NE Viewbook 2021

Thomas Aquinas College, New England

s Aquinas CThoma Thomas Aquinas College

des Quaerens Intellectu m An Introduction
ollege

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At Thomas Aquinas College,
there are no majors or minors,
no textbooks or classroom lectures.
So how do we learn?

Through careful reading and rigorous discussion of the
Great Books, our students engage firsthand with the
greatest scientific and mathematical discoveries, the
most moving poetry and prose, the deepest political
and spiritual insights, and the most profound works of
philosophy and theology.
Choosing Thomas Aquinas College means choosing an
educational program like no other.

A Liberating Education

Throughout the course of their studies at Thomas Aquinas College, students read, analyze, and grapple
with the greatest works of Western civilization, both ancient and modern.

Every student directly encounters thinkers such as Plato, Einstein, Shakespeare, Aristotle, Galileo, St. Au-
gustine, Freud, Austen, Locke, and St. Thomas Aquinas in a single, integrated curriculum.

While these authors have thought deeply about the great questions, some of them are partly — or even seri-
ously — in error. Many of them offer contradictory answers to the most fundamental questions. A student
left alone to decipher these persuasive works could end up doubting the possibility of discovering the truth
at all. But illumined by the wisdom of the Church, our students have a sure guide along the path to truth.

Faith Seeking Understanding

Christ tells us that He is “The Way, the Truth, and the “Saint Thomas Aquinas is an authentic
Life,” and assures us that the truth will set us free; for model for all who seek the truth. In his
only in light of the truth can we judge what is good, thinking, the demands of reason and the
and direct our desires and activities accordingly. For power of faith found the most elevated
this reason Thomas Aquinas College holds that a synthesis ever attained by human thought.”
Catholic college fulfills its essential purpose when it
helps to order the minds and hearts of its students Pope St. John Paul II
to truth.

The College’s program of traditional liberal education is designed to help students develop the habits of
reasoning and judgment by which they may clearly direct their path toward knowledge of things both hu-
man and divine. In particular, we look to St. Thomas Aquinas, the Universal Doctor of the Church, whose
extensive writings testify to the natural harmony between faith and reason.

A Lecture-Free Pursuit of Truth

In place of classroom lectures, students at Thomas Aquinas College meet in small seminars of 14-18 stu-
dents, where they seek answers to the questions raised by the authors of the Great Books. Everything from
the smallest details of nature (such as the geometric structure of a beehive) to the most profound and uni-
versal considerations (e.g., the influence of virtue on human happiness) is matter for discussion.

And discussion, because it is an activity, engages the student’s mind far more than do lectures. At best one
might remember certain ideas from a lecture, whereas in a seminar discussion ideas are proposed, chal-
lenged, and defended until, through productive argumentation, the students discern the meaning of a given
text and its veracity or error. The truth is found by way of the conversation.

Over their four years, students “Part of learning about the world is learning how others see
develop the intellectual habits of it. Your individual perspective is often not as full as it could
inquiry, argument, and transla- be. The person sitting next to you
tion — in critically reading and might have an interesting insight, but
analyzing texts, in mathematical you will never know unless you ask
demonstration, and in labora- them.”
tory investigation. And having
thought — and fought — their Anna Rivera (’23)
way through the foundational Kendall Park, New Jersey
questions, they make the truth
their own.



Guided in
Discussion

At Thomas Aquinas College, members of the teach-
ing faculty, known here as tutors, do not profess,
lecture, or impart their own learning. Rather, they
guide classroom conversations so that students can
come to knowledge for themselves.

Focused solely on leading students and learning
along with them, the tutors take a personal interest
in seeing their students advance in intellectual and
moral virtue.

“The real teachers ... are the
authors of the Great Books”

The tutors have advanced degrees in a wide range
of disciplines — biology, literature, philosophy, and
theology, among others. More importantly, they are
themselves competent in all of the liberal arts and
are able to teach across the disciplines.

The real teachers in the classroom are the authors
of the Great Books, before whom both student and
tutor stand in a partnership of learning. The ideas
contained in the Great Books are inexhaustible;
a person hungry for wisdom can go back to them
again and again, each time gaining new insights.

“Tutors guide a section
on the right path toward
a sharper understanding
of the texts, but in the
end both the tutors and
the students are learning
from the authors of the
Great Books themselves.
The shared experience of the curriculum allows
for a depth of conversation and a community of
learning, which is unlike any other.”

John Esser (’23)
Chino Hills, California

A Catholic Life

By reading and discussing both Sacred Scripture and the works of
some of the Church’s greatest theologians — St. Augustine, St. Thom-
as Aquinas, St. John Henry Newman, Pope St. John Paul II — students
deepen their understanding and love for the central mysteries of the
Catholic faith.

