“I die the King’s good servant – and God’s first.”

The last recorded words of St. Thomas More, before his martyrdom in 1535.

Thomas More College is an institution devoted to education in the classical liberal arts tradition. We believe that education should form man as a whole: spiritually, intellectually, and physically. We follow the example of our patron saint, who, as Lord High Chancellor of England, had a great love for King and Country—but as a Catholic, his love of God was greater still. In addition to being a statesman and holy man, St. Thomas More was a philosopher and humanist, who was well known for his quick wit and devotion to his friends and family.

Inspired by the unique character and virtue of St. Thomas More, the Great Books Summer Programs seek to provide high school students with a formation in the classics, similar to that received by the saint himself.  You will read primary texts from the Western intellectual tradition and be guided in class discussions with our professors. Our Programs foster a desire for wonder, true enlargement of mind, and an appreciation of the natural world.

Academics are complemented by excursions throughout New England, including hiking in the White Mountains, visiting historic Boston, and spending a day on the coast of Maine. Additionally, you will receive an introduction to the rich elements of Catholic culture, such as art, music, and daily Mass—a glimpse of collegiate life here at Thomas More. Many participants are inspired to return as full-time students, but no matter where one is headed in life, a Great Books Summer Program experienced at Thomas More College will provide a memorable summer experience and introduce the tools necessary to take on all of life’s challenges.

This summer, experience the Great Books. Experience More.

Great Books Summer Programs at a Glance

Dates for the 2025 Programs:
Great Books I: June 22 – July 5, 2025
Great Books II: July 13 – July 26, 2025

Application Deadline: March 31, 2025

Cost: $275.00 covers room, board, and books.

Location: Thomas More College’s campus in Merrimack, NH.

Eligibility: Programs are open to high school students who are rising Seniors. High school students of other ages may apply, but admission is granted on a case by case basis, and no exceptions are guaranteed.

Sunday, June 22, 2025 – Saturday, July 5, 2025

This program takes its inspiration from the College’s patron, St. Thomas More, an English statesman, saint, and martyr. Students in the program focus on the political life, reading authors such as Aristotle, Plato, and George Orwell.

Through the study of these texts and guided Socratic-style discussions, the program concludes with a debate, where the students use two weeks of training to defend or condemn a relevant topic.

Debate serves as a cornerstone of the Western intellectual tradition, embodying principles of critical inquiry, intellectual engagement, and discourse essential for the advancement of knowledge and the flourishing of societies. This program fosters true enlargement of the mind, and an appreciation for the True—one of the three transcendentals, sibling of the Good and the Beautiful.

Sunday, July 13, 2025 – Saturday, July 26, 2025

Participants will study philosophers, humanists, and poets, such as Thomas More, Machiavelli, and Shakespeare. The program ends with a theater production, where all students bring together two weeks of study to produce and perform a Shakespearean play.

Summer Program Application Checklist

Summer Programs at Thomas More College are open to any high school student who is a rising Senior. High school students of other ages may be accepted as space and prudence permit.

Application Deadline: March 31, 2025

1. Summer Program Application

2. Minor Child Medical Consent Form

3. Summer Program Waiver of Liability

4. Commitment Letter and Payment