Thomas More College of Liberal Arts

Thomas More College of Liberal Arts

Seal of Thomas More College of Liberal Arts
Motto Caritas congaudet veritati
Motto in English
 "Charity rejoices in the truth"
Type Private
Established 1978
Affiliation Catholic
President William Fahey
Location Merrimack, New Hampshire, USA
Coordinates: 42°48′30″N 71°29′00″W / 42.80833°N 71.48333°W / 42.80833; -71.48333
Website thomasmorecollege.edu

The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts is located in Merrimack, New Hampshire. The college emphasizes classical education in the Roman Catholic intellectual tradition and is named after Saint Thomas More. The school has approximately 100 students. It is endorsed by The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College.

History

Founding

Thomas More College was founded in 1978, with political science professor Peter Sampo as its first president. Sampo had been a co-founder and president of both Cardinal Newman College[1] and Magdalen College, also in New Hampshire.[2] The curriculum, designed by educators Donald and Louise Cowan, associated with the University of Dallas, centered on the direct reading of foundational works of Western culture.[3]

Reform and relocation

In 2009, the curriculum was revised under president William Fahey in an effort to improve its chronological approach to topics and strengthen the presentation of Catholic themes. Distinct majors in literature, political science, and philosophy were phased out in favor of a non-major liberal arts program.[4]

In 2011, the college announced its intention to move to a larger tract of land in Groton, Massachusetts, keeping the campus in Merrimack as a site for future graduate programs.[5]

Presidents

The campus in Winter
  1. Peter V. Sampo, 1978-2006
  2. Jeffrey Nelson, 2006-2009
  3. William Fahey, 2009-current

Academics

The core curriculum at Thomas More College is similar to a Great Books program. Students read the great works of Western literature, philosophy, and political science in their entirety rather than as a collection of excerpts.[6] Students earn a B.A. degree in Liberal Arts without a major concentration. Part of the sophomore year is spent in Rome, Italy.

In 2010, the college started a program of teaching students practical skills in art and music, using the medieval guild system as a model.[7]

The college is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.[8] In December 2009 NEASC stated that TMC was not meeting NEASC's standards for financial resources, and NEASC placed the College on probation for a two-year period.[9][10][11]

Other programs

The college has sponsored the Centre for Faith and Reason at Oxford, England, publisher of Second Spring, a journal on faith and culture, since 2007.

In 2011, the College associated with Sophia Institute Press and the Press serves, in addition to its historical mission, as the publishing division of Thomas More College.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Donald Berns (December 11, 1977). "College Enrolment Easily Fits Into Pizza Parlor". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
  2. ↑ John Whitson (September 19, 2006). "Thomas More College head has big plans". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  3. ↑ "The Newman Guide to Catholic Colleges". Cardinal Newman Society.
  4. ↑ "Thomas More College’s new president inspired by Pope Benedict". Catholic News Agency (ACI Prensa). March 31, 2010.
  5. ↑ Michael Brindley (March 9, 2011). "Merrimack’s Thomas More College planning to relocate undergraduate program to Mass.". Nashua Telegraph.
  6. ↑ Thomas More's curriculum page
  7. ↑ "Catholic college resurrects ‘guilds’ to teach craftsmanship, artistry and charity". EWTN News. July 27, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Thomas More College of Liberal Arts". New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
  9. ↑ Template:Cite web For admissions to the college, Thomas More College accepts the Classic Learning Test (CLT) as alternatives to the SAT and ACT.
  10. ↑ Michael Brindley (February 26, 2010). "Rivier gets top rating". Nashua Telegraph.
  11. ↑ Art Campbell (February 15, 2011). "More College, More or Less, for Groton". The Groton Line.
  12. ↑ "Sophia Institute Press names new President". Catholic News Agency. November 14, 2012.

External links

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