Self-Paced Courses are accessed through our learning management system. The students are guided by clear weekly schedules, instructional videos, and automated assessments. Courses are written to be completed in one academic year, but students set their own pace. No grading is provided, but answer keys are available for most courses. Access is for one calendar year.

Course Description: This course begins with a consideration of the idea of history itself, followed by a look at the basis for comparing and critiquing civilizations. We rely upon the great Catholic historian, Christopher Dawson especially. We then turn to a survey of the great civilizations of world history with the particular goals in mind of assessing them on the grounds we have established and comparing them to our own tradition. Even as the course seeks to discover universal lessons about human nature and societies, it will find ways to better understand the particular value, idiosyncrasies, and meaning of Western Christian Civilization. Keeping the West as the students' point of reference is of fundamental importance for engendering in the students a proper love of their own culture--that they may conserve its achievements, better its faults, and relish its traditions--even as they appreciate the cultures and stories of other peoples.

This course may be taken as a stand alone, but is crafted to integrate best with Great Books 5: Return to Tradition

Grade Recommendation: 12th grade
Pre-requisites: None
Required & Recommended Books: See The Self-Paced Course Book List
Required Tech: Computer and internet connection capable of video playback.

Components: Reading, Agenda, Video Lecture, and Automated Quiz. There are three automated exams per year.

ACCESS? Login credentials are emailed to you after purchase within 1-5 Business Days. Access is not automated nor immediate.