The Collegium is a Faithful, Affordable, and Traditional Liberal Arts College Located in Kansas City, MO
The Collegium is a unique liberal arts college, offering a fully traditional curriculum and formation, charging no tuition, and integrating a liberal arts curriculum with a dynamic work program.
Edward Schaefer, president of The Collegium will be available in the courtyard after the Sunday morning Masses on Sunday, March 8.
To find out more about The Collegium, go to www.the-collegium.org to register for an information session.
Faithful
The Collegium is an independent institution of higher learning that pledges full fidelity to the unchanging Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
Affordable
The Collegium has developed a model, rethinking higher education from the ground up with a view toward affordability and long-term sustainability.
We charge students no tuition or instruction-related fees.
Traditional
The Collegium’s curriculum is foundational to our mission to impart the knowledge of God, that He might be loved and served in this world. We have a set, integrated, cohesive curriculum of theology, philosophy, history, English, literature, logic, rhetoric, Latin, math, science, music and art.
Our mission is built on four pillars: Latin Mass and Divine Office, a traditional Catholic curriculum, a unique student work program, and a close-knit community. Learn more →
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Subtotal of Basic Costs - 13,500-$14,520 (depending on utilities, internet, and laundry)
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Art 301 – Classical and Byzantine Art (3 credits)
Surveys various forms of art that develop Christian themes and imagery. Students will explore how early Christian art drew from and yet differentiated itself from its classical Greek and Roman art, how art adorned everything from sarcophagi, to buildings, to paintings, icons, statues, furnishings, vestments and more. In addition, students will study how Eastern and Western philosophies about art resulted in very different paths of development.
Art 401 – Medieval to Baroque Art (3 credits)
Surveys various forms of art that develop Christian themes and imagery from about AD 500 to about AD 1750. Students will study great art works of various genres, including architecture, in both Eastern and Western traditions, as well as the philosophies and events that shaped their development.
CAT 101 – The Mass and Divine Office (1 credit)
Studies the history, structure, and theology of the Mass and the Divine Office.
CAT 301 – Apologetics and Externals of the Catholic Faith (1 credit)
Addresses the Externals of the Catholic faith, vocations and apologetics, and explores the exercise of Tradition. Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission.
ECON 201: Economics: A Catholic Perspective
Introduces the fundamental principles of microeconomics, the study of individual economic decisions, within a Catholic perspective. It explores how individuals, businesses, and governments make choices in a market economy. The course will examine topics such as supply and demand, elasticity, consumer and producer theory, market structures, and government intervention. Including Catholic social teaching, and the understanding that economics is a practical science, the course will also examine neoclassical economic theories alongside distributist traditions, evaluating market situations within the framework of justice and human flourishing.
HUM 101 – Ancient Greece (3 credits)
Traces Greek history from the development of Greek civilization as manifested in political, intellectual, and creative achievements from the Bronze Age to the end of the classical period. Students read original sources in translation as well as the works of modern scholars.
HUM 102 – Ancient Rome (3 credits)
Traces the history of Rome from its beginnings to the 5th century A.D. The first half covers Kingship to Republican form; the conquest of Italy; Roman expansion: Pyrrhus, Punic Wars and provinces; classes, courts, and the Roman revolution; Augustus and the formation of empire. The second half covers Virgil to the Vandals; major social, economic, political and religious trends at Rome and in the provinces. The development of the Church in Rome will be a constant theme throughout the course.
HUM 201 – Middle Ages (AD 284-1300) (3 credits)
Explores developments in the political, social, and religious history of Western Europe from the accession of Diocletian to the feudal transformation, then the political, military, religious, social, economic, and cultural history of Europe in the high and late Middle Ages. Topics include the conversion of Europe to Christianity, the fall of the Roman Empire, the rise of Islam and the Arabs, the “Dark Ages,” Charlemagne and the Carolingian renaissance, the Viking and Hungarian invasions, the Crusades, the Black Death, the rise of centralized governments, the growth of towns, and their long-term effects on European society. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission.
HUM 301 – Renaissance (AD 1300-1600)
This course offers an in-depth exploration of the Renaissance and Reformation through the lens of Catholic thought and influence. It examines the cultural, intellectual, and theological movements that marked the European Renaissance, highlighting the Church’s pivotal role in the arts, philosophy, and sciences during this era. The course also provides a critical analysis of the Reformation, focusing on the Catholic Church’s responses, including the Counter-Reformation and the Council of Trent. Students will engage with texts, works of art, and key figures to understand how these movements shaped European history and the enduring legacy of Catholicism and Western civilization. Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission.
