Many students find their introduction to philosophy through the Search or Life programs. In Search, philosophical texts are an integral part of the curriculum, playing especially important roles in defining the intellectual life of the Greeks, Romans, and Christians (in the first year), and of the moderns, Germans, and existentialist thinkers (in the second year). In Life, individual philosophy courses (e.g., Medieval Philosophy, Early Modern Philosophy, and Ethics) may be taken to complete requirements for the second year. The mission of the department is defined as follows: