Humanities Sequence

Our sequence of Humanities Seminars is not very different from similar programs at a number of other institutions, but it takes on new meaning alongside our other sequences and set against the backdrop of our collegiate farm.

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literature
history
scripture
philosophy
theology
politics

Humanities 1: Classical Epic

Fall of Freshman Year

Homer, Virgil, and historical contexts.

Humanities 2:
Christian Epic

Spring of Freshman Year

Dante, Milton, and historical contexts.

Humanities 3:
Hebrew Bible

Fall of Sophomore Year

The Hebrew Bible, Ancient Near Eastern Religion, and historical contexts.

Humanities 4:
New Testament

Spring of Sophomore Year

New Testament, Early Christianity, and historical contexts.

Humanities 5:
Classical Philosophy

Fall of Junior Year

Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, and historical contexts.

Humanities 6:
Christian Theology

Spring of Junior Year

St. Augustine, St. Severinus Boethius, St. Isidore of Seville,
St. Thomas Aquinas, and historical contexts.

Humanities 7:
Early Modern World

Fall of Senior Year

Selections from and historical contexts of representative and influential early-modern authors including Luther, Machiavelli, Cervantes, Shakespeare, Hobbes, and Descartes.

Humanities 8:
Modern World

Spring of Senior Year

Selections from and historical contexts of representative and influential modern authors including Rousseau, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Kant, Alexis de Tocqueville, Darwin, Hawthorne, Melville, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, T. S. Eliot, and Simone Weil.