With the graces of the sacraments, the truths that students learn in the
classroom take root in their souls. Thomas Aquinas College strives to
foster a community which aspires to holiness in all things. Full-time
chaplains reside on campus, offering Mass and Eucharistic Adoration
daily. They also hear confessions before and after each Mass, and they
are available for spiritual direction throughout the week. These devo-
tions and others, though not mandatory, are nevertheless very well
attended by the students.

Beyond the Chapel walls, students seek to answer the universal call to
holiness in their everyday lives, whether they are in the classroom, on
the athletic field, in the residence halls, or serving the broader com-
munity.

On campus, there are food drives, blood drives, and charitable fund-
raisers each year. Students regularly go off campus to teach catechism
classes, assist in community-service events, and attend yearly pro-life
marches.

In addition, each year Thomas Aquinas College hosts representatives
of religious orders and dioceses to offer reflections, lead retreats, and
encourage vocations.

This yearning to serve both Church and society continues after gradu-
ation. Since Thomas Aquinas College’s inception, a steady 10 percent
of alumni have pursued vocations to the priesthood or the religious
life. Likewise, many alumni marry and raise strong Catholic families
which serve as beacons of hope to their communities.

“Being in such a trusting, Catholic
environment has made it so easy for me
to grow in faith, knowledge, and virtue.”

Joseph Poznecki (’21)
Anthem, Arizona



One Program...

Thomas Aquinas College gives students the opportunity
to choose between two locations to pursue its one,
unique program of Catholic liberal education —
California or New England.

California

At the California campus, students live in one of six single-sex residential halls. Described by The Princeton
Review as “dorms like palaces,” the residence halls are designed with beauty, contemplation, and community
in mind. Each offers lounges, study areas, free laundry facilities, and exercise rooms, as well as a courtyard,
which serves both as a social venue and an outdoor study space.
The majestic Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel sits at the head of the academic quadrangle. With
its dome, signifying the College’s fidelity to Rome, and its bell tower, evocative of the Spanish missions,
the Chapel draws upon the Church’s rich tradition of sacred architecture to reflect the beauty, grandeur, and
permanence of the Catholic faith.

The California campus is located in the foothills of the Topatopa mountain range, within a short drive of
Ventura’s beaches; the Getty Center, Griffith Observatory, and Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles; historic
Santa Barbara; the scenic Ojai Valley; and the Rose Bowl and art museums of Pasadena.

As the students live, learn, and “One of the things that has most enriched
pray together, they carry on the my time here is that everyone in my class
great discussions that are the life- studies the same things simultaneously.
blood of the College’s academic Even though I don’t have classes with all of
program and its vibrant commu- my classmates, I can still have meaningful
nity. and deep conversations with anyone about
what we are reading.”
Claire Thomas (’24)
Portland, Texas

...Two Coasts

New England

From its very beginnings, the founders of Thomas Aquinas College
intended to form a close-knit community of learners, intentionally
limiting the total number of students on campus. After reaching
full enrollment in California some years ago, the College has had to
turn away increasing numbers of applicants each year.

With the addition of the New England campus in 2019, Thomas
Aquinas College is now able to accommodate all who desire to par-
ticipate in its unique program of Catholic liberal education.

Nestled in the Connecticut River Valley 90 miles west of Boston,
the New England campus offers students a classic collegiate set-
ting. The expansive grounds, first established as a Protestant sem-
inary for girls in 1879, boasts four magnificent seasons, red-brick
colonial buildings, and a location rich in American history.

At the New England campus, students live in single-sex residen-
tial halls which feature lounges, free laundry facilities, and shared
kitchen spaces. The newly restored gymnasium includes a swim-
ming pool, basketball courts, and a dance studio, as well as workout
facilities and equipment.

Students at the New England campus enjoy easy access to the Con-
necticut River for kayaking and canoeing, plus close proximity to
Mt. Monadnock, famously featured in the writings of Ralph Wal-
do Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. The campus is also within
driving distance of the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tangle-
wood Music Center and, of course, historic Boston and all of its
sights.

While each campus has its own distinct features, both
have the same mission of Catholic liberal education, em-
ploying the same curriculum and pedagogy, and sharing
the same noble pursuit, expressed by the College’s mot-
to, Fides Quaerens Intellectum, Faith Seeking Understanding.

In order to receive the full extent of religious-liberty protections under
Massachusetts law, the College may admit only Catholic students to
the New England campus. Religious devotions, however, are volun-
tary. The California campus remains open to students of all faiths.

