The Voluntary Core Curriculum will be attractive to students who seek intellectual seriousness, the opportunity to study great works with enthusiastic teachers, and the chance to participate in a vibrant intellectual community. VCC courses are designed to introduce students to the most important books in each of the academic disciplines while satisfying General Education Requirements (GERs).

At its best, a liberal arts education liberates. By studying the great works of the Western intellectual tradition and the philosophical and historical foundations of the political community in which they live, students develop the knowledge and skills to think independently and to become the knowledgeable and responsible citizens liberal democracy needs to prosper.

Courses focusing on the great works of the Western tradition teach critical thinking because the authors of these works disagree about the fundamental questions—What is the best form of government? What is a good human life? What forces move history? What defines a great work of art? Studying these works involves participating in a great conversation or debate with the writers, thinkers, and political leaders who have shaped our world.