Saint John’s College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Annapolis, Maryland. The college traces its beginnings to King William’s School, a preparatory school founded in 1696. St. John’s College was founded in 1784 and merged with King William’s School. The college probably was named for Saint John the Evangelist.
After the American Civil War (1861-1865), the college required students to participate in military training. It was one of the leading military colleges in the United States. By 1923, the school had added elective courses to its curriculum and stopped military training. The campus is a national historic landmark and makes up part of the Annapolis Historic District. In 1964, the college opened a second campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
St. John’s College offered traditional courses and majors until 1937. At that time, the college hired educators Stringfellow Barr and Scott Buchanan to revise the curriculum. They created the New Program. Under this plan, students read classic works of Western civilization and then discuss them in small classes called seminars. By reading great works, students learn about the arts, economics, history, the sciences, mathematics, philosophy, psychology, political science, and theology. Francis Scott Key, the author of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” is among the notable graduates of St. John’s.
The college’s website at https://www.sjc.edu/ offers additional information.