What can you do with a liberal education?

Students at Thomas Aquinas College cultivate habits of reasoning which allow them to make critical judg-
ments in any discipline. Through daily practice of the Discussion Method, they learn to articulate their
thoughts coherently, to listen well, and to work collaboratively with their peers.

These habits, strengthened across the academic disciplines, are sought after by employers, as they enable
graduates to earn their way into leadership roles
in all walks of life.

Graduates of Thomas Aquinas College are en-
gaged in diverse occupations and vocations,
entering fields such as education, law, medicine
and nursing, architecture, engineering, software
development, music, business, and the priest-
hood and religious life.

While the College does equip its students to
be productive members of society, the ulti-
mate goal of liberal education is more funda-
mental and enduring: the perfection of each
student’s natural intelligence through the study of nature, man, and God. In an intellectual and mor-
al atmosphere informed by the Catholic faith, students develop a holistic understanding of the reali-
ty at the core of human experience — a reality which, regardless of time or place, remains unchanged.

“Although the Navy is a very technical service, I found the Thomas Aquinas
College curriculum to be more than adequate preparation to work alongside
my colleagues with conventional engineering degrees.”
Lieutenant Commander Josh Bergen (’05)
Foreign Area Officer, Latin America
United States Navy

“I have spent the last three years helping to lead the conversation about what
is going on in AI [artificial intelligence], especially on ethics and bigger-picture
ideas. We need people like my fellow TAC graduates, who are well formed
in philosophy, math, logic, and music, and all of the courses in the broad
education at the College. They are absolutely fundamental.”
Jane Nemcova (’98)
Managing Director of Lionbridge, AI

“The College offers one of the finest educations in all of academia, and from it
I acquired six traits essential for the practice of law: integrity, good listening,
problem-solving, good judgment, effective advocacy, and resilience.”
Andrew Emrich (’93)
Holland & Hart LLP
Partner

“The College’s academic program is excellent preparation for architecture
because of its analytical approach to geometry and logic, as well as its
willingness to study and understand the past as a way of building for the future.”

Anthony Grumbine, AIA (’00)
Principal, Harrison Design

“The diverse and in-depth education I received at Thomas Aquinas College
was extremely valuable, first and foremost, for my soul; but it also proved to
be more beneficial for my vocation as a physician than all the ‘hard sciences’
combined, perfectly blending the practical with the philosophical, and allowing
me to see Christ in all whom I treat.”
Caroline Johnson, M.D. (’97)
Transplant Nephrologist
Baylor Scott & White Health

Beyond the Classroom

While the classroom is the heart of the College, much of what defines Thomas Aquinas College happens
outside the classroom.

Lively intramural sports thrive on both campuses — volleyball, basketball, soccer, and football, to name
a few. Many students also enjoy running, hiking, and camping, whether in the Los Padres National Forest

surrounding the California campus or the Connecticut River Valley in New England.

“The extracurriculars on campus provide a Students have numerous op-
wonderful way to unwind from the rigorous portunities to share their mu-
study life, while also increasing the sense of sical talents in choirs and small
community on campus.” orchestral groups which per-
form for formal and informal
Jonathan Phelan (’23)
Mesa, Arizona

events on campus. From sacred choirs, to classical concerts, to open-mic nights, there is truly something for
everyone.

Dancing is a pastime enjoyed by many at Thomas Aquinas College. Each year, four formal dances are held,
and there are informal dances throughout the year, as well. Students can learn anything from swing to salsa,
waltz to foxtrot, during their four years at the College.

Those with a flair for the dramatic take part in student-produced plays and performances each year. Past
productions have ranged from Gilbert & Sullivan musicals to Greek tragedies and Shakespearean comedies.

The College’s integrated curriculum and community life provide an opportunity for students to develop
deep friendships that enrich their lives long after graduation.

High School
Great Books Program

at Thomas Aquinas College

For two weeks each summer, students from around the coun-
try and abroad delight in spirited conversation, engaging
firsthand with some of the best works of the past 2,500 years.
They read and discuss texts selected from the masters of the
Western intellectual tradition, including Plato, Euclid, Pascal,
Flannery O’Connor, and St. Thomas Aquinas.

Whether on the East Coast or West, the Thomas Aquinas Col-
lege Summer Program is a time for enjoying the give and take
of rational argument, for forming new friendships, and for
pursuing the True, the Good, and the Beautiful.

Though the California and New England programs feature at-
tractions and outings specific to their locales, both give participants a taste of the College’s unique program
of Catholic liberal education.

The High School Great Books Program at Thomas Aquinas College encourages wonder and leads partici-
pants toward wisdom.

