The centerpiece of the SJI curriculum is the Seminar in Humanities. Students take up the deepest questions of human existence through oral and written reflection on significant literary and artistic works, as well as through the study of history. Students are taught how to read carefully, how to annotate works, and how to prepare for a fruitful seminar discussion. They also work their way through a thoughtful and rigorous Writing Program to build their technical and rhetorical skills. Through daily guided discussions, they dive deeply into each work and learn how to read good literature while cultivating their own thought and imagination. The Seminar in Humanities interweaves the study of the Bible, the history of the Church, and Catholic teaching throughout the year, laying an important foundation for incorporating these topics in the other seminars and studios. While the goals and scope of the Seminar in Humanities are ambitious, students are given the coaching and time they need to master the material and excel. The Core Seminar meets every day.
