JSerra's Humanities Program is a two-period course that presents an integrated English and Theology curriculum in the tradition of the Classical Liberal Arts.
Drawing on the great thinkers, writers, philosophers, and artists of Western Civilization, the course will form students' minds through an education of the heart. Humanities takes a thematic-historic approach that follows a four-year trajectory from the Ancients to Post-Modernism, studying the foundations, high points, and centrality of Christian culture and the Catholic worldview in forming an understanding of the human person. Focusing on readings in English and Theology from the Western canon and Christian culture, the program will seek to uncover the common thread that weaves all great ideas together: Christ revealed through the good, the true, and the beautiful.
Why Choose Humanities at JSerra?
Program highlights include:
- The interdisciplinary, two-course program combines Theology and English in a thematic-historic curriculum, bringing together the life of the mind and the life of the heart.
- Smaller class sizes, limited to 20 students, and seminar-style instruction nurture vibrant discussion.
- Shared community throughout a full four-year curriculum offers opportunities to grow spiritual and intellectual bonds between students.
- Regular excursions - from the Getty Villa to a final pilgrimage to Rome - bring to life the ideas encountered in class.
- Readings drawn from the great books of the Western intellectual tradition provide students with a unique and powerful framework for understanding the concerns of the contemporary world.
More Than a Program—A Way of Thinking
Discover how JSerra's Humanities Magnet challenges students to explore life's greatest questions, engage with enduring ideas, and develop the wisdom, communication skills, and intellectual curiosity that prepare them to make a meaningful impact in college and beyond.
Humanities 4-Year Themes
YEAR 1
Freshmen
The Origins of Christian Culture
YEAR 2
Sophomores
Christian Culture in Full Flourishing
YEAR 3
Juniors
The Beginnings of Modernism (AP Language and Composition)
YEAR 4
Seniors
Christianity Today: The Response to Modernism (AP Literature)
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Meet the Director, Dr. Stephen Thompson
In the Humanities Program, Dr. Stephen Thompson strives to create a space for uniting the intellectual and spiritual life in an exploration of the ideas that have changed the world. A longtime devotee of the great books and an avid educational enthusiast, he works to cultivate a classroom environment of intellectual vitality and authenticity, where students expand their horizons by entering into deep dialogue with each other and with the wisest voices of the past.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in English literature from UC Berkeley, Dr. Thompson went on to complete his Ph.D. at Cornell University, where he designed and taught original writing seminars to undergraduates, and to inmates at a local prison. Since coming to JSerra from Harvard-Westlake School in 2023, Dr. Thompson has deeply appreciated JSerra's abiding commitment to the Catholic Faith and seeks to nurture students' love of Christ through the Humanities Program.
He also serves as writer and editor of JSerra's annual community/alumni magazine, Crimson Pride.
Humanities Courses & Descriptions
A Four-Year Journey of Discovery
Each year of the Humanities Program builds upon the last, guiding students through the great works, enduring ideas, and defining moments of Western civilization. Through an integrated study of literature, theology, history, philosophy, and culture, students develop the intellectual foundation to think critically, communicate thoughtfully, and seek truth in every discipline.
Ready to Pursue Truth?
Explore a program where great books, meaningful dialogue, and intellectual curiosity inspire students to seek truth and live with purpose. Apply today or contact our Program Director with your questions.