Thomas Aquinas College Campuses

Thomas Aquinas College's California Campus delivers a unified, Great Books-based liberal arts curriculum that emphasizes Socratic discussion, close reading of seminal texts, and hands-on learning. This integrated program spans philosophy, theology, mathematics, natural sciences, literature, history, and languages, fostering intellectual virtue and a pursuit of truth in all disciplines. All students follow the identical four-year sequence, ensuring a communal educational experience without majors or electives.

• First-Year Philosophy: Introduction to logic and ancient philosophy through Plato's dialogues like The Republic and Aristotle's Categories, exploring metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics.
• Theology I: Examination of Sacred Scripture, including the Gospels and Epistles, alongside patristic writings from St. Augustine and St. John Chrysostom, laying foundations for Christian doctrine.
• Mathematics I: Euclidean geometry from Elements, developing deductive reasoning and spatial understanding.
• Natural Sciences I: Classical mechanics via Aristotle and Archimedes, combined with laboratory experiments in kinematics and dynamics.
• Literature I: Ancient epics such as Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Virgil's Aeneid, analyzing themes of heroism, fate, and human nature.
• History I: Ancient and medieval history through Herodotus, Thucydides, and Eusebius, focusing on political and cultural developments.
• Greek I: Fundamentals of ancient Greek to read original philosophical and literary texts.

Subsequent years build progressively: Second-year courses delve into medieval philosophy with St. Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologiae, Trinitarian theology, algebra and trigonometry, astronomy and optics, and works by Sophocles and Shakespeare. Third-year studies include modern philosophy from Descartes to Nietzsche, Christology and sacraments, multivariable calculus, biology and modern physics, 17th-19th century literature like Jane Austen and Dostoevsky, and American political thought via the Federalist Papers. The senior year culminates in ethics, ecclesiology, advanced mathematics like differential equations, organic chemistry, contemporary literature, and constitutional law. Laboratory work complements textual study, promoting empirical inquiry. Language tutorials in Latin and French enhance access to primary sources. This holistic approach, rooted in Catholic intellectual tradition, cultivates wisdom, eloquence, and moral character, preparing graduates for diverse vocations while prioritizing eternal truths. The campus's serene ranch setting enhances contemplative study, with small classes of 20-25 students encouraging deep engagement. Extracurriculars like choirs and athletics complement academics, embodying the College's motto: 'To know and love the truth.' (Word count: 312)

At the New England Campus of Thomas Aquinas College, the curriculum mirrors the California site's Great Books program, offering an identical, rigorous liberal arts education centered on discussion seminars, tutorials, and labs. This cohesive four-year plan integrates philosophy, theology, mathematics, sciences, literature, history, and languages, drawing from the Western canon to pursue wisdom and virtue. No concentrations exist; all students share the same classes, promoting unity and profound dialogue.

• First-Year Philosophy: Foundations in logic and metaphysics via Plato's Apology, Phaedo, and Aristotle's Physics, addressing reality, knowledge, and the soul.
• Theology I: Biblical studies of the Pentateuch, Prophets, and New Testament, with insights from St. Jerome and Origen on divine revelation.
• Mathematics I: Proof-based geometry from Euclid's Elements, honing analytical skills.
• Natural Sciences I: Aristotelian natural philosophy and experimental physics, covering motion, forces, and optics in labs.
• Literature I: Greek tragedies by Aeschylus and Euripides, alongside Ovid's Metamorphoses, exploring tragedy, transformation, and the divine.
• History I: Greco-Roman history through Plutarch's Lives and Livy's History of Rome, examining leadership and empire.
• Latin I: Basic grammar and vocabulary to engage with classical and patristic authors.

Progressing years expand horizons: Second-year philosophy tackles Boethius and Aquinas on being and essence; theology covers the Incarnation via councils and Aquinas; mathematics advances to conic sections and infinite series; sciences include Ptolemaic astronomy and chemical reactions; literature features Dante's Divine Comedy and Chaucer's Canterbury Tales; history surveys Renaissance and Reformation eras. Third-year offerings encompass Kantian critiques, Mariology and liturgy, vector calculus, physiology and electricity, Enlightenment novels by Voltaire and Goethe, and modern political philosophy from Locke to Marx. The capstone year addresses contemporary ethics, eschatology, probability and statistics, quantum mechanics basics, 20th-century works by Eliot and Camus, and international relations. French tutorials aid in reading Descartes and Pascal. Labs emphasize scientific method alongside texts, bridging theory and practice. Grounded in Thomistic principles, this education forms the whole person, equipping students for leadership in church, family, and society. The picturesque Connecticut River Valley location inspires reflection, with intimate class sizes fostering mentorship. Campus life includes liturgical participation, debate clubs, and sports, reinforcing the pursuit of excellence. Graduates emerge articulate, principled thinkers, embodying the College's commitment to truth as reflected in its namesake saint. (Word count: 308)