Johnnies: Deepen Your Study of Great Books in England
St John's-Approved Study Abroad Programme
Broaden your horizons with The Oxford Exchange. Experience British culture, live in the city of Oxford, England, enjoy the study trip to London, reconnect with other Johnnies from around the world, and gain valuable skills. https://www.sjc.edu/academic-programs/undergraduate/study-away
COURSE THEME A: CLASSICS
The cohort will take a refresher on the early Great Books of Western Civilisation under the guidance and tutelage of various qualified tutors This is a chance to revisit the works you loved to read during your first year as a Johnnie.
Course Theme B: English Literature
Johnnies will take a deep dive into the Greats of Literature including the works of Shakespeare, the poetry of Percy Bysshe Shelley and others, and modern classics by authors such as Virginia Woolf.
Course Theme C: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Get ready to learn how to apply your discussion-based learning of the Greats through the lens of a political theorist! Johnnies will apply International Relations Theory to modern day challenges such as climate change, conflict in the Middle East, the War in Ukraine, and rising geopolitical tensions.
St John's College in England 2025
SUMMER 2025 - 2-Week Course - 27 July - 9 august
The Greats in England - The Oxford Exchange is a UK nonprofit organisation that offers bespoke courses in the cities of Oxford and Cambridge. We designed the two-week residential course with St John's College USA for undergraduate students, graduate students, and college alumni.
Our tutors facilitate discussion-based learning through a blend of pedagogical traditions (discussion-based seminars, tutorials, engaging lectures, and guest tutorials). The course is meant to encourage students to immerse themselves in English culture and academic and social life. Scroll down to the next section ("A Summer of The Greats") below for more detailed information about the course structure.
CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE & GRADUATE STUDENTS: Get ready for an action-packed two weeks! This course is designed to serve as a review of your previous year at St John's as well as allow you to dive into works you will be reading in your final year(s) at St. John's College.
SENIORS (and graduate students in their final year): Use this course and draw upon the expertise of your individual tutor and cohort tutors to reflect on what you have learned and accomplished as you plan for your next academic journey (MA, PhD, etc.) or career.
ALUMNI: You will be an active member of the cohort, yet you will also have the opportunity to utilise your private tutorial sessions to fit your interests and goals. Renew your love of The Greats, learn new perspectives, and share your wisdom with young adults about to embark on their careers.
PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO:
Network and Renew Your Connections: Network with other lovers of The Greats in a magical summer setting in England. Socialize over meals or pub crawls in historical English settings.
Relax and Contemplate: Enjoy studying and reading in libraries and bookshops scattered about the city of Oxford. Read a book in the beautiful college gardens or in the back garden of a pub. Enjoy some downtime by enjoying a light “Movie Night” in the college or other social activities.
Plan Your Next Academic Journey: Each student is assigned a tutor. Fancy writing up a PhD proposal or writing papers for academic journals? Our tutors have all been through those challenges and will be able to advise you.
Write a Final Oxford Essay: Of course, you are also required to write an Final Essay to hand in to your tutor at the end of the course, so get ready to be challenged!
Present a Small Group Solution to a Current World Crisis: Newly introduced in 2024, Johnnies will be assigned to small teams and challenged to research and present to the rest of the cohort on a world crisis.
Online Poetry Readings & Discussions
The Dead Poets Society
Join other Johnnies as they celebrate the Great Poets of the past, present, and future.
Be a Part of History
Ancient Classics
A Long Term St John's Programme
HISTORICAL SETTINGS
St John's students (Johnnies) read The Greats for all 4 years of their undergraduate studies and all 2 years of their graduate studies. Johnnies will be able to greatly contribute to the global academic community and learn to apply their knowledge in a European (and distinctly British) context.