HUM 302 – Enlightenment and Americanism (3 credits)
This course guides students through the Enlightenment era, a transformative period that reshaped European thought and laid the groundwork for modern intellectual and political landscapes. Students will explore the philosophical, scientific, and cultural advancements that defined the “Age of Reason,” focusing on key figures such as Bacon, Descartes, Locke, and Pascal. The course will trace the influence of Enlightenment ideals on the intellectual atmosphere of the modern world, examining how these ideas inspired revolutionary movements and shaped the foundational principles of Americanism, while also considering the Catholic Church’s responses and adaptations to these shifts. Special emphasis will be placed on the interplay between Enlightenment thinkers and their intellectual predecessors in medieval Catholic Europe, highlighting areas of convergence and contention. Through engagement with primary texts, historical analysis, and critical discussion, students will gain an understanding of how Enlightenment thought fostered radically new conceptions of knowledge, human society, and the role of government which continue to underpin contemporary society. Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission.
LAT 101 – Elementary Latin I (3 credits)
Introduces Latin as a spoken and written language. Students study the fundamentals of grammar, vocabulary, ecclesiastical pronunciation, elementary vocal expression and dialogues, and reading comprehension.
LAT 102 – Elementary Latin II (3 credits)
Continues all the topics of LAT 101. Students will complete the fundamentals of grammar in this semester and will develop an adequate vocabulary to understand all the common parts of the Mass. Prerequisite: LAT 101 or permission.
LAT 201 – Intermediate Latin I (3 credits)
Continues to develop fluency with spoken Latin and begins readings in Latin prose, such as Julius Caesar’s Gallic Wars. Prerequisite: LAT 102 or permission.
LAT 202 – Intermediate Lain II (3 credits)
Continues to develop fluency with spoken Latin, readings in Latin prose, and introduces classical Latin poetry. Prerequisite: LAT 201 or permission.
LAT 301 – Advanced Latin I (3 credits)
Continues to develop fluency with spoken Latin, and more advanced readings in Latin prose, and Latin poetry, including Latin hymns and Psalms. Prerequisite: LAT 202 or permission.
LAT 302 – Advanced Latin II (3 credits)
Continues to develop fluency with spoken Latin, and more advanced readings in Latin prose, and Latin poetry, including Latin hymns and Psalms. By the end of this semester students will develop an adequate vocabulary to understand all the Psalms, hymns, readings, and orations of Lauds and Vespers. Prerequisite: LAT 301 or permission.
LAT 401 – Advanced Latin III (3 credits)
Continues to develop fluency with spoken Latin, advanced readings in Latin prose and Latin poetry, and introduces scriptural and theological readings in Latin. Prerequisite: LAT 302 or permission.
LAT 402 – Advanced Latin IV (3 credits)
Continues to develop fluency with spoken Latin, advanced readings in Latin prose and Latin poetry, and scriptural and theological readings in Latin. Prerequisite: LAT 401 or permission.
MTH 102 – Philosophy of Math
This course will introduce students to the philosophy of mathematics through a
survey of significant developments in the history of mathematics along with the philosophical theorizing that accompanied them. Questions we will ask are: What is mathematics? What objects (if any) does it study? How do we come to have knowledge of mathematics? How does mathematics get applied in natural science and the physical world? What is the role of logic, proof and visualization in mathematics? And how can thinking about mathematics give us insight into the nature of beauty, God, the soul and fundamental reality? Primary authors will include Plato, Aristotle, Euclid, Augustine, Descartes, Locke, Hume, Kant, Frege, and Russell. Examples will be drawn from geometry, trigonometry, logic, arithmetic, algebra, calculus, statistics, probability, set theory, and number theory.
However, this course presupposes only minimal prior familiarity with mathematics (basic high school algebra), and no prior background in philosophy.
MTH 202 – Math Applications: Intro to Programming (3 credits)
Computers are instruction-following machines, and in order to take advantage of the computational power they provide, we need to learn how to structure problems and develop programs for them to follow. This course blends some computer science theory with a practical introduction to software development in a popular programming language (Python). While learning to code, we will implement algorithmic solutions to many of the classic computing problems, such as root finding, searching/sorting, knapsack problems, and graph optimization, using a variety of techniques. The last part of the semester is reserved to study special applications of computing in our times, such as: computer graphics, machine learning and AI, etc.
