Thomas Aquinas College

Thomas Aquinas College. Founded in 1971, it is a private Catholic liberal arts college dedicated to a unique Great Books program of study. The college's educational philosophy is deeply rooted in the thought of Thomas Aquinas and the classical Western intellectual tradition. It operates two campuses, its original location in California and a second campus established in 2009 in Northfield, Massachusetts.

History

The college was co-founded by a group of educators including Ronald P. McArthur and Marcus R. Berquist, who sought to create an institution centered on the Socratic method and primary texts. Its founding was supported by several prominent Catholic intellectuals and benefactors. The original campus in Santa Paula, California opened with a small cohort of students, utilizing a former novitiate property. A significant expansion occurred in 2009 with the establishment of a second campus on the historic grounds of the former Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts, a site originally developed by the evangelist Dwight L. Moody.

Academics

The curriculum is a single, integrated Great Books program, requiring the study of original works from authors such as Aristotle, Plato, Augustine of Hippo, Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein. All students follow the same course of study, which includes rigorous discussion-based tutorials in subjects like mathematics, natural science, philosophy, and theology. There are no textbooks, electives, or majors; instead, education proceeds through direct engagement with primary sources. The college awards only a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Campus

The California campus is situated on a 170-acre property in the Topatopa Mountains, featuring Spanish-style architecture with central courtyards and a chapel dedicated to our Blessed Virgin Mary. Key facilities include the St. Joseph Commons, the St. Bernardine of Siena Library, and the St. Cecilia Hall performing arts venue. The Massachusetts campus occupies over 100 acres of the former Northfield Mount Hermon School, with iconic buildings like the Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity and the D. L. Moody Auditorium, overlooking the Connecticut River.

Student life

Student life is closely knit, with nearly all students living on campus in single-sex residence halls. The Household system organizes students into smaller social and prayer communities. A strong liturgical life is central, with daily Mass offered in the Extraordinary Form and the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Extracurricular activities are largely student-organized, including choral groups like the Thomas Aquinas College Choir, drama productions, and intramural sports. The college also hosts formal dances and lecture series featuring outside scholars.

Notable people

Notable alumni include author and professor Michael P. Foley, philosopher and theologian Fr. Thomas Joseph White of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, and journalist Catherine Salgado. The faculty has included influential figures such as founding tutor John G. Brungardt and philosopher Peter A. Redpath. The college's boards have been served by individuals like former U.S. Secretary of Education William J. Bennett and billionaire philanthropist Thomas S. Monaghan.

Category:Liberal arts colleges in California Category:Catholic universities and colleges in California Category:Educational institutions established in 1971