HISTORICAL SETTINGS
A Long Term St John's Programme
HISTORICAL SETTINGS
"In 1937 Stringfellow Barr, a University of Virginia graduate who had attended Oxford, was elected president of the college (SJC) and, along with Scott Buchanan, the new dean (and an Oxford graduate as well) completely revamped the curriculum. They introduced the Great Books program that would turn St. John's from a struggling regional li
"In 1937 Stringfellow Barr, a University of Virginia graduate who had attended Oxford, was elected president of the college (SJC) and, along with Scott Buchanan, the new dean (and an Oxford graduate as well) completely revamped the curriculum. They introduced the Great Books program that would turn St. John's from a struggling regional liberal arts college into one of the most distinctive institutions of higher education in America" (Martin, R, 2018: 13).
A Long Term St John's Programme
A Long Term St John's Programme
A Long Term St John's Programme
This summer will mark the second year of a planned long-term "St John's in England" programme. Join us for this popular second cohort of our summer course in the city of Oxford.
A Summer of The Greats
2025 COURSE DESIGN - SJC EXCLUSIVE
One-to-One Tutorials: Each student is assigned to an tutor and is expected to complete a "Summer Essay" to present to the cohort at the end of the course. This is an opportunity for Johnnies to begin thinking of their Senior Essays or postgraduate dissertations.
Seminars: Our tutors will guide the cohort through themed discussions that reference The Greats. in postgraduate seminar-style with a St John's influence. ALL PARTICIPANTS (current undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni) will participate in "All Cohort" seminars, Group seminars (organised by interest and year at SJC), "All Cohort" Guest Tutorials, and will be assigned an individual tutor.
Guest Lecturers & Discussions: In the late afternoon or early evening, we offer the opportunity for prominant scholars to share their research or a book with the class relevant to The Greats. These tutorials are usually followed by dinner where the Guest Tutor is invited to dine with the students and further the discussions over a meal.
London Study Trip: The cohort will plan to visit sites of academic interest such as Houses of Parliament, The British Museum, The Globe Theatre, and other key sites in the city.
Local Study Trips: Time-permitting, Johnnies can use their free time to take shorter trips to places such as Blenheim Palace (Winston Churchill's childhood home), the Cotswolds, Chedworth Roman Villa, and other sites.
Local Tours: We offer optional daily tours of the colleges where authors of The Greats studied (Adam Smith, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Shelley, etc.). View Chaucer's original Canterbury Tales, and tour Christ Church College Hall and JRR Tolkien's Garden. There will be time to also visit the Ashmolean Museum (Britain's first public museum, the world's second university museum), the Pitt Rivers Museum, and other sites.
Baroque by Candlelight in Chapel: Performed by an Oxford-based musical ensemble (Chiavari Agreable), this is a magical experience we do one night for the students after dinner, followed by drinks.
High Table Dinner: The cohort will experience a formal dining experience.
Activities: Our Mentors” (student assistants) lead the cohort in a series of activities which may include Punting on the Isis, Croquet (surely a favourite among Johnnies), Pub Quiz, Pub Crawls, Movie Nights, Picnic in the Parks, and more.
End of Course Celebration: After each participant has presented their Essay to the cohort, we will gather to celebrate the end of the course, followed by dinner and drinks.
Scholarship Information for "The Greats & PPE"
2023-2024 England Johnnies - discount for 2025!
If you attended the inaugural course in 2023 and 2025, you are a lifelong member of the Johnnies Dead Poets Society.
If you register for the 2025 St John's in England course, The Oxford Exchange will further reduce the cost of the course and award you a few extras. Contact us below for details:
Matthew Leeming Scholarship 2023, 2024, and 2025
In 2023, all SJC undergraduates, graduate students and alumni were credited with a generous scholarship towards their course fees. The Oxford Exchange will continue this tradition of giving in 2024.
The scholarship is named in honour of an Oxford Scholar and keen expert on Afghanistan who passed away in 2022. Mr Leeming read theology at Trinity College, Oxford and read for an MBA at Lincoln College, Oxford.
Read The Greats Where They Were Written
