Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts calls students in their whole person to a transformative, Catholic, liberal arts education.
This education is ordered to human flourishing and communion, animated by the perennial questions, given shape by the classic books, and nourished by a vibrant liturgical and sacramental culture.
Joyfully Catholic in this ascent toward true freedom and a vision of the Good, Magdalen College calls all within her community to enter the great conversation of authors seeking wisdom that has unfolded across the ages, cultivating a life of virtue, poetic imagination, service, and life-giving fidelity.
First, Magdalen issues a call—not a demand but instead an invitation. We issue that call to students who are interested in learning from the greatest books that have ever been written, wrestling with the perennial questions of life, and cultivating the intellectual virtues. We do not require that students adhere to the Catholic tradition; we are open to those of any faith—or those who identify with no particular religious tradition—as long as they are willing to participate in a fruitful conversation about big ideas with respect.
Second, Magdalen calls students in their whole person to an education that is transformative. We believe that every person has inherent dignity that derives from the imago dei, the image of God imprinted within them. In light of that, we aim to form students in all aspects of their person, not only the academic but also the physical, social, moral, and spiritual dimensions of who they are as human beings. Toward this end, we offer choir as a core course all four years, daily Mass in our chapel, a broad range of student clubs and activities to participate in, and an indoor gym and free lift passes at a local ski resort. Perhaps most importantly, Magdalen College is intentionally small—small enough for all faculty and staff to know every single student and to share meals together with them. Small means we have the opportunity to be personal, which is a hallmark of the transformative experience we seek to offer.
Third, Magdalen calls students to an education from a Catholic perspective. Magdalen itself was founded in response to a call—the call by the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) for the laity to play a more prominent role in the Church and the world. Magdalen also answers the call that Pope John Paul II issued in his apostolic constitution Ex corde Ecclesiae. There he urged Catholic universities to serve the larger mission of the Church by offering something very important to the world: a vision of a fully integrated life in which the Christian story is relevant to all of it (not just a private corner of it).
We do not believe that the Christian faith is opposed to reason. Rather, we aim to help demonstrate that, in the words of John Paul II, “faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.” This is possible because we view all of creation as infused with order and meaning and beauty, the kind of reality that calls forth our curiosity and beckons our delight. Being open to that sort of world—and investigating the Creator who endowed each aspect of it with a purpose (telos)—enables students to argue for goodness, truth, and beauty as solid realities. And it enables them to do more than just know and argue about certain religious doctrines; it enables them to form a coherent relationship between faith and all of life.
Finally, Magdalen calls students to an education in the liberal arts. We offer one—and only one—degree: a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies. We don’t offer engineering, or nursing, or business, or computer science; instead, we focus on providing a foundational education that sets students up well to specialize in a broad range of fields in graduate school, if they so desire.
And the purpose of education, as we see it, is not simply to help students find gainful employment immediately after graduation. We view a diploma as more than a hunting license for a job. Rather, we aim to teach students how to think creatively, write effectively, ask insightful questions, analyze and construct good arguments, appreciate beauty, work well with a team, make connections across different fields of knowledge, and understand what it means to be human. If they can do that, they will also have a leg up not only landing their first job, but of entering and succeeding in a number of career options over the course of their lives.
A small, personal learning community that is guided by authors who have stood the test of time, that appreciates the classic ars liberalis, and that is committed to the treasures of the Catholic intellectual tradition—this is who Magdalen College is.
Students will have the opportunity to take one of the following courses for college credit. Taught in Socratic-style seminar discussions, each course enables students to explore a particular interest and consider whether they might like to pursue that academic discipline as a potential college major. Students will spend 3.5-4 hours in class each day, have some assigned homework, and spend the remaining time in prayer, liturgy, sacred music, relaxation with new friends, and a wide range of extra-curricular activities.
Theology of the Body: The Deeper Meaning of Love, Sex, and Marriage (1 credit) – Dr. Ryan Messmore
LIMITED SPOTS REMAINING
When it comes to romantic relationships and marriage, today’s culture is awash in confusion. The Church calls people to see a deeper meaning to sexual desire and marriage. But what is that, and how can it be pursued in modern times? Saint Pope John Paul II has provided valuable teaching in this area. Along with his “Theology of the Body,” this course will explore the nature of love, the meaning of betrothal and marriage, and sexual ethics from a Christian perspective. Class discussions will be theological and philosophical as well as practical.
