The Roman Studies, A Track cycle includes the typical course options for Grade 11.
The daily lesson plans, study tools, and detailed assignment information are available to the student in the high school semester study guides. The semester study guides that accompany this set of course recommendations are the Roman Studies I, A Track and Roman Studies II, A Track guides.
The recommended science for this year is Biology. Those interested in adding a "with lab" notation to their transcript should choose Biology I and II, B Track and complete the dissections and experiments in the Exploring Creation with Biology text. Students that are not interested in the "with lab" notation are encouraged to study Biology I and II, A Track.
Students in high school study six, full-time academic courses each semester; these are called their "Key Courses." After completing the annual skills assessment, the Academic Packet prepared by your planning advisor will include personalized recommendations for math, English Mechanics, languages, electives, and tips to help narrow down the course options for each semester.
KEY COURSES: Here are the standard courses recommended for each semester. See the KEY COURSES WORKSHEET for the full "Required Credits for Graduation" list that details how many credits are required in each subject area and which St. Thomas Aquinas Academy courses students are required to complete as part of their diploma program.
SEMESTER 1
- Key Course 1: Essay Writing A w/English Mechanics
- Key Course 2: Math
- Key Course 3: Church History I
- Key Course 4: Roman History I
- Key Course 5: Roman Literature I
- Key Course 6: Biology I (choose A Track or B Track with lab)
- Electives: Languages (Latin, German, French, Italian, or Spanish), Physical Education, community-based fine arts
SEMESTER 2
- Key Course 1: Critical Reading w/English Mechanics
- Key Course 2: Math
- Key Course 3: Economics
- Key Course 4: Choose one: New Testament, Roman History II, or Languages
- Key Course 5: Choose one: Art & Architecture I, Roman Literature II, or Shakespeare
- Key Course 6: Biology II (continue with the track selected for Biology I)
- Electives: Languages (Latin, German, French, Italian, or Spanish), Physical Education, community-based fine arts
LANGUAGE ARTS
Essay Writing (EWR-A) [Semester 1]
- Semester 1: Roman Studies IA Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Jensen's Format Writing, Frode Jensen
- Great Writing: A Reader for Writers [ORDER USED], Harvey S Wiener and Nora Eisenberg
- Writing Handbook, Michael P. Kammer and Charles W. Mulligan
- DOWNLOAD: Essay Worksheets: Basic & Advanced,
- Jensen’s Grammar (Textbook, Tests and Answers), Frode Jensen
- Jensen's Punctuation: A Complete Guide to All Your Punctuation Needs, Frode Jensen
- General Punctuation Rules Reference (GPR), St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Self-Instruction in Handwriting [or other formal, daily cursive penmanship practice], Zaner-Bloser
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition,
- Optional: Synonym Finder, J. I. Rodale
- Optional: MLA 9 Simplified: Easy Way Guide to MLA Handbook: Updated for the MLA 9th Edition Handbook (Student Citation Styles), Appearance Publishers
- Optional: Fall Live Class: Essay Writing A, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
High School Penmanship [Semester 1 and 2]
- Self-Instruction in Handwriting [or other formal, daily cursive penmanship practice], Zaner-Bloser
Critical Reading (CRR-A) [Semester 2]
- Semester 2: Roman Studies IIA Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading, Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren
- Writing Handbook, Michael P. Kammer and Charles W. Mulligan
- Jensen’s Grammar (Textbook, Tests and Answers), Frode Jensen
- Jensen's Punctuation: A Complete Guide to All Your Punctuation Needs, Frode Jensen
- General Punctuation Rules Reference (GPR), St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Spring Live Class: Critical Reading, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
ALGEBRA
Algebra II (AG3&4-A) [Semester 1 and 2]
- Saxon Algebra 2, 3rd Edition (Home Study Kit plus DIVE CD-ROM), John Saxon
RELIGION
Church History IA (CH1-A) [Semester 1]
- Semester 1: Roman Studies IA Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- The History of the Church: Student Text, Complete Edition, Peter V. Armenio (The Didache Series)
- The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition,
- Early Christian Writings : The Apostolic Fathers, . Translated by Maxwell Staniforth.
- Writings of St. John Chrysostom (any), St. John Chrysostom
- St. Augustine : The Confessions, St. Augustine. Translated by Maria Boulding.
- History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol. 3, Edward Gibbon
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Restless Heart: The Confessions of Augustine, Directed by Christian Duguay
- Optional: Fall Live Class: Church History IA or IB, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
New Testament (NWT-B) [Semester 2]
For Semester 2, Key Course 4 choose New Testament, Roman History II, or Languages.
