Programs in classical languages and literature focus on the spoken and written traditions of ancient Greece and Rome. Students learn Greek and Latin from their earliest development through the fall of the Roman Empire. They study how words began and languages developed throughout the period. They also study dialects, stories, myths, and writings.

Ancient Greece and Rome are more present in our modern language and customs than we sometimes realize. For example, Cupid is Rome's version of Eros, the Greek god of romantic love. His is an extensive story in classical myth. And when the British say "By Jove!", they are swearing by the classical immortal father god of Greece and Rome, known as Jove and Jupiter. New M.D.s take the "Hippocratic oath" which is based on a text written by the Greek father of medicine, Hippocrates. And most people know the names Aristotle, Homer, Plato, Socrates, Sophocles, and Cicero, just to name a few!

In classical languages and literature programs, you study ancient civilizations that are the foundation for the Western world. This means you take courses in history, archeology, mythology, and anthropology. You also study how to read and write classical languages (Greek and Latin). You read famous texts of literature and philosophy, such as Plato's "Republic," Homer's "The Odyssey," and Aeschylus' "Agamemnon." Some courses require you to read these texts in the original version.

Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in classical languages and literature. Some two-year colleges offer the first two years of study. Students can often transfer these credits to a four-year school. Master's degrees typically take five or six years of full-time study after high school. Doctoral degree programs typically take three to five years after the master's degree. Most people with graduate degrees become professors.

Students who major in classics and classical languages may choose concentrations such as:

• Folklore and Myth
• Greek or Latin Language
• Linguistics
• Literary Criticism
• Greek or Latin Literature
• Political History of Greece and Rome