Preparing for NSA: Old Western Culture
As a benefit to your Called Conference registration,
enjoy 30% off Old Western Culture using code: “PREPARE30”.
How do you prepare for a rigorous classical liberal arts school like New Saint Andrews?
New Saint Andrews graduate Daniel Foucachon worked with veteran classical educator Wes Callihan, along with several NSA professors to produce Old Western Culture, a high school great books curriculum, to give students a solid foundation in classics as preparation for life and further studies.
Why Old Western Culture?
Daniel noticed that his classmates at NSA that had studied the great books in high school, particularly those who studied with Wes Callihan, were able to engage with the material and discussion at a much deeper level, and with more ease than those (like himself) who had a Christian, but non-classical education.
Old Western Culture is designed to foster delight for the classics. For over ten years, an internal metric that the team at Roman Roads Press has used to determine the success of the curriculum was whether graduates of the program had a desire to pursue higher learning in the liberal arts. And this has been the case! We are always particularly pleased when a student chooses New Saint Andrews here in Moscow, Idaho.
Students of Old Western Culture are known for realizing that their high school education is merely the foundation for life-long learning, and are thirsty for more. We believe NSA is among the best schools to build on the foundation of Old Western Culture.
“As both a parent of teenage homeschoolers and a professor of college students, I’ve witnessed firsthand the rich harvest of the Old Western Culture (OWC) curriculum. While much depends on the teacher, one of the things I’ve appreciated about OWC students is that their education isn’t just a trial to pass through, but an adventure to be lived and experienced. OWC doesn’t just expose students to the ideas, stories, and history of the west so they can pass a test. OWC immerses and delights students in the primary sources of western philosophy, history, theology, and literature so that they get the one thing Proverbs tells us to get: wisdom.“
Dr. Jonathan McIntosh, fellow of humanities at New St. Andrews College
As a benefit to your Called Conference registration,
enjoy 30% off Old Western Culture using code: “PREPARE30”.
Experience the course for yourself with an extended preview below.
Try Old Western Culture | Lectures and Materials
Receive the first three lectures from Old Western Culture, as well as a sample workbook, Reader, Exam Pack, and other introductory material. Sign up below:
Parents enjoy the video-based curriculum as much as their students. In fact, parents are invited to join the Great Books Challenge for Parents!
Learn about Old Western Culture
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Each year of Old Western Culture is made up of three main parts, along with extra materials included as downloads.
1. The video course.
2. The workbook.
3. The Readers (primary sources).
Extras: Exams, and other resources by unit.
For each category there is a choice to upgrade to physical components (DVD or DVD + Streaming for the video, and physical books vs PDF for the workbooks and readers). All streaming and downloadable products are “forever streaming.” They do not expire!
About the INSTRUCTORS
Wes Callihan grew up on a farm in Idaho and earned a BA in history from the University of Idaho in 1983. He has taught at Logos School and New Saint Andrews College, both in Moscow, Idaho, as well as Veritas Academy in Lancaster, PA. Wes is the founder of Schola Classical Tutorials, where he teaches online classes in the great books and other classical subjects (now through Kepler Education). He is the primary instructor in the Old Western Culture series by Roman Roads Press.
Jonathan McIntosh (PhD, University of Dallas) is a Fellow of Humanities at New Saint Andrews College. He is the author of The Flame Imperishable: Tolkien, St. Thomas, and the Metaphysics of Faërie (Angelico Press, 2017).
Chris Schlect (PhD, Washington State University) is a fellow of history and director of the graduate program at New Saint Andrews College. He serves Christian schools through consulting and teacher training. His research on early twentieth century Protestantism has earned eleven competitive awards.
Mitch Stokes (PhD, Notre Dame) is a senior fellow of philosophy at New St. Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho. In addition to studying philosophy under world-renowned philosopher Alvin Plantinga, Stokes holds degrees in philosophy, religion and mechanical engineering, and holds five patents in aeroderivative gas turbine technology. He is the author of Calculus for Everyone (Roman Roads Press), books on apologetics, and biographies of Newton and Galileo.
