Teaching children to think biblically about everything is one of the hardest jobs parents and teachers have. Learning from the past to live in the present might be second hardest. By tapping some of the greatest thinkers alive, Veritas produced the Omnibus, a Great Books curriculum for grades 7-12 that grounds students in their faith. Omnibus is a Latin term meaning “all-encompassing.” Each year of the Omnibus curriculum combines history, theology, and literature to help students grow in their appreciation of the unity of all knowledge.
The Omnibus includes six years with two simultaneous courses per year. The Primary books course focuses closely on primary-source historical works and events from the time period covered. The Secondary course offers balance and a lighter workload, with a greater focus on literature and theology. Taken together, students will earn three credits: one each in history, theology, and literature. For example: As part of Omnibus I Primary, students delve into the works of Plato, dealing with the Socratic Method. In Omnibus I Secondary, some reading includes modern works by Peter Kreeft, presenting fictional conversations between Socrates, abortionists, and university professors.
This integrated, classical approach equips students with both an in-depth knowledge of history and the Great Books, while training them in the skills needed to process and articulate the meaning of this knowledge through the prism of a Christian worldview. Students completing all six years of Omnibus Primary and Secondary courses will have the added benefit of the in-depth study of all 66 books of the Bible.
When first learning about the Omnibus some are concerned with difficulty and enjoyability. We take particular care to fit the stage of the learner. The readings for the Omnibus can seem overwhelming. Students should be encouraged to learn to skim some sections—Herodotus’s Histories is an example—and to enjoy the richness of others—Homer’s Odyssey, for example. Class types and exercises are varied enough to capture all imaginations.
Click HERE to see how credits are best recorded on transcripts.
Many ask, “Can we do only a year or a few years, or only primary, or only secondary courses?” Our answer is the same: Any study of the Great Books to learn to think biblically about everything will be of great value.
Whether you plan to do all twelve classes over six years or only one, students will benefit for the rest of their lives by joining the “Great Conversation.”
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