Learn how to think – not just what to think
Are you ready to learn how to solve any challenge you might face in the future? Facts are easy to find today – knowing how to use them is the key to success.
Ricketts Great Books College is a powerful, affordable college program that helps students develop the skills they need to succeed in any career by working on the greatest ideas in western civilization.
Today, students need to learn to succeed in a rapidly changing world where more new careers are possible than ever before. But: they cannot count on a conventional college education to prepare them well. They must forge a new path.
From civil engineers to classroom teachers, from software developers to cognitive therapists, every vocation needs problem solvers who can approach their work from multiple perspectives and generate breakthrough ideas. Success in the 21st century is synonymous with innovation.
It may seem strange, but we must look back to move forward.
Learning from the Great Books is a time-tested method to become a critical thinker who can do more than just remember information. For 2500 years, great thinkers have grappled with the big questions of their time – we can learn from them to solve the challenges of today.
This process of discovery and education has been recorded throughout history by the authors of the Great Books. Every curious person can follow their lead–stand on the shoulders of giants–and invent, create, and inspire in a fast-changing world.
Experience a college
you never have to leave
STUDENT experience
The History of Ideas course is a year-long introduction to the thinkers and texts that have shaped our world.
The program covers the history of philosophy, literature, the sciences, politics, economy, and religion, spanning from the ancient Greeks to modernity.
The courses use a method of shared inquiry, giving you the opportunity to engage deeply with professors and peers to explore, analyze, and debate the great ideas and their application to today.
- Courses are offered on a set schedule, and students are grouped in small class cohorts led by professors.
- All courses will be taught through a combination of real-time video seminars, guest lectures from experts, peer-to-peer discussions, and your own reading and study.
- Unique documentary films, featuring world-leading scholars, provide context for the books, helping to make them more accessible.
- This curriculum is designed to offer a pathway towards a comprehensive Great Books degree, but it also serves as a solid foundation to fulfill general education requirements, complement diverse academic pursuits, and enhance your depth of knowledge in the classics.
featured courses
The Ancient World
Greek Drama
The Ancient World
Plato
The Ancient World
Methodologies of Science
The Ancient World
Heroes and History I
The Ancient World
Heroes and History II
The Middle Ages
Medieval Philosophy
Certificates and Degrees
The Great Books Certificate
Awarded for completing the 32 credit History of Ideas course sequence.
Associate of Liberal Arts
Complete the History of Ideas plus 8 additional 4-credit courses (for 64 credits total).
Bachelor of Liberal Arts
Complete the History of Ideas plus 24 additional 4-credit courses (for 128 credits total).
* These courses can be used to satisfy degree requirements at other colleges and universities.
prospective students
College
students
Students can receive certificates, degrees, or even credits for their current program by enrolling through our accreditation partners. Currently-enrolled students should verify that units will transfer for credit.
high school
students
For high school students—especially those who homeschool or are enrolled in alternative types of schooling—Ricketts Great Books College provides an ideal way to augment your education and earn college credit before you graduate.
non-traditional
students
Whether you’re enrolling for professional development at your job, serving in the military, or just as a lifelong learner, Ricketts Great Books College is for you, too. A classical education that transcends physical boundaries can be the transformative learning experience you’ve been missing.
Exploring 2,500 years of genius with a community of fellow pioneers will empower you to excel in any field by sharpening your analytical and reasoning skills and your comfort discussing complex subjects with others.
scholarship
$12,000
promise
A college degree that prepares you for life should not result in a lifetime of debt. The Ricketts Harder You Work Scholarship will return up to 80% of your college tuition as you complete the program.
This means that rather than seeking outside employment, your studies can be your job, allowing you to focus your efforts on the reason why you are here – to earn your degree.
The name of the scholarship comes from the autobiography of philanthropist Joe Ricketts, The Harder You Work, the Luckier You Get, whose own experience completing his college degree over seven years showed him the need to provide students with better options.
A financial assistance program unlike any other, the Harder You Work Scholarship rewards hard work, celebrates merit, and ensures that financial need is not a limitation upon anyone’s success.
With support from the Ricketts Harder You Work Scholarship, students who complete the Great Books College Program at a partner university will incur no more than $12,000 in debt.
how to enroll
We are thrilled to announce our first partnership, with New College of Florida, beginning in January 2024.
If you are interested in enrolling through New College of Florida, please visit their website at the link below.
Ricketts Great Books College plans to offer its courses through a network of affiliated colleges and universities.
information
sessions
Unpack the features of our school’s Great Books education in our quarterly information sessions. Learn more about our unique approach, curriculum specifics, and student experience. Register now to join one of these interactive, webinar-style events.
01 / 18 / 2023
5:00 PM (EST)
01 / 23 / 2023
11:00 AM (EST)
contact US
Contact us for more information.