The Graduate Institute curriculum is divided into five segments: Literature, Mathematics and Natural Science, Philosophy and Theology, Politics and Society, and History. Each segment consists of a seminar and a tutorial. Two or three segments are offered each of the three semesters - fall, spring, and summer.

Students in the MALA complete four segments and four preceptorials in any order that is compatible with both their interests and the availability of course offerings, except that the History segment may never be taken as the first segment.

Students taking the Certificate in Liberal Arts Education complete two segments and two preceptorials. Certificate students are not eligible for the History segment. One of the two preceptorials must be the required Liberal Arts Pedagogy course, which is offered each summer.

Seminar

The seminar is the heart of the St. John’s program. Classes meet to discuss a reading that is usually 20 to 100 pages long. The tutor opens by posing a question, then students and the tutor discuss the question and related problems based on the assigned text. Discussion is usually wide-ranging, exploratory, and characterized by openness and rigor. Toward the end of the semester, each student completes a one-on-one oral examination with his/her tutor based on a question posed and developed by the student.

Tutorial

The emphasis of a tutorial is on close reading and analysis of a short text. Students usually write two brief papers on readings discussed in the tutorial class.

Preceptorial

Preceptorials are small classes that meet to study a single book, topic, or question in depth. Topics vary widely from semester to semester, depending on the interests of students and tutors. At the end of the preceptorial, students write a major essay on a topic of their choice related to the work of the preceptorial. Essays are expected to be of substantial length (usually 3000 to 4000 words; 12 to 16 pages) and to show evidence of serious thought and inquiry.

See the latest preceptorial topics

If you are a current student in need of a reading list, they can now be found on MySJC. To access the lists, login using your mySJC credentials, click on the “Students,” “Staff,” or “Faculty” tab and then select “Student Reading Lists” on the left-hand navigation. If you are a prospective student and would like to see a sample reading list, please fill out the Reading List Inquiry Form.

Fall Semester

Literature | Mathematics and Natural Science

Spring Semester

Philosophy and Theology | Politics and Society | History (only offered during even-numbered years)

Summer Term

Odd-numbered Years

History | Literature | Philosophy and Theology

Even-numbered Years

Mathematics and Natural Science | Politics and Society

Campus Convening Weekend

Low-residency students are required to attend two on-campus weekends (the “residential” portion) at some point throughout their studies for a mix of social and academic activities. Although only two are required, students are welcome and encouraged to attend as many weekends as they’d like. The residential requirement can also be satisfied by enrolling in one or more semesters of in-person classes on campus.

Technology Requirements

Students in the Low-Residency program attend their classes online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Low-Residency students are expected to have a reliable audio/video connection, thus they are required to have access to a smooth and stable internet connection as well as a computer or tablet with a camera. Some classes or tutors may also require access to Ziteboard, a free collaborative white-board website.

Students who have completed at least two segments of the MALA and who have demonstrated considerable facility both in writing and in-class conversation may petition for permission to write an optional Master’s Essay. A Master’s Essay may replace one preceptorial or it may be undertaken in addition to the full MALA degree requirements. In both cases, the tuition is equal to that of one graduate course. Students who wish to pursue the Master’s Essay option should consult with the Associate Dean before beginning the application process. The Associate Dean can help suggest tutors who may be willing to serve as an advisor during the writing of the essay.

Download the Master’s Essay Application and Guidelines

While the Master of Arts in Liberal Arts degree is designed to give students a broad exposure to foundational texts across four of five segments, students also have the flexibility to build a Focus in one of the five segment areas if they so choose. In order to construct a focus, a student enrolls in preceptorials (electives) that all fall within the subject-area designated by one of the segment titles. For instance, a student might have a Focus in Literature, or Politics and Society. While some students find it useful or rewarding to concentrate their studies in this way, the majority prefer to choose the elective that most appeals to them each semester without the constraint of a Focus.

