St. John's College Annapolis Campus offers a distinctive liberal arts education centered on the Great Books program, where students immerse themselves in the foundational texts of Western civilization through small seminar discussions, tutorials, and preceptorials. The curriculum spans four years, progressing from ancient to modern works, fostering critical thinking, dialogue, and intellectual inquiry without lectures or traditional majors.
This rigorous, discussion-based approach cultivates versatile thinkers prepared for diverse careers in law, medicine, business, academia, and public service. With no grades or exams in the traditional sense, assessment occurs through participation and essays, promoting personal growth over competition. The program totals around 1,000 pages of reading per semester, ensuring depth and breadth in humanistic education. Extracurriculars complement academics with music ensembles, sports, and community engagement, all within a close-knit residential community of about 450 students.
At St. John's College Santa Fe Campus, the educational experience mirrors the Annapolis program, emphasizing the Great Books curriculum through interactive seminars, math tutorials, science labs, and language studies. This non-specialized approach encourages students to connect ideas across disciplines, reading primary sources from antiquity to the present in a collaborative environment.
The Santa Fe campus, serving around 400 students, integrates this curriculum with the unique Southwestern landscape, offering hiking, art studios, and cultural excursions. The word-intensive program, averaging 30 books per year, builds eloquent communicators and adaptable graduates for fields like education, tech, nonprofits, and creative industries. Emphasis on community living, with no frats or Greek life, fosters lifelong friendships and ethical reasoning in a supportive, egalitarian setting.
