The school follows a unique curriculum, sometimes called the Great Books Program, based on discussion of works from the Western philosophic and literary canon. The four-year, all-required program of study allows students to engage directly with some of the greatest minds in Western civilization, through reading and discussing original works of philosophy, mathematics, science, music, poetry, and fiction. There are no textbooks and all classes are based on discussion. Tutors, as professors are called at the College, guide the classes but do not lead them. Each student is challenged to judge for himself the various viewpoints he encounters, and urged to make his education his own.
The college is not affiliated with any religious organization. One undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts, is granted to all students. A Master's degree is awarded to graduate students through the college's Graduate Institute.
St. John's is located in the Historic Annapolis district adjacent to the Naval Academy and a block away from the Maryland State Capitol building. The center of campus, McDowell Hall, was built in 1734. Its Great Hall has seen many college events, from balls feting Generals Lafayette and Washington, to frequent concerts, to the unique St. John's institutions called Waltz Parties.
See also:
The Campus
History
St. John's College was founded in 1696 as King William's School, making it the third-oldest college in the United States. It was chartered as St. John's College, a private, non-denominational liberal arts school, in 1784. Francis Scott Key is one notable alumnus.