The future of work in the Information Age, with generative AI and large language models predominating, is rapidly changing. To be ready, you’ll need to be able to think both critically and creatively. That’s what our coursework, designed by leading scholars from around the world, is all about. For 2,500 years the great books have been the foundation of teaching students how to think. By engaging deeply with these challenging texts — reading, analyzing, discussing — you’ll get the most comprehensive college education there is, while preparing yourself for a lifetime of continuous learning.

Unlike similarly named programs, we have a unique approach to studying the great books. You’ll spend your first year (32 weeks) completing a History of Ideas course sequence, which will give you a comprehensive overview of the seminal ideas of Western civilization, and a foundation for a deeper study of those ideas.

After completing the History of Ideas in your first year, you’ll spend your second year completing the courses needed for the Associate of Liberal Arts degree. In your third and fourth years, you will complete the Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree. If you stay for a fifth year you can complete the Master of Liberal Arts degree.

Socratic seminars using the method of shared inquiry ensure plenty of interaction between students and professors. Each seminar is a live Zoom meeting, led by a facilitating professor and dedicated to a particular author, topic, and book. Your regular work expectations include leading seminars, giving presentations, writing term papers, and engaging in other relevant projects.

To give you a general knowledge of both the historical periods and context in which the books were written, we’ve also produced 32 documentary films, one for each of the 32 courses in our program. Featuring world-expert faculty from leading universities sharing insights about the books and authors, these films serve as important support material for our courses.

Our courses are organized across six subject categories: Literature, History, Religion, General Philosophy, Politics & Economics, and Natural Philosophy.  You’ll study these subjects in four different time periods: Ancient, Medieval & Renaissance, Enlightenment, and Modern. You’ll experience ideas the way they emerged historically, and trace their evolution as they shaped the world around us. This prepares you to shape whatever ideas come your way, in whatever career you choose to pursue.

Our college operates as a distance-learning program, supported by social media and real-time video conferencing. As a result, your student experience will not be defined by sitting alone in your room for four years. On the contrary, you’ll be immersed in an invigorating and dynamic environment, where you’ll form lifelong relationships with both your fellow students and your professors.

You’ll spend about three hours a day, five days a week in seminars, providing plenty of opportunity for discussion with fellow students and professors. While seminars are typically interactive Zoom sessions, students in the same location can also arrange to meet with each other in person for study sessions. Furthermore, all students will have opportunities to come together in central locations throughout the year. In short, your student life will prepare you for a world in which distance is increasingly irrelevant — and where learning to work effectively in distributed teams is essential.

All you have to do is pass our reading test and be ready to put in the work.

*Per regulations, for United States residents, you must provide your high school diploma (or dual enrollment certificate).

Initial Full Tuition Scholarships: The first 20 students who are admitted will receive 4-year full-tuition scholarships.

Promotional* Affordable Tuition: The cost of attending Ricketts Great Books College is $6000 per semester, with $4000 refunded upon successfully completing each semester.

*Ricketts Great Books College will pursue accreditation as soon as possible and expects to be fully accredited by June 2026. Accreditation will be retroactive to the college's start and will pertain to all credits earned. Tuition will be set annually.