Career Opportunities

The field of Classics encompasses the study of the ancient Mediterranean world, centering on Greece and Rome, but extending to the rest of Europe, North Africa, and the ancient Near East. As the oldest discipline in the liberal arts, Classics is excellent preparation for any occupation or profession, including business, government, law, politics, management, computing, publishing, seminary, medicine, and teaching. The study of Classics is especially valuable for vocations requiring refined analytical and verbal skills. The major also prepares students for graduate work in all areas of classical studies, including language and literature, art and archaeology, ancient history, and museum studies.

Also, there is currently, throughout the United States, a critical shortage of qualified teachers of Latin at the secondary school level. Because teaching at the middle and high school levels in public schools requires a teaching certificate, prospective teachers of Latin should concentrate their studies on the Greek and Latin languages and continue their studies at the Master’s level, either here at the University or elsewhere, in Latin and Classical Humanities. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts does not grant teaching certificates without an M.A. degree or its equivalent. The UMass Amherst Department of Classics offers an M.A.T. in Latin and Classical Humanities.