The Classical Liberal Arts: Foundation of Western Education
The classical liberal arts form the cornerstone of Western education, representing a comprehensive system of learning developed in classical antiquity. This educational framework divides knowledge into seven distinct disciplines:
Grammar
Language structure & expression
Logic
Critical thinking & reasoning
Rhetoric
Persuasive, eloquent communication
Arithmetic
Numbers in theory
Geometry
Numbers in space
Music
Numbers in time
Astronomy
Numbers in space & time
The trivium—grammar, logic, and rhetoric—builds mastery of language and reasoning, while the quadrivium—arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy—explores mathematical relationships in nature, space, and time.
Program Outcomes
Personalized Learning
Advance toward professional and personal aspirations with individual attention.
Civic-Minded Growth
Develop responsibility and appreciation for freedom, democracy, and your place in society.
Timeless Skills
Master reasoning, communication, and analysis for lifelong success.
Rational Analysis
Apply reason to complex material and express it clearly in varied formats.
Critical Evaluation
Assess information and evidence for meaning and value.
Human & Natural World
Understand humanity’s relationship with the world, using scientific and ethical principles.
Ethical Reasoning
Interpret and apply ethical frameworks to historic and modern issues.
Civilizations
Place major civilizations in context, describing their contributions and scholarly debates.
In addition, each student chooses one of two specialized learning paths for focused outcomes:
Western Culture & American Heritage
Study, interpret, and analyze major works of art, literature, and music from diverse cultures and eras.
Investigate American history and culture, exploring successes and failures in the experiment of self-government.
Politics, Philosophy, and Economics
Understand key moral and philosophical theories and their application to politics and economics.
Form and communicate arguments using analytical PPE methods for complex issues.
Graduation requires a minimum of 90.00 quarter credit hours.
Low- residency Session
Classical Liberal Arts Progam at Ameritas:
Critical Thinking
Analyze complex ideas and develop reasoned arguments
Communication
Express ideas clearly through writing and speaking
Cultural Literacy
Understand diverse perspectives and historical contexts
Problem Solving
Apply interdisciplinary approaches to challenges
Ameritas Classical Liberal Arts Curriculum
The curriculum at Ameritas College-Huntington is rooted in the classical tradition, offering a rigorous foundation in the liberal arts that cultivates intellectual virtue, critical reasoning, and eloquence.
Students progress through the full spectrum of the Trivium and Quadrivium for a holistic, time-honored education. Civics Certificate & Concentrations (16 credits)
GE 215 American History II (4) plus the four Civics Certificate courses above
Western Culture & American Heritage (e.g., HU 130 Topics in Literature, Art & Music I & II)
Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE) (e.g., EC 210 Macroeconomics, EC 220 Microeconomics, PE 220 PPE, PE 230 Methods of PPE) Ameritas College Catalog
Through this classical curriculum, Ameritas University fosters wisdom, eloquence, and intellectual freedom in its students.