Grading

St. John’s College does not routinely report grades to students; therefore, students who want to see grades may obtain a transcript from the Registrar’s Office upon request. The seminar grade is based partly on the seminar oral examination but principally on the quality of the student’s contribution to seminar class discussions. Students are expected to not merely demonstrate that they have read and understood the books, but to help other participants discover problems and possibilities that might not emerge from solitary reading. This is accomplished when students ask good questions as well as when they propose answers to questions already asked. The tutorial grade is based primarily on the quality of the student’s tutorial class participation, but the brief tutorial papers are also taken into account. Tutors will make clear to their classes what they look for in a tutorial paper. In the preceptorial, the student’s long essay is a major factor in determining the grade. The quality of the student’s participation in preceptorial class discussion is also weighed heavily.

Essays

Tutorial

Each semester a student will generally be assigned two brief essays (4–8 pages) for their tutorial; individual tutorial tutors may have slightly differing requirements. Tutorial essays should be based on the tutorial readings. These essays are not research papers; instead, they should be articulate presentations of organized thought about a question originating in the issues, arguments, and conclusions presented in the texts studied. Students should feel free to consult with their tutor about the progress of their papers.

Preceptorial

The following is intended as a general description; individual preceptorial tutors may provide further guidelines. Essays are expected to be of substantial length (usually 3000 to 4000 words; 12 to 16 pages) and to show evidence of serious thought and inquiry. They should be based primarily on preceptorial readings; although, with the tutor’s approval, they may refer to other program books. The essays are not research papers; instead, they should be articulate presentations of organized thought about a question originating in the issues, arguments, and conclusions presented in the texts studied. They usually include the student’s attempt to reflect upon and to explain the author’s meaning and its implications. They may go beyond that to offer additional support for the author’s position or to offer reasoned criticism and alternatives to the viewpoint of the author. This is not to suggest that the essay must present a “thesis” or argue a “position.” It may be an essay in the rigorous sense of the term: an attempt to investigate a particular problem or issue in a manner that provides the reader with a clearer sense both of the questions involved and of their significance, rather than an articulation of solutions. Students should feel free to consult with their tutor about the progress of their papers.

Oral Examination

Each student enrolled in a seminar engages in a 30-minute oral examination, which is scheduled and conducted by the seminar tutor. The oral examination is meant to give students the opportunity to think through an issue of the sort that might arise in seminar, while assuming more responsibility for the course of the discussion as a whole. At its best, an oral examination is an intimate seminar between tutor and student in which new questions and understandings emerge. Seminar oral examinations are scheduled during the fall and spring semesters in the twelfth through fourteenth weeks and during the summer term in the sixth and seventh weeks.

Conferences

The graduate student conference is a formal occasion during which the student meets privately with the tutors of the classes in which they are currently enrolled. The aim of the conference is to enable all the participants to gain a sense of the student’s work as a whole. Conferences are required for all students currently enrolled in their first or second semester and for students experiencing some sort of academic difficulty. Students who wish to have a formal opportunity to speak with their tutors may request a conference and tutors may request a conference for any student. At the conference, each tutor reports on the achievements of the student with respect to preparation and understanding of the texts being read, participation in class conversations, and writing that has been submitted for the class. The tutors also offer suggestions about how the student might improve. The student is invited to comment on each of the tutor reports and to suggest how the tutors might provide additional help or how courses might be more rewarding.

Any student in good academic standing who has no outstanding balance on the student account may transfer between campuses, provided space is available. Students should submit an Intercampus Transfer Application, available online, no later than 60 days before the beginning of the semester. The application is the means through which students can outline their transfer and enrollment plans to both Graduate Institute Offices. Students should submit the required $250 enrollment deposit by the deposit deadline to the campus they plan to attend. Students who apply to transfer fewer than 60 days before the beginning of the semester in Annapolis will forfeit $50 of their advance deposit.