Philosophy & Humanities: Friendship in Western Culture (1 credit) – Dr. Brian FitzGerald and Dr. Erik Van Versendaal
LIMITED SPOTS REMAINING
One of the most important features of human experience is friendship. Drawing on the great books of Western culture in literature, history, philosophy, and theology, from Aristotle and St. Augustine to Jane Austen and C.S. Lewis, this course will reflect on the nature of friendship across the centuries. Why do we need friends? What makes a good one? What are some obstacles to friendship? What happens as friends grow and mature in different ways?
Christ in Scripture (1 credit) – Deacon Karl Cooper
LIMITED SPOTS REMAINING
“Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” In this course we will seek to meet and understand Christ as he presents himself in all the Scriptures. We will read, discuss, enjoy, and pray through the most crucial texts, and focus our work on the living and present Christ.
$395.00 USD
Tuition includes room and board. The purchase of a book may be required for some classes. Students should bring spending money for off-campus trips.
Students will have the opportunity to take one of the following courses for college credit. Taught in Socratic-style seminar discussions, each course enables students to explore a particular interest and consider whether they might like to pursue that academic discipline as a potential college major. Students will spend 3.5-4 hours in class each day, have some assigned homework, and spend the remaining time in prayer, liturgy, sacred music, relaxation with new friends, and a wide range of extra-curricular activities.
Physics: Understanding Boomerangs, Billiard Balls, and Balance Beam Routines (1 credit) – Mr. John Klucinec
ENROLLMENT OPEN
This course explores the laws of motion as described by Galileo and Newton by reading and discussing these authors and through classroom experiments. Students will gain an understanding of physics in concrete phenomena through studying air flight, fluid dynamics, the aerodynamics of the boomerang, the motion of billiard balls, and the physics of gymnastics and diving.
Poetry and Politics in the Western Tradition (1 credit) – Dr. Mary Mumbach
ENROLLMENT OPEN
This course will examine poetic form and political form in the tradition of the West. Students will explore, in particular, how the Incarnation shapes the roles of imagination, prudence, and the heroic in literature and political philosophy. Readings in poetry, fiction, and American Founding documents will be considered.
Moral Philosophy: How Do We Make the Right Decisions? (1 credit) – Rev. Fr. Stephen Rocker
THIS COURSE IS NOW FULL – A WAITLIST IS AVAILABLE
Natural law morality and utilitarianism are incompatible frameworks of moral reasoning, yet elements of both are mixed in the public mind. Catholic moral teaching and the Western system of law are grounded in natural law. This course will present these two moral frameworks and apply them to moral issues.
$395.00 USD
Tuition includes room and board. The purchase of a book may be required for some classes. Students should bring spending money for off-campus trips.
Students will have the opportunity to earn one college credit by taking one of the following courses offered at Magdalen College. Taught in Socratic-style seminar discussions, each course enables students to explore a particular interest and discover if it could lead to a college major or area of focus. Students will spend 3.5-4 hours in class each day, have some assigned homework, and spend the remaining time in prayer liturgy, and sacred music, relaxation with new friends, and a wide range of extra-curricular activities.
Myth in Philosophy: Seeking Wisdom through Poetry and Story (1 credit) – Dr. Erik van Versendaal
What is the relationship between poetry and philosophy? Why does speaking about ultimate things lead philosophers into the realms of poem and story? This course considers philosophical works that are undertaken in a poetic mode alongside poems that express philosophic truth.
Physics: Understanding Boomerangs, Billiard Balls, and Balance Beam Routines (1 credit) – Mr. John Klucinec
This course explores the laws of motion as described by Galileo and Newton, by reading and discussing these authors and through classroom experiments. Students will gain an understanding of physics in concrete phenomena: through the aerodynamics of the boomerang, the motion of billiard balls, fluid dynamics, air flight and the physics of gymnastics and diving.
Theology of the Body: The Deeper Meaning of Love, Sex, and Marriage (1 credit) – Dr. Ryan Messmore
When it comes to romantic relationships and marriage, today’s culture is awash in confusion. The Church calls people to see a deeper meaning to sexual desire and marriage. But what is that, and how can it be pursued in modern times?
$325.00 USD
Students will experience the joy of learning in a variety of liberal arts fields, including courses in literature, philosophy, theology, and politics. Taught primarily in Socratic-style seminar discussions, these courses allow students to read classic texts and wrestle with big questions across a range of disciplines. Students will spend 3.5-4 hours in class each day, have some assigned homework, and spend the remaining time in prayer, liturgy, and sacred music, relaxation with new friends, and a wide range of extra-curricular activities.
$125.00 USD