The Examined Life: The Jesuit tradition demands that students develop critical thinking above all else. Like Socrates, it demands that we walk through life not unexamined-but that we analyze and reflect before and after acting. This tradition of unshakeable discernment is but one way in which Loyola's Department of Classical Studies meets and exceeds the developmental needs of its students. A degree in classical studies lays the foundation for further study or professional work in any field. Law and medicine particularly benefit from the critical and analytical skills imparted by the program, but our students leave with the ability to excel in fields ranging from marketing and film to politics and government. <br>The Classical Studies Major/Minor emphasizes the study of language (ancient Greek and/or Latin), along with courses in the history, philosophy, poetry, art and archaeology of the ancient world. A Classical Studies Major/Minor is meant to give students wishing to build a career in Classics the background they need for teaching careers, entry into graduate school for Classics/Archaeology, work with academic presses/libraries, or organizations dedicated to the preservation of Greco-Roman antiquity. The Classical Civilizations Major/Minor is ideal for students who are fascinated by worlds of ancient Greece and Rome, but are planning for careers in other fields or for entry into graduate school in other disciplines. A Classical Civilizations major/minor may include study of language or may be done completely in English. Classical Civilizations majors/minors receive a strong general background in the ancient world through a selection of courses focuses on topics in archaeology, literature, history, and thought.