A Liberal Arts Education in Two Weeks?

Yes! While a complete education in the liberal arts, of course, is the work of a lifetime, The Erasmus Collegiate Summer Program allows students to experience the essence of liberal learning in an intensive and life-changing fourteen days. Not only does this encounter with an array of great works reveal the landscape of the liberal arts, but it gives the participants a passport to the territory, initiating them into a life-long exploration energized by a love of wisdom.

Anchored intellectually in the great cities of Western tradition, Athens, Jerusalem, and the Eternal City of Rome, The Erasmus Institute is nestled in America’s one true metropolis - New York – a city illuminated by her forebears. This unique perspective raises important questions for all students: What roles do poetry, art, reason, and faith assume amidst the clamor of city-life? In part, they act as guides for students as they navigate through primary texts in the classroom and on historic city tours. Through these journeys students are encouraged to consider: What makes a good city? What makes a city great?

An experience that is more meaningful than a summer vacation, this summer program is characterized by exuberance, intensity, and the birth of lasting friendships. Students encounter and experience the joy of learning, evidenced in the spirit of discovery and gratitude they take away with them. We invite you to join us in an unforgettable experience marked by a shared desire to contemplate and explore the heart and soul of the city and of humanity.