The Liberal Arts as the Liberating Arts…
Why are the liberal arts called “liberal?” Why are they called “arts?” How did they originate to be come the core of any “liberal” education? In this course, master classical educator Andrew Kern (along with Christopher Perrin) presents an insightful survey of the seven liberal arts–explaining their origin, history and significance in the classical tradition of education. Both Andrew and Christopher also describe the way in which the liberal arts are the “liberating” arts that foster true human freedom and capacity that equip people for vocations of every kind. Teachers will also enjoy the discussions between Andrew and Christopher as they discuss the meaning and significance of the liberal arts.
Instructional Hours: 6.35, CEU Credits: 1
- Lesson 1: Introduction to the Liberal Arts: Liberty and Justice for All (Christopher Perrin)
- Lesson 2: The Seven Liberal Arts as Liberating Arts (Christopher Perrin)
- Lesson 3: The Seven Liberating Arts (Andrew Kern)
- Lesson 4: The History of the Seven Liberal Arts (Andrew Kern)
- Lesson 5: The Trivium Arts (Andrew Kern)
- Lesson 6: The Quadrivium Arts (Andrew Kern)
- Lesson 7: Discussion of Harmony, Pedagogy and Assessment of the Arts (Andrew Kern and Christopher Perrin)
- Lesson 8: Discussion of the Arts as Liberating Arts (Andrew Kern and Christopher Perrin)

Dr. Christopher Perrin, MDiv, PhD, is an author, consultant, and speaker who specializes in classical education. He is committed to the renewal of the liberal arts tradition. He cofounded and serves full-time as the CEO/publisher at Classical Academic Press, a classical education curriculum, media, and consulting company. Christopher is also a consultant to charter, public, private, and Christian schools across the country. He is the director at the Alcuin Fellowship with the Institute for Classical Schools and the former board vice president of the Society for Classical Learning. He has published numerous articles and lectures that are widely used throughout the United States and the English-speaking world.
Christopher received his BA in history from the University of South Carolina and his MDiv and PhD in apologetics from Westminster Theological Seminary. He was also a special student in literature at St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland. He has taught at Messiah College and Chesapeake Theological Seminary, and served as the founding headmaster of a classical school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for ten years. He is the author of The Greek Alphabet Code Cracker and Greek for Children and the coauthor of the Latin for Children series, all published by Classical Academic Press.
Other helpful books include:
The Seven Libera Arts in the Middle Ages (ed., David L. Wagner)
The Idea of a University (John Henry Newman)
The Trivium (John Mitchell)
The Quadrivium (Miranda Lundry)
To obtain a certification credit for this course, simply complete each presentation lesson or discussion in the course (by marking it complete or by taking the quiz) and then also take the certification test at the end of the course. The quizzes are designed to ensure that you have understood the essential content of each presentation, and they can be taken more than once if necessary. The cumulative certification test at the end of the course is given as a pass/fail test and requires that you upload one or more essays demonstrating your understanding of the course. (Please note that essays are simply evaluated by word count.) When you have completed the course, a certificate that you can print or email will become available within “My Courses” (accessible under “Courses” in the main menu when you are signed in as an active subscriber).
We recommend previewing the essay question within the end of course test before starting the course. This will help in guiding your note taking as you progress through the course. Please allow approximately 2 weeks for essay submissions to be reviewed.
By taking the course for certification credit, you also will be on your way to obtaining a Level 2 certification.
Lessons

Lesson 1: Why the Seven Liberal Arts are “Liberal” and “Arts”
Preview
Lesson 2: Why the Seven Liberal Arts are “Liberating”
Lesson 2: Why the Seven Liberal Arts are “Liberating” Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 3: The Seven Liberating Arts
Preview
Lesson 4: The History of the Seven Liberal Arts
Lesson 4: The History of the Seven Liberal Arts Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 5: The Trivium Arts
Lesson 5: The Trivium Arts Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 6: The Quadrivium Arts
Lesson 6: The Quadrivium Arts Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 7: Teaching the Quadrivium Like We Aren’t Materialists
Lesson 7: Teaching the Quadrivium Like We Aren’t Materialists Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 8: Discussion of Harmony, Pedagogy and Assessment of the Arts
Lesson 8: Discussion of Harmony, Pedagogy and Assessment of the Arts Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 9: Discussion of the Arts as Liberating Arts
Lesson 9: Discussion of the Arts as Liberating Arts Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

End of Course Test: Seven Liberal Arts
End of Course Test: Seven Liberal Arts Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.