The St. John’s College Graduate Institute will accept nine credits awarded by the University of Maryland Carey School of Law for satisfactory completion of the J.D. degree toward the MALA degree, provided that grades of B- or higher were earned at the School of Law. Specific courses to be considered for transfer include Constitutional Law II, Criminal Law, and Property Law. In all cases, any classes taken at the School of Law that are intended to apply to the MALA degree must be approved by the SJC Associate Dean of Graduate Programs prior to the student’s enrollment in those School of Law courses. This approval process formalizes the student’s participation in the JD-MALA Dual-Degree Program from the perspective of the SJC Graduate Institute.

The University of Maryland Carey School of Law will accept nine credits awarded by the SJC Graduate Institute for satisfactory completion of the Politics and Society segment toward the School of Law’s J.D. degree, provided that the student has not yet completed those specific SJC graduate courses, and provided that the SJC Politics and Society segment credits were earned after the start of enrollment at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law. Specific preceptorial topics to be submitted for approval in conjunction with the Politics and Society segment include courses in the areas of History, Politics and Society, and Philosophy and Theology. In all cases, any classes taken at SJC that are intended to apply to the law degree must be approved by the Office of Registration and Enrollment at the School of Law prior to the student’s enrollment in those SJC courses. This approval process formalizes the student’s participation in the JD-MALA Dual-Degree Program from the perspective of the School of Law.

See more about the JD-MALA Dual-Degree Program

Alumni of both the graduate and undergraduate programs may sometimes audit classes in the Graduate Institute. Auditing is a privilege, not a right, and is allowed by some tutors and not by others. Auditing is always on a “space available” basis after all regularly-enrolled students have been placed in classes, and auditors must commit to read all assignments and attend classes as would a regular student. Auditors who do not fulfill these expectations are likely to lose the privilege of auditing. Auditors are not expected to turn in any written work that may be required for a class, or to sit for a seminar oral.

Alumni may audit any GI class in the MALA programs, with permission from the Associate Dean and the tutor. Requests must be made through the Office of the Graduate Institute before the beginning of the term in which the audit would take place. The Associate Dean will determine whether there is room for auditors in any class, and will consult with tutors whose classes have been requested as audits to determine whether an auditor will be welcomed into any particular class. Audited class(es) will not be reflected on any documents or transcripts and students will not receive credit for the classes. The cost to audit a class, whether on campus or in the low-residency program, is $1100.

See the current academic calendar for the Annapolis campus.

Class Schedule Fall and Spring Semesters

The fall and spring semesters of the Graduate Institute operate in conjunction with the standard academic year calendar, running 16 weeks each. Classes meet twice per week, on Monday and Thursday evenings.

• Tutorials: Monday and Thursday, 5:15–6:30 p.m.
• Seminars: Monday, 7:30–9:30 p.m.
• Preceptorials: Thursday, 7:30–9:30 p.m.
• Greek Preceptorial: Tuesday and Thursday, 7:30–9:30 p.m.
• Lecture Series (optional): Friday, 8 p.m.

Class Schedule Summer Semester

The summer semester is offered in an 8-week term with classes meeting Monday through Thursday.

Given the pace of the summer semester, advance reading is encouraged. See the current GI reading lists in MySJC.

Monday:

Tutorial: 1—2:15 p.m.

Seminar: 3—5 p.m.

Tuesday:

Tutorial: 1—2:15 p.m.

Preceptorial: 3—5 p.m.

Wednesday:

Tutorial: 1—2:15 p.m.

Seminar: 3—5 p.m.

Thursday:

Tutorial: 1—2:15 p.m.

Preceptorial: 3—5 p.m.

SEE THE IN-PERSON SUMMER 2025 SCHEDULE

Class Schedule Fall and Spring Semesters (online)

• Tutorial: Monday and Thursday, 5:45–7:00 p.m. ET
• Seminar: Monday, 8–10 p.m. ET
• Preceptorial: Wednesday, 8–10 p.m. ET

Class Schedule Summer Semester (online)

10 weeks, 3 nights/week. Tutorial meets each night. Seminar and Preceptorial meet alternating weeks of “Seminar, Preceptorial, Seminar” and “Preceptorial, Seminar, Preceptorial.” This gives us space for 15 seminars, 15 preceptorials, and 30 tutorials.