- Semester 2: Roman Studies IIA Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Introduction to the Bible, Fr. John Laux
- The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition,
- DOWNLOAD: Quarter End Tests, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: The Bible Timeline Chart, Jeff Cavins, Sarah Christmyer
- Optional: Catholic Bible Indexing Tabs,
- Optional: Spring Live Class: New Testament, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
ECONOMICS
Economics (ECO-A) [Semester 2]
- Semester 2: Roman Studies IIA Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Survival Math Skills, Fred Pyrczak
- Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? 6th or 7th Edition, Richard J. Maybury
- Economics: Work and Prosperity in Christian Perspective, Russell Kirk
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Centesimus Annus, Pope John Paul II
- Quadragesimo Anno, Pope Pius XI
- Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIII
- Optional: How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization, Thomas E. Woods Jr
- Optional: A TRACK PROJECT,
- Optional: Basic Economics, Thomas Sowell
- Optional: Toward a Truly Free Market: A Distributist Perspective on the Role of Government, Taxes, Health Care, Deficits, and More, John C. Medaille
- Optional: Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics, Henry Hazlitt
- Optional: Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered, E. F. Schumacher
- Optional: Spring Live Class: Economics, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
SOCIAL STUDIES / WORLD HISTORY
Roman History I (RH1-A) [Semester 1]
- Semester 1: Roman Studies IA Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Christ the King, Lord of History: A Catholic World History from Ancient to Modern Times, Anne Carroll
- Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures: A Concise History: Volume I to 1740, 2nd Edition, Lynn Hunt, et al.
- Livy: The Early History of Rome (Books I-V) [tr. Aubrey De Selincourt], Titus Livy. Translated by Aubrey de Selincourt.
- Livy: Rome and Italy: Books VI-X of the History of Rome from its Foundation, Titus Livy. Translated by Betty Radice.
- Livy: The War with Hannibal: Books XXI-XXX of the History of Rome from its Foundation, Livy. Translated by Aubrey De Selincourt.
- Plutarch’s Lives, Volume 1 (Modern Library Classics), Plutarch. Translated by John Dryden, Arthur Hugh Clough.
- Plutarch’s Lives, Volume 2 (Modern Library Classics), Plutarch. Translated by John Dryden.
- Sallust : The Jugurthine War and The Conspiracy of Catiline, Sallust. Translated by S. A. Handford.
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Fall Live Class: Roman History IA, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
Roman History II (RH2-A) [Semester 2]
For Semester 2, Key Course 4 choose New Testament, Roman History II, or Languages.
- Semester 2: Roman Studies IIA Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Christ the King, Lord of History: A Catholic World History from Ancient to Modern Times, Anne Carroll
- Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures: A Concise History: Volume I to 1740, 2nd Edition, Lynn Hunt, et al.
- Tacitus: The Annals of Imperial Rome (tr. Michael Grant), Tacitus. Translated by Michael Grant.
- Suetonius : The Twelve Caesars, Suetonius. Translated by Robert Graves.
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Spring Live Class: Roman History IIA, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
LITERATURE
Roman Literature I (RL1-A) [Semester 1]
- Semester 1: Roman Studies IA Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Bulfinch’s Mythology (out-of-print Avenel Books/Gramercy/Crown Publishers edition) [ORDER USED], Thomas Bulfinch
- The Aeneid [tr. Robert Fagles], Virgil. Translated by Robert Fagles.
- Cliffs Notes: The Aeneid, Richard McDougall and Suzanne Pavlos
- Plutarch’s Lives, Volume 2 (Modern Library Classics), Plutarch. Translated by John Dryden.
- CliffsComplete: Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare
- Cicero : On the Good Life [tr. Michael Grant], Marcus Tullius Cicero. Translated by Michael Grant.
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Fall Live Class: Roman Literature IA, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
Shakespeare (EL1-B) [Semester 2]
For Semester 2, Key Course 5 choose Art & Architecture I, Roman Literature II, or Shakespeare.
- Semester 2: European Studies IIA Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Hamlet (Cliffs Complete), William Shakespeare, Terri Mategrano
- Teaching the Classics DVD and Workbook, Adam Andrews and Missy Andrews
- William Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1996), Director: Kenneth Branagh
- Macbeth (Cliffs Complete), Shakespeare, Christopher L. Morrow
- The Taming of the Shrew (Cliffs Complete), William Shakespeare, Diana Sweeney
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Spring Live Class: Shakespeare, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
Roman Literature II (RL2-A) [Semester 2]
For Semester 2, Key Course 5 choose Art & Architecture I, Roman Literature II, or Shakespeare.
