Liberal Arts
Curriculum
Our curriculum has been around for thousands of years!! The Liberal Arts have gone through some changes over the millennia, but the essentials have remained the same! We hope to develop these methods of human learning through an array of courses that aim at educating the whole individual, and arming them with the ability to learn, not just information. Take a look at our Class Schedule to see how this curriculum looks in practice over any given time period.
Grammar - 6/7th Grades
The middle school curriculum at Studium is built to familiarize students with the fundamental aspects of the subjects they will explore in greater depth in their later years at Studium and beyond. This is what we call the grammar stage of the Trivium – the stage in which, through observations, facts and familiarity, we, like Lucretius, learn the nature of things, or as we like to say: “things as they are.”
Month-long courses
Lit/Comp Courses – Literature & Composition 1 & 2, Great Books 1 & 2
History Courses – Old Testament/New Testament, Greeks & Romans, Medieval & Church, Modern Europe, American
Natural Philosophy/Science – Wonder Science 1 & 2, Foundations of Science 1 & 2
Supplemental Courses: Music, Poetry, Geography, Intro to Languages, Great Books
Year-long, ongoing courses
Latin
Math Courses – Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1
Logic - 8/9th Grades
As students progresses in their education, they are challenged not only with knowing the facts of the subjects they study, but also with ordering and relating them through the process of logic.
Month-long courses
History Courses – Ancient, Medieval, Modern, American
Lit/Comp Courses – Literature 1 & 2, Writing 1 & 2
Natural Philosophy/Science Courses – Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy
Supplemental Courses:
Intro to Logic & Logical Fallacies
Intro to Philosophy
Poetry
Civics
How to Read a Book
Year-long, ongoing courses
Math Courses – Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry
Latin
Rhetoric - 10/11th Grades
Finally, students learn how to critically insert their own voice into the ideas they have been ordering and relating through the logic phase. This final stage of the Trivium is called rhetoric, and equips students to be life-long learners and those who will engage with one another, and participate in the “Great Conversation”.
Month-long courses
History Courses – Ancient, Medieval, Modern, American
Lit/Comp Courses – Literature 1 & 2, Composition, Thesis
Natural Philosophy/Science Courses – Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Health/Anatomy
Supplemental Courses:
Logic
Philosophy
Civics
Drama
Economics
How to Read a Book
Year-long, ongoing courses
Math Courses – Algebra 2 or Geometry
Latin
Capstone -12th Grade
Our polishing or crowning year is called the Capstone year. It is the exercising of a Studium at Northfield student’s education. Courses are geared towards a student exercising mastery of the trivium, and the year is filled with many opportunities and responsibilities to our Northfield community.
Month-long courses (afternoon)
History Courses – Roman History, Renaissance Italy, Modern Italy
Lit/Comp Courses – Thesis 1 & 2, Public Speaking
Natural Philosophy/Science Courses – Capstone 1, 2 & 3
Year-long, ongoing courses
Friends University Opportunities
Studium junior and senior students who have demonstrated readiness have the opportunity to fill up their morning schedule by applying to be a Guest Student at Friends University. Full engagement with this opportunity means 30+ hours of Gen Eds completed by graduation from Studium.
Dual Credit courses through Friends University are offered every other year and include: History of Italy and Intro to Philosophy.