Experience a slice of life at TAC.

In addition to daily sports and hikes, open-mic nights, and a small theatrical production, the program
includes excursions to local attractions. In California, students tour the Getty Museum, enjoy a concert at
the Hollywood Bowl, relax at a local beach, and spend an evening in beautiful Santa Barbara. Students in
New England explore historic Boston and the Freedom Trail, take a kayak trip on the Connecticut River,
and enjoy a concert by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Who?

The High School Great Books Program is open to rising high school seniors.

Why?

To ask the big questions and explore the answers, forging new friendships to last a lifetime.

How much?

Tuition is $975 and includes housing, meals, books, and organized off-campus activities.

How do I apply?

Head to thomasaquinas.edu/summerprogram to fill out an application today!

“The Summer Program was a highly formative experience for me. Not only did
it provide me with lifelong friendships, a proper introduction to the Socratic (or
discussion) method, and an opportunity to grow in my faith, but it also provided
me with a new perspective when applying to colleges.”
Georgiana Egan (’24)
New York, New York

Liberate Your Future:
Exceptional Financial Aid

Committed, since its founding, to never turning away qualified students on the basis of financial need,
Thomas Aquinas College offers a robust financial aid program. An average of 70 percent of TAC students
receive need-based aid each year.

Thanks to the generosity of its benefactors, the College is able to offer one of the lowest tuition and room
& board rates of any liberal arts college. In 2019 TAC ranked first in the country on Kiplinger’s list of Best
College Values.

The College also makes every effort to ensure its graduates are free to pursue their careers and vocations by
not burdening them with unwieldy debt upon graduation. It, therefore, asks students to take no more than
$19,000 in student loans over four years — significantly less than the national average student-loan debt of
$30,000 in 2019.

Financial aid packages vary, but the first component in nearly all packages is a Service Scholarship job,
whereby students work 13 hours per week on campus during the academic year. The Service Scholarship
Program provides students with a unique opportunity to care for the campus and carry out essential tasks
that support the community.

For more information, including a financial aid calculator, please visit thomasaquinas.edu/financialaid.

Begin Your Application Today!

If you can picture yourself debating how the structure of the beehive can help prove the existence of God,
or whether civil laws ought to lead one to virtue, Thomas Aquinas College may be just the place for you!

It is never too early for high school seniors to begin an application. There is no application fee, and the
College accepts applications on a rolling basis.

The Admissions Committee typically acts upon completed applications within two to four weeks. After the
incoming freshman class has been filled, all other accepted students are placed on a waitlist.

To apply, head to thomasaquinas.edu/admissions or give us a call at 805–525–4417.

Thomas Aquinas College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in
its programs and activities.

“At Thomas Aquinas College we learned from experience that it is possible to
think in a disciplined way about questions that matter. We came to believe in
the truth and also in ourselves. It’s a gift for which I’m grateful every day.”
Sean Kelsey (’92)
Rev. John A. O’Brien
Associate Professor of Philosophy,
University of Notre Dame

Thomas Aquinas College, New England

Quick Facts

Thomas Aquinas College is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college with Roman Catholic religious
affiliation and lay administration.

• The College was founded in 1971 in Calabasas, California, and relocated to its permanent home in
Santa Paula, California, in 1978.

• A second campus opened in 2019 in Northfield, Massachusetts.

Degree Awarded Rankings & Reviews

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Liberal Arts • #1 Best Value for all private and public col-
• 146 credit hours over 4 years leges and universities and #1 Best Value for
• Equivalent to a double major in philosophy liberal arts colleges
— Kiplinger, 2019
& theology and a minor in mathematics

Financial Aid

• Meets 100% of demonstrated financial need
• Need-based aid awarded to 70% of students
• Student loan debt capped at $19,000 total

over four years

Standardized Tests • “Impressive intellectual rigor” and “ortho-
dox Catholicism”
• Average SAT Math: 630 — Newman Guide, 2019
• Average SAT EBRW: 670
• Average ACT Composite: 28 • Top Rankings for “Best Classroom Experi-
• Average CLT Composite: 91 ence,” “Great Financial Aid,” and “Professors
Get High Marks”
Tuition, Room & Board — The Princeton Review, 2021
(2022–2023)

• Tuition: $27,000
• Room & Board: $9,900
• No additional fees or costs.

All books are included in tuition.

Thomas Aquinas College, California

Thomas Aquinas College

10,000 Ojai Road 231 Main Street
Santa Paula, CA 93060 Northfield, MA 01360

805-525-4417 413-846-1200

thomasaquinas.edu/welcome