What can I do with a classics degree?

The short answer is: just about anything. Given the great range and depth of knowledge required of the field—language, culture, philosophy, history—the study of classics at UVM leaves students very well prepared to lead fulfilling, informed lives and to pursue a variety of fruitful careers.

Many UVM classics majors go on to graduate study in classics, philosophy, comparative literature, history, art history, or medieval studies; others enter the professions of law, business, or medicine; still others are employed immediately in secondary education, museums, publishing houses, journalism, and a wide range of business endeavors. But because of the broad interdisciplinary focus of the College of Arts and Sciences curriculum, classics majors are equipped with a broad range of transferable skills, enabling them to succeed in any profession.

Classics majors tend to be successful because they master grammar and syntax, expand their vocabulary, and learn intellectual rigor, communication skills, and analytical skills. They also possess the ability to handle complex information, and, above all, a breadth of view which few other disciplines can provide. 

  • Peyton Ashley

    Classics Background Leads to Education Career

    Peyton Ashley ’19 developed an early interest in classical civilization, in large part due to her mom who home schooled her children before returning to the classroom as an English and history teacher.

    “Each one of my siblings chose a time period in history that was most interesting to them, and my mom would read to us or give us books,” she said. “For me it was ancient history, especially classical architecture and mythology.”

    She learned about UVM from a friend who had visited the school and encouraged Ashley to apply.

    “I declared classics as a major and then added anthropology later in sophomore year after taking a really interesting cultural anthropology class,” she said. “I was interested in how the two disciplines supported each other—I was committed to learning about other countries and exploring different definitions of civilization.”

    Read more of Peyton's story

A degree of difference

Graduates from the department routinely go on to advanced study in the classics or related fields. A small sample of these institutions include:

Duke University
Cornell University
Florida State University
Indiana University
Johns Hopkins University
New York University
Oxford University
Princeton University
University of Cal. Berkeley
University College of Dublin
University College of London
University of Chicago
Yale University