
  • Lobbying
  • Program Management
  • Translation
  • Foreign Language Teaching
  • Library/Information Services
EMPLOYERS
  • State and local government
  • Federal government including: State Department, Civil Rights Commission, Education Department, EPA, Federal Trade Commission, Government Printing Office, Health and Human Services, Labor Department, Library of Congress
  • National Labor Relations Board, National Park Service, Departments of Transportation
STRATEGIES
  • Learn federal, state and local job application process
  • Take additional courses in area of interest
  • Gain relavent work experience through government internship programs
  • Earn a master's or professional degree in a relevant field to qualify for the most job opportunities
  • Get involved in campus organizations
  • Develop excellent written and oral communication skills.
NONPROFIT
  • Administration
  • Research
  • Grant Writing
  • Development
  • Programming
EMPLOYERS
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • BR>Social service organizations
  • Churches and religiously affiliated groups
STRATEGIES
  • Volunteer or intern with social service organizations
  • Learn to work well with people of diverse backgrounds
  • Develop excellent communication skills
  • Take a course in grant writing
  • Join a service fraternity or get involved in community service projects.
COMMUNICATIONS
  • Technical Writing
  • Editing
  • Copywriting
  • Journalism
  • Research
  • Translation
EMPLOYERS
  • Publishers
  • Magazines
  • Newspapers
  • TV stations
  • Film companies
  • Internet sites
  • Advertising agencies
STRATEGIES
  • Develop excellent writing and research skills
  • Take courses in applicable areas such as English, technical writing or journalism
  • Gain related work experience by completing an internship.
  • Develop a portfolio of writing samples
  • Write for campus or community newspapers
  • Learn appropriate computer software packages.
BUSINESS/INDUSTRY
  • Customer Service
  • Management
  • Sales
  • Human Resources
  • Public Relations
  • Importing and Exporting
EMPLOYERS
  • Business corporations in various industries such as: Banking, retailing, insurance, financial services, travel and tourism
  • Antique dealerships
STRATEGIES
  • Many businesses hire students of "any major" if they have relevant experience and have developed the skills employers seek
  • Minor in business or another relevant field
  • Obtain related experience through internships, summer and part-time jobs
  • Develop strong computer skills
  • Learn to work well on a team
  • Get involved in campus organizations and seek leadership roles.
LAW
EMPLOYERS
  • Law firms
  • Corporate law departments
STRATEGIES
  • Plan to obtain Juris Doctor degree
  • Maintain a high GPA and prepare for the LSAT
  • Build strong faculty recommendations
  • Participate in mock trial or debate teams
  • Find a part-time job in a law firm or shadow an attorney.
MEDICINE
EMPLOYERS
  • Private practice
  • Hospitals
  • Various government/private agencies
STRATEGIES
  • Sometimes alternative undergraduate degrees are looked upon favorably by medical schools
  • Take applicable prerequisites for medical school and maintain an excellent GPA
  • Volunteer or work in a hospital or medical facility
  • Shadow a physician to gain a solid understanding of the medical field
  • Get involved in campus organizations and take leadership roles.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Study in the Classics develops verbal and analytical skills useful in managerial and executive positions.
  • Classics serves as good preparation for graduate study in law and other highly analytical types of work such as anthropology, history, or English and can serve as preparation for research or practice in religion.
  • An undergraduate degree is sufficient for positions in secondary school teaching and entry-level positions in business and government.  Additional training in a secondary field will expand job horizons.
  • Graduate level studies lead to positions as college teachers, lawyers, or medical doctors.
  • Develop a career goal and then seek the appropriate experiences and skills to qualify for those types of positions.
  • Concentration within the program can be: Latin and Greek, classical literature, classical archaeology, or classical civilization.
  • Develop excellent writing and research skills.
  • Obtain experience through internships, summer or part-time work, or volunteer positions.
  • Experiences such as traveling or studying abroad can contribute to your understanding of the field.

Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (1996, Revised 2002, 2007) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA Employer