St. John’s College Summer Academy, Santa FeFeatured

The St. John's College Summer Academy in Santa Fe is different: every class is driven by discussion. That means your questions and ideas play a central role. What’s more, our faculty depend on your participation to fuel the conversation. It’s a powerful, and empowering way to learn, grow, and prepare for college.

Held in picturesque Santa Fe, New Mexico, the St. John's College Summer Academy provides an authentic, hands-on introduction to college, the liberal arts, and to St.  John's unique education.

High school students ages 15 to 18 experience the distinctive learning community of St. John's College through an immersive, weeklong course of study. Students study compelling texts, art, and music and engage in stimulating discussions led by St. John's renowned faculty. 

With exciting classroom activities and numerous field trips, the Summer Academy provides many opportunities to build friendships with like-minded peers both in and out of the classroom. Off-campus excursions are fun and provide a great introduction to the rich culture, history, and beauty of Northern New Mexico. 

During the week, students attend small classes in three subject areas (seminar and lab, language, logic & rhetoric, math, or music) that are modeled on the college's Socratic teaching method. Participants are encouraged to think for themselves, to express their opinions, and to develop confidence in their intellectual abilities.

Daily activities include workshops, study groups, and down-time for studying and hanging out with new friends. Students live in college dormitories alongside Resident Assistants--current or recently graduated St. Johns students--and eat in the campus dining hall.

It's a busy week that is rewarding and fun! 

Our sister campus in Annapolis, Maryland offers two weeks of exceptional Summer Academy programming--see St. John's College Summer Academy, Annapolis Pre-College to learn more.

Tuition is $1200.00/week. A deposit of $200 is due by May 1; tuition balance is due by June 1. For students staying multiple weeks, there will be an additional fee of $100.00 - $150.00 per weekend. Limited financial aid is available.

Summer Academy 2023 dates and themes

 SANTA FE

July 9–15 BEGINNINGS: INQUIRING INTO THE ORIGINS OF POLITICS, POETRY, AND MATHEMATICS

July 16–22 TECHNOLOGY & TRANSCENDENCE: SCIENTIFIC AMBITION AND THE HUMAN CONDITION

July 23–29 ART & NATURE: INTERSECTION OF IMAGINATION AND INGENUITY    

ANNAPOLIS

June 25–July 1 SIGHT & INSIGHT: SEEING AND KNOWING IN LITERATURE, PHILOSOPHY, AND GEOMETRY

July 2–8 JUSTICE, NATURE, & LAW: FROM THE POLITICS OF SOCIETY TO THE RULES OF THE NATURAL WORLD

July 9–15 HIDDEN POWERS: UNCOVERING FORCES IN SHAKESPEARE, POETRY, AND PHYSICS  

Summer Academy ONLINE ($175.00/week)

June 19–23 PLATO’S DIALOGUES: EXCERPTS FROM THE MENO, THE APOLOGY, AND THE REPUBLIC

June 26–30 SHAKESPEARE’S AS YOU LIKE IT & SELECT SONNETS

July 31–August 4 SPEECHES ON AMERICAN DEMOCRACY: GEORGE WASHINGTON, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, AND MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

August 7–11 POETRY BY AMERICAN WOMEN: EMILY DICKINSON, GWENDOLYN BROOKS, AND RITA DOVE

*If you are interested in attending a session in Annapolis, MD please see the St. John's College, Summer Academy, Annapolis page.