Great Books

Engage in conversations and explore the most influential ideas within Western Civilization’s masterpieces of literature, history, and philosophy in ACC’s Great Books program. ACC is one of the few community colleges in the United States included in the University of Chicago's Great Books Consortium.

Why Should I get a Great Books Achievement Certificate?

Getting this certificate, like any other academic honor, allows admission committees to view you as a serious scholar. Plus, students who complete as few as 2 Great Books classes tend to score higher on reading comprehension tests because the courses are designed to improve your reading skills which, in turn, improves your academic performance in other courses.

How Do I Get a Great Books Achievement Certificate?

If you have successfully completed four Great Books courses with an A or a B, you are eligible to receive a Great Books Achievement Certificate.

If you qualify, please submit your application for a Great Books Achievement Certificate.

Get Your Certificate

Great Books Courses

ACC offers various courses designated as "Great Books Courses." Within these courses, at least half of the course readings are from authors on the Encyclopedia Britannica's Great Authors List as primary voices in their fields. You will study thought-provoking masterpieces, share ideas, and join in lively debates and conversations centered around the great academic works of Western Civilization.

Great Books Courses Spring 2026

Course	CRN	Course Title	Professor / Instructor
ECO 2001 103	25888	Intro to Macroeconomics	Anderssen
HIS 1310 101	30038	Western Civilization Antiquity to 1650	Gore
HIS 1320 101	31952	Western Civilization since 1650	Gore
HIS 2300 101	32808	Medieval History	Gore
HIS 2145 101	32808	Medieval History	Gore
HUM 1015 101	30412	Intro to Mythology	Lanyon
HUM 1015 102	30421	Intro to Mythology	Rubin
HUM 1015 201	31946	Intro to Mythology	Beckman
HUM 1022 101	33167	Survey Medieval to Modern	Lanyon
HUM 1023 101	30386	Survey Modern	Rubin
LIT 1015 103	33158	Intro to Literature	Stafinbil
LIT 1015 104	33582	Intro to Literature	Ebro
LIT 1015 181	33157	Intro to Literature	Palumbo
LIT 2025 101	33158	Intro to Shakespeare	Stafinbil
PHI 1011 101	30482	Intro to Philosophy	Sackris
PHI 1011 102	30166	Intro to Philosophy	Sackris
PHI 1011 103	30382	Intro to Philosophy	Giambusco
PHI 1011 104	30167	Intro to Philosophy	McClarence
PHI 1011 201	33274	Intro to Philosophy	Sackris
PHI 1011 202	33275	Intro to Philosophy	McClarence
PHI 1012 102	30168	Ethics	Sackris
PHI 2020 101	33181	Death and Dying	Ebro

Great Books Courses Fall 2026

Course	CRN	Course Title	Professor / Instructor
ECO 2001 103	25888	Intro to Macroeconomics	Anderssen
HIS 1110 201	26033	World History to Antiquity	Gore
HIS 1220 102	24469	US History since Civil War	Gore
HIS 1320 101	22119	Western Civilization since 1650	Gore
HIS 2300 101	23819	Middle Ages	Gore
HUM 1015 102	24243	Intro to Mythology	Stafinbil
HUM 1021 101	24245	Survey Early Civilization	TBD
LIT 1015 101	22062	Intro to Literature	Stafinbil
LIT 1015 102	23529	Intro to Literature	TBD
LIT 1015 103	24924	Intro to Literature	TBD
LIT 1015 181	24242	Intro to Literature	TBD
LIT 2068 101	25964	Celtic Literature	Stafinbil
PHI 1011 101	22065	Intro to Philosophy	Sackris
PHI 1011 102	22064	Intro to Philosophy	Sackris
PHI 1011 103	26017	Intro to Philosophy	TBD
PHI 1011 104	26018	Intro to Philosophy	TBD
PHI 1011 181	24249	Intro to Philosophy	TBD
PHI 1011 201	24573	Intro to Philosophy	Sackris