MTH 401 – Statistics (3 credits)
Acquaints students with the techniques of elementary statistics. Emphasizes computation and interpretation of data. Topics include calculation and graphing methods, measures of central tendency, measures of variation, measures of association and correlation; sampling and hypothesis testing. Prerequisite: Senior standing or permission.
MUS 101 – Music History I (3 credits)
Studies the Greek precursory terminology to Medieval modal terminology, the Medieval Octoechos, Carolingian chant, and especially Carolingian notation. Students will attempt to infuse the interpretive nuances indicated in early notation into contemporary chant performance. Students will also learn the musical part of the Mass and the Divine Office.
MUS 201 – Music History II (3 credits)
Surveys the development of music in the Catholic Church in three significant periods of reform: the reforms of Pope John XXII (13th century), the reforms of the Council of Trent (16th century), and the reforms of Pope Benedict XIV (18th century), the reforms of Pope Pius X and his immediate successors (first half of 10th century), and the reforms of the Vatican Council II (second half of the 20th century). Students will examine in each period the reason for reform, the actual reforms, and their results. In addition, students will come to know many of the great musical treasures of the Church’s musical repertoire.
PHL 102 – Plato: Intro to Philosophy (3 credits)
Examines how philosophy differs from science, religion, and other modes of human discourse, by tracing the origins of philosophy in the Western tradition in the thinkers of Ancient Greece. Students will focus on Plato’s thoughts about the ultimate constituents of reality, along with the thoughts of his teacher, Socrates, and their some of their predecessors.
PHL 201: Philosophy of Nature/Philosophy of Science
Delves into the intersection of philosophy and science, exploring the fundamental questions about the nature of reality, knowledge, and existence. Concerning natural things, a philosophical account is given of the existence, principles, and causes of change (generation, corruption, increase, decrease, alteration, and locomotion). Causality, chance and purpose in nature are also dealt with, particular in light of contemporary quantum mechanics. Then the implications of this general account for human nature and the cause of nature itself are considered. Using the Aristotelian and Thomistic traditions, challenges to a philosophy of nature in light of modern theories are examined.
PHL 202 – Aristotle: Philosophy of Man (3 credits)
Examines Aristotle’s understanding of man, as described in his ethical work, Nicomachean Ethics. Students will explore Aristotle’s description of human nature as having rational and irrational psyches as well as a natural drive for creating society, gaining knowledge, finding happiness and feeling connected with God, both it its own right, and as a foundation for the theological and philosophical developments of St. Thomas Aquinas. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission.
PHL 301 – Aristotle: Ethics (3 credits)
Continues the study of Aristotle from PHIL 301, studying further Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics and also his Eudemian Ethics. Students will explore Aristotle’s view of ethical theory as distinct from the theoretical sciences by examining its methodology, its general principles, and its application to the nature of human well-being. Students will also study the ethical virtues (justice, courage, temperance and so on) and how such virtues are acquired. Again, Aristotelian thought will be engaged as foundational to Thomastic thought. Prerequisite: PHIL 202 or permission.
PHL 401 – Aristotle: Politics (3 credits)
Studies Aristotle’s Politics, with its guides for rulers and statements, as a basis for exploring the role of politics in contemporary society, the proper comportment of politicians. Students will also engage this study in the context of Catholic teaching regarding the universal kingship of Jesus Christ. Prerequisite: Senior standing or permission.
PHL 402 – Aristotle: Metaphysics (3 credits)
Examines Aristotle’s Metaphysics to study such topics as first causes and the principles of things; substance, matter, and subject; substance and essence. Students will study these and other topics as foundational to understanding Catholic theological doctrines on such matters as transubstantiation. Prerequisite: Senior standing or permission.
SCI 101 – Biology (3 credits)
Introduces important biological concepts and principles common to all living organisms. Topics include the cell, energetics, genetics, physiology, and ecology. Integrates laboratory and classroom work and is taught from the perspective of Catholic teaching regarding life.
SCI 101L – Biology Lab (1 credit)
Optional lab for SCI 101. Corequisite: SCI 101.
SCI 102 – Physics
“To find the metaphysical beliefs…governing scientific research…it would have been
enough to speak of one belief, the belief in a personal rational Creator. It was this belief,
as cultivated especially within a Christian matrix, which supported the [scientific] view
for which the world was an objective and orderly entity investigable by the mind
because the mind too was an orderly and objective product of the same rational, that is,
perfectly consistent Creator.” (Dr. Stanley Jaki, Templeton Prize winner, Distinguished Professor of physics, Seton Hall University) Introduces a set of core concepts—space, time, mass, force, momentum, torque, and angular momentum.
