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Thomas Aquinas College - Santa Paula, CA
Founded in 1971, this private Catholic and Great Books college has approx. 358 students, and a faculty-student ratio of 11-1. The 131 acre campus features beautiful Spanish-style architecture. With small classes, no textbooks, and Socratic discussions, the emphasis here is on theology and God-centered texts. The sophomore year reading list has a theology component. Thomas Aquinas utilizes the ancient TRIVIUM (grammar, logic, and rhetoric) and the QUADRIVIUM (music, astronomy, geometry, and arithmetic).
It seems focused on developing its students spiritual direction along with a classical liberal arts/Great Books education. See the book, Liberal Education and the Humanities by late college founder Marcus R. Bergquist. Approx. 11% of graduates enter religious studies/the priesthood. This college requires a senior thesis. It is very well-connected to Vatican and Roman Catholic doctrine/teachings. St. Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint of the college.
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