Peter Leithart (PhD, University of Cambridge) is President of Theopolis Institute and the author of several dozen books on theology and literature, including Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide to Six Shakespeare Plays. He previously a senior fellow of theology at New Saint Andrews College.
John Adams, the Great Books, and our “Apology” for the Classics
REVIEWS AND AWARDS
But what if there was a single program that adequately covered key texts of Western literature; that was well-written, accurate, and Christ-centered; and that didn’t just mimic all the other courses? Well, there is. Old Western Culture: A Christian Approach to the Great Books is everything other Classical-style courses wish they were.
Caleb Crossman, Exodus Books
World class teaching by classical educator Wesley Callihan. Demanding, challenging, mesmerizing content that will leave your student, no matter how steeped in history and classical studies, begging for more.
– Lisa Nehring, Golden Grasses
This has to be the best curriculum we have found for studying the great classics! We’ve been homeschooling for about 15 years and have not found anything like this. Mr. Callihan is knowledgeable, engaging, and entertaining. He speaks to the students as if he is right there with them. Not only have they chosen excellent books but all the information that he shares with the student makes this a perfect Literature and Social Studies course. On top of that, they have included a booklet with some of the most beautiful artwork to accompany the course. It’s like walking through a museum. Frequently, my son shares a story at the dinner table about what Mr. Callihan said. We all get to enjoy his stories. It also lets me know he’s “getting it.” I would highly recommend this to any family interested in a Classical Christian education. You will not be disappointed with Old Western Culture or Roman Roads Media.
– Stephanie White, Homeschool mom
The Greeks is taught by Wes Callihan, quite possibly the most engaging teacher of classical material I have encountered since my days at the University of St. Thomas. It is obvious that he loves what he is teaching, which is the mark of a truly great teacher. When he talks about Achilles and Agamemnon, you know that he feels their conflict and their emotions. You never have any doubt that he is going to lead you safely through the turmoil of Achilles’ last days. He teaches with confidence and enthusiasm, and it is infectious. If you want your child to have a Great Books, classical education – either the kind you had or the kind you wish you had – Wes Callihan is the man to teach her.
Laura, Homeschool mom
Wes Callihan is an incredible mentor. His style is that of an armchair story teller. Instead of breaking down the technical nuances of a text (and the Vandiver Great Courses Company Course on The Iliad does that beautifully), he invites us into his personal library, shows us his well-worn Lattimore text and then proceeds to tell us stories. Friends have asked if the reading load in these courses will dominate their high school student’s reading time and leave no room for other goodness. As a former high school teacher, I confess to being impressed by the layout of the course and the breakdown of the work.
Sara Masarik, Plumfield and Paideia
It is a program my kids have loved the most this year. And I love that I am able to learn alongside then too. After many years of misunderstanding some of The Great Books, I can safely say I am closer to realizing what they mean now. I am truly amazed by this program!
Amy Fleeker, Homeschool mom
Callihan is a gifted teacher—so much so that I think parents might want to watch the lectures along with their students for their own enlightenment.
Cathy Duffy, 102 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum
I really like the idea of a classical education for my children. I was considering Omnibus by VP but was very intimidated by teaching that myself and their online classes were so expensive. When I found this DVD series I felt like this was exactly what I was looking for! My ninth grader and I sit and watch Wesley Callihan talk to us from his study chair. He really makes the Greek Classics accessible to us. I also love that he comes to the classics from a Christian world view. This series fits the bill for a classical education!
R. Andrews, Homeschool dad
As a homeschool mom just venturing into classical education, I can tell you that Old Western Culture: The Greeks is super-easy to use. With schedules carefully laid out for you, you can easily plug and play. I like that all preparation is done for me and I need simply to enjoy listening to my children as they begin to think and talk and discuss ideology together.
Lynn, Homeschool mom
I’ve tried a lot of “great books” materials in the past. All have left me feeling inadequate and incapable. All of them. Old Western Culture though? This one is different.
Debra Brinkman, Footprints in the Butter