THL 101 – Scripture: Salvation History (3 credits)
Provides an understanding of God’s comprehensive plan for the salvation of mankind as the revelation of that plan unfolds in human time and through God ordained events from Genesis to the establish of the Church. Students will study twelve periods of Bible history, touching on the major Biblical and historical events of each period with references to the corresponding Biblical passages.
THL 102 – Scripture: Revelation, Faith, and Reason (3 credits)
Examines Scripture as a source of Divine revelation, in addition to the relationship between the intrinsic relationship between revelation, faith, and reason. Topics will include Catholic teaching on faith and reason, reason and revelation, reason and faith, the acceptance of revelation by faith, and sources of revelation outside of Scripture and their relationship to Scripture.
THL 201 – Fathers of the Church (3 credits)
Provides a historical and theological study of the development of the Church and her
doctrines, through reading, analysis, and discussion of texts from the Church Fathers, beginning with the works of the Apostolic Fathers, and culminating in the writings of St. Augustine of Hippo. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission.
THL 301 – Catholic Doctrine (3 credits)
Building upon the scriptural foundation and development of the Church Fathers of the previous courses, this course is an introduction to dogmatic Catholic theology. The course will show the Scriptural roots of Catholic teachings before examining the Magisterial declarations of the Church. Particular attention will be given to natural and divine revelation, the modes of transmission of divine revelation, the essential doctrines of the faith, the moral life, and the sacraments. In this class the student will know the basic tenets of Catholic theology as expressed by the Magisterial Councils and Popes. Topics will include the inerrancy of Scripture, God as Trinity, Christology, Mariology, the life of the Church, and the Sacraments. Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission.
THL 302 – Moral Theology (3 credits)
Investigates how Christians are conformed to Christ in their lives by examining the Beatitudes, Decalogue, human actions, the moral and theological virtues, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, natural and divine law, as well as the notion of grace and the sacraments. Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission.
THL 401 – Theological Science I: Summa Theologiae (3 credits)
Building on the study of Aristotle’s Posterior Analytics in TRV 102 and the introduction to dogmatic theology in THL 301, this course represents a capstone in the undergraduate’s study of theology. By looking at Sacred Doctrine through the lens of a science, the structure of St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa is opened up to the student and its method and mode of procedure become clear. Seeing the scientific structure of theology allows the student to appreciate the true depth of Catholic theology and how all of the Church’s teaching follow from the principles of Sacred Scripture. Prerequisite: Senior standing or permission.
THL 402 – Theological Science II: Summa Theologiae (3 credits)
This course continues the examination of the Summa Theologiae begun in the previous course. Since St. Thomas designed the Summa for beginning students in theology (by which he meant those who had completed a liberal arts and philosophical education), the student can now adequately appreciate the depth of thinking required for theological exercise. The course continues by looking past St. Thomas’ introduction to theology and concludes with some of his scriptural commentary. Prerequisite: THL 401 or permission.
TRV 101 – Logic: Grammar and Language (1 credit)
Studies grammar as the basis for clarity in language. Topics include a review of all parts of speech; phrase, sentence, and paragraph construction (syntax); morphology, and etymology. Students will work in different written and oral forms.
TRV 102 – Readings in Written Rhetoric (1 credit)
Builds on TRV 101 by analyzing examples of rhetorical writing. Students will analyze examples ranging from classical Roman rhetoric to contemporary political speeches. Prerequisite: TRV 101 or permission.
TRV 202 – Written Rhetoric: Composition (3 credits)
Builds on TRV 101 and TRV 102 by writing examples of assigned forms using various techniques studied in earlier semesters. Prerequisite: TRV 102 or permission.
TRV 301 – Oral Rhetoric I (3 credits)
Builds on TRV 101, TRV 102, TRV 202 by delivering prepared examples of assigned forms using various techniques studied in earlier semesters. Prerequisite: TRV 202 or permission.
TRV 402 – Senior Thesis
The thesis is a capstone research paper. Under the guidance of a faculty member, the student chooses a topic and crafts a proposal for the paper. Once the faculty member approves the proposal, the student designs and conducts appropriate research, collects data, develops an analysis, and draws conclusions, submitting them in a well-written paper. Any translations from Latin must be the student’s own translation. Prerequisite: Senior standing.