The European Studies, A Track cycle includes the typical course options for Grade 12. 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 European Studies I, A Track and European Studies II, A Track guides.
The recommended science for this year is Chemistry.
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: Languages (Latin, German, French, Italian, or Spanish)
- Key Course 2: Math
- Key Course 3: Church History IIA
- Key Course 4: European History I
- Key Course 5: Chemistry I
- Key Course 6: Choose English & American Lit. (EL3-A), Dante (EL2-A), or Rhetoric I (RC1-A)
- Electives: Art & Architecture II, Physical Education, community-based fine arts
SEMESTER 2
- Key Course 1: Shakespeare
- Key Course 2: Math
- Key Course 3: Moral Apologetics
- Key Course 4: European History II
- Key Course 5: Govt & Natural Law
- Key Course 6: Chemistry II
- Electives: Research Papers as a live class, Languages, Physical Education, community-based fine arts
LANGUAGE ARTS
Rhetoric I (RC1-A) [Semester 1]
For this semester, choose English & American Lit. (EL3-A), Dante (EL2-A), or Rhetoric I (RC1-A).
- Classical Rhetoric With Aristotle: Traditional Principles of Speaking and Writing Text, Martin Cothran
- Classical Rhetoric With Aristotle: Answer Key, Martin Cothran
- Rhetoric and the Poetics of Aristotle, The, Trans. by W. Rhys Roberts and Ingram Bywater
High School Penmanship [Semester 1 and 2]
- Self-Instruction in Handwriting [or other formal, daily cursive penmanship practice], Zaner-Bloser
Research Papers [Semester 2]
Research Papers is only recommended for students that have completed their Language credits prior to this semester.
- Jensen's Format Writing, Frode Jensen
- MLA 9 Simplified: Easy Way Guide to MLA Handbook: Updated for the MLA 9th Edition Handbook (Student Citation Styles), Appearance Publishers
- Writing Handbook, Michael P. Kammer and Charles W. Mulligan
- Optional: Spring Live Class: Research Papers, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
GEOMETRY
Geometry with Advanced Algebra [Semester 1 and 2]
Math U See PreCalculus is a standard alternative. Math placement is determined through the annual skills assessment.
- Saxon Advanced Mathematics, 2nd Edition, Homeschool Kit, John Saxon
RELIGION
Church History IIA (CH2-A) [Semester 1]
- Semester 1: European Studies IA Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- A Shorter Summa: The Essential Philosophical Passages of Saint Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica, Peter Kreeft
- One-Minute Aquinas, Kevin Vost
- The History of the Church: Student Text, Complete Edition, Peter V. Armenio (The Didache Series)
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Fall Live Class: Church History IIA or IIB, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
Moral Apologetics (MA1-A) [Semester 2]
- Semester 2: European Studies IIA Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Catholic Morality: Sin, Virtue, Conscience, Duties to God, Neighbor, Etc., Fr. John Laux, MA
- Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis De Sales
- The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition,
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, U.S. Catholic Church
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Spring Live Class: Moral Apologetics, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
GOVERNMENT / CIVICS
Govt & Natural Law A (GNL-A) [Semester 2]
- Semester 2: European Studies IIA Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Declaration Statesmanship: A Course in American Government: Student Textbook, Richard Ferrier and Andrew Seeley
- Declaration Statesmanship: Teachers Manual, Richard Ferrier and Andrew Seeley
- Declaration Statesmanship: Reading Book, Richard Ferrier and Andrew Seeley
- 50 Questions on the Natural Law: What It Is and Why We Need It, Charles E. Rice
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, U.S. Catholic Church
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Spring Live Class: Government and Natural Law, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
SOCIAL STUDIES / WORLD HISTORY
European History I (EH1-A) [Semester 1]
- Semester 1: European 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.
- How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization, Thomas E. Woods Jr
- Rule of St. Benedict, The, . Translated by Anthony C. Meisel and M.L. del Mastro.
- Bulfinch’s Mythology (out-of-print Avenel Books/Gramercy/Crown Publishers edition) [ORDER USED], Thomas Bulfinch
- Murder in the Cathedral, T. S. Eliot
- Canterbury Tales, The, Geoffrey Chaucer. Translated by Nevill Coghill.
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Fall Live Class: European History IA, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
European History II (EH2-A) [Semester 2]
- Semester 2: European 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.
- How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization, Thomas E. Woods Jr
- The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli. Translated by George Bull.
- Don Quixote [ABRIDGED], Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Translated by Walter Starkie.
- A Man for All Seasons, Robert Bolt (Director: Fred Zinnemann)
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Spring Live Class: European History IIA, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
LITERATURE
Dante (EL2-A) [Semester 1]
For this semester, choose English & American Lit. (EL3-A), Dante (EL2-A), or Rhetoric I (RC1-A).
- Semester 1: European Studies IA Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Portable Dante, The, Dante Alighieri, tr. Mark Musa. Translated by Mark Musa.
- Cliffs Notes: Divine Comedy, The: Inferno, James L. Roberts and Nikki Moustaki
- DANTE: The Divine Comedy (Literature Conferences), Professor David A. White
- Teaching the Classics DVD and Workbook, Adam Andrews and Missy Andrews
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Fall Live Class: Dante, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
English & American Lit. (EL3-A) [Semester 1]
For this semester, choose English & American Lit. (EL3-A), Dante (EL2-A), or Rhetoric I (RC1-A).
- Semester 1: European Studies IA Study Guide, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Teaching the Classics DVD and Workbook, Adam Andrews and Missy Andrews
- Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
- A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
- The Virginian, Owen Wister
- Animal Farm, George Orwell
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Fall Live Class: English and American Literature, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
Shakespeare (EL1-B) [Semester 2]
- 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
FINE ARTS
Art & Architecture II (AA2-A) [Semester 1]
May be dropped in favor of full-time community-based fine arts.
- Semester 1: European Studies IA 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: The Face of Jesus in Art
- Optional: Picturing Mary
- Optional: Fall Live Class: Art and Architecture IIA, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Chemistry I (CY1-A) [Semester 1]
- STAA Study Guide: Chemistry IA and IIA, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Exploring Creation with Chemistry (3rd Edition) set: Textbook and Solutions-Test Book, Apologia Educational Ministries
- Conceptual Chemistry: Understanding Our World of Atoms and Molecules (3rd Edition) [ORDER USED], John Suchocki
- Chemistry Lab Materials,
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: DOWNLOAD: Science Lab Reports, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: MicroChem Experiment Lab Kit,
- Optional: Mystery of the Periodic Table, The, Benjamin D. Wiker
Chemistry II (CY2-A) [Semester 2]
- STAA Study Guide: Chemistry IA and IIA, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Exploring Creation with Chemistry (3rd Edition) set: Textbook and Solutions-Test Book, Apologia Educational Ministries
- Conceptual Chemistry: Understanding Our World of Atoms and Molecules (3rd Edition) [ORDER USED], John Suchocki
- STAA Student Zone, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
- Optional: Faith, Science, and Reason: Theology on the Cutting Edge (2nd Edition), Christopher T. Baglow
- Optional: AP Chemistry with Online Tests (Barron's Test Prep),
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Language Study [Semester 1]
St. Thomas Aquinas Academy gladly accepts Latin, German, Italian, French, and Spanish.
- 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.