• Tutorial: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 5:30—6:45 p.m. ET
• Seminar: Monday and Thursday, 7:30-9:30 p.m. ET (weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9); Tuesday, 7:30–9:30 p.m. (weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)
• Preceptorial: Tuesday, 7:30–9:30 p.m. ET (weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9); Monday and Thursday, 7:30–9:30 p.m. (weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)

SEE THE LOW-RESIDENCY SUMMER 2024 SCHEDULE

Campus Convening Weekends

Low-residency students are required to attend two on-campus weekends (the “residential” portion) at some point throughout their studies for a mix of social and academic activities. Although only two are required, students are welcome and encouraged to attend as many weekends as they’d like. The residential requirement can also be satisfied by enrolling in one or more semesters of in-person classes on campus.

2024 Campus Convening Dates

• Spring: April 5–6, 2024
• Fall: TBD

Active and newly-admitted graduate students are required to submit their enrollment timeline for all of the segments they plan to complete in the program. The Graduate Student Services Coordinator will request revised enrollment plans from students each semester through electronic submission of the pre-registration form. In order to pre-register for upcoming semesters, continuing students are expected to have met all previous financial obligations to the college.

Formal registration for new students, students transferring from the other campus, and students with outstanding balances is held prior to the start of classes. During registration, new students have their 1Card photo-identification cards made and register for computer accounts. On the first day of classes, students who paid tuition and fees in full may purchase parking permits from the Public Safety Office. Vehicles to be parked on campus must be registered with the Public Safety Office, and a parking fee must be paid each semester.

All new students are required to participate in orientation and registration activities prior to the start of their first class. These activities include an opening seminar, a meal, and formal enrollment procedures. A seminar for all new graduate students on Plato’s Meno (70–86d) and Stringfellow Barr’s “Notes on Dialogue,” followed by discussion about the seminar conversation format, is scheduled on the morning of the first day of the fall and spring semesters and, in the summer, on the afternoon of the day prior to the start of classes. Students should come prepared to discuss both texts.

Orientation Readings

The formal commencement ceremony of the college is held in May. Graduate students who complete the MALA degree requirements at any other time are included in the May ceremonies and events. All graduating students will be charged a $100 graduation fee during their final semester, whether they participate in the commencement ceremony or not.

See the events calendar for the Annapolis campus.

See the current student handbook for the Annapolis campus.

Student Portal: MYSJC

Log in to your mySJC portal to access fee statements and other information individualized for you.

St. John’s Email

Access your St. John’s email account at outlook.com/sjc.edu. All students are required to activate their St. John’s email accounts when they first enroll, and are responsible for checking their email regularly throughout their enrollment.

St. John’s Security Alert Account

All students are strongly urged to register for e2Campus, which is the St. John’s emergency notification system that enables college administrators to send emergency alerts to all members of the campus community.

Transcripts and Student Files

The Annapolis registrar office provides information on transcript requests, or access through the mySJC portal.

Parking Permits

Students who plan to park on campus must register their vehicles each semester for campus parking permits. A member of the Public Safety Office attends Orientation every semester to help graduate students purchase permits. Your current insurance card, vehicle registration, license plate number, and $50 cash or check payment are necessary.

Information Technology Services

Learn about ITS support services.

Contact the IT Helpdesk at user.support(at)sjc.edu.

LibGuides

LibGuides is a database available through the Greenfield Library which provides links to full-text resources and audio resources for program readings.

Take a Tutor to Lunch

Students are encouraged to take a tutor (or anyone who works for the college) to a meal free of charge, from time to time. This offers students an excellent opportunity to become familiar with tutors and other members of the college community. Tutors may also invite students for a meal. Graduate Institute students may issue invitations to lunch in the dining hall or in the coffee shop, and to dinner on Monday or Thursday evenings in the coffee shop. During the summer term, when the dining hall and the coffee shop are closed, Graduate Institute students may take a tutor or other college employee to lunch at a local restaurant or coffee shop, and then present their receipts from this lunch to the GI office for reimbursement. The maximum reimbursement on each occasion is $20.

