Great Books at Pepperdine
Foundations for a Lifetime
The Great Books Colloquium is an integrated sequence of four courses, I to IV, in which students read and discuss some of the most influential and thought-provoking books ever written. From the ancient Greeks to the twentieth century, these works stimulate thought and conversation on ideas that require our best critical analysis and insights about big questions and timeless issues. In addition to reading, students engage in class discussion and writing interpretative essays. Over the sequence, they will grow as thinkers, writers, and communicators: a solid educational foundation not simply for college, but also strong skills towards future employment and, indeed, for life.
Assigned texts in this sequence encompass literature, philosophy, theology, politics, history, and psychology. Among the issues addressed are the complexities of justice, the grounds of moral choice, the experiences of human and divine love, and the ideals and challenges of political leadership. Authors range from Homer to Toni Morrison, Plato to Dostoevsky, Dante to Austen to Virginia Woolf, among many others. The courses emphasize an open forum for sharing ideas, intellectual growth, and rigorous academic inquiry. Our goal is not for students to think like the authors we read, but for students to build on the readings to think for themselves.
Quick Facts
- 129 Students
- 30 First-Generation Students
- 3.65 AVG High-School GPA
Student Testimonials
Gasia Excel
"I took Great Books because I didn’t like to read. Despite valuing reading, I knew that I never would do it on my own, which is why I decided to enroll in the sequence. There are two treasures I’ve gained through the colloquium. The first is the ability to evaluate complicated philosophical texts and find truth in them. I used to believe that philosophy had no influence on my life. I thought, 'I know what I know without needing philosophy to explain it.' However, I’ve come to realize that I know what I know because someone before me has pondered 'the truth' and shared their thoughts in writing.
Second, and with unexpected joy, I’ve developed a liking for reading. This is perhaps the greatest gift Great Books has given me—I have become a 'reader.'"
Yelyzaveta ‘Liza’ Shevetovska
"Great Books for me is an opportunity to look inward. You may read all the books in the world but unless you look inward, into what happens to you when you read these books, it will feel like eating food and spitting it out. But when I allow the text to impact me, when I reflect on it, when I allow it to become me for a time, then I know the text changed me. It is the most immersive class I had to take in Pepperdine and I can't say enough how transformative it is."
Vincent Vergara
Initially, I thought taking Great Books would be a great way to help balance out my studies' more quantitative and objective aspects. However, it has gone beyond that, offering me a unique, thought-provoking, and rigorous approach to literature that challenges me to think critically and creatively, while allowing me to engage in thoughtful discussions with peers from a wide range of disciplines. These discussions continually introduce me to new perspectives, pushing me to both challenge and refine my long-held beliefs and ideas.
Caden Benedict, Economics BA '23
"The Great Books classes are the quintessential college experience. They bring together some of the smartest people at the university in a conversation on the great ideas that have shaped why we believe what we believe and how these ideas are illustrated in modern life. The courses helped me refine my reading, writing, and rhetorical skills. "
Lauren Kinder, Biology B.S. ‘24
"I have found that it is both incredibly humbling and empowering to be able to read these texts, which have undeniably shaped the way that I see the world and my place within it. I don’t think that I have ever met a student who regrets completing the whole sequence, but I have met plenty who regret never starting Great Books their freshman year."