Aquinas: Great Books Program

AQUINAS: GREAT BOOKS gives first-year students the chance to participate in a seminar-style course where students and faculty read and discuss great works of literature, philosophy, and political theory. In Aquinas: Great Books you will be immersed in the history of ideas. The course teaches you how to evaluate complex arguments, and how to develop your own opinions about ethics, law, morality, and art.

TEAM-TEACHING APPROACH

The program is team-taught by three professors from different disciplines. The team-teaching approach in Aquinas means your professors are able to draw connections between subjects. You might study the civil rights movement with your political science professor while reading great works of African American literature with your English professor; or you might study Greek tragedy alongside Greek philosophy.

A CLOSE-KNIT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Aquinas sections are typically made up of 25-30 students — a good size for class discussion. It’s not uncommon for Aquinas classes to have two or three professors in the room at the same time. Professors work hard to foster a close-knit learning community where students have ample opportunities to participate and share ideas with their peers.

HOW IT WORKS

Aquinas: Great Books is made up of three individual first-year courses (English, Political Science, Philosophy). The three courses are linked. All three courses take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the professors for each course collaborate on a syllabus. Students who take Aquinas will receive first-year credits in English, Political Science, and Philosophy. First-year students registering for Aquinas should also register for two other courses (ideally on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday).

COURSES

Students interested in Aquinas: Great Books must register for all three courses: 

AQGB- EN 1006 Introduction to Literature
AQGB- PH 1006 Intro to Western Philosophy
AQGB- PO 1006 Intro to Political Science

 
As an alternative, students might consider Great Books 1006: Great Thinkers and Writers.
 
GRBK 1006: Great Thinkers and Writers
Great Books 1006 allows students to explore the history of ideas in a more conventional first-year course. The course is team-taught by two professors and focuses on great texts from the ancient world to the modern day.

Laura Rea, BA '22
Huntsville, ON

“Aquinas was definitely my favourite class of first year and one of my favourite experiences overall. If you have an interest in reading, thinking, and discussion this will be an incredible class for you.”

Learn more about Aquinas