Graduate Academic Assistants and the Graduate Writing Workshop

Current students and alumni of the Graduate Institute are hired to serve as Academic Assistants for Greek, Writing, and Mathematics (only during semesters when the Mathematics & Natural Science segment is being offered). Each Academic Assistant is available by appointment or during their chosen office hours which are posted by the second week of each semester. Updated contact information and assistance offerings will be updated on the BBC’s bulletin board for reference at the beginning of each semester.

Every semester, the Graduate Writing Assistant collaborates with the Associate Dean to host a workshop on writing in the Graduate Institute. Topics addressed include the nature and purpose of writing at St. John’s and writing resources available to assist students. All students and tutors are welcome to attend.

Computers and Printing

There are three WEPA Print Kiosks on each Campus of St. John’s College for Student Printing use. See where they are located at and their supply levels. At the beginning of each semester, each student account will get $39.00 towards printing. Your balance will not carry over to the next semester but if you run out, you can pay for printing with a debit or credit card. Any time you have challenges with any aspect of the computers or printers, please send email directly to user.support(at)sjc.edu so the IT experts can help.

Computers with internet access and printers are located on the first floor of the library and can be used free of charge. These computers allow access to various research databases as well as the online catalog.

Dining

The campus dining hall is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on weekdays, and for brunch and dinner on the weekends. Students can pay the per-meal price to dine on campus. In addition, the McDowell Coffee Shop serves snacks and light meals, and is open between classes on Mondays and Thursdays.

Food is served at social events hosted throughout the semester (e.g. After-Seminar Gatherings, Bocce & BBQ, Pre-Preceptorial dinners).

There are also dozens of dining options within walking-distance of campus.

Housing

Limited off-campus student housing is available for GI students throughout the academic year. There are fully furnished rooms available for GI students in a small multi-unit complex only a block and a half from campus. These rooms may be reserved through collaboration with the Graduate Student Services Coordinator.

Residence hall rooms are available for summer graduate students and may be reserved through collaboration with the Graduate Student Services Coordinator during the preregistration process. A room deposit is not required. Roommates are not assigned. Students reserve rooms as singles.

Additionally, students may consult bulletin board postings and online resources to find housing in Annapolis. The GI Office may, from time to time, pass along housing opportunities that are shared with us. Students often coordinate housing with one another.

Graduate Student Complaint Process

If a student feels aggrieved by an action taken or not taken by St. John’s College Graduate Institute, Annapolis with respect to its policies, procedures, or practices, the complainant can formally register the complaint. Learn more about the student complaint process for the Annapolis Graduate Institute.

• Greenfield Library: holds multiple copies of all program books, maintains computers for writing and printing of papers, hosts exhibits, and provides reference assistance, among many other services.
• Annapolis Campus Bookstore: located in the basement of Humphreys Hall, across the lawn from the west entrance of the coffee shop in McDowell Hall. The bookstore stocks all books required for St. John’s classes. Several translations and editions are available of most texts on the reading list, and the bookstore keeps a list of recommended editions and a compilation of book advice, opinions, and comparisons by St. John’s tutors. If you have questions, the staff of current students and alumni is well-acquainted with the Program and will happily help you make the best purchase for you. Please stop by or call 410-626-2540.
• Graduate Student Lounge: located in the Nelson Room, room 304 of the BBC. There is a spacious seminar table, small refrigerator, microwave oven, couch, and wifi for portable laptop use—all of which can be used before and after classes, or as convenient.
• Hodson Boathouse: canoes, kayaks, sailboats, and paddleboards for use at no additional cost (seasonal)
• Iglehart Gymnasium: basketball court, indoor track, weight room, cardio room, yoga studio, and locker rooms with showers
• Student Health & Wellness Center and Student Health Portal
• Mitchell Gallery
• Career Services
• Print Shop and Copy Center
• Music library and practice rooms in Mellon Hall (including multiple pianos and a semi-soundproofed “rock room”)
• Art room and pottery studio in Mellon Hall
• McDowell Coffee Shop: located in the basement of McDowell Hall
• Free coffee and snacks at the GI Office