- Semester 2: Roman Studies IIA Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Plautus: The Pot of Gold and Other Plays (Penguin Classics), Plautus. Translated by E.F. Watling.
- The Comedy of Errors (Folger Shakespeare Library), William Shakespeare
- Terence : The Comedies, Terence. Translated by Peter Brown.
- Marcus Aurelius : Meditations, Marcus Aurelius. Translated by Martin Hammond.
- St. Augustine : City of God, St. Augustine. Translated by Walsh, Zema, Monahan and Honan.
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Spring Live Class: Roman Literature IIA, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
FINE ARTS
Art & Architecture I (AA1-A) [Semester 2]
For Semester 2, Key Course 5 choose Art & Architecture I, Roman Literature II, or Shakespeare.
- Semester 2: Roman Studies IIA Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- The Story of Art: Pocket Edition (16th edition), E. H. Gombrich
- Janson's History of Art: The Western Tradition, 7th Edition [ORDER USED], Penelope J. E. Davies, et. al.
- DOWNLOAD: Art-with-an-Active-Eye Notebook Worksheet, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Spring Live Class: Art and Architecture IA, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
LIFE SCIENCE
Biology I and II, B Track is the best track for younger high school students and students interested in experiments and dissections.
- STAA Study Guide: Biology IB and IIB, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Exploring Creation with Biology (3rd Edition Set): Textbook, Solutions and Test Book, Vicki Dincher
- Colored Pencils (Prismacolor 24 Color Pencil Set recommended),
- Plastic Folder/Report Cover with prongs for 3-hole punched paper,
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: DOWNLOAD: Science Lab Reports, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- STAA Study Guide: Biology IB and IIB, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Exploring Creation with Biology (3rd Edition Set): Textbook, Solutions and Test Book, Vicki Dincher
- Colored Pencils (Prismacolor 24 Color Pencil Set recommended),
- Plastic Folder/Report Cover with prongs for 3-hole punched paper,
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
Biology I (BY1-A) [Semester 1]
Select Biology I and II, A Track to swap out biology experiments and dissections in favor of a study of Dr. Christopher Baglow’s Faith, Science, & Reason: Theology on the Cutting Edge to complement the core biology texts of this course: Campbell Essential Biology and Biology: A Self-Teaching Guide. Faith, Science, & Reason: Theology on the Cutting Edge "unveils the history of science as something that grew out of, rather than in opposition to, the Catholic faith. It describes the relationship between science and spirituality, the biblical creation accounts, the Galileo Affair, the problem of evil, the historical roots of the warfare model of science and faith, the incredible advances in the sciences of human origins, and numerous other topics essential to understanding the Church’s approach to science."
- STAA Study Guide: Biology IA and IIA, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Campbell Essential Biology 4e [ORDER USED], Eric J. Simon, et. al.
- Biology: A Self-Teaching Guide, 2nd Edition, Steven D. Garber
- Faith, Science, and Reason: Theology on the Cutting Edge (2nd Edition), Christopher T. Baglow
- DOWNLOAD: Quarter End Tests, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Colored Pencils (Prismacolor 24 Color Pencil Set recommended),
- Plastic Folder/Report Cover with prongs for 3-hole punched paper,
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Fall Live Class: Biology IA, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
Biology II (BY2-A) [Semester 2]
- STAA Study Guide: Biology IA and IIA, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Campbell Essential Biology 4e [ORDER USED], Eric J. Simon, et. al.
- Biology: A Self-Teaching Guide, 2nd Edition, Steven D. Garber
- Human Anatomy Coloring Book, Margaret Matt and Joe Ziemian
- Faith, Science, and Reason: Theology on the Cutting Edge (2nd Edition), Christopher T. Baglow
- DOWNLOAD: Quarter End Tests, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Colored Pencils (Prismacolor 24 Color Pencil Set recommended),
- Plastic Folder/Report Cover with prongs for 3-hole punched paper,
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Spring Live Class: Biology IIA, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Language Study [Semester 2]
For Semester 2, Key Course 4 choose New Testament, Roman History II, or Languages.
- Gradebook for Language Study, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Physical Education (PHE-B) [Semester 1 and 2]
- Gradebook for Physical Education, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Fit for Eternal Life: A Christian Approach to Working Out, Eating Right, and Building the Virtues of Fitness in Your Soul, Kevin Vost, Psy D.