Summer Great Books Program for High School Students
July 26th through August 8th, 2009
 Students
of exceptional ability from around the country gather on the
campus of Thomas 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 sixteen
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 2009. Applications from students who will have
graduated high school but are planning to enter College in the fall
of 2010 will also be considered.
When:
July 26th through August 8th, 2009
Cost:
Approximately $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.
How to apply:
Complete an 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 Summer Program are considered
on a rolling basis. Applicants are typically informed of the Committee’s
decision within 3 weeks of the date of receipt of the full application.
When the program fills, accepted applicants are placed on a waiting
list. Please contact the Admission Office with any questions.
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