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Academics

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    THE OXFORD TUTOR MODEL AND THE CLASSICAL LIBERAL ARTS

    The Oxford Tutor Model is a time-honoured approach to education that emphasizes personalized learning through rigorous discussion and mentorship. Rooted in the tutorial system of the University of Oxford, this method pairs students with expert tutors for in-depth, one-on-one or small-group dialogue. Rather than relying on passive lectures, students engage directly with primary texts, articulate their own ideas, and refine their reasoning through active debate. This approach fosters independent thought, intellectual curiosity, and a deep mastery of the subject matter.

    At the heart of this model is the Classical Liberal Arts, a tradition of education that has shaped scholars and leaders for centuries. This curriculum is built on the Trivium (grammar, logic, and rhetoric) and the Quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy), forming a foundation in critical thinking, eloquent expression, and analytical reasoning. By immersing students in the great books of Western civilization—works of philosophy, literature, theology, and science—the Classical Liberal Arts cultivate wisdom, virtue, and a love of truth.

    When combined, the Oxford Tutor Model and the Classical Liberal Arts offer an unparalleled educational experience. Students not only gain knowledge but also develop the ability to question, analyze, and communicate with clarity and conviction. This approach nurtures lifelong learners who are well-equipped to engage in meaningful intellectual and cultural discourse, making it an ideal model for those seeking a truly transformative education.

    GREAT BOOKS PROGRAM

    In our inaugural year, we are launching the Great Books Program, offering students a rich foundation in the timeless works of the classical liberal arts tradition. This curriculum will immerse students in the great texts of philosophy, literature, theology, and history, fostering deep discussion and critical thinking through the Oxford Tutor Model.

    As we grow, we are committed to expanding the program to meet the needs of our students and community. Future years will bring additional program offerings, interdisciplinary connections, and opportunities for deeper engagement with the classical model of education. Our goal is to cultivate a dynamic and ever-enriching academic experience that continues to inspire and challenge each new generation of learners.

    PARTNERSHIP WITH SEU

    We are proud to partner with Southeastern University (SEU) to provide university accreditation, ensuring that students receive a high-quality, recognized education. Through this partnership, our students benefit from both the rich intellectual tradition of the Great Books and the academic excellence of SEU.

    YEAR ONE

    Fall Semester

    Courses

    Western Theological Tradition I

    Great Books I

    Western Civilization I

    English Composition I

    Grammar Logic Rhetoric

    Spring Semester

    Courses

    Old Testament Survey

    Great Books II

    Western Civilization II

    English Composition II

    Introduction to Philosophy

    YEAR TWO

    Fall Semester

    Courses

    Western Theological Tradition II

    Great Books III

    Philosophy of Ethics

    Math I

    American History I

    Spring Semester

    Courses

    New Testament Survey

    Great Books IV

    Philosophy of Nature

    Math II

    American History II

    YEARS THREE AND FOUR

    Years three and four courses at Cromwell Hall are currently in development and will be offered as part of our expanding academic program. We are committed to providing a comprehensive, Christ-centered education and are actively working to finalize the upper-year curriculum. Students can be confident that a full four-year program will be available, equipping them for intellectual, spiritual, and vocational growth. Stay tuned for more updates!

    COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

    YEAR ONE

    WESTERN THEOLOGICAL TRADITION I

    This course offers an introductory intellectual consideration of theological tradition regarding the nature, significance, duties, and destiny of man in his relation to God as that tradition was taught by such great witnesses and scholars as the Apostolic Fathers, St. Justin, St. Irenaeus, St. Augustine, St. John of Damascus, St. Anselm, and St. Thomas.

    GREAT BOOKS I

    An introduction to the epic genre through a close reading of the first great epic texts of Western civilization: Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid. The themes considered in the study of ancient epic include the hero and his vocation, honour and the virtues, the relation of man to the gods, the meaning of time, Christian typology in pagan literature, and the importance and meaning of myth. This course also serves as an introduction to the study of literature and to the basic principles of literary criticism.

    WESTERN CIVILIZATION I

    This course will provide a survey of Western history from Antiquity until the 1700s. The primary focus of instruction will be on providing the chronological framework for the Great Books of the Western tradition. Students will gain a historical sketch of people, places, and events that have shaped Western civilization, which will greatly enhance their understanding of the great texts produced in the successive historical periods. Selections from primary source material as well as contemporary histories will be used.

    ENGLISH COMPOSITION I

    This course covers the key skills and practices required for effective written communication at the college level. Students will build research and writing skills necessary to engage with critical issues, develop well-grounded arguments, and prepare students for future academic success.

    GRAMMAR LOGIC RHETORIC I

    This course intends to provide students with the tools of learning. The term trivium denotes the three liberal arts of grammar, logic, and rhetoric concerned with methods of discourse, or linguistic operations. These arts are meant to prepare a student for the study of the higher disciplines of philosophy and theology by means of the study of language. The method of the course is an intensive study of grammar, logic, and rhetoric, and the student will acquire both theoretical and practical knowledge of these arts in this class.

    OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY

    This course studies the images and themes of the Old Testament as revealed literature that has been the single most fruitful source for knowledge of things human and divine. On the basis of a careful reading and following a literary and theological methodology, the Bible is studied for its moral and theological significance.

    GREAT BOOKS II

    An introduction to the literature of the Medieval era, focusing on close readings of authors such as Dante, Chaucer, Kempe, Monmouth, Aquinas, Duns, Bede, and others. This course serves as an introduction to the study of medieval literature and to the basic principles of philosophical and literary inquiry.

    WESTERN CIVILIZATION II

    This course will provide a survey of Western history from the 1700s to the 20th century. The primary focus of instruction will be on providing the chronological framework for the Great Books of the Western tradition. Students will gain a historical sketch of people, places, and events that have shaped Western civilization since the 18th century, which will greatly enhance their understanding of the great texts produced in the successive historical periods. Selections from primary source material as well as contemporary histories will be used.

    ENGLISH COMPOSITION II

    This course builds upon the foundation developed in English Composition 1. Students will further develop their ability to read deeply and ask probing questions of a text while learning to compose expository and persuasive essays.

    INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

    This course introduces students to the foundational concepts and issues in Western philosophy. Students will explore the development of philosophical thought, learn basic logic skills, and engage with the core questions that have shaped human understanding and inquiry. The course aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the major philosophers: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. The student will gain an understanding of the questions, and the answers offered by these philosophers throughout history.

    YEAR TWO

    WESTERN THEOLOGICAL TRADITION II

    The development of theology from Occam and the sixteenth- century division of Christendom to the twentieth century, including texts and documents from Renaissance thinkers, the Deists, Enlightenment critics, and theologians of the Catholic Revival.

    GREAT BOOKS III

    An introduction to the literature of the Renaissance to Early Modern era, focusing on close readings of authors such as Shakespeare, Machiavelli, Donne, Milton, and others. This course serves as an introduction to the study of Renaissance and Early Modern literature and to the basic principles of philosophical and literary inquiry.

    PHILOSOPHY OF ETHICS

    This course offers an introduction to moral philosophy through an investigation of the tradition of ethical thought that has informed Western civilization. The course examines various accounts of the human desire for what is good; questions concerning moral choice and the nature of good and evil actions; distinctions between utility, right, and duty; and conceptions of human happiness. In so doing, this course examines the nature and role of the virtues and of the moral law.

    MATH I

    Mathematics studied as a liberal art through close reading and discussion of Euclid’s Elements, books I-V. Directed not only toward developing the student’s mathematical competence through demonstration of propositions, this course emphasizes reflection upon the meaning and nature of mathematics. Topics investigated include:

    Book I: The geometry of triangles and parallelograms, through the Pythagorean Theorem.
    Book II: Geometrical algebra
    Book III: The geometry of circles.
    Book IV: The geometry of circles, continued.
    Book V: The general theory of ratio and proportion.
    Book VI: Application of the theory of ratio, and proportion to plane
    figures.

    AMERICAN HISTORY I

    A survey of American history from discovery to 1877. Topics include the colonial period, the revolutionary era, the Constitution, Jeffersonianism, economic and territorial expansion, sectional tensions, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.

    NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY

    This course studies the images and themes of the New Testament as revealed literature that has been the single most fruitful source for knowledge of things human and divine. On the basis of a careful reading and following a literary and theological methodology, the Bible is studied for its historical, moral, and theological significance.

    GREAT BOOKS IV

    An introduction to Modern literature, focusing on close readings of authors such as Hobbs, Bacon, Descartes, Spinoza, Locke, Voltaire, Hume, Rousseau, Kante, Goethe, Hegel, Mill, Marx, and others. This course serves as an introduction to the study of Modernism and to the basic principles of philosophical and literary inquiry.

    PHILOSOPHY OF NATURE

    Philosophy of nature seeks to identify the primary causes and principles of the natural world and thereby to explain this world. Therefore, students will be led to contemplate the natural world as a whole, so as to discover the principles that constitute natural beings and, ultimately, the Principle that moves the natural world. Focusing on change as the primary phenomenon that natural things exhibit, philosophy of nature deals with such topics as matter, motion, nature, chance, the infinite, space, and time. Philosophy of nature also addresses, in preliminary fashion, the relationship of man to nature.

    MATH II

    Euclid II will complete the introduction of students to the concepts and methods of Greek geometry through intensive study of the latter books of the Elements. Emphasis will be placed on understanding and achieving rigor in mathematical proofs. Classes will be conducted in a participatory manner, with students demonstrating propositions.

    AMERICAN HISTORY II

    This course is a study of American history from 1877 to the present. Topics include the New South, the New West, foreign affairs, industrialization, the Progressive Era, the World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, and present issues.

    Copyright © 2025 | Cromwell Hall is a ministry of Trinity Bible Chapel in partnership with Christian Halls | All Rights Reserved
    • Welcome
    • About
      • Mission, Vision and Purpose
      • Who was Oliver Cromwell?
      • Tutors
      • Employment Opportunities
      • FAQ
      • Tuition
    • Academics
    • News & Events
      • Upcoming Events
      • Academic Calendar
    • Contact
    • Apply Now
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