Summer Great Books Program for High School Students
Late July / Early August, 2011
Students of exceptional ability from around the country
gather on the campus ofThomas Aquinas College with members of the
College faculty as a community of teachers and learners for two
weeks to read and discuss works selected from Plato, Euclid, Sophocles,
Pascal, Boethius, St. Thomas Aquinas and others. Together
with organized recreation and off-campus outings, these two weeks
are an opportunity for forging new friendships, for enjoying the
give and take of rational argument, and for engaging at first-hand
the ideas which civilize, ennoble, and liberate.
"I loved
her and sought her from my youth, and I desired
to take her for my bride, and I became enamored of her
beauty...."
--Book
of Wisdom 8:2
The course is two weeks in length. In the first week, through
Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Antigone and the Crito
of Plato, questions of moral, political and religious authority
are raised. Through Scripture, students ponder the creation and
fall of man, and Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling leads
to a consideration of the right relation between faith and  reason.
J. Henri Fabre, arguing for purpose and order in nature, confronts
those, like some of the pre-Socratic philosophers, who subscribe
to the perennial idea of a Godless universe, purely material and
existing by chance.
The second week begins with Shakespeare’s Macbeth,
which portrays fallen man in all of his imperfection and corruption.
A look at Euclid’s geometry demonstrates intelligibility and
order and the accessibility of mathematical things when they are
understood through their causes. The curriculum concludes with an
examination of Pascal’s famous “wager,” and a reading
of Boethius classic work, The Consolation of Philosophy,
which leads to further consideration of key issues addressed throughout
the program.
Classes are conducted, as all classes at Thomas Aquinas College,
using the Socratic method of discussion. These are guided by full-time
faculty of the College, with no more than seventeen students.
Thomas Aquinas College is genuinely Catholic and has a rich sacramental
life. Mass is celebrated daily, and a chaplain is available on campus
at all times. None of the religious activities are mandatory; non-Catholic
students are welcomed.
 Much
thought is best tempered with rest and play, and the location of
the College is ideal for recreation of all sorts. Besides daily
sports, an occasional movie, and hiking in the hills surrounding
the campus, there are trips planned to Los Angeles to attend a concert
and visit a museum, and to Santa Barbara to enjoy the beach and
the historical sites of the city.
After our inaugural session, the Ventura
County Star newspaper wrote
an article about The Great Books Program for High School Students
at Thomas Aquinas College.
Attending the Summer Program...
Who:
Students who will have completed at least three years of high school
by the summer of 2011. Applications from students who will have
graduated high school but are planning to enter College in the fall
of 2012 will also be considered.
When:
Late July/Early August 2011
Cost:
TBA (approx. $975). Cost includes tuition, housing, meals, books,
and organized activities off campus. Students may wish to bring
spending money for bookstore and gift shop items. Some need-based
aid is available to students who would otherwise be unable to attend.
To apply:
Complete the application
for admission; or, request
additional information about the college. Send a transcript
of high school studies completed thus far and a letter of reference
from a teacher to:
Director of Admissions
Thomas Aquinas College
10,000 North Ojai Road
Santa Paula, CA 93060
Applications to the 2011 Summer Program will be
considered through July 1, 2011.
Applicants are typically informed of the Committee’s
decision within 3 weeks of the date of receipt of the full application
(sooner if accepted later). Please do not hesitate to contact the
Admission Office with any questions: 800-634-9797 or email admissions@thomasaquinas.edu.
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