Our Courses
All ACT courses fit into one of two categories: live, virtual courses that meet via Zoom and are typically held during the summer and fully asynchronous courses that are available year-round through our partnership with ClassicalU. Scroll down to view information on both summer and year-round courses.
Spring 2027 Course Offerings
The courses below are available for the Fall 2026 season. Learners in these courses complete assigned readings and then meet virtually on Zoom to discuss the reading assignments in a seminar.
| Course Title | Description | Schedule | Facilitator | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Chronicles of Narnia | C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia are among the most beloved and symbolically rich books in all of children’s literature. Drawing deep upon various aspects of Lewis’ classical education, the books explore betrayal, oppression, sacrifice, honor, and forgiveness, and the character necessary to successfully navigate such dynamics in the world. This course will be attentive to the influences on the series and to its symbolic world, unraveling the layers of its meaning. This course consists of regularly scheduled seminars held on Zoom.
N.B., This course is already open, but new students are welcome. Please refer to the schedule on the enrollment page, and note that the text listed should be read prior to the session.
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9/15/26, 10/13/26, 11/10/26, 1/12/27, 2/9/27, 3/23/27, and 4/13/27 from 5:00-6:30 PM (CST) | Dr. Junius Johnson | Click Here to Register! |
| Survey of Medieval Philosophy | “Medieval philosophy” is the philosophy that came out of the Mediterranean world between the end of the western Roman empire and the dawn of the Renaissance. During that time the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions took up Greco-Roman philosophy to articulate and defend their teachings. The result was a unique and rich set of philosophical traditions that shaped the western mind for centuries to come. In this course we will explore some aspects of this story.We will meet over Zoom for six sessions and discuss a different philosopher or school of philosophy each week. The course is meant for those with little or no background in philosophy who feel they would benefit by filling in that gap. It is also for those who already love philosophy and want to discuss some wonderful medieval texts with like-minded colleagues. | 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 3/4, and 3/11 from 6:00-7:30 PM (CST) | Dr. Michael Vendsel | Click Here to Register! |
| Great Essays on Classical Education | This course explores several of the most foundational essays in classical education. These include “The Lost Tools of Learning” by Dorothy Sayers, “The Great Conversation” by Robert Maynard Hutchins, “The Abolition of Man” by C.S. Lewis, and “The Idea of a University” by John Henry Newman. These essays are often referred to in contemporary rhetoric about classical education, which makes it especially useful to read the originals. | 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, and 4/26 from 4:00-5:45 PM (AZ time) | Rob Thornett | Click Here to Register! |
Year-Round Course Offerings
The courses below are available all year long through our partnership with ClassicalU. These courses are self-paced and fully asynchronous.
| Course Title | Description | Facilitator | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials of Drawing | In this course, Brighton Demerest-Smith (a classically trained artist and veteran educator with Great Hearts Academies) moves from how to teach the elements of drawing up through still life and master study. Grounded in fundamentals and close observation of subjects, his methods of teaching drawing are traditional and time-tested. | Brighton Demerest-Smith | Click here to register |
| Classical Theorems and Proofs: An Introduction to Elegant Mathematics | In this course, veteran mathematics teacher and leader Jake Tawney provides a clear and engaging introduction to the beauty of Mathematics. This course does not propose a specific curriculum. It does, however, present a list of “those things from mathematics you should have learned but probably didn’t.” In the opening lessons of the course you will hear that truth is effusive. Upon its discovery truth demands to be shared, and the mathematical proof is the medium through which mathematical truth is communicated. There are certainly no results in this course that Jake Tawney claims as his own, and many of the mathematical proofs are centuries old. These proofs represent, in a small way, some of the best that has been said within the discipline of mathematics. | Jake Tawney | Click here to register |
| The Teacher’s Playbook: Practical Pedagogy for Classical Educators | As Great Hearts has grown from one school of 140 students to 32 schools with over 20,000 students by 2021, Jerilyn has had the opportunity to capture the best practices of teachers across multiple contexts and share those practices with each new campus. Teachers are truly at the center of every school and teaching is the work of practical wisdom—it is neither a pure philosophical endeavor nor a utilitarian social science. Newer classical school teachers often find it difficult to visualize what good practice looks like in one’s own particular context. Such teachers often hear talk about the Great Tradition, truth beauty goodness, and Platonic ideas but aren’t sure what means in particular for planning tomorrow’s lesson on fractions.
At the same time, practical teaching handbooks that are full of techniques and strategies aren’t easily harmonized with a classical pedagogy. How can we know how and when employ techniques from these sources? Using classical rhetorical ideas and real-life anecdotes, Jerilyn seeks to bring together the great philosophies of classical education with effective, practical methods that good teachers employ every day. In these sessions, Jerilyn lays out a vision for practice—a description of what good teaching might look like, and how teachers can organize their ideas around the framework of rhetoric. Along the way, she gives some advice for your ongoing journey in learning good pedagogy, practicing, and getting feedback. Toward the end, she also gives advice to leaders who seek to help guide and develop effective classical teachers. |
Jerilyn Olson | Click here to register |