The Graduate Council

Graduate Council is a representative body of graduate students whose purposes include: to represent the graduate students of Annapolis on all matters pertaining to their general welfare as graduate students; to provide for and organize regular graduate student gatherings; to provide for and promote other graduate student extra-curricular activities; to provide for the welcoming and orientation of new graduate students; and to provide a formal means of communication among graduate students and undergraduate students, the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, the Dean, and the President of the college. Two representatives from each seminar are elected to the council at the beginning of each term, but all students are encouraged to attend meetings and offer student insight into any aspect of the St. John’s experience for the council to discuss.

Colloquy

Colloquy is the journal of the Graduate Institute in Annapolis, published each semester. The journal accepts academic and non-academic writing, artwork, poetry, and more. Contact the Colloquy editors at colloquy(at)sjc.edu.

Study Groups

Graduate students may propose and lead study groups on a particular book, author, or question. Study groups are open to the entire St. John’s community at no cost, including fellow GIs, undergraduates, tutors, staff, and alumni.

Intramural Sports

There is a robust and active intramural sports program during the academic year. Sports played include: soccer, football, ultimate Frisbee, basketball, netball, volleyball, and more.

After Seminar Gatherings (ASG)

The Graduate Council organizes and hosts After Seminar Gatherings every Monday during the academic year, and at various times throughout the summer. Food and drinks are served in a social atmosphere that enables graduate students to get to know fellow students and tutors.

Summer All-Campus Seminar

The summer All-Campus Seminar takes place in lieu of one Wednesday night lecture. The Graduate Council chooses a short reading, which members of the St. John’s community gather to discuss. Opening questions are asked by current GI students. Refreshments are served after the seminar.

Graduate Institute Croquet Reception

In mid-April before the annual Croquet match between St. John’s and the Naval Academy, the Graduate Institute hosts a Croquet Reception for current students, tutors, alumni, family, and friends of the GI. Light hors d’oeuvres and beverages are served before the match begins.

Summer Lecture Series in the Graduate Institute

The summer Wednesday Night Lecture Series is hosted by the Annapolis Graduate Institute. Lectures, delivered by St. John’s tutors and guest speakers, are free and open to the public. A question period follows each lecture.

Advance Deposit

The deadlines for making an advance deposit, which guarantees the student a seat in and financial aid consideration for the upcoming semester, are as follows. Note: all students, even those with financial aid grants or loans, are required to pay this advance deposit.

• Fall: May 1
• Spring: October 1
• Summer: April 1

Tuition and Fees

Full payment of tuition and fees are due:

• Fall: August 1
• Spring: December 1
• Summer: May 1

Late fees are assessed for payments submitted after these deadlines. See tuition and fee policies, as well as payment options, by logging into your MySJC portal.

Financial Aid

To receive priority consideration for financial aid, submit your FAFSA/CSS Profile and any relevant application materials by:

• Fall: May 1
• Spring: September 1
• Summer: March 1

Learn more about Graduate Institute tuition and fees—including summer housing, medical insurance rates, and more.

Learn more about financial aid for graduate students, including grants for teachers and educators.

To be considered for financial aid, United States citizens must submit a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year, even if they have received aid in the past. International students who want to be considered for financial aid must submit the CSS Profile every year, even if they have received aid in the past. The Annapolis FAFSA code is 002092. The Annapolis CSS code is 5598.

All graduate students enrolled more than half-time are required to maintain health insurance coverage. A plan, offered through the college, is automatically applied to a student’s bill each year, but may be waived online by submitting proof of other coverage.